US233589A - James j - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. J. WOOD.

vElectric Lamp. N0. 233,589. Patented Oct. 19,1880.

WITNESEEE :rm/'ENTER NJUERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASmNGTON, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

JAMES J. VOOD, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO FULLER ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK CITY, N. Y.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,589, dated October 19, 1880 Application inea July 19, reso.

To all whom it muy concer/n:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. WOOD, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention applies more especially to those lamps which employ approaching carbon points, with a regulatin g-magnet in circuit therewith to control the approach or separation ofthe points, and thus keep their distance uniform, so as to render the light formed between them steady, and also to such systems of lighting as employ a number of such lamps in circuit with one generator.

My present invention relates to an improved means of maintaining the resistance ofthe entire circuit uniform, notwithstanding` the occasional or momentary extinguishment of one or more ofthe lamps, by causing a resistancecoil equaling the resistance of the lamp to be thrown into the circuit when the lamp corresponding thereto becomes thrown out of circuit by the extinguishment of its arc from any ot' the usual causes. Heretofore such resistance-coils have been thrown into circuit by the action of a magnet or similar device additional to the usual regulating mechanism of the lamp, which thus not only adds to the complication of the lamp, but forms an additional resistance in the normal circuit thereof.

Now, my invention is distinguished by organizing the usual regulating-magnet of the lamp, or the armature thereof, to act as a contact maker and breaker to throw the resistance-coil into circuit when the armature retires fully from the magnet, as the latter loses its power by the extinguishment ot' the arc, and on the other hand to throw said coil out of circuit as soon as the current is again established through the magnet and carbons, thus rendering the lamp not only very efficient, but more cheap, simple, and compact, and enabling the same mechanism to perform several functions without discordance.

The ligure in the annexed drawing presents an elevation of a lamp of the usual type embodying my improvement.

lindicates the regulating-magnet, which is in circuit with the carbons, as usual. The armature m of this magnet is xed to a tilting (No model.)

frame, It, which carries a train of gearing meshin g with a rack on the positive carbon-holder, so that when the current flows through the magnet and carbons to form the light the armature is attracted, the frame h tipped, and the carbon raised to give the proper separation to form the are between the points, this movement bringing the escape-wheel 71, of the train against the fixed stop-tOOtll/ So as to preventany descentof the carbon. \Vhen, however, tlie separation of the points becomes too great, the currentand magnetism become correspondingly weakened, and the spring g will then overcome the magnet, tip the frame in the opposite direction, depress the carbon-holder, release a few teeth of the gearing, and thus give the necessary feed to keep the points at the normal distance. Should, however, the arc between the carbon points become entirely extinguished by the wind or other cause, the magnet l will then, ofcourse, lose all its power, and the spring g will cause the armature to retire' fully from the magnet and tip the tilting frame h into contact with its hunting-stop A. This movement will, ofcourse, release the train of gearing and permit the upper carbon to descend slowly and touch the lower carbon, so as to again establish the current through the magnet and carbons and again form the arc in the usual manner. It may be observed, however, that before the arc could be thus established a break in the circuit would exist for an interval of time, which, if no other passage of equal resistance for the current to the lamp were provided, would seriously affect the action of the generator, and also all the other lamps in the circuit, if not entirely derange their action. According to my invention, therefore, I cause the retiring motion of the armature m or its tilting frame h against the stop A to serve as a contact-maker t0 throw a coil into circuit having a resistance equal tothe normal arc, or thereabout, which coil is again thrown out of circuit as soon as the current is established through the magnet, and the carbons and the light formed thereby, thus obviating all the above-named objections.

In the drawing, B indicates the resistancecoil, which is preferably wound upon butinsulated from the tube or rod It, by which the lamp is suspended, this arrangement of the IOO coil being obviously compact and convenient. One end of this coil connects to the insulatedl or negative binding-post on the head of the lamp-frame, which post also connects, as usual, to one end of the magnet-coils, the opposite end of which connects to the lower carbon. The other end of the resistance-coil connects with the stop-screw A of the tilting armatureframe m h, which screw, instead ot' being in metallic connection with the lamp-frame, as heretofore, isinsulated therefrom, as indicated; butthe armature-frame m h is in metallic connection with the frame, as usual. Now the. suspending-rod la, on which the resistance-coil is wound, is in metallic connection with the lamp-frame, and the positive circuit-wire is therefore preferably connected to the base of this tube, while the negative wire connects to the negative post insulated on the lam p-frame. Hence, when the lamp is in action and the arc formed, the current enters through the suspending-rod 7s through the frame of the lamp, the ripper carbon holder, and carbon, and, passing to the lower carbon, returns through the coils of the regulating-magnet Land flows ott' by the negative post. While the current therefore takes this its usual course to form the light, the attraction of the magnet will withdraw the armature-frame m h out of contact with the stop A, and the slight oscilla tions of the armature frame under the varying attraction of the magnet and the opposing action of the spring g will regulate the feed and separation of the carbons and keep the arc uniform in the usual manner. Should, however, the arc become entirely extinguished-say by a sudden gust of windthe magnet will at once lose its power and the spring gwill throw the armature-frame in contact with the stop A, so that the current will then nd a passage from the armature-frame through the stop A, the resistance-coil B, and oit' through the negative binding-post, through which it will continue to liow till the positive carbon has descended and touched the lower carbon, when, the current finding its normal passage, the magnet will be energized so as to attract the armature, break the circuit with the resistance-coil, and raise the carbon to give the proper separation to form the arc, and thus again establish the light. Hence, by this means, While any lamp or number of lamps in the circuit are extinguished, the action of the generator or of the other lamps will not be effected for as one or more lamps become extinguished an equivalent resistance is immediately introduced into the circuit, thus rendering the resista-nce of the entire circuit and of any section thereof uniform and constant and preventing any breaks in the circuit.

It may be further observed that my means of accomplishing these results adds little or nothing to the ordinary mechanism of the lamp, but greatly increases its value and efflciency without interfering in the least with any of the usual functions of the ordinary regulating mechanism.

I do not, of course, limit myself to any special form of regulating-magnet, or armature, or mechanical mechanism, as the essence of my invention consists simply in so organizing the regulating mechanism that the armature or other movable part actuated by the regulating-magnet and a retiring force makes contact with a stop and throws the resistanceinto the circuit when the attraction ofthe regulating-magnet fails. A solenoid may therefore be used in lieu of an ordinary electromagnet, and the form of the armature or other part moved or actuated by the magnet or solenoid, as also of the general mechanical mechanism, may, of course, be greatly varied, as experts in the art will readily understand, without making any departure from the spirit of my invention.

In lieu of the coil of wire B, any conductor of equivalent resistance may, ot' course, be used; but the coil is preferable.

What I clailn as my invention is- 1. An electric lamp, substantially such as described, having the armature or equivalent movable or actuated part of its regulatingmagnet organized to act as a contact-maker, to throw a resistance-coil or equivalent conductor equal to the normal arc, or thereabout, into circuit when the said part retires fully from the magnet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric lamp substantially such as described, the combination, with the regulating-magnet thereof and its armature or equivalent, arranged in the general circuit, and a con ducting-stop against which such armature retires, of a resistance-coil or equivalent conductor having one end in the genera-l circuit and the opposite end connected with said stop, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

3. In an electric lamp, a resistance coil wound upon the rod or tube whereby the lamp is suspended, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES J. NVOOD.

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. WALES, Unas. M. HIGGINS.

IIO

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