Improvements in Adjustable Cord Reels for Electric Leads and other similar Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Cord Reels for Electric Leads and other
similar Purposes.
I, WILSON HENRY STURGE, of 17, Frederick Road, Edgbaston, in the City of
Birmingham, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in adjustable cord reels for electric
leads and other similar purposes and is primarily intended for the purpose of
carrying under balance the varying weights of the shades and other fittings.
Broadly the leads are wound upon a reel carried upon a non-rotative axial
spindle within a casing. An involute or similar spring is connected between the
reel and its spindle, and the amount of tension or sustaining power of such spring
is varied and fixed by a pawl and ratchet, or its equivalent. Hence the heavier
the shade or fitting the more the spring is wound up before being retained by
the pawl, and vice versa, so that the weight of the shade, &c., whether heavy or
light is thereby balanced, but yet free to be raised or lowered at will. The lead
is threaded through the casing or frame, thence again through the casing and
on to the shade and lamp, so that when the lamp, &c., is raised the cord is auto-
matically wound upon the reel, and sustained by the spring, while it may also be
lowered against the power of the spring by reason of its balancing therewith.
Dated this 17th day of May 1898.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Adjustable Cord Reels for Electric Leads and other
similar Purposes.
I, WILSON HENRY STURGE, of 17, Frederick Road, Edgbaston, in the City of
Birmingham, 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:―
This invention relates to improvements in adjustable cord reels for electric
leads, and other similar purposes and is primarily intended for the purpose of
carrying under balance the varying weights of the shades and other lamp fittings.
In order to more clearly explain this my invention I have appended hereunto
an illustrative drawing upon which are figures and numbers of reference, similar
numbers referring throughout the several views to the same thing or part.
CL

page_text: Fig. 1, is an external view of a reel device constructed according to this my
invention.
Fig. 2, is a sectional view of the invention on line A-B Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is an end view of the reel detached from the case.
Fig. 4, is a sectional view, of the reel on line C-D Fig. 2.
The case 6, is composed of two hemispherical parts 6, 6b, between which are
secured the eyelet blocks 7, 7. The said frame is carried upon the axial spindle 8,
which is made non-rotative with the casing part 6", by its boss 9 being screw-
threaded thereon and locked by screw nut 10. The leads 11 (indicated by dotted
lines) are wound upon a reel 12, carried upon the spindle 8. An involute or
similar spring 13, is connected at its one end to the reel 12, and at its other end
to spindle 8 (see Fig. 3). To the spindle is secured the arm or pawl 14, and
in the reel 12 is screwed the peg 15, which for the time serves as a ratchet or
stop to the arm 14.
The spring 13, is wound up until its resistance is equal to the weight of the
fittings to be suspended when the peg 15, is placed in position to prevent the
return movement of the arm. The cord 11, is then threaded through the top
eyelet thence through the reel 12, and further through the lower eyelet, and then
connected to the lamp fitting. The peg 15, is now withdrawn, or what is more
convenient, the said peg is screwed home so that its head is clear of the arm 14
-and the weight of the fitting is approximately equal to the pull of the spring,
consequently as the lamp fitting is raised the spring rotates the reel and
winds thereon the slack cords, and vice versa.
With a lighter fitting the spring would be given less winding before threading
the cord, and of course the contrary with a heavier fitting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination of the divisible case 6, having the spindle 8, nonrotatively
fixed thereto by locknut 10, and the reel 12, having the spring 13, adjustably set by
arm 14, and removable screw thereon, all substantially as set forth and shown,
and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 17th day of February 1900.