US1728813A - Apparatus for renewing filaments in incandescent lamps - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1929. c. TOURNE 1,723,813

APPARATUS FOR RENEWING FILAMENTS IN INCAHDESCENT LAMPS Filed June 8, 192'! 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E 4 l0] I f /02 ATTNKNEYS Sept. 17, 1929- c. TOURNE 1,728,813

APPARATUS FOR RENEWING FILAMENTS IN INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed June 8, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 An /ways Sept. 17, 1929- c. TOURNE 1,723,813

APPARATUS FOR RENEWING FILAMENTS IN INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed June 8, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES TOUR-NE, F PARIS, FRANCE APPARATUS FOR RENEWING FILAMENTS IN INCANDESCENT LAMPS Application filed June 8, 1927, Serial No. 197,358, and in France-November 10, 1926.

This invention relates to an apparatus designed for ellecting filament renewal in electric lamps provided with spare filaments and more particularly adapted to the lamps such as are disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 197,359. filed June 8. 1927.

In this type of renewable lamp, the filament (or each of the filaments) of the lamp are stretched between two supports and are prolonged beyond one of their points of support on a coil. One of the supports is movable and mounted on another support operated by a bar of soft iron placed on the interior of the lamp and susceptible to being rotated under the influence of a rotating magnetic field or a rotating electro-magnet.

In the case where a bar of soft iron is oper ated by an electro-magnet, the magnet or the lamp (according to whether the lamp moves inside the magnet or the magnet moves outside the lamp) can be operated mechanically or electrically by hand and either directly or at a distance by the medium of a suitable transmission of some sort. But in every case whatever the arrangement may be it is indispensible to combine the device operating the electro-magnet with a circuit breaker which has for an object to interrupt the flow of current to the lamp during the renewing period in order to avoid a short circuit resulting from the displacement of the movable support. It is more advantageous to'open and break the circuit to the elcctro-magnet than to the lamp in such a manner that during renewing the breaking of the circuit to the lamp establishes the circuit to the magnet and that when the re newing has become terminated the breaking of the circuit to the magnet establishes the circuit to the lamp.

\Vhen a motor is used for rotating the electro-magnet it may be put in rotation by means of an interrupter and provided with a device for opening the circu t at the end of its run in combination with means for assuring the return of the soft iron bar to its initial position. These means may comprise a current reversing device which operates the motor in opposite directions when the soft iron bar has carried the supports of the lamp into contact with the new filament elements in coinislikewise entirely automatic, in the sense that the lamp can be connected in circuit which is arranged to automatically start a motor which rotates the electro-magnet as soon as the current to the lamp has ceased. This inotor is provided with a device for automatically reversing the direction of rotation at the end of a certain number of revolutions in such a manner as to cause the bar to turn in the reverse direction and bring the parts of the movable supports to their initial position at the same time drawing the filaments across the fixed supports. The current to the motor is interrupted when this takes place. Means are further provided for automatically restarting the motor and hence the renewing mechanism in case the operation should fail or the new filament become broken during the renewing operation.

The annexed drawing illustrates, by way of example, several embodiments of my invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic assembly of a lamp provided with my renewing device controlled by hand;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a device which is operated from a distance;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a. renewing device L provided with automatic control:

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a detail in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 15-43 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 shows a device applied to an incandescent lamp having multiple filaments.

Referring to the drawing. and particularly Fig. 1. (ill rc 'irescnts the body of the lamp and l the filament stretched between the supports 2 and 3 the end being wound on a coil 15.

ing a socket 103. A second socket 103 is journaled in a tubular bearing 104 disposed between the poles of an electro-magnet 20 Which is mounted on a carriage 105 which slides in a guideway 106. The lamp is supported between the sockets 103 and 103'. Turning the crank 100 turns the lamp between the poles of the magnet 20 after having previously adjusted the carriage thereof. The bar 14 remains in a fixed position in the magnetic field of the magnet 20 and becomes displaced longitudinally by the action of the threaded rod 8 which turns therein. The bar 14 carries with. it the support 2 and its supporting rod. .The support 2 is moved to a position adjacent the support 3 which ongages and Holds the filament. The crank handle 100 is then turned in the opposite direction and the bar 14 and support 2 are again moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 with the renewed filament in place.

During the renewing operation, interruption of the current" to the lamp is accomplished by means of a double-pole switch 68 which permits either the circuit to the lamps 60 to be broken and that to the magnet 20 closed or after renewal the breaking of the circuit to the magnet and the establishment of the circuit to the lamp again. If desired the crank 100 might be arranged to operate an interrupter in such a manner that the circuit would be automatically broken to the lamp during the renewing period and become reestablished once the operation is completed.

Referring to Fig. 2, the magnet 20 is suspended on rollers 61 by means of a ring 62 which turns with the rollers. The ring 62 is attached to the body 63 of the electro-magnet at the upper end of which is mounted a beveled gear 64 and two contact rings 65, 66 for supplying current to the winding of the magnet. A pinion 65 meshes with the gear 64 and is attached to a flexible coupling 66" which is attached to a transmission gear contained in a box 67, said gear being op erated by means of a crank 68. In this embodiment when the crank 68 is turned the gears in box 67 turn the coupling 66*, pinion 65 and gear 64. This turns the electroma'gnet 20 which moves the soft iron bar 14 and'carries it to one extremity of its course for accomplishing the renewal operation. Operation of the bar in the opposite direction is obviously accomplished by turning the crank 68 in the reverse direction.

