Improvements in Regulating Apparatus for Electric Aro Lamps.
Year: 1892

page_text: .Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Regulating Apparatus for Electric Aro Lamps.
I, JULIEN DULAIT, of Charleroi, Belgium, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new regulating apparatus for are lamps for regulating
the distance apart of the carbons, whether according to the volts of the lamp
current or according to the amperes, or according to both combined, whereby the
faculty of differentiation is obtained.
I will describe the said apparatus with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 shews a front elevation, Fig. 2 a side elevation, Fig. 3 a vertical section
on line p p Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a sectional plan on line A B Fig. 1.
The base plate P carries the principal devices of the apparatus and also the
frame for the carbon holders. The brackets C C¹ carry by means of adjustable
points the beam B, at the points O and O' of which are situated two pullies S S¹
also carried on adjustable points.
At U an axis X carries fixed thereon a toothed wheel g with ratchet wheel T
and a toothed drum D. The wheel g gears with a pinion N fixed on the same
axis a with a break wheel V and a star wheel E, these parts being carried by the
beam B as shewn.
•
A cord
An adjustable stop or knife a effects the stopping of the rotation of the star
wheel and consequently of the axes a and r' in certain positions of these.
or small chain passes over the two pullies S S¹ after passing over the drum D
and engaging with the teeth thereof. In the case of a cord it would be coiled with
sufficient turns round a drum without teeth to turn this round as the cord travels
along.
When the beam B is horizontal, the two ends of the chain or cord correspond
in position with the centre lines of the interiors of the tubular rods ll of the
carbon holder frame, so as to pass down these and hold suspended and guided.
therein the crossheads Q Q' of the carbon holders R R', so that according as the
cord or chain is moved in one direction or the other, the crossheads are inoved in
opposite directions so as either to bring the carbons together or to separate them.
In thus travelling, the cord or chain effects the rotation of the barrel D and star
wheel E, so that when the motion of the latter is arrested by the stop a the carbon
holders are also prevented from moving.
As the centre of rotation of the axis a¹ is excentric to the points of suspension i
of the beam, any oscillation of the latter, will cause the stop a either to gear with,
or to set free the star wheel E.
If the motion of the beam has the effect of disengaging the star wheel this will
then allow the cord or chain to travel so as to cause the carbon holders to approach
each other.
Assuming now that the carbon holders are brought together with their carbons
in contact, and that an electric current be passing through them for producing the
voltaic arc.
If now the beam be depressed on one side as shewn by the arrow
Fig. Z, then as the stop a prevents the rotation of D, the carbons will be separated
and the arc will be produced; this depression of the beam B can be effected by
means of a solenoid or an electromagnet the coils of which are in series with the
lamp circuit. Such angular motion of the beam and consequent distance of
separation of the carbons can be regulated on the one hand by the lamp circuit
itself, and on the other hand by an opposing circuit, also arranged as a solenoid or
electromagnet arranged iu shunt upon the lamp circuit.

page_text: In the case of solenoids, the moveable soft iron cores may be made of conical or
other form which shall be most suitable for their displacement in the solenoid, and
in the case of electromagnets the attracting and attracted masses can also be made
of a form most favorable for the distance which it is required to maintain between
the carbons.
When the carbons are in contact they offer comparatively little resistance to the
passage of the current, so that the solenoid or the electromagnet in series will act
with considerable force for separating the carbons so as to establish the arc. As
the carbons burn away the resistance to the current lamp circuit will increase,
thereby reducing the power of the series solenoid, while at the same time the
current in the shunt circuit will increase causing an increase in the power of the
shunt solenoid. The beam will therefore be moved by the differential action so as
to disengage the stop from the star wheel which in allowing the cord or chain to
travel will cause the carbons to approach again until, by the decrease of the
resistance of the are the power of the series solenoid will be again increased so as
to move, the beam B in the contrary direction and cause the stop to lock the star
wheel and thus maintain the carbons in the adjusted position.
The described arrangement of star wheel and stop may be replaced by any other
kind of escapement.
