Improvements in or relating to Electric Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Electric Lamps.
I, LEO HORWITZ, Manufacturer of Poststrasse 4, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
--
This invention relates to electric lamps and is particularly suitable for miners'
use and possesses the following advantages over those hitherto known.
The glow lamp is fitted with an adjustable reflector which permits of the fila-
ment being set exactly to focus, so as to concentrate the rays of light and avoid
their undue dispersion. Both glow lamp and reflector can turn in any direction
so that it is possible to light the galléry and even the roof and floor thereof without
having to move the whole of the apparatus. Another important advantage of
this lamp is that it contains a second glow lamp which is automatically switched
in when the first is burnt out or damaged. A hand switch is also provided for
the purpose of switching out the first and switching in the second and vice versa.
The apparatus is moreover so contrived that a permanent magnetization of the
parts constituting the automatic switch and a sticking fast of the same are avoided,
and its proper working ensured at all times.
The improved lamp consists of a light box or casing in the front part of which
the switching device is located: the casing must be air tight so as to prevent
the ignition of fire-damp. by electric sparks. The automatic switch consists of
an electro-magnet the armature of which is constantly attracted as long as the
current flows through the main glow lamp, but is retracted by a spring and
switches in the second lamp when the filament of the first breaks etc. The rear
part of the casing contains a storage battery provided on two opposite sides
with strips of lead which on one side bears against springs connected with the
lamps circuit. The main lamp is connected by means of a ball joint to the
handle which serves for carrying or hanging the lamp. A parabolic reflector
surrounds the main lamp and is fitted with a screw thread permitting of its being
adjusted on a ring or socket so as to bring brightest portion of the filament to
the focus of the paraboloid. The second glow lamp is fitted to the front of the
box or casing above the projecting handle of the hand switch,, which is also
rendered air tight where it passes through the said front.
In a convenient form of the apparatus the handle of the apparatus is fitted with
a ball joint forming part of the mounting of the main glow lamp. This mounting
is fitted with a ring the exterior of which is provided with a screw thread on
which the parabolic reflector is screwed and secured in position by its internally
screw threaded ring. Conducting wires covered say with india rubber tubing which
protects them against dampness and prevents gases from entering the apparatus,
connect the lamp with the inside of the latter. The front part of the box is con-
stituted by a shallow compartment which contains the switching device and is
fitted in front with a lid forming an air tight joint and carrying the second glow
lamp.
The automatic switch consists of an electro-magnet the armature of which is

page_text: pivoted. This armature is fitted with a conducting spring which can come in
contact with an adjustable contact a spiral spring tends to keep the armature away
from the magnet. In the lower part of this front compartment is a switching
lever which can be moved by means of the handle over any one of three con-
tacts 1, 2 and 3. When the lever is on say the contact 1 both lamps are out of
circuit and the armature is pressed against the cores of the electro-magnet. If
now the switching lever is placed on say the contact 2 the current from the
storage battery runs from terminal to the switch lever contact 2 electric magnet
and to the lamp which it energizes: thence it returns to the opposite pole of
the battery through another wire and terminal. If the lamp gets damaged
through any cause or other the circuit is broken and the electro-magnet ceases
to attract its armature which is then brought in contact with the adjustable contact
by the action of a spring. The current runs now. to the second lamp and back
from it to the battery.
If it is desired from the first to use only the second lamp the lever is brought
on the third contact the current then flowing from the terminal through the
switch lever and contact 3 thence to the second and thence back to battery.
The rear part of the box or casing contains the storage battery which is simply
put in the box, the lead contact strip with which this battery is provided being
pressed against the spring contacts by a spring provided on the lid. When
the storage battery has received a fresh charge, it is placed again in the box but
in such a manner that the other strips come this time in contact with the spring
contacts the current flowing in consequence in a reverse direction through the
electro-magnet and neutralising any remaining magnetism of the armature.
hook provided at the back of the box enables the user to fix the apparatus to his
belt say when going down into a mine. Lead seals. on the lid and glasses protect-
ing the lamps ensure the apparatus against being tampered with.
A
The automatic switching device can also be arranged in such a manner that in
case the reserve lamp should become burnt out or damaged, the main lamp is
thrown automatically in the circuit.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Electric Lamps.
I, LEO HORWITZ, Manufacturer of l'oststrasse 4, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, 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. relates to electric lamps particularly suitable for miners' use,
possessing the following important advantages over those hitherto known.
The glow lamp is fitted with an adjustable reflector which permits of the fila-
ment being set exactly to the focus so as to concentrate the rays of light and avoid
their undue dispersion. Both glow lamp and reflector can turn in any direction
so that it is possible to light the gallery and even the roof and floor thereof without
having to move the whole of the apparatus. Another important advantage of
this lamp is that it contains a second glow lamp which is automatically switched
in when the first is burnt out or damaged. A hand switch is also provided for
the purpose of switching out the first and switching in the second and vice versa.
