IMPROVE- MENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS," A communication from abroad by Wladimir
Tschikoleff and Heinrich Kleiber, both of St. Petersburg, in the Russian
Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1881.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS." [A com-
munication from abroad by Wladimir Tschikoleff and Heinrich Kleiber, both of
St. Petersburg, in the Russian Empire.]
According to the present Invention electric lamps are constructed as follows: -
Two small dynamo-electric machines of any suitable known construction, but
preferably such as are known "Siemens' machines," of which the one is wound
with a comparatively small quantity of wire of low resistance, while the other is
wound with a large quantity of wire of high resistance, are combined with the
poles or carbons of the lamp and with the electric circuit in the following
manner-The current from the main circuit passes from a contact screw on the
lamp partly through a branch wire leading through the coils of the low resistance
dynamo electric machine, and partly through a second branch leading through the
coils of the revolving armature of the said machine, both of these branch currents
being afterwards made to unite and to pass through the one pole or carbon of the
lamp to the other pole or carbon, forming the luminous are between them, and
from the second carbon-the current then passes through a contact screw into the
main circuit again. From the first named contact screw a third branch wire or
shunt leads to the coils of the armature of the second dynamo electric machine
with coils of high resistance, so that any current passing through this third branch
passes through the coils of the said armature, then through the coils of the electro-
magnets, and thence to the second above mentioned contact screw and into the

page_text: main circuit again without passing through the poles of the lamp. The coils of
this machine are of so high a resistance that the small currents passing through the
shunt while the lamp is in operation does not sensibly reduce the power of the
current for producing the light. The two armatures of the electro magnets are
mounted upon one and the same spindle which has a worm in gear with a worm
wheel, on the axis of which is a small pinion in gear with a toothed rack on the
one carbon holder of the lamp, so that by the rotation of the axis in the one direction
or the other the carbon holder and its carbon will be made either to approach
towards or to recede from the second carbon. The coils of the two dynamo electric
machines are so wound that, on the passing of a current from the main circuit, the
dynamo-electric machine with low resistance coils will tend to cause its armature
to revolve in such a direction as to make the carbon holder and carbon actuated
thereby recede from the other carbon, while the dynamo electric machine with
high resistance coils will tend to cause its armature to revolve in the contrary
direction, that is, so as to make the said carbon approach the second one. Further-
more, the extent of the coils of the two dynamo-electric machines are so pro-
portioned relatively to each other that, when the carbon which they actuate is
situated at the normal distance from the other carbon for producing the electric
arc, the currents passing respectively through the lamp circuit and the shunt
circuit will act upon the respective armatures in such a manner as to exactly
balance their rotative energies, and consequently under the above condition the
axis of the armatures will remain stationary, keeping the carbon holder and carbon
stationary also. When by the burning away of the carbons the resistance of the
electric arc is increased, a smaller proportion of the current will pass through the
dynamo-electric machine with coils of low resistance, and a greater proportion
thereof will pass through the shunt to the dynamo electric machine with coils of
high resistance, and consequently as the rotative energy of the armature of this
machine will be increased so as to over balance that of the other machine, which
will have been reduced, the axis will be rotated so as to cause the carbon holder
and its carbon to advance towards the other carbon until the normal distance has
been attained again, whereupon the above described balance of rotative energy will
be re-established.
When the lamp is not in action the carbons are brought into contact either by
means of gravity, or of springs or weights acting on one or both carbons. Under
these conditions, on passing the current through the circuit for bringing the lamp
into action, as the resistance to the passage of the current through the carbons will
be reduced below the normal, a greater proportion thereof will pass through the
lamp circuit, and a smaller proportion through the shunt, and consequently the
rotative energy of the low resistance armature will overbalance that of the other,
and the carbon actuated thereby will be caused to recede from the second carbon
until the above described balance of rotative energies is again established on the
carbons attaining their normal distance.
Should from any cause the carbons fail to touch each other when the lamp is
out of action, no current will pass through them on starting the lamp; the rotative
energy of the shunt armature being then alone brought into action, will cause the
one carbon to move until it comes in contact with the other carbon, after which, as
the current will now pass freely through the carbons, the last above described
action of the low resistance armature will be brought into play to separate the
carbons to the normal distance.
When the carbon, actuated by the armatures, has become consumed, the descent
of its holder causes a wedge shaped contact piece on the upper end thereof to make
contact simultaneously with two insulated spring contacts, each of which is
electrically connected to one of the before mentioned contact screws for the main
circuit wires, and the lamp is thus short circuited. In some cases, for continuous
current lamps, the high resistance dynamo electric machine may be dispensed with,
and in place thereof the shunt may be connected to high resistance coils wound

page_text: upon the low resistance dynamo electric machine in a direction the reverse of that
in which the low resistance coils are wound, so that the one armature will then
receive rotative energy in one direction or the other according as the current
passing through the low resistance coils, or that passing through the high resistance
coils, produces the greater energy.
