US317778A - heineichs - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- O. F. HEINRIOHS.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

No. 317,778. Patented May 12, 1885.

Phnio-Lilhn npher, wa-hin nm. D C.

N0 Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. P. H-EINRIGHS.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

No. 317,778. Patented MaylZ, 1885.

N. PETERS. PhokmLlkhogrzphen Waihinglun, 11C.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. O; F. HEINRIGHS.

ELECTRIC LAMP. No. 317,778. Patented May 12, 1885.

RO /afar H PETERS. Pholn-Lilhographar, Wanhin lon, D.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OrrrcE.

CHARLES E. HEINRICHS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC LAM P.

QPECIPIC'ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,778, dated May 12, 1885.

Application filed December 13, 1884. (No model.) Patented in England November 13, 1878, No. 4,595, and November 9. 185 0, No. 4,008; in France May 13, 1879, No. 130,646, and May 11,1831, No.142,'l99, and in Germany July 1,1879, No. 10,054, and May 25, 1881,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES FREDERICK HErNEIons, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Electric Lamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to electric-arc lamps. In an application filed by me in the United States Patent Oflice of even date herewith I have described an electric-arc lamp consisting of a pair of curved carbon pencils mounted upon movable arms insulated from each other and adapted to approach each other to maintain the are at substantially the same point.

In my present invention, set forth hereinafter, I use four of such curved carbon pencils, which are arranged and operated upon a different principle and in a manner substantially different from that shown in my aforesaid application. I arrange the four curved carbons in two pairs, one pair constituting one electrode and the other pair the other electrode of the lamp. Each pair of carbons is arranged in a nearly complete circle, and both circles of carbons are adjusted at approximately right angles to each other, the are being formed at the crossing-point of the two circles (or pairs of carbons) farthest from the lamp-base.

Heretofore plans have been suggested and illustrated in which four straight carbons were to be used in two pairs; but these pro posals could not come into practical use, since no means nor mechanism were provided whereby the two carbons of each pair were caused to move exactly at the same ratio while burning, this being absolutely necessary for the maintenance of the are between the points of the two pairs of carbons. In case the two carbons of each pair are not connected and are not operated equally, then the points of junction of one pair can easily become displaced from the point of junction of the other pair, whereby the function of the lamp is destroyed. Further, since the length of the arc is in practice smaller than the diameter of the positive carbon, (in section,) one carbon of a pair can come in contact with the carbons of the other pair whenever the carbons burn unequally; but when the carbons are connected so as to move equally, then the carbon which is least consumed at a certain time becomes farthest advanced under (or above, as the case may be) the meeting-point of the other pair when 1t is more rapidly consumed, and so the equal consumption of the carbons of each pair 1s regulated and the are maintained at the crossingpoint of the two pairs of carbons. In other words, in order to cause the carbons to move equally, I so connect the carbons that the motion of one will regulate the motion of the other to causeit to advance at the same rate and distance. The result of this is thatif one carbon should consume faster than the other, at the very instant that it thus commences to consume faster the other carbon, burning slower, will advance slightly across the vertical line from the junction of the other carbons, which will cause this more slowly burning carbon to be brought into such position that it will be more under the influence of the arc, and thus caused to consume faster, and thereby also the effect of the more rapid combustion of the other carbon will be corrected, and the remedy applied automatically and instantaneously.

By the employment of two nearly complete circles of carbons the greatest length of carbon is practically got within a small compass, which produces a compact lamp of a considerable longer burning time than any other lamp. Further, the two pairs of curved carbons are employed in the arc in a manner impossible in the case of straight carbons. In the use of straight carbons the two negative pencils become pointed and the points are formed at the edge nearest the positive carbons, while the two positive carbons assume a crater-like shape. lhe are is formed from the negative points toward the positive craters, the are being in fact above the negative carbons, and powerful and objectionable shadows of the latter, its guiding-tubes, and mechanism are thrown downward. In mylamp it will be distinctly understood I use two pairs of curved carbons, the curved carbons of each pair being movable and pressed against each other in the curvature of their respective circles, and forming two nearly complete circles, which are placed at approximately right angles to each other with the are being formed at the point ofjunetion of the two pairs. The result of this is that the carbons are curved upward away from the arc, and both the carbons and their supports are thus removed and Lil prevented from casting shadows in the space to be illumined.

llifyinvention may be stated to consist,in general terms, of four carbons forming two nearly complete circles, the said carbons being arranged in two pairs, each pair constituting one electrode of the lamp and arranged at right angles to each other, whereby no shadows of the carbons or their guiding appliances are cast in the space to be illumined, the are being formed and maintained at the crossingpoint of the two pairs of carbons. Further, of means and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the carbons of each pair are connected and caused to move as they burn cquall y and exactly at the same ratio, and thus the points ofjunction of both pairs are maintained exactly opposite each other, and the are formed at the crossin gpoint; and, further, of details of construction, whereby the aforesaid principles are carried into effect, with means for separating the pairs of carbons and determining the distance of the are.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a complete lamp constructed according to my invention, in which the four curved carbons are mounted upon arms adapted to permit the pencils of each pair to be in contact with each other by the gravity of the arms. The one pair of carbons arranged in the larger circle constitutes the positive electrode, and is ad justed in a plane substantially at right angles with the plane of the other pair, arranged in the smaller circle, which forms the negative electrode. The arms of each pair are connected with each other by two spur-wheels, whereby the arms with the carbons are caused to move exactly at the same ratio. Fig. 2 represents an elevation,partl y in section,showing the negative pair of the carbons. Fig. 3 represents an end view of Fig. 2, showing the positive pair of carbons, this being also partly in section. Fig. i represents a plan of the electro-magnets and armatures. Fig. 5 represents a detail, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a modification.

