IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR LIGHTS, AND IN THE ELECTRODES AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Whyte, of Northview, Elgin, North Britain, Doctor
of Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR
LIGHTS, AND IN THE ELECTRODES AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 28th February 1879, and dated the 16th December 1878.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Whyte at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th December 1878.
GEORGE WHYTE, of Northview, Elgin, North Britain, Doctor of Medicine.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR LIGHTS, AND IN THE ELECTRODES OR
APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH."
This Invention relates particularly to improvements in and connected with the
electrodes or carbon connections for producing the electric lights, and in arrange-
ments of mechanism and local magnets for moving the electrodes or carbons and
maintaining them in their proper contact lighting position. And the essential
nature and novelty of the Invention consist in a new or improved construction of
the electrodes or carbons in the form of edge contact discs (instead of the carbons
or other electrodes heretofore used) these discs being actuated to rotate in electric-
light-producing contact at their edges, preferably at right angles to each other, by
motive mechanism, and their spindles which are actuated and carried on separate
frames, the one frame being made movable and actuated by a separate arrange-
ment of mechanism on or in relation to the other frame to make up for the wear or
burning away of the electrodes, the frames being connected respectively to the
positive and negative current poles or wires of the electro-magnetic machines. One
construction or combination of the parts of these new or improved electro-carbons
or edge contact discs and their carrying frames, and rotating and reciprocating
mechanism in accordance with this Invention, consist all as follows:-The spindle
of the upper carbon disc would revolve in bearings in the upper open or forked arm
of the stationary frame of the electric lamp connected to the negative pole, the

page_text: spindle of the other or under carbon disc being carried in the upper open part or ends
of a raising and lowering frame connected with the positive pole of the battery, with
the axes of the discs vertical over each other, and their crossed peripheries nearly
touching each other or in electric arc or light producing contiguity. The standard
of the latter frame might work up through the hollow standard of the fixed
frame and be insulated therefrom by vulcanite or other non-conducting guides, and
this inner standard might be raised by a spring below it, or by a weight, so as to
complete the circuit as the contact surfaces burned away, the proper distances or
electric arc between the carbon surfaces for so burning being regulated by horizontal
coil magnets connected by reverse currents on each side of the raising and lowering
stem of the lower disc, so that their adjacent ends gripe it between them.
These
magnets are carried on an insulated horizontal armature working in guides over the
poles of vertical coil magnets fixed to the frame below, and all connected by their
wires, so that the armature and rod are drawn down each time the light goes out.
Adjusting screws are arranged to regulate the height to which they and the
armature or keeper rise off the poles of the vertical magnets, the distance between
these and the armature being the distance of the electric arc between the discs; or
equivalent or, possibly, simpler arrangements of this electro-magnetic mechanism
may be used for raising the rod of the lower, or it might be the lowering of the
upper disc, and instead of the upper horizontal magnets for griping and moving the
rod a positive mechanism or griper catch may be used. The revolving or turning
of the discs may be effected in various ways, as, by cord pulleys on their spindles
with driving cords or bands over them, and actuating one of the spindles by a
screw wheel and vertical screw spindle, or other equivalent gearing, at a slow speed;
by an arrangement of toothed wheels and pinions below, actuated through a star or
escapement wheel, and oscillating escapement, or quadrant and spring, actuated by
a pendulum or other weighted lever or clock movement; or it might be by an arbor
and magnet arrangement; or by a make-and-break contact electric commutator with
a branch current; or continuous revolving magnets, one revolving upon the other,
may also be used."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Whyte in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th June
1879.
GEORGE WHYTE, of Northview, Elgin, North Britain, Doctor of Medicine.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS OR LIGHTS, AND IN ELECTRODES AND
APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH."
My said Invention in electric lamps or lights relates particularly to improvements
in or connected with the electrodes or carbon connections for producing the electric
lights, and in arrangements of mechanism and local magnets for moving the
electrodes or carbons, and maintaining them at their proper distance apart to give
the best voltaic arc and electric contact and light.
