Year: 1886

page_text: I, HENRI PIEPER fils, electrician, residing at Liege in the Kingdom of Belgium,
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
specification:-
My invention relates to electric arc lamps and more particularly to the means for
automatically advancing one of the carbons towards the other in the measure as
the said carbons are consumed, and for breaking the contact of the carbons at the
moment an electric current is sent through the same. The improvements consist
in the combination with the holder of one of the carbons (the said holder being
made of soft iron) of a movable bar of soft iron placed close to the holder, a
stationary piece of like iron fixed at some distance from the said bar and an electric
coil, the said parts being so arranged that an electric current passed through the
said coil will on one hand produce magnetic attraction and, in consequence thereof,
friction between the bar and the holder, while on the other hand it creates
attraction between the bar and the stationary piece of iron, whereby the bar is
caused to move towards the latter and to impart, through the medium of the said
friction, motion to the holder, either for the purpose of breaking contact of the
carbons, or in view of producing feed-motion. Moreover the improvements consist
in means for causing the bar, after having attracted the holder, to move together
with the same in a helical line in one direction and thereupon to release the holder
and to move in opposite direction while the holder is retained by a friction-brake,
a feeding motion of the carbon secured to the holder being thus obtained. The
improvements also comprise particular means for breaking and reestablishing the
circuit of the electro-magnet of the feeding-device.
On the annexed two sheets of drawings a lamp provided with my improved
feeding device is shown by Fig. 1 in a sectional front elevation, by Fig. 2 in side
elevation, by Fig. 3 in a sectional plan, and by Fig. 4 in top view. Fig. 5 is an
outside view with a part in section, and Fig. 6 a sectional elevation, at a right
angle to Fig. 5, of a portion of a lamp with modified arrangement of feed-motion
and an electro-magnetic device for breaking contact of the carbons. Fig. 7 is a
sectional plan on line 1, 1 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an outside view corresponding
to Fig. 6, and Fig. 9, a plan on line 2, 2, of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an elevation
of a portion of a lamp with modified arrangement of electro-magnets for breaking

page_text: contact of the carbons, and Fig. 10ª a section thereof on line 3, 3. Fig. 11 shows
in sectional front elevation the upper portion of a lamp with another modification
of feeding mechanism; Fig. 11 is the lower portion thereof. Fig. 12 represents
the same lamp in side elevation and Fig.'13 in sectional plan on line 4, of Fig. 11.
Fig. 14 is a section on line 5, 5 of Fig. 11, and Fig. 15 a part in detail.
In the lamp shown by Figs. 1 to 4, each of the cores a of two electro-magnets A
constitutes the aforesaid movable bar of iron, and each of the two plates S² fixed
to the lamp-frame, the said stationary piece of iron. The cores a have at both ends
heads of which those marked with the letters S¹ and N¹, and formed as is shown by
Fig. 3, embrace the carbon-holder T upon one side, so that when magnetism is
induced in the cores, they will both attract the holder, which is made of iron, in a
direction transverse to their axes. At the same time attraction is produced between
the outer heads N and S of the cores and the plates S³.
The two cores are fixed to each other by two plates of brass or other metal not
susceptible of being affected by magnetism. The upper one of these plates has a
cylindrical extension G provided with screw-threads that work in like threads cut
into a boss B formed on the upper discuous portion of the lamp-frame. The
electro-magnets are thus guided partly by the said screw-threads, partly by the
holder T. To the upper end of the extension G projecting above the boss B, is
secured a lever C, connected by a spring R to a post on the lamp-frame, the said
spring being so arranged that it tends to draw the electro-magnets away from the
plates S. Another spring, R¹, serves to limit the amount of motion produced by R.
The lever C carries on a pivot p a small lever pressed against a shoulder of p by
a spring, so that a certain amount of friction is caused thereby. By the sides of
this lever there are two stops 61 and 62 carried by a post I, that may be insulated
or not, and near its end is placed on an insulated post a pin b; and the said
parts 1, 6, 61 and 62 are so arranged that, when the spring R draws the electro-
magnets away from the plates S2, the lever is brought in contact with the pin b
by being pressed against the stop 6'; whereas, when the electro-magnets, during
their motion towards the plates S³, have come near the same, the lever will be
drawn away from 62 and caused to strike against b¹, in consequence whereof it is
turned on its centre p and separated from the pin b, as is shown by dotted lines.
The wire of the combined coils of the electro-magnets A is attached with its ends
respectively to the main conducting wire d and the insulated post k, and the
latter is in electric communication with the conducting wire c by the lamp-frame,
the screw G, the lever C and the lever 7, provided the latter be in contact with the
pin b. A shunt circuit is thus formed, which is established or broken by the
lever according as it is in contact with the pin b or not.
The holder T is placed under the control of a brake M, arranged to prevent the
holder from sliding down, but which allows it to be rotated and gradually pushed
downward by the action of the feeding-device. A brake adapted for this purpose
will be more fully described hereafter with reference to Figs. 11 and 14. The
electro-magnets E, connected to the main circuit, and the armature F thereof,
pressed upward by a spring and carrying the lower carbon, serve to withdraw the
latter from the upper carbon when a current is sent into the lamp, and thereby to
produce the luminous arc. These parts, however, do not form any portion of my
invention.
The operation of the feeding-device is as follows.
As long as the carbons are at the proper distance from each other, the current
passing through the shunt-circuit, is too weak to put the feeding-device into
operation. But, in the measure as the carbons are consumed, and the resistance in
the luminous are becomes greater, the strength of the shunt-current increases, until
the magnetism induced by the same in the cores a, produces sufficient attraction
between the outer heads S N and the plates S₁ as that the electro-magnets revolve
in the direction of the arrows f, Fig. 3. At the same time the friction due to the
attraction between the inner heads S N' and the holder T, causes the holder to be
rotated together with the electro-magnets. But as these are guided by the threads