The mechanism in this embodiment is, as in Fig. 1, combined with a switch 68 which functions in precisely the same manner as previously described. Here also the crank 68 might be utilized for controlling the.

switch 68 as previously described.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, 20 represents the electro-magnet which is fed by two rings 65 and 66. A motor 69 turns the magnet 20 and a scr w 70 on which a travelling nut 71 mounted for controlling the contacts 72, 73 and 74. Said nut can be displaced from the position shown to that of 71 in dotted lines. An electroni'agnet 75 is placed in series with the lamp 6O furnished with a renewing device conforming to the invention. Opposite the magnet 75 is placed a second weaker electro-magnet 76. Between these two magnets is mounted a flexible contact spring 77 which controls all the operations of the device. An clectromagnet 78 acts on the blade 79 to control the contacts 80, 81 and 82 which are coupled together mechanically by means of an insulated bar 83 and biased away from the magnet 78 by means of a spring 84. The reversing contacts 82 are designed to reverse the rotation of motor 69.

The operation of the device ust described is as follows:

When the lamp is extinguished the various contacts occupy the positions shown in Fig. 3, to wit, contact 85 closed, contact 86 open, contact 72 closed, contact 73 open, con tact 74 open, contact open, contact 81 closed and the reversing switch 82 in a position to send current in the.direction of the arrow F During normal operation of the lamp, current flows from the line 87 through a circuit including contacts 81, contacts 72, lamp 60 and electromagnet- 75. Said magnet attracts the blade 77 and opens the contacts which places the magnet 76 out of circuit.

If the circuit in line 87 be opened the blade 77 returns to its initial position without anything happening. If the filament in lamp 60 should break, however, the following operations take place:

1. The current no longer passes through 75 and the blade 77 closes the contacts 85;

2. The current from line 87 passes through the electromagnet 76 which attracts the blade 77 and closes the contacts 86;

3. The current divides at 88, part feeding the magnet 20 and part feeding the motor 69 which is set in rotation;

4. The motor 69 turns the electro-magnet 20 which causes the bar 70 to also turn thereby displacing the nut 71 and causing contacts 73 to close. The purpose of these contacts will he explained later on;

\ 5. The nut 71 continues to move and opens contacts 72. This opens the main circuit and prevents the line from being short-circuited when the supports 2 and 3 come in contact with each other;

6. \Vhen the nut 71 reaches the end of its course it closes the contacts 74. The current can now pass through contacts 73 and 74- and elcctro-magnet 78;

7. The electro-magnet 78 attracts the blade 79' closing contacts 80, opening contacts 81 and moving switch 82 to a reverse position.

The contact being in parallel with the contact 74 establishes a holding circuit for the magnet 78 so that when contacts H are subsequently allowed to open said magnet remains energized;

6. The motor is now turned in the opposite direction. the filaments of the lamp (50 are replaced by the action of supports 2 and I the nut i'l returns to its initial position and the contacts 74 open withoutati'eeting the magnet 78; t

9. The nut 71 recloses the cont acts 7:3. The lamp, however. is not yet rcenergized since the contact 81 in the main circuit was opened by the seventh operation and has not yet been reclosed;

1t). \Vhen the nut 71 arrives at the end of its course the contacts 73 are opened. This dcenergizes the electromagnet To. opens the contact 30. recloses the contacts 81 and allows the reversing switch 82 to return to its initial position under the action of spring 84;

11. The closing of contacts 81 again energizes the lamp, current again flows through the magnet 75 which is stronger than magnet 76 and blade 77 becomes attracted by magnet 75 which restores all parts to the position shown in Fig. 3 ready for another renewing operation should the filament again become broken or in case the renewing device has not functioned properly.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown the details of the elements of the diagram shown in Fig. 3. The parts all bear consistent numbering and need little further explanation in addition to what has already been given. The motor (59 is geared to the screw 7t) by means of a pinion 89, a gear on a shaft 91. a worm 92 and a worm wheel 93. The magnet :20 is operated by the same motor by mounting the pinion 65", which meshes with beveled gear (34. directly on the shaft 91. The nut 71 is prevented from turning by means of a guide rod 94 on which it slides said rod being supported by supports and 96. Brushes 9T carry the current to the contact rings ti?) and (in.

