Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1900
We, ERNEST WILLIAM BOHLE, Manufacturer, HERMANN BOHLE, Draughtsman,
and JOHN ALFRED PHILLIPS, Manufacturer, all of 77, Bath Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be
as follows:.
Our invention has for its object improvements in arc lamps by which we are
enabled to automatically and effectually regulate the carbons so as to ensure the
instantaneous striking of the arc and a steady and constant light and also to
greatly simplify the construction.
In carrying our invention into practice we mount on a spindle in suitable
brackets fixed to the frame of the lamp a ratchet wheel grooved pulley and drum
or brake wheel either formed in one piece or keyed together on the same spindle
the grooved pulley being fixed between the ratchet wheel and drum or brake
wheel. We then pivot to another bracket also fixed to the lamp frame a bell
cranked lever or its equivalent and on the lower arm of this lever we pivot
a pawl or catch which takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
The other arm of the bell cranked lever is formed at its end so as to
bear upon the periphery of the drum or brake wheel. A spring is attached to the
pawl or catch for holding it in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel and
a spring slightly stronger than the one attached to the pawl is also attached to
the arm of the bell cranked lever which bears upon the brake wheel so as to
hold the brake block out of contact with the brake wheel. The lower carbon
holder is attached to one end of a cord or its equivalent passing over the grooved
pulley the other end of this cord being attached to an iron core or rod passing
through a shunt coil solenoid and to this iron core the upper carbon holder is
attached. When the current of electricity is turned on it passes through the
solenoid thus attracting the iron core thereby lowering the upper carbon and
consequently raising the lower carbon but immediately these carbons touch
the magnetic power of the solenoid is considerably reduced and the lower carbon
by reason of its weight commences to fall the parting of the carbons thus striking
the arc. The falling of the lower carbon causes the ratchet wheel to push against
the pawl and consequently the lower end of the bell crank lever which action
draws the upper end of the hell crank lever on to the periphery of the drum or
brake wheel and instantly arrests the fall of the lower carbon. The length of the
are is regulated by a thumb screw or its equivalent mounted in the frame of the
lamp in such a position as to limit the rise of the upper arm or brake block of the
bell crank lever. Instead of using a bell crank lever for the purpose of stopping
or braking the fall of the lower carbon we may mount an adjustable peg or
projection in the frame of the lamp and on the lower end of this peg we hinge
or pivot a nose piece or its equivalent which takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel
a spring being provided for holding the nose piece in position. It will easily
be understood that as the ratchet wheel revolves in the one direction-that is
when the carbons are being brought together-the hinged nose piece slides over

page_text: the teeth but as soon as the carbons begin to part and the ratchet wheel revolves
in the other direction the nose piece catches into one of the teeth thus instantly
arresting the fall of the carbons. The solenoid may be covered with an iron
shield for concentrating the lines of force and the lamp may be used either for a
direct current or an alternating current, and for series and parallel lighting.
In some cases we may use two solenoids in which case we should preferably
employ two grooved pulleys mounted on separate spindles a cord or its equivalents
would pass around each pulley one end of each cord being attached to the upper
carbon holder and the other ends of the cords to the iron core or their equivalents
which pass through the solenoids and support the lower carbon holder. The brake
mechanism for arresting the fall of the lower carbon being operated in the manner
as herein before described.
We, ERNEST WILLIAM BOHLE, Manufacturer, HERMANN BOILE, Draughtsman,
and JOHN ALFRED PHILLIPS, Manufacturer, all of 77, Bath Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
Our invention has for its object improvements in are lamps by which we are
enabled to automatically and effectually regulate the carbons so as to ensure the
instantaneous striking of the are and a steady and constant light and also to
greatly simplify the construction.
