Improvements in AE DI
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1895-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1895
Improvements in AE DI
I, WILLIAM GEIPEL, of 49 Kidbrooke Park Road, Blackheath in the County
of Kent, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to that part of the mechanism of electrical arc lamps which
comprises the control of the feed and regulation of the are during the passage of
the electric current, and has for its object the production of an arc lamp which
may be manufactured simply and in an economical manuer, is effective in action,
and requires the minimum amount of the electrical energy to be derived from the
circuit in the regulation of the arc.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a balanced pivotted frame con-
taining a clockwork train and accessories, carrying upon one side of the pivot or
fulcrum the core or armature of a solenoid or magnet suitably attached by a
flexible or linked connection, and upon the opposite side of said fulcrum a pinion,
the teeth of which engage with those of a circular, helical or other rack, forming
part of or being attached to, the carbon holder. The weight of the core or
armature is arranged to balance, or approximately counterpoise the weight of the
carbon-holder, the pull of the solenoid or magnet when energised, giving the
necessary motion for striking the arc, and parting the carbon electrodes. In order
to regulate the rate of the feed, I cause the pinion aforesaid to engage with a train
of wheels, terminating with an escapement and pendulum, or its equivalent. The
action may be described as follows, that is to say ;-
When
When the electric current is switched on, the solenoid or magnet being energised,
pulls by magnetic attraction, one end of the frame carrying the clock train and
escapement, and raises the pinion, and the toothed rod or rack with the carbon
electrode. The frame aforesaid is thus tilted to such an angle that the pendulum
rests against a stop, and thus checks the feed motion until the magnetic pull of the
solenoid or magnet is reduced by the diminution of the energising current, due to
the increased resistance of the electric arc as the carbons are burnt away.
this takes place, the pinion end of the frame is gradually lowered upon its pivot or
fulcrum, until the pendulum is freed from the rest before referred to, and thus
releases the escapement until the rod carrying the carbon descends by gravity
sufficiently to cause the resistance of the arc to become within the limit of balance
so that the energising of the solenoid or magnet may again check the feed. I may
use two solenoids or magnets, one on each side of the pivot or fulcrum, one being
in series with the arc, and one as a shunt across the arc, or said solenoids or
magnets may be differently connected or wound.
It will be observed, in the action of the mechanism, that the regulation has
a retractile power, that is to say, in the event of the carbon electrodes being fed
too much, the frame is tilted so as to render the arc normal, by parting the
carbons.
1 do not confine myself to the counterpoise effected by placing the solenoid or
magnet core (in the case of one being used) on the opposite side of the fulcrum to
that of the carbon holder, but may use an independent counterweight, and effect
the connection by any suitable combination of links or levers, and I also may in
some cases dispense with a pendulum, and use a star wheel, or air brake or balance,

page_text: and may use an adjustable stop, and further, may substitute for or add to the
counterpoise, a spring or springs to increase the sensitiveness of the motion.
I do not confine myself to the use of a rack and rod for carrying the carbon
electrode, and in some cases I may fix upon the shaft which carries the pinion, a
drum round which is wound a cord, to which is attached the carbon holder, which
may be a rod, or a weight, working between guides or the like to maintain the
proper axis with relation to the opposite electrode, and may adopt any known
method of working said electrodes so that the lamp may be automatically
focussed.
Dated this 10th day of October 1904
FREDK. WALKER,
73 St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E., Agent for the Applicant.
improvements in Are Electric Lamps.
I WILLIAM GEIPEL, of 49 Kidbrooke Park Road, Blackheath, in the County
of Kent, 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:-
My invention relates to that part of the mechanism of electrical are lamps
which comprises the control of the feed and regulation of the arc during the
passage of the electric current, and has for its object the production of an are
lamp which may be manufactured simply and in an economical manner; is effective
in action, and requires the minimum amount of electrical energy to be derived
from the circuit in the regulation of the arc.
In order that my invention may be clearly rendered, I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the regulating gear of one form of lamp, and
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of an alternative device, in which a rack is
dispensed with, and a chain or like flexible suspension substituted therefor.