When the star wheel is employed it is preferred to control its speed of rotation
either by a fly or by the arrangement shewn at M Figs. 2 and 3. A cylinder or
drum is fixed on the axis ¹, and contains a small metal ball y free to roll
therein.
When the stop releases the star wheel, the drum in revolving therewith tends, to
carry the ball round with it, so that this, in being raised as shewn at Fig. 3, will
offer a certain resistance to the rotation until the frictional resistance is overcome
and it rolls down to the lowest point of the drum again.
This arrangement acts with a degree of sensitiveness that cannot be attained
with any other device in which only the inertia or the resistance to rotation of the
air is brought into play.
All the mechanism is independent of the lamp circuit.
Insulated screw terminals F F¹ conduct the current to the carbon holders 'R R',
which are insulated from the crossheads Q Q'
Opposing springs, either capable of regulation or not, may be connected to the
beam B or to the levers for the purpose of compensating or supplementing or even
replacing either in part or in whole the effects of the various mechanisms.
Dated this 21st day of November 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
t
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Regulating Apparatus for Electric Arc Lamps.
I, JULIEN DULAIT, of Charleroi, Belgium, 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 :--
My invention relates to a new regulating apparatus for arc lamps for regulating
the distance apart of the carbons, whether according to the volts of the lamp
current or according to the amperes, or according to both combined, whereby the
faculty of differentiation is obtained. I will describe the said apparatus with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 shews a front elevation, Fig. 2 a side elevation, Fig. 3 a vertical section on
line pp Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a sectional plan on line A B Fig. 1.
The base plate P carries the principal devices of the apparatus and also the
frame for the carbon holders. The brackets C C carry by means of adjustable

page_text: points the beam B, at the points O and O' of which are situated two pullies S S
also carried on adjustable points.
. At U an axis carries fixed thereon a toothed wheel g with ratchet wheel T and
a toothed drum D. The wheel y gears with a pinion N fixed on the same axis z¹
with a break wheel V and a star wheel E, these parts being carried by the beam B
as shewn.
h
An adjustable stop or knife a effects the stopping of the rotation of the star
wheel and consequently of the axes x and x¹ in certain positions of these. A cord
or small chain passes over the two pullies S S' after passing under the drum D
and engaging with the teeth thereof. In the case of a cord it would be coiled with
sufficient turns round a drum without teeth to turn this round as the cord travels
along.
When the beam B is horizontal the two ends of the chain or cord correspond in
position with the centre lines of the interiors of the tubular rods of the carbon
holder frame so as to pass down these and hold suspended and guided therein the
crossheads QQ of the carbon holders R R¹, so that according as the cord or
chain is moved in one direction or the other, the crossheads are moved in opposite
directions so as either to bring the carbons together or to separate them. In thus
travelling, the cord or chain effects the rotation of the barrel D and star wheel E
Bo that when the motion of the latter is arrested by the stop a the carbon holders
are also prevented from moving.
As the centre of rotation of the axis r¹ is excentric to the points of suspension i i¹
of the beam, any oscillation of the latter will cause the stop a either to gear with,
or to set free the star wheel E.
If the motion of the beam has the effect of disengaging the star wheel this will
then allow the cord or chain to travel so as to cause the carbon holders to approach
each other.
Assuming now that the carbon holders are brought together with their carbons
in contact, and that an electric current be passing through them for producing the
voltaic are, if now the beam be depressed on one side as shewn by the arrow Z Fig. 1,
then as the stop a prevents the rotation of D, the carbons will be separated and
the arc will be produced; this depression of the beam B can be effected by means
of a solenoid or an electromagnet the coils of which are in series with the lamp
circuit. Such angular motion of the beam and consequent distance of separation
of the carbons can be regulated on the one hand by the lamp circuit itself, and on
the other hand by an opposing circuit, also arranged as a solenoid or electromagnet
arranged in shunt upon the lamp circuit.
