IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS Communicated to
"
AL
1
173
1°
1
33
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING
[A communication to him from abroad by Charles Ferdinand de
APPARATUS"
la Roche, of Paris France,]
This Invention relates to improvements in voltaic are lamps and has for its object
to provide a very simple lamp in which the carbons abut against a ring or other
suitable stop, the feed movement of the said carbons being produced by means of
springs or counterpoises instead of by clockwork mechanism or other complicated
apparatus usually employed for regulating the position of the carbons.
The said invention comprises the following improvements namely:-
:-The arrange-
ment around the front portion of the two carbons and at a slight distance in the rear
of the metal stop or abutment ring or washer, of an enclosing tube designed to prevent
the surrounding air from coming in contact with this very hot portion of the
carbons which air causes their consumption and corrodes them very rapidly upon a
large portion of their surface. Also the manner of securing the said ring or washer
in position by means of a sleeve screwed upon the said enclosing tube and provided
with open arms or jaws which permit free access for the air to corrode the said
electrode at the rear of the said ring or washer so as to permit the said electrode
to be advanced by the action of a spring or other propelling device. Also the
arrangement, if desired, in front of the said ring or washer of another ring which is
formed of magnesia and is designed to protect the first named ring. Also .the
particular arrangement of the devices constituting my improved electric lamp.
It has already been proposed to regulate the feed of electrodes, by bringing them

page_text: into contact with blocks or rings, but this system is not employed inasmuch as it is
found that the voltaic are consumes not only the point of the electrode projecting
in front of the ring but also a sufficiently considerable length of the said electrode
in the rear of the said ring to give rise to frequent inequalities in the feed move-
ment of the electrode under the action of the spring which causes it to advance;
at other times, on the contrary; the arc does not consume the electrode sufficiently
quick nor for a sufficient length and then approaches the ring which it destroys by
melting it and the regulator no longer acts.
It has been found, however, that the combustion and consumption of the electrodes
is arrested at the point where they cease to be subjected to the action of the heat
evolved by the are, combined with the destructive action of the air. Thus for
example, if two electrodes be taken, and one which is free from any covering
is moved against another which is enclosed within a tube nearly to its extremity,
the combustion of the enclosed electrode will be considerably less than that of
the other electrode and this will be the case whatever the heat developed by
the arc may be, and even when the enclosing tube arrives at a white red heat.
It has also been found that the consumption of the electrode terminates at the
commencement of the tube by a well defined line and that the part enclosed in the
said tube or cover is not modified or affected as to its duration its aspect or its
diameter.
The action of the air therefore plays an important part, since under the same
conditions an unconfined electrode will be consumed irregularly throughout a greater
or less portion of its length.
My Invention therefore provides for the practical utilization of the abutment of
electrodes against a hollow washer or ring for regulating their advance or feed
movement caused by a spring or other propelling device and at the same time
enables me to realise a saving, probably of more than fifty per cent. of the quantity
of carbon generally used in electric lamps as at present constructed.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I employ, in order to automatically
regulate the advance or feed movement of the carbons, a tube of copper, platinum or
other suitable metal upon the extremity of which I screw a sleeve provided with
projecting arms or claws which support a ring or washer placed within them; the
opening in this ring or washer is slightly less in diameter than the diameter of the
electrodes employed in order that the latter may only be advanced or moved forward,
in proportion to their consumption under the impelling action of a spiral spring
placed in the extremity of an outer tube which carries the various parts of my
improved apparatus.
Between the extremity of the aforesaid tube of copper, platinum, or other metal
and the ring or washer I leave a free space whose size is regulated according to the
diameter of the electrodes by screwing the sleeve to a greater or less extent upon
the said tube.
According to the heat in the aforesaid space, the electrode will be disaggregated
and the spiral spring will advance the same to an extent proportional to the con-
sumption of the said electrode; under these circumstances the heat transforms my
improved apparatus into a pyrometric apparatus in which the aforesaid space or
opening becomes more or less extended according as the production of the voltaic
arc causes the electrodes to be consumed more or less quickly and makes them
approach more or less quickly to the ring or washer above described but in any
.case the electrode will not advance at one time to a greater extent than that
permitted or determined by the aforesaid space.