In carrying our invention into practice we mount on a spindle in suitable
brackets fixed to the frame of the lamp a ratchet wheel grooved pulley and drum
or brake wheel either formed in one piece or keyed together on the same spindle
the grooved pulley being fixed between the ratchet wheel and drum or brake
wheel. We then pivot to another bracket also fixed to the lamp frame, a bell
crank lever or its equivalent and on the lower arm of this lever we pivot
a pawl or catch which takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
The other arm of the bell crank lever is formed at its end so as to
bear upon the periphery of the drum or brake wheel. A spring is attached to the
pawl or catch for holding it in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel and
a spring slightly stronger than the one attached to the pawl is also attached to
the arm of the bell crank lever which bears upon the brake wheel so as to
hold the brake block out of contact with the brake wheel. The lower carbon
holder is attached to one end of a cord or its equivalent passing over the grooved
pulley the other end of this cord being attached to an iron core or rod moving
in a shunt coil solenoid and to this iron core the upper carbon holder is
attached. When the current of electricity is turned on it passes through the
solenoid thus attracting the iron core thereby lowering the upper carbon and
consequently raising the lower carbon, but immediately these carbons touch

page_text: the magnetic power of the solenoid is considerably reduced and the lower carbon
by reason of its weight commences to fall the parting of the carbons thus striking
the arc. The falling of the lower carbon causes the ratchet wheel to push against
the pawl and consequently the lower end of the bell crank lever which action
draws the upper end of the bell crank lever on to the periphery of the drum or
brake wheel and instantly arrests the fall of the lower carbon. The length of the
are is regulated by a thumb screw or its equivalent mounted in the frame of the
lamp in such a position as to limit the rise of the upper arm or brake block of the
bell crank lever. Instead of using a bell crank lever for the purpose of stopping
or breaking the fall of the lower carbon we may mount an adjustable peg or
projection in the frame of the lamp and on the lower end of this peg we hinge
or pivot a nose piece which takes in the teeth of the ratchet wheel
a spring being provided for holding the nose piece in position. It will easily
be understood that as the ratchet wheel revolves in one direction-that is
when the carbons are being brought together-the hinged nose piece slides over
the teeth but as soon as the carbons begin to part and the ratchet wheel revolves
in the other direction the nose piece catches into one of the teeth thus instantly
arresting the fall of the carbons. The solenoid may be covered with an iron
shield for concentrating the lines of force and the lamp may be used either for a
direct current or an alternating current, and for series and parallel lighting.
In some cases we may use two solenoids in which case we should employ two
grcoved pulleys mounted on separate spindles. A cord or its equivalent would pass
around each pulley, one end of each cord being attached to the upper carbon
holder and the other ends of the cords to the iron cores or their equivalents which
move in the solenoids and support the lower carbon holder. The brake mechanism
for arresting the fall of the lower carbon being operated in the manner herein-
before described.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto two double sized sheets of drawings
upon which we have illustrated our improved are lamp.
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of an arc lamp constructed according
to our invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view shewing a modified form of our brake arrangement.
Figure 4 is a part sectional elevation of an arc lamp having two solenoids.
In carrying our invention into practice we mount on the spindles in the
brackets a fixed to the frame of the lamp A the ratchet wheel W, grooved
pulley P and drum or brake wheel D either formed integrally or keyed together
on the same spindle, the grooved pulley P being fixed between the ratchet wheel
and the drum or brake wheel. We then pivot at to the bracket a² also fixed
to the lamp frame the bell cranked lever L or its equivalent and on the lower
arm of this lever we pivot the pawl or catch which takes into the teeth of
the ratchet wheel W. The other arm 7 of the lever L is formed at its end so
as to bear upon the periphery of the drum or brake wheel 1) as clearly shewn
upon the drawings.
The springs one end of which is attached to the arm 12 and the other to the
pawl or catch is provided for holding this pawl or catch in contact with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel being of such strength as not to interfere with the
forward movement of the carbon holders and the spring which is slightly
stronger than the spring s² is attached at one end of the arm of the lever L
the other end being attached to the frame of the lamp so as to hold the brake
block out of contact with the brake wheel or drum D. The lower carbon
holder is attached to the rod B which is provided at its upper end with the
brackets in each of which is mounted the small pulley or guide roller capable
of travelling up and down the rods or supports which form part of the lamp
frame. This carbon rod holder 13 is attached to one end of the cord E or its
equivalent which passes over the grooved pulley P the other end of this cord being
•

page_text: attached to the iron core or rod F moving in the shunt coil solenoid G. Fixed
to the upper end of this core or rod F are the brackets f¹ in each of which is
mounted the small pulley or guide roller fcapable of travelling up and down
the rods or supports at which also form part of the lamp frame,
and on the lower end of this core or rod is attached the upper carbon holder f³å
as clearly shewn upon the drawings. The upper carbon holder and iron core or
rod must be lighter than the lower carbon holder and rod. The weight of the
lower carbon holder and rod B must be sufficient to overcome the tension of the
spring so that in case the carbon should recede through a mishap or any cause
the upper carbon holder and iron core or rod F gives way thus bringing into
action the brake mechanism.
