Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1893-Accepted, 10th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
We, ADDISON GOODYEAR WATERHOUSE, of 302 Albany Avenue, Hartford,
Connecticut, United States of America, Electrician and THE WATERHOUSE
ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LIMITED, of 33 Old Broad Street
in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
--
Our invention relates to improvements in that class of lamps known as gravity
clutch-feed lamps, and consists of means for producing a constant and steady feed
of the carbon rod, by causing the liberating point or surface to move away from
the clutch, as the carbon rod or holder moves downward as hereinafter described.
Figure 1, shows one form of lamp in which a plunger is employed working inside
of the carbon rod or holder.
Figure 2 shows another form having a clock work mechanism, and
Figure 3 shows a lamp in which magnetic means are employed to produce the
result.
Referring now to Figure 1 F is a frame which holds the main or lifting magnet M,
and the shunt or feeding magnet S, one spool of each magnet is shown to work on
the armature A, the cross yoke Y being shown in cross-section. Connected to
yoke Y by link is the lifting clutch C, which engages the carbon rod R, and by
the action of the magnet M, acting through the clutch C, the carbon rod R is raised
and supported for the purpose of forming and maintaining the arc.
The opposite
action of the shunt coil S lowers the carbon rod, and by causing the tail C₁ of the
clutch C to press against the liberating surface formed by the saddle L, allows the
carbon rod R to feed or slide through the clutch C. So far, the action is the same
as in the common form of clutch-feed lamp. Our present invention consists in
causing the first downward movement of the rod to move the saddle L away from
the clutch C, and compel the clutch C to arrest the motion of the rod; then before
the rod R can feed any further, the saddle L must slide up the said rod until it
strikes the clutch C, when the rod feeds again, and at the same time carries the
saddle L away from the clutch; it therefore arrests the feed of the rod again, and
in that way the motion is repeated and the rod caused to feed a minute distance
each operation until the carbon comes close enough to reduce the resistance
between the carbons, when the shunt magnet S weakens and allows the main
magnet M to move the clutch upward slightly. The saddle L will then strike
against the stop D, and arrest its upward motion before it reaches the clutch C.
The feed motion is then suspended until the lengthening of the arc again moves the
clutch down until it presses against the saddle L, when the operation of feeding is
resumed, until checked as above described.
So far the description relates to all those lamps of the forms shown in the
drawings.
In our improved lamp we provide means which will perform the following
functions.
1st. To hold a movable liberating point or surface for the clutch to press against,
so as to allow of the carbon rod sliding through the clutch; 2nd. To cause the first
downward motion of the rod to carry the liberating point or surface away from its
contact with the clutch, so that the clutch will immediately arrest the downward
motion of the rod; 3rd. To cause the said liberating point or surface to slowly
inove up the rod, while the rod is held stationary until it again presses against the
clutch, while the said clutch remains within the reach of its motion. All of these

page_text: functions are performed by means differing in detail as shewn for example in the
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The lamp shewn in Figure 1, performs these duties by means of a plunger P,
hung inside of the carbon rod R, and surrounded with glycerine, or other viscous
fluid, so as to cause the plunger to move slowly in the rod. The plunger P, is con-
nected to the rod P1, and hung, by the spring O, to the top of the lamp tube T.
There is also connected near the top of the rod P', a side rod or wire W, which
extends downward along the outside of the carbon rod R, to the saddle L, to which
it is connected. The saddle L, is free to slide on the rod R and offers a liberating
point or surface which, if the clutch C, presses thereon causes the said clutch to
liberate the carbon rod, and allow it to feed by gravitation. The saddle L, wire W,
rod P and plunger P, are all rigidly connected together, and hung by the spring O,
which has just tension enough to support the parts and hold them up, so that the
saddle L will press upward against the stop D, and also be sufficiently supported to
resist the downward pressure of the tail C¹ of the clutch C, when the said clutch
releases the rod K, and allows it to slide through.
The action of these parts is as follows; that is to say when the controlling
magnets cause the clutch C to press downward on the saddle L, the carbon rod R
slides down and carries with it the plunger P. This lengthens the spring O, and
at the same time acts through the rod P and wire W to move the saddle down and
away from its contact with the clutch C causing the clutch to instantly arrest the
motion of the rod R. While the said rod R is held suspended by the clutch, the
spring drawing on the plunger, slowly moves it up in the fluid, and with it the saddle L,
which returns to the stop D, again presses against the clutch and causes the rod to
feed, whereupon the series of movements is repeated. The rod R working down
by slow degrees reduces the resistance between the carbons, until the controlling
magnet raises the clutch above the reach of the saddle L, or until the saddle strikes
against the stop D before it can reach the clutch. When the arc lengthens and the
clutch is lowered again the feeding motion is resumed.