page_text: of the screw G and the boss B, their rotative motion will produce an axial motion
of the holder, the incline of the screw-threads being such that the direction of the
said axial motion will be downward. When the electro-magnets are about to strike
against the plates S, the shunt-circuit is broken by the lever or circuit-breaker 1,
the cores are demagnetized and the electro-magnets are drawn away, from the
plates S2. The device thus continues to work until the proper length of arc has
been re-established.
The arrangement of the electro-magnets A shown in combination with the
holder T of Figs. 5 to 9, differs from the foregoing in this that they are both placed
on one side of the holder, and that they consequently both attract the same in like
direction parallel to their axes. Their cores are therefore arranged to embrace the
holder upon that portion of its periphery which is directed centrally towards them,
and they are maintained in contact with the holder by a brass cap. If preferred,
a single electro-magnet may be used in this case instead of the two shown in the
drawing..
The electro-magnets arranged in respect to the holder T as described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 3, and having stationary armatures transversely opposite
to their outer heads, may with advantage be employed for allowing the carbons to
come in contact with each other when the lamp is extinguished, for producing the
are when it is lit, and for serving as friction-brake to the holder, while the lamp is
burning. For this purpose the two electro-magnets C, Figs. 5 to 9, are arranged
to move between guides K parallel to the holder T and made of brass or other
material that is not affected by magnetism, and above the outer heads of their cores
the iron plates L forming the said stationary armatures, are fixed to the frame of
the lamp. The coils of the said electro-magnets being connected to the main
circuit of the lamp, magnetism will be induced in the cores of the same as soon as
a current is passed into this circuit; and, in consequence of the attraction resulting
therefrom on one hand between the cores and the holder, and, on the other hand
between the cores and the plates L, the electro-magnets will be raised together
with the upper carbon. In this state the electro-magnets remain as long as the
lamp is burning, their cores meanwhile preventing the holder T from sliding by its
weight, whereas they allow the feeding-device from pushing it downward slowly.
When the lamp is disconnected from the source of electricity, and magnetic
induction ceases, the electro-magnets separate from the plates L and drop down as
far as any suitably arranged stop permits them, while the holder drops until the
upper carbon settles on the lower one.
Fig. 10 shows the electro-magnets C arranged in vertical position, and the upper
plate of the lamp-frame constituting the armatüre L. The cores of the electro-
magnets embrace the holder T in the manner shown by Fig. 10" by means of their
extensions e. H H are two springs adapted to partly balance the weight of the
electro-magnets.
In the lamp represented by Figs. 11 to 15, the electro-magnets A are formed by
a stationary core S³, corresponding to the pieces S³ of Figs. 1 to 3, and a coil
placed thereon, while the movable bars a forming the cores in the lamps described,
constitute in this case the armatures. The said armatures embrace the holder T in
like manner as set forth in respect to the bars a of Figs. 1 and 3; they are
suitably connected together, for instance by the brass plates g, and they are
provided with the screw-threaded cylindrical piece G, which may be integral with
one of the plates g, and which works in inside threads of the boss B. The
alternate magnetization and demagnetization of the core S³, and thereby of the
armature-bars a, will consequently produce the same effect upon the holder T as in
the preceding arrangements. The circuit-breaker is substantially the same as in
Figs. 2 and 4, only its form is somewhat different.
The brake shown by Figs. 11 and 14 and acting on the holder T, consists of a
friction-pall h having an eccentric face and pressed with the said face against the
bolder by a spring i. This brake not only prevents the holder from sliding by its
weight, but also hinders the rotation of the same in the wrong direction by the