-
And the essential nature and novelty of the Invention consist in an improved con-
struction and arrangement of the electrodes or carbons in the form of edge electric
contact discs as A A × which are regulated and actuated to rotate in their
proper voltaic arc and best electric light producing contact at their edges, either in
the same vertical plane or at any angle over and crossing each other, all by the
improved arrangements or combinations of their electro magnets and other motive
mechanism and their spindles, which are actuated and carried on improved arrange-
ments of separate supporting and rising or falling frames or rods in guide standards.
Each frame or rod being made movable in its standard and actuated by special or
separate arrangements of gearing or mechanism on or in relation to the other frame,
with the spindles of the electrodes rotated at the same, different, or proportionate-
speeds to make up for the respective wear or burning away of the carbon discs, their
frames or standards being put in circuit through their special arrangements of local
moving and regulating electro magnets, which will hereafter be described, and con-
nected respectively to their positive and negative current terminal wires and poles
of the electro-magnetic machines.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing or putting my
said Invention into effect or practice, may be properly understood, I shall now
proceed to describe the several Figures on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
which I have hereunto appended for that purpose, the same reference letters and
numerals indicating the same or like parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a perspective elevation, and Figures 2 and 3 are a sectional elevation
and a horizontal section taken near the line 1--1 in the former, all respectively of
one modification or combination of the parts of my said new or improved con-
struction of electric lamp.
Referring to these Figures 1, 2, and 3, and to the modification of my said In-
vention and improved combination of the parts of the electric lamp therein shown,
consist all as follows:-
-
The negative and positive electrodes are made in the form of a smaller and a
larger compressed carbon disc A and A x with holes through their centre, by
which they are mounted on truly turned griping collar centres, and simple securing
screw washers or springs at A¹ on their respective spindles A and A". The
former A is hollow or tubular, and is mounted to rotate over the other A³ on a
lateral stud a projecting from the top of its carrying reciprocating tubular frame or
bearing rod b working freely in its fixed tubular standard c secured at its base c¹ to
an upper plate or table of wood or slate z or other insulating material, which is
carried and screwed on the top of four corner metal pillars 1, 2, 3, 2, screwed to
and projecting up from the wooden base or plinth Z carrying the whole lamp and
its mechanism, and which has the positive and negative terminals T x and T-
secured at its front side edge, with their respective wires tx, t- from the electro
magnetic machine, and from which the circuits are made or broken through the
mechanism and electrodes of the lamp, as will hereinafter be explained, for its proper
regulation and lighting. The spindle A² of the positive carbon disc A x is mounted.
-

page_text: sharem
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in spring retaining slotted bearings in the upper forked end of the inverted bow
frame A (or it might be a single armed frame with stud) secured on the top of
the short insulated stem A³ or regulating or moving core of the hollow centre
of the supplemental electro magnetic coil B³, and carrying reciprocating spindle
or rod B, which works or reciprocates freely in its hollow guiding standard C
secured at its base C to the upper platform z of the lamp, all as particularly seen
in section in Figure 2. The lower ends of these carrying and reciprocating rods b
and B have toothed racks b' and B₁ secured to them, gearing into the opposite side
of their respective small and large spur wheels 611 and B", insulated and secured on
the opposite ends of the one spindle D carried in bearing brackets D' projecting
down from the under side of the platform z, all so as to partially balance each other,
and act or rise and fall in reverse directions in a ratio proportional to the difference
in the diameter of these wheels 6", B", which are as near as possible proportionato
to that of their respective carbon discs A and A. x, which are made proportional
to the consumption of or rate at which these carbons are found to burn away, all so
as to maintain an elliptical centre and reduce the differences of distance and motions
to a minimum, to ensure ease and efficiency of regulation, but with a spiral
spring B or other equivalent connected between the lower part of the rod B, B¹,
and under side of the stationary platform z, which would always tend to raise it,