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?"
Figure 2 shows another form of mechanism, adapted for performing the same
duties, consisting of a swinging frame H, which is pivoted to a bell crank. This
crank is composed of an upright part 6, which is pivoted at land has a horizontal
arm weighted at W, so that the weight W, will swing the part toward the
carbon rod R, and cause the pulley friction roller r which is placed in the swinging
end of the frame H, to press against the carbon rod R, and roll or revolve, as the
carbon rod is moved up or down. The escapement wheel E, is connected to
the roller so as to revolve with it and the anchor or pallet B' is pivoted to the
frame H, and engages with the wheel, E, so as to prevent it and the roller from
revolving beyond a certain speed, which, in this case, is made quite slow by the
fan or pendulum blade fº connected to the pallet B¹. The frame H, roller wheel E,
and the pallet B are supported by the spring X, which is secured in the top of the
lamp frame F, and which draws the frame H, up until the finger strikes against
the frame E, and holds it in place firm enough, so that when the clutch C lowers,
and its tail screw C¹ presses down on the frame H, it allows the carbon rod R, to
slide down and feed. As soon as the carbon rod R, moves down, it carries the
frame H, with it, that is, the end holding the roller r by reason of the friction due
to contact between and R; this of course swings H, down and away from
clutch C, and compels it to engage the rod R, and arrest its motion; then while
the rod is held by C, the spring X draws upward on frame H, causes the roller r
to roll up on the rod R slowly, its motion being retarded by the wheel E and
pallet B. After the frame H moves up, it again presses against the clutch C,
and the feeding operation is resumed, until the regulating magnets raise the clutch
above the reach of the said frame H.
Figure 3 shows another form of mechanism adapted for obtaining the same
results. In this form M and S are the regulating magnets, which work the lifting
clutch C, through means of the upright link a', which leads from the armature
yoke to the free end a³ of the lever a which is pivoted to the lamp F at a². The

page_text: said clutch C is hung to the lever a by means of the link a' the tail end thereof
resting upon a lever c which forms a liberating point or surface, for enabling the
clutch to press on, and cause the carbon rod R, to feed. The lever c is pivoted to
the lamp frame at 2 and at its end c¹ is hung or pivoted a second clutch 9 which
engages the carbon rod R, and is arranged so that when the rod R, is allowed to
feed or slide through it, the said clutch 9 is carried down with the rod carrying the
free end of the lever e down and away from the tail end of the clutch C, which thereby
arrests the motion of the carbon R. The second clutch g, is held up at one end by
the lever c, which in turn is supported by the spring e while the other end of
clutch 9, is drawn down by the second shunt magnet S', which has its armature S2,
hung to the tail or clutch 9. The said clutch g therefore engages with the rod R.
The second shunt magnet S¹, is connected in series with the controlling shunt
magnet S, so that when the said controlling magnet S, is strong enough to cause
the lamps to feed by drawing down on the armature A, A, Y, the second shunt
magnet S¹, is strong enough to overcome the strain of the spring d, and pull the
tail end of the clutch g down and cause it to engage with, and be carried down
with the rod R; but as soon as the lamp carbons have fed together enough to
weaken the shunts S, S' and allow the main magnet M, to raise, or support the
rod R, then the second shunt magnet S₁ being weakened, is overcome by the
spring d which draws up the tail end of the clutch y, and loosens its contact with
the rod R. The spring e will then again draw up the lever c and clutch g, so as to
press against the tail end of the main clutch C. As soon as it is moved down
again by the strengthening of the shunt magnets, due to the increasing resistance
between the carbons the operation is again repeated. It is plain that many
mechanical forms may be employed to produce the same results, and that the same
principles can be carried out in a rack-feed lamp, by causing the detent used in such
mechanisms to be moved away from its contact with the clock gearing by the
first movement of the carbon rod; as it is our object however to avoid the dis-
advantages of a rack feed, we have not shown that kind of lamp.
Dated this 11th day of April 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Arc Lamps.
We, ADDISON GOODYEAR WATERHOUSE, of 302 Albany Avenue, Hartford,
Connecticut, United States of America, Electrician, and THE WATERHOUSE
ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Limited, of 33 Old Broad Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
Our invention relates to improvements in that class of lamps known as gravity
clutch-feed lamps, and consists of means for producing a constant and steady feed
of the carbon rod, by causing the liberating point or surface to move away from the
clutch, as the carbon rod or holder moves downward as hereinafter described.
Referring to the drawings left with the Provisional Specification,
Figure 1 shows one form of lamp in which a plunger is employed working inside
of the carbon rod or holder.