page_text: feeding-device, if such action should take place. The electro-magnets E E shown
in Figs. 11 and 12 are the saine as those of Figs. 1 and 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In an electric arc lamp, the combination, with an iron carbon holder T, of a
movable bar of iron placed with one portion close to the holder, a stationary piece
of iron (such as S2 and L) fixed near another portion of the bar, means for guiding
the said bar, an electric coil for inducing in the bar magnetism adapted to cause
attraction between the bar and the holder and also between the bar and the said
piece of iron, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In an electric arc lamp, the combination, with an iron carbon-holder T, of a
movable bar of iron placed with one portion close to the holder, a stationary piece
of iron (such as S2 and L) fixed near another portion of the bar, means for guiding
the said bar, an electric coil for inducing in the bar magnetism adapted to cause
attraction between the bar and the holder and also between the bar and the said
piece of iron, and means for withdrawing the bar from the latter when magnetic
induction ceases, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a electric lamp, the combination, with the iron carbon-holder T, of an
electro-magnetic feed-motion, comprising a movable iron bar placed transversely
to and with one end close to the holder, a stationary piece of iron (such as S³)
fixed sideward of the other end of the bar, an electric coil placed in a shunt of the
main circuit of the lamp and arranged to induce magnetism in the said bar, a
screw G integral with the bar and working in screw-threads integral with the
lamp-frame, means for breaking the shunt-circuit while the bar is moved by
attraction between it and the stationary piece of iron, a spring adapted to with-
draw the bar from the latter when magnetic induction ceases, and a friction-brake.
acting upon the holder T, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In an electric lamp, the combination, with the iron carbon-holder T, of an
electro-magnetic feed-motion, comprising two iron bars a, placed on opposite sides
of and transversely to the holder, and each embracing the holder upon a portion
of one side, two stationary pieces of iron S' fixed sideward of the outer ends of.
the bars a, two electric coils placed in a shunt of the main circuit of the lamp and
adapted to induce magnetism in the said bars, a screw G integral with the bars
and working in screw-threads integral with the lamp-frame, means for breaking
the shunt-circuit when the bars are moved by attraction between them and the
stationary pieces of iron, a spring adapted to withdraw the bar from the latter
when magnetic induction ceases, and a friction-brake acting upon the holder T,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In an electric are lamp, the combination with the iron carbon-holder T, of an
electro-magnetic feed-motion, comprising a stationary electro-magnet with core S
and whose coil is placed in a shunt of the main circuit of the lamp, an armature
formed of the two bars a arranged on opposite sides of and transversely to the
holder T, and each embracing the holder upon a portion of one side, a screw G
integral with the armature and working in screw threads integral with the lamp-
frame, means for breaking the shunt-circuit when the armature is attracted by
the electro-magnet, a spring R adapted to withdraw the armature from the latter
when the said circuit is broken, and a friction-brake acting on the holder T,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination, in an electric arc lamp, with the iron carbon-holder T, a
movable iron bar placed transversely to and with one end close to the holder, a
stationary piece of iron fixed sideward of the other end of the bar, an electric coil
placed in a shunt of the main circuit of the lamp and adapted to induce magnetisin
in the said bar, a screw G integral with the bar and working in screw threads on
the lamp-frame, a spring R acting on the said bar, and a friction-brake acting on
the holder T, all substantially as described, of a circuit-breaker, consisting of the

page_text: lever pivoted to the said bar, pin b connected to the shunt-circuit, and stops b¹ b²,
all combined substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
7. In an electric arc lamp, the combination, with the iron holder T of one of the
carbons, and an electro-magnetic feeding-device adapted to impart to the holder
helical motion towards the other carbon, of two electro-magnets C, connected to
the main circuit of the lamp and having cores each of which embraces the holder
with one of its ends upon a portion of one side, and a stationary armature or
armatures L, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated the twenty woond dose of Mouch 100R