IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Guillaume André, of Dorking, in the County of
Surrey, and Edward Easton, of the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Guillaume André
and Edward Easton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
2nd June 1880.
GEORGE GUILLAUME ANDRÉ, of Dorking, in the County of Surrey, and EDWARD
EASTON, of the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS
ELECTRIC LAMPS."
IN
According to this Invention we place one or more lengths of carbons end for
end, socketed or otherwise, in a tubular holder, which_supports them throughout
their length, and wherein they can slide as required. For carbons which have to
be propelled upwards we form the holder with a longitudinal slot, wherein works
a peg projecting from a sliding sleeve suspended by a cord which passes over a
pulley, and has a weight attached to its end; the weight may slide on a guide rod
or rods, which may be used for connecting the current. For carbons which have
to be propelled downwards we also apply a sliding sleeve on the slotted tube, but
make it of such a weight as to force down the carbon.
We make the holders removable, so that they, as the carbon therein is consumed,
can be replaced by filled ones, and we thus avoid the breakage of thin carbons in
transport, and also save time and trouble in refilling the holders. We find it
convenient to place at least two filled holders in the lamp or lamp post when
starting. When the carbon in the one holder has been consumed that holder is
removed for refilling, and the other or filled holder is meanwhile brought into
action.
In order to prevent or diminish the disturbing action which now takes place
when a carbon point breaks, say, from inequality of the material or from great
increase in the current strength, or when a fresh carbon is brought into action, we
apply a fly or other regulator or brake to the pulley for the cord weight. In the
case of the carbon being propelled downwards a pulley with a small counterweight
may be connected to the sliding weight for the purpose of applying such a regulator
or brake.
We arrange the positive contact so that when the last short end of a carbon falls
away from the holder the next following carbon shall be allowed immediately to
take its place against the negative electrode. For this purpose the contact may,
by weight or spring, be made then to pass out of the way; or we may arrange it
so that the next following carbon forces itself past it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Guillaume André and Edward Easton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd December 1880.
GEORGE GUILLAUME ANDRÉ, of Dorking, in the County of Surrey, and EDWARD
EASTON, of the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC LAMPS."
According to this Invention we place one or more lengths of carbons end for
end, socketed or otherwise, in a tubular holder, which supports them throughout
their length, and wherein they can slide as required. For carbons which have to
be propelled upwards we form the holder with a longitudinal slot, wherein works
a peg projecting from a sliding sleeve suspended by a cord which passes
over a pulley, and has a weight attached to its end. The weight may slide on a
guide rod or rods, which may be used for connecting the current.
We make the holders removable, so that they, as the carbon therein is consumed,
can be replaced by filled ones, and we thus avoid the breakage of thin carbons in
transport, and also save time and trouble in refilling the holders. We may, if
found convenient, place at least two filled holders in the lamp or lamp post when
starting. When the carbon in the one holder has been consumed that holder is
removed for refilling, and the other or filled holder is meanwhile brought into
action.
In order to prevent or diminish the disturbing action which now takes place
when a carbon point breaks, say, from inequality of the material or from great
increase in the current strength, or when a fresh carbon is brought into action, we
apply a fly or other regulator or brake to the pulley for the cord weight.