Figure 2 shows another form having a clock work mechanism, and
Figure 3 shows a lamp in which magnetic means are employed to produce the
result.
In Figure 1 F is a frame which holds the main or lifting magnet M, and the
shunt or feeding magnet S. One spool of each magnet is shown to work on the
armature A, the cross yoke Y being shown in cross-section. Connected to yoke Y
by link is the lifting clutch C, which engages the carbon rod R. By the action

page_text: of the magnet M, acting through the clutch C, the carbon rod R is raised
and supported for the purpose of forming and maintaining the arc.
The opposite
action of the shunt coil S lowers the carbon rod, and by causing the tail C of the
clutch C to press against the liberating surface formed by the saddle L, allows the
carbon rod R to feed or slide through the clutch C. So far, the action is the same
as in the common form of clutch feed-lamp. Our present invention consists in
causing the first downward movement of the rod to move the saddle L away from
the clutch C, and compel the said clutch C to arrest the motion of the rod; then
before the rod R can feed any further, the saddle L must slide up the said rod
until it strikes the clutch C, whereupon the rod feeds again, and at the same time
carries the saddle L away from the clutch; it therefore arrests the feed of the rod
again, and in that way the motion is repeated and the rod caused to feed a minute
distance each operation until the carbon comes close enough to reduce the
resistance between the carbons, when the shunt magnet S weakens and allows the
main magnet M to move the clutch upward slightly. The saddle L will then
strike against the stop D, and arrest its upward motion before it reaches the
clutch C. The feed motion is then suspended until the lengthening of the arc again
moves the clutch down until it presses against the saddle L, when the operation of
feeding is resumed, until checked as above described.
So far the description relates to all those lamps of the forms shown in the
drawings.
In our improved lamp we provide means which will perform the following
functions.
1st. To hold a movable liberating point or surface for the clutch to press against,
so as to allow of the carbon rod sliding through the clutch; 2nd. To cause the first
downward motion of the rod to carry the liberating point or surface away from its
contact with the clutch, so that the clutch will immediately arrest the downward
motion of the rod; 3rd. To cause the said liberating point or surface to slowly
move up the rod, while the rod is held stationary until it again presses against the
clutch while the said clutch remains within the reach of its motion. All of these
functions are performed by means differing in detail as shewn for example in the
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The lamp shown in Figure 1, performs these duties by means of a plunger P,
hung inside of the carbon rod R, and surrounded with glycerine, or other viscous
fluid, so as to cause the plunger to move slowly in the rod. The plunger P,
is connected to the rod P', and hung, by the spring O, to the top of the lamp tube T.
There is also connected near the top of the rod P', a side rod or wire W, which
extends downward along the outside of the carbon rod R, to the saddle L, to which
it is connected. The saddle L, is free to slide on the rod R and offers a liberating
point or surface which, if the clutch C, presses thereon causes the said clutch to
liberate the carbon rod and allows it to feed by gravitation. The saddle L,
wire W, rod P and plunger P, are all rigidly connected together, and hung by the
spring O, which has just tension enough to support the parts and hold them up, so
that the saddle L will press upward against the stop D, and also be sufficiently
supported to resist the downward pressure of the tail C₁ of the clutch C, when the
said clutch releases the rod R, and allows it to slide through.
The action of these parts is as follows; that is to say, when the controlling
magnets cause the clutch C to press downward on the saddle I, the carbon rod R
slides down and carries with it the plunger P. This lengthens the spring O, and at
the same time acts through the rod PI and wire W to move the saddle down and
away from its contact with the clutch C causing the clutch to instantly arrest the
motion of the rod R. While the said rod R is held suspended by the clutch, the
spring drawing on the plunger, slowly moves it up in the fluid, and with it
the saddle L, which returns to the stop D, again presses against the clutch
and causes the rod to feed, whereupon the series of movements is repeated. The
rod R working down by slow degrees reduces the resistance between the carbons,
until the controlling magnet raises the clutch above the reach of the saddle L, or

page_text: until the saddle strikes against the stop D before it can reach the clutch. When
the arc lengthens and the clutch is lowered again the feeding motion is resumed.