In order that the heat and oxidation may not cause any variation in the thick-
ness of the aforesaid ring or washer and tube, I preferably construct the said ring
of platinum and also the extremity of the said tube which serves as one limit
to the aforesaid space; moreover in order to protect this metallic portion of the
apparatus I, in some cases, arrange at the front part of the outer tube a ring of
magnesia or other refractory material.
In order to enable the arc produced on the exterior of the apparatus to corrode

page_text: the electrode at the rear of the aforesaid ring or washer and in order to keep the
outer or protecting tube cool I provide the said tube with openings or apertures
which give it free access. With the same object in view the aforesaid sleeve is cut
away so that it simply carries three or four arms or claws which support the ring
or washer against which the electrode abuts. In addition, I form the aforesaid ring
of magnesia with a central hole or aperture which is made so much larger than the
diameter of the electrode as to leave free access for the surrounding air.
In constructing a lamp according to this invention I may arrange both of the
electrodes to be forced forward by spiral springs arranged within the outer tubes
which serve to support them, but it will be readily understood that one of the
electrodes only may be forced forward by such a spring and the other electrode be
arranged to be moved by means of rigid pieces, levers, racks or pinions whose
movement will be controlled by the single spring which is then utilized to produce
this movement.
"
My improvements above described may be applied to all classes of voltaic arc
lamps, and the electrodes may be arranged horizontally, vertically, or on an incline
or obliquely, parallel, or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th December 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC-LIGHTING
APPARATUS." A communication to me from abroad by Charles Ferdinand de
la Roche, of Paris, France,
This invention relates to voltaic arc lamps, and has for its object to provide a
very simple lamp in which the carbons or electrodes' abut against a ring or other
suitable stop, the feed movement of the said carbons or electrodes being produced
by means of springs or counterweights instead of by the clockwork or other
complicated apparatus usually employed for regulating the movement of the
carbons.
The said invention comprises the following improvements, namely: The arrange-
ment, around the front portion of the two carbons, and at a slight distance in the
rear of a metal stop or abutment ring or washer, of an enclosing tube designed to
prevent the surrounding air from coming in contact with this very hot portion of
the carbons which air causes their consumption and corrodes them very rapidly
upon a large portion of their surface. Also the manner of securing the said ring or
washer in position by means of a sleeve screwed upon the said enclosing tube and
provided with open arms or jaws which permit free access for the air to corrode
the said electrode at the rear of the said ring or washer, so as to permit the said
electrode to be advanced by the action of a spring or other propelling device. Also
the arrangement, if desired, in front of the said ring or washer of another ring which
is formed of magnesia and is designed to protect the first named ring. Also
the combination and arrangement of the whole of the devices constituting the
improved electric lamp.
It has already been proposed to regulate the feed of electrodes, by bringing
them into contact with blocks or rings, but this system is not employed inasmuch
as it is found that the voltaic arc consumes not only the point of the electrode
projecting in front of the ring but also a sufficiently considerable length of the
said electrode in the rear of the said ring to give rise to frequent inequalities in
the feed movement of the electrode under the action of the spring which causes it
to advance; at other times, on the contrary, the arc does not consume the electrode
sufficiently quick, nor for a sufficient length, and then approaches the ring which it
destroys by melting it and the regulator no longer acts.
It has been found, however, that the combustion and consumption of the electrodes
are arrested at the point where they cease to be subjected to the action of the heat
evolved by the arc, combined with the destructive action of the air. Thus, for
example, if an electrode which is free from any covering is advanced against another
which is enclosed within a tube nearly to its extremity, the combustion of the
enclosed electrode will be considerably less than that of the other electrode, and
this will be the case whatever may be the heat developed by the arc, and even when
the enclosing tube reaches at a bright red heat.
It has also been found that the consumption of the electrode terminates at the
commencement of the tube by a well defined line, and that the part enclosed in the
said tube or cover is not modified or affected as to its duration, its aspect, or its
diameter.