and keep its carbon disc A x up and the negative one A - down, against each
other at their adjacent peripheries, as seen in this position in Figure 1. Or instead
of this spiral spring B₁ for bringing the carbon A - A x, together in a vertical
or stand lamp, such as that shown in Figures 1 to 3, or in a hanging vertical lamp,
the gravitation or weight of the upper carbon and its carrier night be made the
heaviest to answer for thus bringing the carbons together instead of the spring B¹¹¹,
thus in either case completing the electric current through the carbons A ×, A -
and re-lighting them should the light go out by any chance, except when these
discs are separated and kept at their short proper voltaic or electric arc distance
apart against the power of the spring B11 to give the most effective and steady
light possible, and which always takes place when and immediately the said circuit
has been completed and the spark of light formed between the carbons as stated,
by or through the double coiled vertical electro magnet E and its armature E¹
mounted above its poles on the horizontal lover E", fulcrumed at its other end fork-
wise on the centre of the shaft D, and on each side of a very fine toothed or
notched wheel D" secured thereon, while a spring catch or pall lever d is mounted
within the slotted lever E", held up by a spring d¹¹, both regulated or controlled
in their action or amount of motion by the stop screw pin d² and pawl spring d¹,
all as shown detached in Figure 4, so that when the electric current is complete
through the magnet E, E, it brings down the keeper and lever E¹, E, so as to
turn the wheel D¹¹ and its shaft D sufficient to raise the stein b, b', and carbon A-,
and lower that B, B', and its carbon A x to the proper regulated voltaic are distance
through their respective spur wheels b¹¹ and B₁₁. The carbon or other disc elec-
trodes A - A x, are preferred to be mounted as arranged on their spindles, to
rotate over each other in the same vertical plane, as seen in Figure 1, but they
might be made to revolve at any desired angle to and over the centre of each
other. In this first case or instance, as seen in Figure 1, the spindle A² of
the lower carbon disc A × could be driven through an open or cross elastic
band a passed over a pulley a² on it and a corresponding pulley all on the
spindle A" of the upper carbon A This elastic band a! is preferably made
of vulcanized india rubber so as to act when the carbons are new and large,
or small and worn away, when the spindles come nearer together, and also
act instead of the spiral springs B1, d, for bringing the carbons together the
moment the electric current is broken, and the armature lever E, E, is released
from its magnet E, E. The current enters at the terminal Tx and is continued
through the electro magnet E, E, passing up the one bearer B, B', and coil B²
through the carbon discs Ax, A-, and down the other bearer at b, b¹, and columns
to the other terminal T-, thus completing the circuit through the lamp, the

page_text: wire leading to the electro magnetic machine, and the wire tx from it to the
positive terminal Tx. The carbon electrodes A-, Ax, are turned at a slow
speed as they burn away by a screw wheel ƒ on the end of the spindle A" near
its supporting tube stem b, and a screw or worm f¹ (on the upper end of a square
spindle f) working into the wheel f, and carried by a bearing bracket f on the
upper end of the rod b, so that the shaft f¹¹ will rise and fall with its wheel f, and
slide in and work down through the upper end of its long driving shaft f2 work-
ing in fixed bearings at f1111 and footstep bearing f³ on the lower plate f carrying
its automatic working gearing. This gearing consists of a large reducing spur
wheel F on the lower end of the shaft f" and which gears into the pinion F' on
the spindle of the large ratchet wheel F₁ carried in a bracket F1 of the plate f
This ratchet wheel is retained in position by a spring pawl F2 and is actuated
by a spring pawl FS on the armature spring lever g of an arrangement of
automatic make and brake contact, electro coil, horizontal magnet G, which is
secured on the wood sole Z close to but insulated from this gearing, which it
actuates, this arrangement being worked by a shunt or branch circuit, so that
every time this. shunt or branch circuit is completed the force of the magnet G
draws the armature g towards it and turns the ratchet wheel Fl one tooth or more
at a time, as regulated and found necessary, and spring back again as the force of
the magnet is gone by breaking the circuit, and so on regularly so long as the main
circuit is complete and the light is burning. These arrangements of the armature
lever, and shaft, and rack wheels (E¹, E, D, 6", B",) for setting the carbons, as
stated, to the voltaic are distance to suit the proper average strength of current
required to pass through the main current of the lamp. But for giving a more
accurate adjustment, the hollow rod B has mounted on it, at its upper end, a bobbin