The requisite contact with the travelling carbon for conveying the current to it
from the low resistance dynamo machine is by preference effected by means of a
spring clamp fixed to the base of the lamp, and made to embrace the carbon holder
with sufficient pressure to insure perfect contact as it slides through it when
actuated by the armatures, as above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd November 1881.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS." A com-
munication from abroad by Wladimir Tschikoleff and Heinrich Kleiber, both of
St. Petersburg, in the Russian Empire.
According to the present Invention electric lamps are constructed as follows:-
Two small electro dynamic machines of any suitable known construction, but
preferably such as are known as "Siemens' machines," of which the one is wound
with a comparatively small quantity of wire of low resistance, while the other is
wound with a large quantity of wire of high resistance, are combined with the
poles or carbons of the lamps and with the electric circuit in the following manner :-
The current from the main circuit passes from a contact screw on the lamp partly
through a branch wire leading through the coils of the low resistance electro
dynamic machine, and partly through a second branch leading through the coils of
the revolving armature of the said machine, both of these branch currents being
afterwards made to unite and pass through the one pole or carbon of the lamp to
the other pole or carbon, forming the luminous are between them, and from the
second carbon the current then passes through a contact screw into the main
circuit again. From the first named contact screw a third branch-wire or shunt
leads to the coils of the armature of the second electro dynamic machine with coils
of high resistance, so that any current passing through this third branch passes
through the coils of the said armature, then through the coils of the electromagnets,
and thence to the second above mentioned contact screw and into the main circuit
again without passing through the poles of the lamp. The coils of this machine
are of so high a resistance that the small current passing through the shunt while
the lamp is in operation does not sensibly reduce the power of the current for
producing the light. The two armatures of the electro magnets are mounted upon
one and the same spindle, which has a worm in gear with a worm wheel, on the
axis of which is a small pinion in gear with a toothed rack on the one carbon holder
of the lamp, so that by the rotation of the axis in the one direction or the other the
carbon holder and its carbon will be made either to approach towards or to recede
from the second carbon. The coils of the two electro dynamic machines are so
wound that on the passing of a current from the main circuit the electro-dynamic-
machine with low resistance coils will tend to cause its armature to revolve in such
a direction as to make the carbon holder and carbon actuated thereby recede from
the other carbon, while the electro dynamic machine with high resistance coils
will tend to cause its armature to revolve in the contrary direction, that is, so as
to make the said carbon approach the second one. Furthermore, the extent of the
coils of the two electro dynamic machines are so proportioned relatively to each
other that when the carbon which they actuate is situated at the normal distance
from the other carbon for producing the electric arc, the currents passing respectively
through the lamp circuit and the shunt circuit will act upon the respective
armatures in such a manner as to exactly balance their relative energies, and con-
sequently under the above condition the axis of the armatures will remain
stationary, keeping the carbon holder and carbon stationary also. When, by the
burning away of the carbons, the resistance of the electric arc is increased, a smaller
proportion of the current will pass through the electro-dynamic-machine with coils
of low resistance, and a greater proportion thereof will pass through the shunt to
the electro dynamic machine with coils of high resistance, and consequently as the
rotative energy of the armature of this machine will be increased so as to over-
balance that of the other machine, which will have been reduced, the axis will be
rotated so as to cause the carbon holder and its carbon to advance towards the

page_text: other carbon until the normal distance has been attained again, whereupon the
above described balance of rotative energy will be re-established.
When the lamp is not in action the carbons are brought into contact either by
means of gravity or of springs or weights acting on one or both carbons. Under
these conditions, on passing the current through the circuit for bringing the lamp
into action, as the resistance to the passage of the current through the carbons will
be reduced below the normal, a greater proportion thereof will pass through the
lamp circuit and a smaller proportion through the shunt, and consequently the
rotative energy of the low resistance armature will overbalance that of the other,
and the carbon actuated thereby will be caused to recede from the second carbon
until the above described balance of rotative energies is again established on the
carbons attaining their normal distance.
Should from any cause the carbons fail to touch each other when the lamp is
out of action, no current will pass through them on starting the lamp. The rotative
energy of the shunt armature being then alone brought into action will cause the
one carbon to move until it comes in contact with the other carbon, after which,
as the current will now pass freely through the carbons, the last above described
action of the low resistance armature will be brought into play to separate tho
carbons to the normal distance.
