Regulator for Electric Lighting.
Year: 1889

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Regulator for Electric Lighting.
EDWARD JOHN HOUGHTON, of Camden, Underhill Road, Dulwich S.E. Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
When the speed of a dynamo varies and when using accumulators for lighting or
other purposes and the dynamo is brought into operation whilst lamps are being fed
from the accumulators, the current in the lamp circuit will vary. To reduce or prevent
this variation I arrange apparatus by means of which the current from the dynamo,
from the accumulators or that feeding the lamps shall diminish, or increase, or keep
approximately constant, the current in the lamp circuit. I do this by causing one of
the above-mentioned currents to operate the core or cores of a solenoid or solenoids
in such a manner that when the current passing through the solenoid or solenoids
varies, the core or cores shall move and simultaneously raise or depress a column of
mercury in a cell, which will insert resistance into or take it out from the lamp
circuit.
Referring to the drawing: A is the solenoid, B the iron core of the solenoid having
the non-conducting plunger C attached to the underpart, and working with a small
space round it, into the insulated cell D which contains mercury or other conducting
liquid. This cell has a number of metal studs screwed into, and penetrating quite
through its sides, which studs are connected to resistance wire. The action is as
follows-When a current flows through the solenoid the core will be pulled upwards
and made to compress the helical spring G, causing the mercury surrounding the
plunger to fall so as to let resistance into the lamp circuit according to the strength
of the current passing through the solenoid. When the current in the solenoid
diminishes the reverse operation takes place, and resistance is cut out from the lamp
circuit. In a modification, I use a sliding spring or springs pressing on strips of
metal in lieu of the cell of mercury.
L
1004
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Regulator for Electric Lighting.
EDWARD JOHN HOUGHTON, of Camden, Underhill Road, Dulwich, S.E. Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
When the speed of a dynamo varies, and when using accumulators for lighting or
other purposes and the dynamo is brought into operation whilst lamps are being fed
from the accumulators, the current in the lamp circuit will vary. To reduce or
prevent this variation I arrange apparatus by means of which the current from the
dynamo, from the accumulators, or that feeding the lamps, shall diminish, or increase,
or keep approximately constant the current in the lamp circuit. I do this by causing
one of the above-mentioned currents to operate the core or cores of a solenoid or
solenoids in such a manner that when the current passing through the solenoid or
solenoids varies, the core or cores shall move and simultaneously raise or depress a
column of mercury in a cell which will insert resistance into or take it out from the
lamp circuit.
Referring to the drawing (which was deposited with the provisional specification)
A is the solenoid having the non-conducting plunger C attached to the underpart,
and working with a small space round it, into the insulated cell D, which contains

page_text: mercury or other conducting liquid. This cell has a number of metal studs screwed
into and penetrating quite through its sides, which studs are connected to resistance
wire. The action is as follows:-When a current flows through the solenoid the core
will be pulled upwards and made to compress the helical spring G, causing the mercury
surrounding the plunger to fall so as to let resistance into the lamp circuit according
to the strength of the current passing through the solenoid. When the current in
the solenoid diminishes, the reverse operation takes place,and resistance is cut out from
the lamp circuit.
In a modification I use a sliding spring or spring's pressing on strips of metal in
lieu of the cell of mercury.
2,
T
**
1,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is...
"
1
1. The gradual insertion in or withdrawal from a circuit of resistance by means of
a solenoid and vessel containing mercury or other conducting fluid.
"
L T1000