Similar letters of reference are used throughout the several views where
practicable to indicate corresponding parts.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a balanced frame A pivotted at a,
which contains a clock work train and accessories, and carrying upon one side of
the pivot or fulcrum a, the core B of a solenoid C, or I may substitute therefor
the armature of a magnet to fulfil the same functions. Said core or armature B is
suitably attached to the frame A by a linked connection, or any suitable attach-
ment. Upon the opposite side of said fulcrum a, a pinion D is borne by the frame,
the teeth of which engage with those of a circular, helical or other rack E, forming
part of, or being attached to, the carbon holder. The weight of the core or
armature B is arranged to balance or approximately counterpoise the weight of the
carbon holder, the pull of the solenoid or magnet C, when energised giving the
necessary motion for striking the arc and parting the carbon electrodes. In order
to regulate the rate of the feed, I cause the pinion D to engage with a train of
wheels terminating with an escapement F and pendulum G, or an equivalent device.
A stop H is attached to the rigid framework of the lamp, above the escapement F
aforesaid, and may consist of a steel or other metal tongue, bent so as to afford a
certain degree of elasticity.
The action of the mechanism may be described as follows; that is to say ;-
When the electric current is switched on, the solenoid or magnet being
energised, pulls by magnetic attraction one end of the frame A, which being
pivotted at a, raises the pinion D and the toothed rod or rack E with the carbon

page_text: lectrode. The frame H is tilted to such an angle that the escapement E 13
ressed against the stop H, and thus the feed motion is checked until the magnetic
ull of C is reduced by the diminution of the energising current due to the increased
When this takes
esistance of the electric arc as the carbons are burnt away.
place the pinion end of the frame A is gradually lowered upon the fulcrum a until
the escapement F is freed from the stop H, and the pendulum G may again
scillate, releasing the train of wheels until the rod E carrying the carbon electrode
descends by gravity sufficiently to cause the resistance of the arc to become within
the limit of balance so that the energising of the solenoid or magnet C may again
check the feed. I may use two solenoids or magnets, one upon each side of
the end of the frame A, as shown by the dotted outline, Figure 1, or one upon
each side of the fulcrum a. For series working lamps I wind the lower solenoid
or magnet with coarse wire of comparatively low resistance, and connected in series
with the arc, and the top solenoid or magnet wound with fine wire of high resistance,
and coupled as a shunt to said are, or to suit certain conditions appertaining to any
particular electrical circuit, 1 may cause the said solenoids or magnets may be
differently connected or wound. It will be observed, in the action of this mechanism
that the regulation has a retractile power, that is to say, in the event of the carbou
electrode being fed too much, the frame A is tilted upon its fulcrum a to such a
degree as to render the are normal by parting the carbons. I do not confine myself
to the counterpoise effected by placing the solenoid or magnet C (in the case of one
being used) on the opposite side of the fulcrum a to that of the carbon holder, but
may use an independent counterweight, and effect the connection by any suitable
combination of links or levers, and I also may in some cases dispense with a
pendulum and use a star wheel, or air brake or balance, and may cause the stop H
to be adjustable, and so attach it to the frame as to cause it to check the pendulum G
or its equivalent instead of impinging upon the escapement I as shown.
I do not confine myself to the use of a rack or rod E for carrying the carbon
electrode, and in some cases I may fix upon the spindles (which in Figures 1 and 2
suj ports the pinion D) a drum or pulley I over which passes a cord or chain c
Figure 3, to which is attached the slide J or its equivalent, carrying the carbon
holder. The other end of said cord, chain or the like may be connected to the
lower carbon holder so that the lamp may be maintained at a constant focus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
First. In an arc electric lamp, the combination of a balanced pivotted frame
carrying a clock train and escapement, with a magnet or solenoid, the core or
armature of which balances the weight of the carbon holder and accessories
together with a check or stop, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described, with reference to the appended drawings.
Second. In an arc electric lamp, the combination of a pivotted frame as referred
to in the preceding claim, with a toothed rod or rack carrying a carbon electrode
substantially as herein described and shown by Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
Third. In an are electric lamp the combination of a pivotted frame as referred
to in the preceding claims with a drum, pulley, or the like I, Figure 3 of the
drawings, and a cord, chain or the like carrying a carbon electrode or electrodes
substantially as described and shown.
This 10th day of Jul. 1905
FREDK. WALKER,
73 St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, London, E.,
Agent for the Applicant.