When the carbon, actuated by the armatures, has become consumed, the descent
of its holder causes a wedge shaped contact piece on the upper end thereof to make
contact simultaneously with two insulated spring contacts, each of which is
electrically connected to one of the before mentioned contact screws for the main
circuit wires, and the lamp is thus short circuited. In some cases, for continuous
current lamps, the high resistance electro dynamic machine may be dispensed with,
and in place thereof the shunt may be connected to high resistance coils wound
upon the low resistance clectro dynamic machine in a direction the reverse of that
in which the low resistance coils are wound, so that the one armature will then
receive rotative energy in one direction or the other, according as the currents
passing through the low resistance coils, or that passing through the high resistance
coils, produces the greater energy. The requisite contact with the travelling carbon
for conveying the current to it from the low resistance electro dynamic machine is
by preference effected by means of a spring clamp fixed to the base of the lamp,
and made to embrace the carbon holder with sufficient pressure to ensure perfect
contact as it slides through it when actuated by the armatures as above described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a plan looking from above, and Fig. 2 a plan looking from below, of
the upper part of an electric lamp according to this Invention, a side view of the
lamp to a reduced scale being shewn by Fig. 3. The base A of the lamp mechanism,
which base may be of ceramic or other insulating material, is shewn in an inverted
position at Fig. 4. A side view of the mechanism is shewn at Fig. 6, and an end
view at Fig. 7. On the base A are fixed two electromagnets E and E¹, consisting
of plates of soft iron, surrounded respectively by wire coils K, K³, of insulated
wire. The coil K consists of few convolutions of large wire presenting com-
paratively small resistance, but the coil K' consists of many coils of smaller wire,
presenting great resistance. To the poles of the electromagnets are fixed extensions,
as shewn at g, g', Fig. 7, in the form of circular ares embracing a large part of the
circumference of the cylindrical armatures B,B', which are both fixed on one spindle C
that runs on adjustable screw pivots D, D¹. The armatures B, B¹, are wooden
bobbins wound lengthwise with insulated wire in groups connected in the usual
way to the commutators F, F1, against which bear tangentially the brushes or
springs R, R¹.
On the spindle C is a worm r gearing with a worm-wheel T,
having on its axis a pinion v which gears with a toothed rack on the side of the
tube or holder W₁ for the upper carbon, which can slide with a little friction
through the spring clamp W attached to the underside of the base A. The

page_text: electrical connections, which are shewn diagramatically at Fig. 5, are as follows:-
The line wire b conducts electricity to the post S, whence there are three branches.
One of these leads through the low resistance coils K of the electromagnet E, and
one by the brushes R, R, and the commutator F through the coils of the armature B.
Both these branches again meet at P, which is in electrical connection through the
moving mechanism with the upper carbon N. The third branch C' from S leads
by the brushes R¹, R', and commutator F1 through the coils of the armature B¹;
then through the high resistance coils K¹ of the electromagnet E to the post H,
which is in electrical connection through the bar L with the lower carbon M, and
to which is attached the other line wire a. The connections are so made that
when a current of electricity passes through K the armature B turns and with it
the spindle C in such a direction that the carbon holder W₁ is raised, and when a
current passes through K₁ the armature B' and spindle C are turned in the
opposite direction, so as to lower the carbon holder W¹ the distance of the carbon
points M and N, being thus automatically adjusted, as above described, according
to the resistance of the voltaic arc a between them. At the top of the carbon
holder Wis fixed a wedge shaped projection c², and on the upper bar 6 of the
lamp mechanism are fixed two contact springs a', a', (Fig. 7a) insulated from one
another but connected by wires respectively with the posts S and H. When,
owing to the consumption of the carbon, the carbon holder W₁ descends so low
that the wedge piece c* becomes inserted between the springs a', a¹, it forms an
electrical connection between them, thus short circuiting the current, and excluding
the lamp.
When the lamp is worked with a current of constant direction the second set of
electromagnets E¹ and armature B' may be dispensed with, the armature B being
wound with two sets of coils, one set of low resistance connected to the commu-
tator F and its brushes R, R, and one of high resistance connected to the
commutator F1 and its brusbes R, R. The armature B and its spindle C will
then be caused to revolve in the one direction or the other, according as the electric
force in the one or the other set of its coils prevails, thus effecting, as before, the
automatic regulation of the distance between the carbons.
Although the electro dynamic machines shewn in the Drawings are of the
Siemens' kind, obviously machines of other forms might be employed in a similar
manner.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim,―
First. The herein described method of effecting automatic regulation of the
distance of the carbons in an electric lamp by causing the electricity, according as the
voltaic are presents greater or less resistance, to give rotation to the armature of
an electrodynamic machine, or to the armatures of two such machines in the one
direction or the other, and thereby to cause the approach or separation of the
carbons.
Second. The combination in an electric lamp of two rotary electrodynamic
machines, or of one such machine having differential coils, with a spindle and
gearing so arranged as to move the carbons nearer together or further apart,
according as the resistance of the voltaic arc is greater or less, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one