Figure 2 shows another form of mechanism, adapted for performing the same
duties, consisting of a swinging frame H, which pivoted to a bell crank. This
crank is composed of an upright part b, which is pivoted at and has a horizontal
arm weighted at W, so that the weight W, will swing the part toward the
carbon rod R, and cause the pulley friction roller which is placed in the swinging
end of the frame H, to press against the carbon rod R, and roll or revolve, as the
carbon rod is moved up or down. The escapement wheel E, is connected to the
roller so as to revolve with it and the anchor or pallet B is pivoted to the frame H,
and engages with the wheel, E, so as to prevent it and the roller r from revolving
beyond a certain speed, which, in this case, is made quite slow by the fan or
pendulum blade fo connected to the pallet B. The frame H roller wheel E, and
the pallet B¹ are supported by the spring X, which is secured in the top of the
lamp frame F, and which draws the frame H, up until the finger strikes against
the frame F, and holds it in place firm enough, so that when the clutch C lowers,
and its tail screw C¹ presses down on the frame H, it allows the carbon rod R, to
slide down and feed. As soon as the carbon rod R, moves down, it carries the
frame H with it, that is, the end holding the roller, by reason of the friction due
to contact between and K; this of course swings H down and away from clutch C,
and compels it to engage the rod R and arrest its motion; then while the rod is held
by C, the spring X draws upward ou frame H, causes the roller to roll up on the
rod R slowly, its motion being retarded by the wheel E and pallet B. After the
frame H moves up, it again presses against the clutch C, and the feeding operation
is resumed, until the regulating magnets raise the clutch above the reach of the
said frame H.
C
Figure 3 shows another form of mechanism adapted for obtaining the same
results. In this form M and S are the regulating magnets, which work the lifting
clutch C, through means of the upright link a', which leads from the armature
yoke Y to the free end as of the lever a which is pivotted to the lamp frame F
at a. The said clutch C is hung to the lever a by means of the link a' the tail
end thereof resting upon a lever c which forms a liberating point or surface, for
enabling the clutch to press on, and cause the carbon rod R, to feed. The lever c
is pivoted to the lamp frame at c² and at its end c' is hung or pivoted a second
clutch g which engages the carbon rod R, and is arranged so that when the rod R,
is allowed to feed or slide through it, the said clutch y is carried down with the rod
carrying the free end of the lever c down and away from the tail end of the
clutch C, which thereby arrests the motion of the carbon rod R. The second
clutch is held up at one end by the lever e, which in turn is supported by the
spring e, while the other end of clutch g is drawn down by the second shunt
magnet S, which has its armature S2, hung to the tail or clutch g. The said
clutch g therefore engages with the rod R. The second shunt magnet S¹, is
connected in series with the controlling shunt magnet S, so that when the said
controlling magnet S, is strong enough to cause the lamps to feed by drawing down
on the armature A, A, Y, the second shunt magnet S', is strong enough to over-
come the strain of the spring d, and pull the tail end of the clutch, down and
cause it to engage with, and be carried down with the rod R; but, as soon as the
lamp carbons have fed together enough to weaken the shunts S, S¹ and allow the
main magnet M, to raise, or support the rod R, then the second shunt magnet Si
being weakened, is overcome by the spring d which draws up the tail end of the
clutch 9, and loosens its contact with the rod R. The spring e will then again draw
up the lever c and clutch g, so as to press against the tail end of the main clutch C.
As soon as it is moved down again by the strengthening of the shunt magnets, due
to the increasing resistance between the carbons the operation is again repeated.
It is plain that many mechanical forms may be employed to produce the same
results and that the same principles can be carried out in a rack feed lamp, by
causing the detent used in such mechanisms to be moved away from its contact

page_text: with the clock gearing by the first movement of the carbon rod; as it is our
object however to avoid the disadvantages of a rack feed, we have not shown that
kind of lamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:―
1. In an electric are lamp, a feeding mechanism consisting of a main or lifting
clutch actuated by the controlling magnets, and a liberating point or surface
against which the said clutch can press, in order to cause the carbon rod to feed or
slide through the clutch; said liberating point or surface being provided with a
mechanism adapted for causing the feeding motion of the carbon rod to remove it
from its contact with the clutch, thereby causing the clutch to arrest the motion of
the rod, and with mechanism to cause said liberating point, or surface, to slowly
return to its former position after the motion of the carbon rod is arrested; for the
purposes set forth.
2. In an electric arc lamp, a feeding mechanism consisting of a main lifting
clutch, actuated by the controlling magnet, and a liberating point adapted to be
moved away from its contact with the main clutch by the first movement of the
carbon rod and having means for returning it to its original position, for the
purposes set forth.
3. In an electric arc lamp, a movable detent or liberating point, adapted to be
moved away from the position at which it is capable of causing the carbon rod to
feed, by the downward movement of the carbon rod, and a slow moving mechanism
for drawing the liberating point back to its original position; substantially as, and
for the purposes set forth.
4. An electric arc lamp having embodied therein the improved feed-mechanism
constructed substantially as described with reference to any of the accompanying
drawings and operating as specified.
Dated this 0th day of May 1902
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.