with a coiled insulated wire on it, B2, through which the current passes by the
insulated collar B³ to the stem A³ of the positive carbon Ax. The lower end of
the stem A³ reciprocates by a slot in it, and a pin in its insulating guiding collar B³,
all quite free, and insulated as a moving core A³ within the centre of the bobbin B²,
where its lower end rests by an insulated ivory or other point on a spiral spring B*
on the upper end of an adjustable central thumb screw B actuated through the
openings in the opposite sides of the tube B, just below the bobbin B² so as to
adjust the spring B to the greatest nicety in the bobbin of the coil magnet B2, when
the current passing through through this and the electrodes is stronger or weaker, the
electric arc is amplified or diminished accordingly, and by means of the reaction of the
current and spring steadiness is secured to adjust the voltaic arc distance more or
less respectively to the greatest nicety to give a steady light. This electric lamp
has been shown and described as set and carried vertically on its basement
frame Z, ¹, z, as most other lamps, and although no shade or glass case has been
shown fitted over it, yet still it will be understood that it might be fitted within a
shade of opal or other glass to protect and subdue the light when desired. And it
will be evident that when required for a top light, to prevent all downward
shadows, it could be set and secured laterally from a side wall or bracket, or hung
in an inverted manner from a roof or lateral bracket, when that is desired, all the
motions of the mechanism being of a positive mechanical character, and not depen-
dent upon their gravitation or weight. These circumferential acting disc
carbons A and Ax, as turned, will burn away regularly as long scroll carbon
candles, and so last for many hours longer than would be conveniently possible with
straigh rod carbons. It will be quite understood that other arrangements of wheel
gearing and electro motors or clock work might be used for rotating these disc
electrodes A and Ax besides that shown with an arrangement of make and
brake contact electro magnet G and spring lever switch g; and that bevel wheels
might be employed at the top of the shaft f2f", instead of the screw and screw
wheel f, f', for actuating the carbons Ax, A-; and that when these are worked
over each other at an angle the spindle of the upper or lower one might be driven
by a band pulley on it, and a corresponding one on the upper end of the spindle fl
with a cross band passed over them. It will be quite evident that in this arrange-
1

page_text: ment, or any of the former arrangements described, that the electric arc distance
between the carbons Ax and A- could be formed in the inverse manner by
raising the standard b, b¹, of the upper carbon A- in an equivalent manner instead
of pulling down the lower carbon A x. And that where an optical centre of the
electric arc and light is of no great moment, either of these carbons and their 5
standards or bearers B or 6 might be made stationary, and only the one moved,
substantially as described, which, in the former two arrangements, Figures 1 to 6,
would simplify the arrangement of the racks and pinions 61, 61, or B¹, B¹¹, or do
away with one set of these, actuated by the keeper lever E¹, E, and magnet E, E,
at the lower end of these bearers; and to still further simplify the lamp the more
nicely, adjusting coil B³ might be dispensed with, which would make this lamp
more simple and suitable as a portable lamp for ship lights, or, as in warfare, for
signalling by sea or land. Figures 5 and 6 show an elevation and sectional plan of
the main parts of my electric lamp with a somewhat different or alternative
arrangement of the electrodes A- and Ax on their carrying rods or bearers b, 1
B, As, and mode of driving them (dispensing with the bow frame A111 carrying the
the spindle A2 of the positive carbon disc A×), and in mounting this shaft A in a
journal bearing bracket A1 at the top of the carrying bar A³ forming the movable
core of the regulating coil bobbin B. And in actuating the spindle A2 by the
screw wheel and screw f, f, at its one end, and the top of the square shaft, which,
in this case, is carried by a bracket f111, from the top of the carrier A1, A3, with a
pulley a² on the outer end of the spindle A³ for driving the spindle A1 of the
negative carbon A-, above, through an elastic band a¹ passed over a corresponding
pulley a¹¹ on this spindle A".
The gearing F, F, F1, of the driving shaft f' (which actuates the screw square
shaft sliding in it at the upper end) is also shown as actuated by another
arrangement of electro magnetic motor or mechanism consisting of a double
vertical magnet I, I', fixed to the lower plinth Z with a revolving double coiled
magnet J, J, above it fixed on a central revolving spindle K and carried in a foot
step bearing at k, and a bush bearing k¹ at its upper end secured in the table 3.
