Improvement in Arc Lamps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1804
Improvement in Arc Lamps.
I, JOHN EDWARD WOOLVERTON, a citizen of the United States, and resident
of 68 Third Avenue, in the City of New York in the County and State of New
York, Watchmaker, 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 arc lamps and its object is to provide simple and efficient
means for positively feeding the carbons or electrodes of the lamp and to permanently
maintain the arc of the lamp in fixed relative position.
The invention consists of the construction hereinafter set forth.
On
A and B are upper and lower cross bars united by the rods C and C' to form a
frame. Another cross bar D is provided with sleeves c and sliding on the
rods C C at their upper ends. Checkouts e" and care screw threaded on the
rods beneath the sleeves and serve to limit their downward movement.
the upper side of the cross bar D is fixed a bar D' of magnetizable metal to serve
as an armature. Upon the under side of the bar D, are fixed a pair of converging
tubes E and E', slotted on their opposing faces as seen at e¹. These tubes are
firmly united by means of a pair of brace rods F and F and a single brace rod G.
A pair of tubes slotted upon their opposing faces, as shown at h, are fixed at their
upper ends to the lower side of the bar D and at the lower ends to the brace
rod G, passing between the brace rods F and F'. A pair of lazy tongs are hung
between the tubes H and H' at K, and their pivot L. is extended at each so as to
pass into the tubes through their slots.
The tubes E and E' are provided with a pair of movable carbon holders M and M',
having lugs protruding through their slots, to which the free ends of the tongs are
pivotally connected. The carbons or electrodes N and N¹ are firmly fixed in these
carbon holders.
Upon the lower cross har B, directly beneath the tubes E and E', is mounted a
pair of converging tubes R and R', united by the upper and lower brace rods S
and S. These tubes are rotably supported in place by means of a pivot Y, on the
bar B, upon which the rod S' rests. The rods S and S₁ are united by a pair of
tubes T T, slotted upon their inner faces, and between these tubes are a pair of
lazy tongs I, pivotally connected at their upper ends to a pair of movable carbou
holders w, w', in the tubes R and R', and pivotally connected at their lower ends
to the movable_weights W and W₁ also in the tubes R and R', but below the
holders w, w'. The tongs I are provided with two pivots u, u' which are extended
so as to pass into the tubes T, T¹, through their slots and freely move therein as
the tongs are operated. The tubes R and R' at their upper ends are provided
with the regulating levers and r¹, respectively, adapted to bear through anti-
friction rollers upon the carbons R2 and R3 fixed in the holders w, wo. These
levers have regulating screws 11 and 11, and operate to hold the ends of the lower
carbons together and at the same time prevent undue friction between the carbon
holders and their tubes.
Between the cross bars A and D are fixed a pair of dash pots O, O', and upon
the lower side of the bar A, above the armature D', is mounted an electro-
magnet P. The circuit of the lamp is from the wire 1, through the branch
wires 2, 2, through the tubes E and E', upper carbons N', lower carbons,
tubes R R¹, brace rod S¹, pivot Y, wire 3, rod 'C', wire 4, coils P and out to the
main circuit. The current through this circuit energizes the coils P and attracts

page_text: its armature D', thus lifting the bar D and with it the upper carbons N and N.
The arc is then formed. The upper carbons, N and N¹ protruding from their
tubes E and E', converge, and meet in firm contact, in which position they are
constantly held by reason of their own weight and that of their lazy tongs. The
lower carbons R2 and R3 in the same way meet in a common point beneath the
upper carbons and are held in this position by means of the weights W and W₁,
operating upon the carbons through the lazy tongs I¹. The tubes E, E' and R, Ri
serve to guide the carbons in their movement. As the carbons are consumed their
own weight and that of their lazy tongs positively feed them forward. The lazy
tongs perform a very important function in effecting an equal feeding of both of
the carbons of a pair, thus preventing one carbon of a pair from slipping past its
mate and coming into contact with the carbons of the other pair. Both pairs are
thus fed uniformly and evenly, and in the form of lamp I have shown the arc is
maintained in a constant focus. I prefer to use lazy tongs to accomplish this
function but do not wish to be limited to this particular means, as other means may
be substituted therefor without departing from the broad spirit of my invention.
Other electrodes may of course be substituted for the carbons. Moreover, if
desired, for one electrode of one or both pairs may be substituted a non-arcing
electrode, the circuit in this case traversing only the arcing electrodes. Thus a
rod of magnesium or other incandescing substance may take the place of the
electrode N or R2 or both and the arc of the lamp will still as before be
maintained in a constant focus, the light from the magnesium being added to
the light from the arc. In place of the maguet P for separating the electrodes,
a solenoid or other electro-magnetic means may be substituted. Various other
changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :
1. In an arc lamp the combination of a pair of converging rods, one at least of
which is an arcing electrode, and a corresponding arcing electrode, with means
for equalizing the feed of the pair of rods comprising a pair of lazy tongs
mechanically connected therewith, substantially as set forth.
2. In an arc lamp, the combination of a pair of upper converging rods and a pair
of lower converging rods, one at least of each pair being an arcing electrode,
with means for equalizing the feed of both members of each pair of rods com-
prising a pair of lazy tongs mechanically connected therewith, substantially as set
forth.
3. In an arc lamp, the combination of a pair of upper converging rods and a
pair of lower converging rods, one at least of each pair being an arcing.
electrode with means for equalizing the feed of both members of each pair of
rods comprising guide tubes for the rods and a pair of lazy tongs mechanically
connected therewith, substantially as set forth.
4. In an arc lamp, the combination of a pair of upper converging rods, one at
least of which is an arcing electrode, and a lower arcing electrode, with means
for equalizing the feed of said pair of upper rods comprising a pair of lazy tongs
mechanically connected with the said pair of rods, and guide tubes therefor,,
substantially as set forth.
5. In an are lamp, the combination of a pair of upper converging rods, one at
least of which is an arcing electrode, and a lower arcing electrode, with means for
feeding said pair of rods, comprising a pair of lazy tongs mechanically connecte i
with the said rods and guide tubes for the rods, and electro-magnetic means for
separating the electrodes controlled by the circuit for the lamp, substantially as set
forth.
6. In an arc lamp, the combination of a pair of upper converging rods, a pair of
lower converging rods, one at least of each pair being an arcing electrode, with
means for equalizing the feed of both members of each pair of rods comprising a
pair of lazy tongs for each pair of rods and guide tubes for the rods, substantially
as set forth.

page_text: 7. In an arc lamp, the combination of a pair of upper converging rods, a pair of
lower converging rods, one at least of each pair being an arcing electrode, with
means for equalising the feed of both members of each pair of rods, guide tubes for
the rods, and electro-magnetic means for separating the electrodes controlled by
the circuit for the lamp, substantially as set forth.
8. In an arc lamp, the combination of a main frame having a pair of vertical
rods, a cross bar for supporting a pair of lazy tongs carrying a pair of converging
rods, one at least of which is an electrode, and moving up and down on said
vertical rods, with electro-magnetic means for operating the cross bar.
Dated this 5th day of February 1894.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.