A Hand-feed Lamp or Regulator for the Electric Arc Light for Projection Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Hand-feed Lamp or Regulator for the Electric Arc Light for
Projection Purposes.
I, CECIL MILTON HEPWORTH Gentleman, of 45 St. Augustine's Road Camden
Square, London N.W., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
―
A lamp or regulator for the electric arc light for employment primarily with the
optical or magic lantern and search-lights, and in a slightly simplified form for
theatrical purposes. Its principal parts are two carbon-holders supported by guide-
rods which may be round, square or triangular in section. The upper carbon-
holder is furnished with an adjustible screw by which its relative position with
regard to the lower carbon may be slightly varied as may be required. Both guide
rods are furnished with racks which engage with a pinion-wheel, by which the
carbon holders are caused to approach or recede from one another, either slowly
by means of a worm-wheel, or, quickly, for convenience in renewing carbons, by
means of a milled nut. In the latter case the before-mentioned worm-wheel is
thrown out of gear for the time being. Attached to the framework carrying the.
guide-rods is a rack-work movement which by means of a rod and milled-nut
enables the two carbons to be bodily raised or lowered so as to bring the arc
into the optical axis of any lens system or reflector with which the lamp may be
employed. The worm-wheel above mentioned performs another important function
in rapidly striking the are by bringing the carbon points together by a push
motion, a coiled spring on its shaft causing it to fly back to its normal position,
immediately after the arc is thus established or re-established.
The materials used in the construction of the lamp may be a combination of
brass, alluminium or other metals in conjunction with vulcanized fibre or other
non-conducting medium. It is fitted with a double base-plate, the upper one, of
metal, being pivoted on the lower one, preferably of vulcanized fibre, so as to
allow of a slight lateral movement which is controlled by a set screw, rack and
pinion or other mechanical movement. A screw, or rack movement may also be
employed for giving the entire apparatus a forward and backward motion on its
base. The upper carbon-holder is readily removeable for convenience of packing,
and the lower one is insulated, the current being conveyed to it by a metal elbow
piece, a sliding contact or by a flexible metallic conductor.
10 d. of Tune 1x05
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Hand-feed Lamp or Regulator for the Electric Arc Light for
Projection Purposes.
I, CECIL MILTON HEPWORTH Gentleman, late of 45 St. Augustine's Road
Camden Square, N.W. and now of 10 Lysias Road, Balham Hill, London, S. W.
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:-
This invention consists of an arrangement or combination of parts for the

page_text: regulation or adjustment of the two carbons in an electric arc lamp for use
primarily with the optical or magic lantern, search lights & for theatrical
purposes, such as the production or illumination of scenic effects and the like.
.
Its principal parts are two carbon-holders, A. & B, in the drawings, Figs. I & II,
which are attached to the ends of guide rods D. & E. of brass or other suitable
material, but insulated therefrom, electrically, by a junction-piece, or pieces C. of
vulcanized fibre or other non-conducting substance. Either or both carbon-
holders may be so insulated as desired, electric connection being made with the
insulated part or parts, by means of sliding contacts, metal elbow-pieces or flexible
metallic conductors. The guide rods D. & E. which may be round, square or
triangular in section & which may be slotted or otherwise prevented from rotating,
are carried in bearings in the box or casting F. so that they are capable of sliding
or being moved in the direction of their length. The guide-rods D. & E. have
toothed racks cut upon, or fastened to, them which engage with a pinion G,
working between them & gearing into both, in such a manner that when the toothed
pinion G is rotated, the two guide rods D. & E. carrying the two carbon-
holders A. & B. move at equal rates and in opposite directions, causing the
carbon-holders A. & B. to approach or recede from one another.
The pinion G. is extended at one side & connected with a toothed tangent-
wheel H. & thereafter with a milled head I, by means of which, rotary motion may
be applied by hand directly, or by means of a worm-wheel M, gearing into the
said tangent-wheel, causing the two carbons, in their holders A. & B. to approach,
or recede from, one another.
To another portion of the box or casting F. is swivelled or otherwise attached a
tube, or bearing J. in which the rod, K. is free to rotate and also to slide in the
direction of its length. The rod K. terminates at one end in a disc or handle L.
for convenience of manipulation, & at the other in a worm-wheel M. in such a
manner that: (1) a rotary motion applied to the rod K. imparts a slower rotary
motion to the pinion G. thereby causing the gradual approach or recession of
the carbon holders A. & B. and (2) a push or forward sliding motion, applied
to the rod K. imparts a quick rotary motion to the pinion G. thereby causing
the quick approach of the carbon-holders A. & B. A. spiral or other spring
upon the rod K. or other portion of the machanism, serves to keep the rod K. &
its worm-wheel in their normal position, & to bring about the subsequent separation
of the carbons to their normal distance, after they have been brought together
for a moment, by the push, or forward motion applied to the rod, K. as
described, for the purpose of "striking or establishing the arc between the
carbon points.