When the current of electricity is turned on it passes through the solenoid G
thus attracting the core or rod F thereby lowering the upper carbon H and
consequently raising the lower carbon J as the rods B and F. which carry or
support the carbon holders are suspended by the cord E but immediately these
carbons touch the magnetic power of the solenoid is consequently reduced and the
lower carbon by reason of its weight commences to fall the parting of the carbons
thus striking the arc. The falling of the lower carbon J causes the ratchet
wheel W to push against the pawl and consequently tilt the bell crank lever L
on its pivot thereby pressing the brake block onto the periphery of the drum or
brake wheel D which action instantly arrests or checks the fall of this carbon.
When the arc is once struck and throughout the burning of the lamp the brake
ceases to act and would only come into operation in the event of an accidental
breaking down or chipping of one of the carbons. The direct magnetic attraction
of the solenoid upon the iron core or rod creates and maintains a perfect equili-
brium and counteracts the excessive weight of the lower carbon holder rod B
over the upper carbon holder rod or iron core F the weight of the lower carbon
holder should be regulated so as to suit the voltage of the electric circuit. The
length of the arc is regulated by the thumb serew K or its equivalent which
screws into the socket fixed to or forming part of the lamp frame in such a
position that the end of this screw bears upon the arm which carries the brake
block so that by screwing this thumb screw further into its socket it shortens
the traverse of this arm and in a like manner when the thumb screw is screwed
further out of its socket the traverse or rock of the lever L is increased thus
increasing the fall of the lower carbon before it is arrested by the action of the
brake block on the drum D and consequently increasing the length of the arc.
At Figure 3 we have shewn another form of our arrangement for arresting or
breaking the fall of the lower carbon J. In this case we mount the peg or
projection or finger L adjustably in the lamp frame and on the lower end of this
finger we hinge or pivot at the nose or swinging piece 12 which takes into one
of the teeth of the ratchet wheel W the spring s being provided for holding this
springing piece in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. It will easily
be understood that as the ratchet wheel W revolves in the direction of the arrow
that is when the carbons are being brought together-the swinging piece 72
will slide over the teeth of the ratchet wheel but as soon as the carbons begin
to part and the ratchet wheel revolves in the opposite direction the swinging
piece catches into one of the ratchet teeth thus instantly arresting the fall of
the carbons. The spring which fits around the finger L and butts against the
underside of the frame is provided so as to prevent a sudden jar when the swinging
piece arrests the fall of the lower carbon. The solenoid G may be covered with
an iron shield for concentrating the lines of force and the lamp may he used either
for a direct current or an alternating current and for series or parallel lighting.
If desired we may use two solenoids G & G as shewn at Fig. 4 in which case
we should employ two grooved pulleys mounted on separate spindles. A cord or
its equivalent E would pass over each pulley one end of each cord being attached
to the upper carbon holder and the other ends to the iron cores or rods F F¹ or
their equivalents moving in the solenoids and support the lower carbon holder.
_

page_text: The brake mechanism for arresting or checking the fall of the lower carbon being
operated in the same manner as herein before described.
By constructing are lamps as hereinbefore described the distance between the
extremities of the carbons is uniformly maintained thus ensuring a perfect and
steady light.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
-
CLAIMS.
First: The improvements in are lamps consisting essentially in arresting or
checking the fall of the lower carbon by a pawl or catch such as working in the
teeth of a ratchet wheel such as W and operating a cranked lever such as L
thereby causing a brake block such as to bear upon a drum or brake wheel
such as D in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and
as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Second: In are lamps the means for arresting or checking the fall of the lower
carbon consisting of the ratchet wheel W grooved pulley P, drum or brake
wheel D) hinged or pivoted lever L with its brake block pawl or catch 13 all
operated in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and
as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Third: In arc lamps arresting or checking the fall of the lower carbon by a
finger such as L having a swinging or hinged nose piece such as 12 taking into the
teeth of the ratchet wheel W in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
herein set forth and as shewn upon the drawings by Figure 3.
Fourth In arc lamps regulating the length of the arc by a thumb screw
or its equivalent bearing upon the arm of the lever L in the manner and for
the purpose substantially as set forth and as shewn.
Datel
THIS Uay of analy 1550.
ERNEST WILLIAM BOHLE,
HERMANN BOHLE,
JOHN ALFRED PHILLIPS,
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agents for Applicants, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.