The pole ends of the cores of the magnet J, J', revolving close over those of the
fixed magnet I, I', the polarity of the two stationary magnets remaining the same,
while in the movable magnet the polarity is reversed by a commutator, shown at
jx, which turns their spindle K, having a pinion P on its lower end actuating the
reducing spur gearing F1, F1, F, which actuates the said long vertical shaft få for
turning the carbons, all as before described, through a branch or shunt circuit
connected to the wire N-, Nx. The regulating of the voltaic arc distance being
all substantially as shown and described in reference to Figures 1 to 5. Figure 7
shows a sectional elevation of another improved arrangement of electro magnets
and keeper or armature (instead of the armature lever E¹, E, and spring catch d
with toothed racks b', B', and wheel gear 6, B1, shown in the former Figures) for
separating the carbons Ax, A-, consists of the keeper or armature L mounted
over the core poles of a vertical electro coil magnet M, M, equivalent to that E, E,
shown in Figures 1 to 3, but mounted on each side of the carrying rod B of the
positive carbon disc Ax, which in this case is preferably made rectangular in
section with two horizontal electro coiled magnets O, O, with loose cores o, o, on
each side of the rod B; all so that when this rod B is pressed up by a light spring S
to complete the circuit through the carbons, and the wire connections and electric
circuit through these magnets M, M, and O, O, the cores o, o, of the latter grip the
rod B, and the magnet M, M, pulls the keeper L down along with the magnets O, 0,
and O, o, and rod B, which they hold between them, so as to form the proper
voltaic arc distance between the carbons and maintain it there so long as the light
is maintained and the current passing between them; all otherwise substantially as
described in reference to the former Figures. The cores o, o, of the magnets O, O,
instantly releasing the rod B the moment the light goes out or the circuit is broken
and allow the spring S to lift the rod B, at the same time releasing the keeper and
the magnets O, o, and O, o, upon it ready for a new action when the circuit is complete.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my' said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect or practice, I would observe that I do not desire to
claim the mere use of disc electrodes in electric lamps or the separating of them by
racks and pinions (as I am aware that this has been done or tried before), except in
so far as the improved arrangement for actuating and controlling of these form part
thereof; but what I consider novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction or combination of the parts of an electric lamp
or light with disc carbons or electrodes and their revolving gearing and motive
mechanism and distance controlling electro magnets and connections, all substan-
tially as herein distinguished under the several alternative combinations described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Second. The arrangement of electric lamps with revolving disc electrodes mounted
on simple carrying rods reciprocated in opposite directions by one nearly balanced
acting geared spindle, controlled to give the proper voltaic arc distance of the discs
by the armature pawl lever of a coil magnet in circuit with the electric magnetic
current of the lamp, either in combination with the more accurate adjusting moving
core magnet B² or not, all substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The controlling of the voltaic arc distance of the electrodes of electric
lamps by a double coil magnet in their current circuit, and improved arrangement
of its keeper or armature pawl lover, shown detached in Figure 4, and either in
combination or not with the moving core coil bobbin mounted on the carrying stem
of one of the electrodes for the more sensitive adjustment of the said arc, all
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The general construction or combination and arrangement of stationary
coil electro magnet and keeper, with griping moving core electro coil bobbins for
separating and regulating the electrodes of electric lamps to their proper voltaic arc
distance, all substantially as herein described in reference to and shown particularly
in detached view, Figure 7 of the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Fifth. The revolving of disc electrodes of electric lamps primarily by an arrange-
ment of ratchet pawl mechanism actuated by a make and brake electric contact or
branch circuit coil magnet transmitted by reducing wheel gearing and upright shaft
with screw and screw wheel or equivalent bevel wheels, all substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Sixth. The general construction or arrangement of a double coil stationary
magnet, with a corresponding inverted revolving magnet with current revorsing
commutator and insulated cylinder for rotating the disc electrodes of electric lamps
through a branch or shunt current in connection with the lamp circuit, all substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Whyte, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
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GEORGE WHYTE. (L.S.)