We arrange the positive contact so that when the last short end of a carbon
falls away from the holder the next following carbon shall be allowed immediately
to take its place against the negative electrode. For this purpose the contact may
be arranged so that the next following carbon forces itself past it.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a part sectional side elevation of a
lamp constructed according to this Invention, Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation,
and Figure 3 a sectional plan of same. A is the socket fuse plate of the lamp
proper, into which the ring for the glass globe or cylinder is screwed; A' is a
central socket part, to which is screwed the cylindrical tube A³, to the top of
which the arm or holder C for the negative electrode C2 is screwed. This electrode
is free to slide lightly through a lantern boss on the arm C, and is fitted with a
copper plug c. c¹ is a contact arm passing through a socket in the plate a with
a light contact spring L³ at its upper end. At its lower end it passes through a
wire coil of high resistance, and terminates in a terminal for carrying off the
negative current; one end of this coil wire is connected to the plate A, and the
other end to the terminal L. D¹ is the holder for the carbon or carbons; it is
made of any desired length, the carbon being placed therein end for end, and
fitting easily therein. The carbon holder D₁ is removable, and will, when its
carbons are consumed, be replaced by a holder filled with carbons. It is fixed in
the cylinder G, which by a T piece G¹ or other bar is connected to or carried down
to the floor or base of the lamp standard. The cylinder G is in a tube H, which
by means of plaster of Paris or other non conducting cement is fixed in and
insulated from the socket A2. K, K, are contacts jointed to the nipple H, which is
screwed into the top of the tube H. The holder D' has a longitudinal slot, as
shewn, wherein works the peg E carrying the carbon or carbons. This peg projects
from the connecting sleeve E on the endless cord, band, or wire F, passing round
the upper pulley F and the lower pulley Fa (or the cord may, as stated, pass over
an upper pully only, and have the weight suspended from one end, the other end
being attached to a guided sleeve with a projecting peg.

page_text: I is a brake pulley on the spindle of the lower pulley F with band I', one end
of which is fastened to the bar M, which is fixed to the stand M. The other end of
the band is connected to the end of a lever N, which has its fulcrum in the
stand M', and at the other end carries the soft iron core of the solenoid O'. The
latter is wound with two coils of same resistance, but wound in opposite directions.
One coil is by wire to the terminal L connected to the arm C, and the other by
wire to the terminal L¹ connected to the contact arm C¹. When the carbon point
is in its normal position the two currents neutralize each other in the solenoid, but
when the contact with spring L³ is broken the whole current passes through one of
the coils of the solenoid, the core O is raised, the brake band I¹ is thereby let go,
and the brake pulley I released, whereupon the weight will move the cord F and
raise the carbon. When the contact is then restored at L³ the core O drops and
puts on the brake. Obviously the arrangement may be reversed, and the brake be
put on when the contact is broken. The high resistance coil on the lower end of
arm C forming connection with the plate A is for the purpose of providing a
circuit for the extra current occasioned by the break of contact at L³ to prevent
the formation of sparks there. K' is the positive terminal on the lower end of the
tube H.
The same action that thus takes place at regular and very frequent intervals,
producing a constant gentle feed of the carbons, will of course also instantly take
place in case the carbon point breaks, or when a fresh piece of carbon is brought
into action. When the last piece of carbon in the holder is consumed the negative
electrode drops down onto the positive contacts K, and thus short circuits the
lamp; or a special stop for the negative electrode to drop onto may be arranged for
the purpose.
The lamp is placed on the top of a hollow post or stand, and having a door or
cover for the insertion of a filled carbon bolder and removal of an empty one.
b is a small hole for automatic air ventilation when the lamp is extinguished, as
described in the Specification of Andre's Patent, No. 1507, of 1880.
For lamps in which the carbons have to be propelled downwards we also apply
the sliding sleeve E' with peg E in connection with the slotted tube or carbon
holder D¹, but make it of such a weight as to force the carbon down. The brake
regulator will be the same as shown; the positive contacts will obviously be
reversed in position, and so as to grip the carbon, and the negative electrode will
be arranged with a light counterweight tending to force it upwards, and the other
parts will be the same as shewn.
We claim,-
First. Feeding a carbon or carbons placed end for end in a holder, so as to slide
therein by means of a cord and weight, which when the negative electrode
approaches the positive are brought into action by means of a regulator or brake
controlled by the electric current in an incandescent lamp, as set forth.
Second. The combination of parts forming the improved incandescent lamp,
consisting mainly of a carbon or carbons, which by means of weighted endless cord
is fed up in a holder past the hinged positive contacts K and against a sliding
negative electrode C in connection with a contact arm C, the said cord being
brought into action by the brake O, N, I, as shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Guillaume André, for myself and on
behalf of the said Edward Easton, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this First day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
GEO. G. ANDRÉ. (L.S.)