"
The bearing, J. in which the rod, K. turns & slides being swivelled to the main
casting, F. allows of the worm-wheel, M. being thrown out of gear with the
tangent wheel H, thus leaving the latter capable of being turned directly by hand
for quickly separating the carbon-holders A. & B. when one pair of carbons have
been consumed, & it is desired to replace them with new ones.
The upper of positive carbon holder, A. is variable as regards its length so that
the positive carbon may be placed either directly over the negative & in the same
straight line or behind or in front of it, according to the conditions & requirements
of the electric circuit, or of the projection apparatus employed. This adjustment
is brought about in the manner shown in Fig. II. A head piece, N. attached
directly or by means of insulating material to the guide-rod, D. has two parallel
holes drilled in it, at right angles to the guide rod. Two rods O. O. pass
through these holes and are capable of sliding or being moved to-and-fro, therein.
They are connected at one end with the actual carbon-holder A, & at the other
end with a plate of metal P. having a central screw hole in which the adjusting
screw, Q. fits. One end of this screw is pinioned in the head piece, N. the other
end being fitted with a disc, or handle either insulated, or of insulating material
if required, by which the screw can be the more conveniently manipulated, & the
backward or forward displacement of the upper carbon, with regard to, the lower

page_text: adjusted. The space between the rods, O. O. should be sufficient to allow the
ends of the lower guide-rod E, to pass between them when the two carbon holders
are brought close together. Other forms of carbon-holder may be employed, either
adjustable or not as required.
The main casting or box, F. is supported on a rod or tube, R. which may be
similar or different to the guide rods, D. & E. and which is capable of sliding or
being moved in the direction of its length in the box or bearing, S. A toothed
pinion attached to the rod T. & engaging with a rack cut upon, or attached to
the rod or tube R. forms a means by which the lamp or regulator may be
raised or lowered into position in any lens or reflector system with which it may
be employed. A screw motion may be used to produce the same results, if
desired.
The bearing, or box, S. is attached to a plate U, preferably of metal, which is
swivelled to a base plate, V. of metal, or preferably of some non-conducting
material. A slot in the upper plate, U, and a set screw, W. provide for a limited
radial motion of the lamp, upon its base, & for clamping it in any desired position.
A rack & pinion or a screw movement may be used in place of the set screw, &
to-and-fro motion may also be provided for by a screw movement, rack & pinion, or
slot & set screw.
In place of the adjusting mechanism above described, the main casting or box, F.
may be connected directly to the base by a vertical pillar, or by any other suitable
means, & the lamp may be employed in a vertical or horizontal position, or inclined
at an angle as shown in the drawing.
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. The method of employing two guide rods carrying the carbon holders, and
sliding one on either side of a central toothed pinion which engages in the teeth of
the racks fastened to, or cut in the said guide rods so that the movement of
the said guide rods, when actuated by the pinion, is equal, but in opposite
directions.
2. The method of imparting motion to the said pinion by means of a toothed, or
tangent wheel, gearing into a worm-wheel, which is turned by hand, by means of a
disc, or handle, projecting from the lamp, in the manner
for the purpose
described.
3. The method of throwing the said worm-wheel out of gear with the said
tangent wheel, so that the pinion may be rapidly turned by hand, directly & the
racked guide rods actuated and the carbon-holders rapidly separated or brought
together in the manner described.
4. The arrangement for quickly "striking" or establishing the arc between the
carbon points, by which the said worm-wheel is made to act the part of a rack,
& by a forward, or push motion to turn the pinion & bring the carbons together as
described, & afterwards separate them again to their former distance, by means of
a spring acting in a contrary direction, upon the said worm-wheel.
5. The form of adjustable carbon holder for clamping the carbon in position &
the means of adjusting the length of the carbon holder, & the position of the one
carbon, in respect of the other.
6. The arrangement & combination of parts for holding the two carbons of an
electric arc lamp for the purposes of optical projection in the manner above
described, and as shown in the drawings Figs. I & II, and the method of feeding
together, or separating the two carbons by hand.
Dated this 18th day of March 1896.
CECIL M. HEPWORTH.