The action of the air, therefore, plays an important part, since, under the same
conditions, an unconfined electrode will be consumed irregularly throughout a
greater or less portion of its length.
The said invention, therefore, provides for the practical utilization of the abut-
ment of electrodes against a washer or ring for regulating their advance or feed

page_text: movement caused by a spring or other propelling device, and at the same time
enables me to realize a saving, probably of more than fifty per cent. of the quantity
of carbon generally used in electric lamps as at present constructed.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the improved apparatus.
Figure 2, is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section thereof, drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 4, is a transverse section on the line a b, Figure 3, and,
Figure 5 represents a general view of the apparatus as applied to a lamp.
In carrying the said invention into practice, I employ, in order to automatically
regulate the advance or feed movement of the carbons or electrodes, a tube 0 of
copper, platinum or other suitable metal, upon the extremity of which I screw a
sleeve A provided with projecting arms or claws d which support a ring or
washer K placed within them; the opening in this ring or washer is of a diameter
slightly less than that of the electrodes employed, so that the latter can only be
advanced or moved forward in proportion to their consumption under the impelling
action of a spiral spring M placed in the extremity of the tube T which carries the
various parts of the improved apparatus.
.
Between the extremity of the tube O and the ring or washer K. I leave a free
space V, the size of which is regulated according to the diameter of the electrodes
by screwing the sleeve A to a greater or less extent upon the tube O.
According to the beat in the space V the electrodo R will be segregated, and the
spiral spring M will advance the same to an extent proportional to the consumption
of the said electrode; under these circumstances heat converts the improved
apparatus into a pyrometric apparatus in which the space V must be more or less
extended as the production of the voltaic arc causes the electrodes to be consumed
more or less rapidly, and makes them approach more or less quickly the ring or
washer K, but in any case the electrode will not advance at one time a distance
greater than the length of the space V which is determined as above described.
In order that the heat and oxidation may not cause any variation in the thickness
of the ring or washer K and tube O, I preferably make the said ring of platinum
and also the extremity of the tube O which serves as one limit to the space V;
moreover, in order to protect this metallic portion of the apparatus I, in some cases,
arrange at the front part of the tube T a ring B of magnesia or other refractory
material, as shown in the drawing.
In order to enable the arc to corrode the electrode at the rear of the ring or
washer K, and in order to keep the protecting tube O cool I provide the external
tube T with openings or apertures C. With the same object in view the sleeve A
is cut away so that it simply carries three or four arms or claws & which support
the ring or washer K against which the electrode abuts. Moreover, I form the ring
of magnesia B with a central opening or aperture which is made so much larger
than the diameter of the electrode as to leave free access for the surrounding air.
In constructing a lamp according to this invention I prefer to arrange both of
the electrodes to be forced forward by spiral springs arranged within the tubes T
which serve to support them; but it will be readily understood that one of the
electrodes only may be forced forward by such a spring, and the other electrode be
arranged to be moved by means of rigid pieces, levers, racks or pinions whose
movement will be controlled by the single spring which is then utilized to produce
this movement.
The improvements above described may be applied to all classes of voltaic arc
lamps, and the electrodes may be arranged.horizontally, vertically, or inclined, at
an angle to one another or parallel, or in any other suitable manner.
.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by
my Foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I Claim :-
First, An apparatus for regulating the advance of the electrodes in electric are
amps, the said apparatus being constructed with a tube or envelope of metal or

page_text: other suitable material enclosing a portion of the electrode and carrying at one of
its extremities, near the point of the electrode, a ring or washer, forming as top or
abutment, in such a manner as to leave a free space between the said ring or washer
and the end of the said tube, to permit the electrode to be segregated by the action
of the air and heat, and thereby facilitate the progressive and regular advance of
the said electrodes, the said ring or washer being held in a sleeve provided with
arms or projections as shown in the drawing, or otherwise supported for the purpose
specified.
Second: The different modifications or arrangements of the said apparatus above
described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirteenth day of December in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two
W. KUB, LAKE.. (L.S.)
КОБ,