The apparatus is moreover. so-contrived that a permanent · magnetization of the

page_text: parts constituting the automatic switch and a sticking fast of the same are avoided,
and its proper working insured at all times.
The improved lamp consists of a light box or casing in the front, part of which
the switching device is located; the casing must be air tight so as to prevent
the ignition of fire-damp by electric sparks. The automatic switch consists of
an electro-magnet the armature of which is constantly attracted as long as the
current flows through the main glow lamp, but is retracted by a spring and
switches in the second lamp when the filament of the first breaks etc. The rear
part of the casing contains a storage battery provided on two opposite sides
with strips of lead which on one side bear against springs connected with the
lamps' circuits. The main lamp is connected by means of a ball joint to the
handle which serves for carrying or hanging the lamp. A parabolic reflector
surrounds the main lamp and is fitted with a screw thread permitting of its being
adjusted on a ring or socket so as to bring the brightest portion of the filament to
the focus of the paraboloid. The second glow lamp is fitted to the front of the
box or casing above the projecting handle of the hand switch which is also
rendered air tight where it passes through the said front.
The manner in which this invention is carried out is best understood by reference
to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a front view of one form of the apparatus, the front cover being
removed to show the inside of the front part of the box.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of same, and
Figure 3 a plan view, partly in section,
Figure 4 is a diagram of the electrical connections of another way of carrying
out the invention.
Figure 5 is a cross section through the contacts of the hand switch, and
Figure 6 is a diagram of a further modification of the invention.
The handle 6 of the apparatus is fitted with a ball joint e forming part of the
mounting of the main glow lamp. This mounting is fitted with a ring e the
exterior of which is provided with a screw thread on which a parabolic reflector f
is screwed, and secured in position by the internally screw threaded ring 9. Con-
ducting wires i covered with india rubber or insulation which protects them against
damp and prevents gases from entering the apparatus, connect the lamp with the
inside of the latter. The front part of the casing is constituted by a shallow com-
partment K which contains the switching device and is fitted in front with a lid
or front carrying a second glow-lamp h, and forming an air-tight joint.
The automatic switch consists of an electro-magnet m the armaturen of which is
pivotted at o. This armature is fitted with a conducting spring which can come
in contact with an adjustable contact ; a spring r tending to keep the armature
away from the magnet. In the lower part of this front compartment is a switching
levert which can be moved by means of a handles over any one of the three con-
acts 1, 2 and 3. When levert is on contact 1, both lamps are cut out of circuit
and the armature n is pressed against the cores of the electro-magnet. If now
the switching levert is placed on contact 2 the current from the storage battery,
runs from terminal 4 through wire 5, switch lever t, contact 2, electro-magnet m
and through wire i fo lamp h which it energizes; thence it returns to the
opposite pole of the battery through wire 6 and terminal 7. If the lamp / gets
damaged through any cause, the circuit is broken and the electro-magnet m
ceases to attract its armature n which is then brought against the contact
the action of spring r. The current passes now from 4 through 8. o, p, 1, 9,
to the second lamp h¹, and back from it to the battery through 10 and terminal 7.
If it is desired from the first to use only the lamp h, the lever t is placed on
contact 3, the current then flowing from 4 through 5, t, 3, 11, 9 lanip ¹ and
thence back to battery through 10 and 7.
by
The rear part of the casing a contains the storage battery u which is simply
put in the box the lead contact strips with which the battery is provided,

page_text: being pressed against the spring contacts 4 and 7 by a spring y on the cover
or back . When the storage battery has received a fresh charge, it is placed
again in the box but in such a manner that strips ¹te come this time in contact
with 7 and 4, the current flowing in consequence in a reverse direction, through
electro-magnet m, and neutralizing any remanent magnetism of the armature. A
hook z may be provided at the back of the box to enable the user to fix the
apparatus to his belt, say a miner, when going down into the mine. Lead seals
A, B, C, may be 'placed on the lid and glasses to protect the lamps and insure the
apparatus against being tampered with.
In the modified form of the invention, shown diagrammatically in Figure 4, the
switching levert presses against the armature of the electro-magnet m so that
the contact (P q) is broken. At the same time the insulated screw y attached to
the armaturen presses against the spring blade b so that the contact c¹ is also
broken. To energize the lamp the hand-switch d is placed on contact 2. The
armaturen under the action of the spring blade r is pressed slightly from the
magnet m, but the proportions are so chosen that the switch t reaches the con-
tact 2 before contact (P q) is made. On t and 2 being connected the electro-
magnet m becomes energized attracts its armature n and holds it as long as the
lamp switched in is burning. The current flows then from the positive terminal
of the source of current through the switch lever to contact 2, to circuit wire 1"
into the lamp whence it returns to wire 1b and electro-magnet m, to negative
terminal 7. Should the filament break or the bulb become damaged, the electro-
magnet will cease to attract its armature and the contacts (g) and care closed
by the action of the springs r and b. The current now flows from terminal 4
through t, 2, 2, c², b, c¹, 2b, to lamp /¹, and thence through r, p g, back to the
negative terminal 7.