Fig, 6 shows my device applied to a lamp of current type. Several filaments 1. 1", 1. 1 are disposed on the interior of the lamp and supported by gripping memb rs 2. 3". 2*. 3", 2, 3, 2, 3. It will be noticed however. that in this embodiment the gripping elements 3, 3, 3", 3 are mounted on a common insulating plate 6 and the members 2", 2. 2 2. on a common insulating plate 4*. Spare filament is Wound on each of the bobbins i5". 15, 15*, 15. The plate 6 is fixed and is centered in the lamp by means of the blades -13. It is connected by means of posts ll to an upper plate 45 centered in the lamp by m ans of arms 40, 46 which are fixed at 47 to the base of the lamp. The plate 4 is provided with a nut which is screwed on a central rod 49, journalled at its extremity in a cross piece 50 supported by small pillars 51 to the plate 6", the said columns or pillars passing loosely through the plate 4 and preventing it from turning on its axis. lod 4-9 is mounted to turn easily in the plate ti above which it extends, the extremity ol said rod being journalled in the plate 45. The bar of soft iron which operates the renewing device turns on a shaft 52 which is rigidly fixed to a pinion 53 which meshes with a toothed wheel 54 mounted on a shaft 55. which carries a second pinion 56 meshing with a gear 57 keyed to the rod 49.

'lhe filaments 1. 1", 1, 1 are placed either in series or parallel with suitable connections for the members 3", 3. 3 Il In case the filaments are odd in number or in parallel the current is brought in directly from one terminal of the lamp to member 23" by an insu lated connection 58, the member 2 is connect: ed to the other terminal of the lamp through nut -18. rod -19. plate 45 and a connection 59. When the number of filaments is an even number or when they are connected in series the current returns through one of the upper gripping members directly connected to the lamp terminal.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows:

The parts normally occupy the parts shown in the tigurc. \Vhen a filament burns out and it is desired to replace it the bar It is rotated by apy appropriate means. This rotation of the bar is transmitted to bar 49 through pinion 53. gear 54, pinion 5G and gear 5'.'. Rotation of said rod causes the plate 4 to rise on the threaded portion thereof. The gripping members meet and penetrate each other and renew the filaments as before when the bar 14 is rotated in the opposite direction for restoring all the parts to their initial posit-ion.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the type described. an electric lamp having a plurality of renewable tilaments and a device therein including a soft iron bar for automatically replacing a filament when it fails by relative rotation of the lamp and bar. in combination with electro-mechanical means exterior of said lamp for rotating said bar to etlect the operation of said renewing device. an energizing circuit for said filaments. an energizing circuit for said electro-mechanical means and means for breaking the circuit to said lamp and establishing the circuit to said electromechanical means during the renewal operation.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the breaking of the circuit to the lamp by said last mentioned means establishes the circuit to said electromechanical means said circuit-breaking means being operated by said electro-mechanicai means.

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3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the electro-mechanical means is provided with a flexible coupling permitting the device to be actuated from a distance.

4. In an apparatus of the type described.

an electric lamp having a plurality of renewable filaments and a device therein includin a soft iron bar for automatically replacing a filament when it fails by relative rotation of the lamp and bar in combination with a rotatable electron'iagnet surrounding said lamp and said bar, a motor for driving said electro-magnet. means for supplying current to said motor when the filament in said lamp fails, means for reversing the current to said motor and hence its direction of rotation when said bar has been turned through a predeterminednumber of revolutions, means for interrupting the current to said motor when said bar has been restored to its initial position and means for energizing said electro-magnet when said motor is energized.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the means for reversing the current through the motor operates a means for con trolling the current through said lamp and said electro-magnet.

6. In an apparatus of the type described, an electric lamp having a plurality of renewable filaments and a device therein including a soft iron bar for automatically replacing a filament when it fails by relative rotation of the lamp and bar in combination with a rotatable elcctro-magnet surrounding said lamp and said bar, an energizing circuit for said lamp, an energizing circuit for said electro-magnct. a motor for turning said electro-magnet, a circuit for said motor, means for reversing the current to said motor and hence its direction of rotation when said bar has been turned through a predetermined number of revolutions, means for interrupt:- ing the current to said motor when said bar has been restored to its initial position and means controlled by said current reversing means for breaking the circuit to said lamp and establishing the circuit to said electromagnet during said renewal operation and for reestablishing the circuit to said lamp and breaking the circuit to said electro-magnet when said renewal operation has terminated.

7. In an apparatus of the type described, an electric lamp having a plurality of renewable filaments and a device therein fo automatically replacing a filament when it fails, clectro-magnetic means for operating said device comprising, a rotatable electro-magnet surrounding said lamp and said device, a motor for turning said magnet, a screw driven by said motor. a travelling nut on said screw, a. circuit for said lamp, a pair of contacts in series with said lamp adapted to be operated by said nut, a second pair of contacts operated by said nut, said tirst contacts being adapted to be closed when said second contacts are opened and vice versa, a third pair of contacts normally open and adapted to be closed by said nut when moved away from said first and second contacts, an clectro magnet in series with said lamp, :1 second weaker magnet opposing said first magnet, a spring contact mounted between said magnets, a fourth contact conncctcd in series with said second magnet, a tifth contact connected in series with said rotary clectro-nuignet and said motor, a fourth magnet in series with said third contact and in parallel with said motor, a sixth contact in series with said second contact and said fourth magnet and operated by the latter, a seventh contact mechanically connected to said sixth contact but insulated therefrom, a reversing switch for said motor mechanically connected to said sixth and seventh contacts and a pring for opposing the attraction of said reversing switch and said sixth and seventh contacts by said fourth magnet for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

CHARLES TO URNF.

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