In the case of solenoids, the moveable soft iron cores may be made of conical or
other form which shall be most suitable for their displacement in the solenoid,
and in the case of electro magnets the attracting and attracted masses can also be
made of a form most favourable for the distance which it is required to maintain
between the carbons.
When the carbons are in contact they offer comparatively little resistance to the
passage of the current, so that the solenoid or the electro magnet in series will act
with considerable force for separating the carbons so as to establish the arc. As
the carbons burn away the resistance to the current lamp circuit will increase
thereby reducing the power of the series solenoid while at the same time the
current in the shunt circuit will increase causing an increase in the power of the
shunt solenoid.
The beam will therefore be moved by the differential action so as to disengage
the stop from the star wheel which in allowing the cord or chain to travel will
cause the carbons to approach again until by the decrease of the resistance of the
arc the power of the series solenoid will be again increased so as to move the
beam B in the contrary direction and cause the stop to lock the star wheel and thus
maintain the carbons in the adjusted position.
The action of the regulating apparatus will be better understood on referring to
the diagram Fig. 5, in which the levers I are formed in one with the beam B. As

page_text: in all similar regulating apparatus the weight of the upper carbon holder R is
greater than that of the lower carbon holder R consequently as soon as the star
wheel D is liberated from the stop a the upper carbon holder descends, causing the
lower carbon holder to ascend, so that the carbons approach each other.
The part marked 1. 2. 3 representing the beam B and the lever I is rigid, but
can oscillate on the fulcrum i. By this oscillation the soft iron cores M M are
made to rise and fall, and the point 3 oscillates to either side of the vertical position
like a pendulum. The chain or cord h passing over the guide pullies S₁ gears with
the chain wheel D carried by the arm 3 and in tending to turn this wheel also
tends to turn the star wheel E when a pull is exerted thereon in one direction or
the other. When however the beam B is brought into such a position that the star
wheel becomes engaged with stop a any rotation of D and consequently any motion
of the chain is prevented. When the beam-assumes the position 1' 213 the star
wheel E is disengaged. The carbons can then come in contact and the entire
current passes through them and through the thick wire of coil M', whereby the
beam is brought into the position 111 211 311, and thereby moves the carbons apart.
As the carbons burn away the current passing through M' is diminished while that
passing through the shunt coil M increases, in consequence of which the beam is
brought consecutively into the positions 1. 2. 3 and 112 31, in which latter the star
wheel is again disengaged from the stop so that the wheel D can turn, and the
carbons can approach again, until the normal distance is obtained, when the beam
will again be moved back to the position 1" 2" 3".
The described arrangement of star wheel and stop may be replaced by any other
kind of escapement.
When the star wheel is employed it is preferred to control its speed of rotation
either by a fly or by the arrangement shewn at M Figs. 2 and 3.
A cylinder or drum V is fixed on the axis a¹ and contains a small metal ball γ
free to roll therein.
When the stop releases the star wheel, the drum in revolving therewith tends to
carry the ball round with it, so that this in being raised as shewn at Fig. 3, will
offer a certain resistance to the rotation until the frictional resistance is overcome
and it rolls down to the lowest point of the drum again.
This arrangement acts with a degree of sensitiveness that cannot be attained
with any other device in which only the inertia or the resistance to rotation of the
air is brought into play. All the mechanism is independent of the lamp circuit.
Insulated screw terminals FF' conduct the current to the carbon holders R R¹
which are insulated from the crosshends Q Q¹
Opposing springs, either capable of regulation or not, may be connected to the
beam, or to the levers for the purpose of compensating or supplementing or even
replacing either in part or in whole the effects of the various mechanisms.
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. Regulating mechanism for an electric arc lamp constructed and operating,
substantially as described.
2. The beam B with its pulleys and chain or cord arranged to move the carbon
holders, substantially as described.
3. In combination with the beam, levers I connected to its ends and to the cores
of solenoids, substantially as described.
4. As a brake for regulating the movement of the escapement or star wheel, a
ball within a drum on the axis of the wheel, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of August 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.