The lamp is then energized instead of lamp h, but the magnet is not switched
in and its armature consequently not attracted because the bobbin forms a shunt
on the circuit and offers to the current a resistance greater than that of the
circuit. If it is desired to use in the first place the lamp so that lamp h acts
only as a reserve, when the first is burnt out, the hand switch t is moved from
contact on to contact 3. The current then flows from 4 through t, contact 3,
wire 2, lamp ¹, wire 1b, electro-magnet m and thence back to terminal 7. If
this lamp fails through the filament breaking or the bulb getting damaged, the
electro-magnet ceases to attract its armature, and contacts - and c¹ are made.
The current now passes from 4 through t, contact 3, wire 2b, contact c¹, screw e²,
wire 2" and 1 to lamp h, and thence back through r, contact pq to terminal 7.
In this case too, the magnet is inactive, because it forms a shunt on this circuit
and offers to the current a path of greater resistance than the circuit. Contacts 1,
2,3 are so shaped (Figure 5) that they offer a certain resistance to, but do not
hinder the movement of the lever from one contact to the other, so that the
spring can rapidly draw the switch lever from one contact to the other.
In the simpler form of the apparatus shown in Figure 6, the electro-magnet m
is provided with a contact -q. If the switch lever is brought from the
position shown in Figure 6, .e. from contact 1 on to contact 2, the current runs
from 4 through t, contact 2, wire 1", lamp and thence back through circuit 1b
and electro magnet m to terminal 7. If the lamp is damaged, the magnet ceases
to attract its armature and the current passes from 4 through switch lever t, con-
tact 2, contact pq, armature n, wire 3, lamp h¹ and back to terminal 7. The
armature is therefore again attracted and the working of the apparatus just
described is repeated so that a to-and-fro motion is imparted to the armature n,
contacts -q, the circuit of lamp being in consequence alternately made and
broken so that the light flickers and thereby indicates that the lamp his burnt
out. In like manner lamp ' may be switched in by bringing the switch lever
on contact 3. The circuit is then traced as follows: the current runs from 4
through to contact 3, thence through wire to lamp, wire 1b, electro
magnet m, to terminal 7. In this case too the armature n is alternately attracted

page_text: and retracted so that the flickering of the lamp / indicated that lamp is burnt
out.
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
1. An electric lamp comprising two glow lamps connected to a casing containing
a battery, one of said lamps being switched in the circuit automatically when the
other is burnt out by an electro-magnet which attracts its armature so long as
one lamp burns, but ceases to do so when the latter is burnt out, a spring then
moving the armature away from the magnet and closing the circuit of the second
lamp, a hand switch being provided to throw out of circuit both lamps or to throw
in circuit either of them, substantially as described.
2. In an electric lamp of the kind described the arrangement of a parabolic
reflector surrounding the main lamp attached to a carrying handle by means of a
ball joint in such a manner that said reflector can be screwed to the right or left
on a ring support and secured in position by a nut, for the purpose of adjusting
the lamp so that the filament can be brought to the focus of the paraboloid to obtain
an intense illumination and avoid undue dispersion of light, substantially as
described.
3. In an electric lamp of the kind described a storage battery for feeding the
lamp provided on each of two opposite sides with lead strips so arranged that on
putting the battery in the casing one pair of lead strips are brought in contact
with the conducting springs whereas after the next charge the other pair of strips
may be placed in contact with said springs in order to cause the current to flow
after each charging of the battery in a reverse direction through the apparatus,
so that any remanent magnetism of the armature may be neutralized and the proper
working of the automatic switching device insured substantially as described.
4. In an electric lamp of the kind described means whereby on the burning out
or damage of the second lamp the first lamp is switched in automatically, comprising
a device arranged so that the two lamps are connected each with a corresponding
contact of the hand switch the common negative conducting wire passing through
an electro-magnet the armature of which actuates a contact maker in a shunt on
the magnet coils and a switch in a shunt on both lamps so that when one of the
lamps burns, the armature is attracted, whereas when this lamp goes out, the
armature closes contacts which switch in the other lamp, substantially as described.
5. An electric lamp of the kind described in which the armature actuates
only one contact maker, the contact parts of which are connected by conducting
wires to the two lamps so that when one of the lamps goes out the other is
switched in, the circuit of the latter being however alternately made and broken
by the electro-magnet so that the flickering of the latter lamp indicates that the
former is burnt out, substantially as described.
6. The complete electric lamp substantially as described or illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 or in Figures 4 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.