The pairs of carbons c c" and c c are held in movable arms a a and (t a, respectively, set approximately at right angles to each other, the weight of the arms causing the carbons of each pair to be in contact at their meetingpoints. The pair 0 0 meet below the pair 0 a". The ends of the carbon-holders of each pair are geared together, as shown, by small gear-wheels p p and p, and are pivoted, one pair at s 8 and the other pair at s s". The pivots s s" are supported in a frame, f, depending from the box A, and the pivots s s by a frame, f, extending up into the box A,

4 and adapted to be given vertical movement by the action of suitable magnets and intermediate mechanism, whereby the position of the arc is relatively maintained. A bracket, 6",

is secured to the lamp within the box or casing A, provided with a ratchet-wheel, w, and pinion into which latter I gear the vertically-movable frame f.

YVhcn no current passes through the lamp, the positive set of carbons rest in contact with the negative set; but when a current enters this lamp it has two ways, so that in case the carbons break accidentally or are consumed the current will flow through a coil of wire, R It, placed in the top of the lamp, which has a resistance equal to the are and greater than that of the magnet-coils. Thus, if manylamps are placed in one circuit, each lamp will be independent of the other, as will be seen from the following: The positive current enters terminal i into magnet m, base I), movable frame 1, arms a a, carbons c 6*, carbons a" c, bracket b, and terminal 1, and at the same time the current can flow from terminal i" into resistance coil It R, spring 8, which is pressed against contact-screw c by the pin 1), (the lattcr being fixed, insulated, in the movable frame f,) from the contact-screw into bracket f, thence to wire to, to terminal Z. If the carbons are broken, the current will keep flowing through the last-described circuit o11ly;-but when the carbons are in contact the greater portion of the current flows through the firstdeseribed circuit. The magnet m attracts the armature c, and with its lever Z lifts the frame f with the positive set of carbons a sufiicient distance from the negative set to produce the arc. At the same time the pin releases spring 8", and the circuit having therein the resistance-coils R becomes broken, and the whole current passes through the carbons and produces the light. The spring acts on the ratchet-wheel w for the purpose of retarding the withdrawal of the one set of carbons from the other, so as to allow the several lamps ar' ranged in one circuit to be started simultaneous] y.

I may also use any other suitable and known mechanism for retarding the withdrawal of one pair of carbons from the other pair, and mechanism is also required to act and retard the downward motion of the one pair of carbons on interrupting the current, and so prevents the breaking of the carbon-points, which would take place if the two pairs should fall suddenly together.

I do not limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement of the devices hereinbefore described for operating and holding the carbon-pencils, as they may be changed in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the carbons are separated slowly, and on the breaking of the current, from any cause, they come, as quickly as the retarding mechanism permits, into contact with each other to reform the arc.

I desire it to be understood that instead of the magnet m shown, a solenoid may be used to regulate the distance of the are.

In Fig. 5 I have shown broken away portions of one pair of the carbon-holders geared together, as shown at p 19 and as hereinbefore described. To keep the dust and dirt from interfering with the proper working of these gears, I inclose them in a shell or case composed of the sections d d These are placed upon each side of the geared arms, and are held in place by the screw-head of the pivotpins 8 8 as shown. Openings are left in these plates for the hub to pass through, to which the carbon-holders are secured. These hubs are of approximate cone shape, as shown, the lower part thereof being larger than the opening in the plates d d and this allows them to extend beyond these openings and form a shield or guard to prevent the dust from entering at this point. It will be understood that a similar arrangement is provided for the other pair of carbon-holders.

Instead of having the pivoted arms with the carbons fixed thereto, it will be obvious that guiding-tubes may be provided to contain the carbons, the said tubes being suspended from the regulator box or case, and movable arms or followers may move in these tubes to feed the carbons by the weight of said followers. To illustrate this,I have made an outline marked Fig. 6.

Ido notlimitmyself to the mechanism shown for feeding the carbons and causing them to move equally, as other suitable'means may be used instead.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an electric lamp, the combination of two pairs of curved carbon pencils forming two nearly complete circles, which are placed at approximately right angles to each other, the carbons of each pair being moved and are pressed against each other in the curvature of their respective circles, the are being formed at the crossing-point of the two pairs of carbons, whereby no shadows of the carbons or their supports are cast in the space to be illumined.

2. In an electric la1np,a double pair of curved carbons, one pair constituting the positive and the other the negative electrode, the carbons of each pair being connected so as to move as they burn equally, whereby the points of j unction of each pair are maintained opposite each other.

3. In an electric-arc lamp, a pair of curved carbon pencils mounted on movable arms in vertical plane and adapted to keep their ends in contact by gravity, a second pair of curved carbon pencils similarly mounted, but in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the first pair and with the point of contact of their ends in line with the point of contact of the other pair, and means for separating the pairs and determining the distance between them, one pair forming the. positive and the other pair the negative electrode, all substantially as described.

4. In an electric lamp in which the are is maintained between two pairs of carbons, the combination, with the four curved carbon pencils, of the electro-magnetm, adjustable to the armature therefor, so as to produce the proper distance of the are, and suitable connections between said armature and the frame carrying one pair of carbons and the arms thereof, with means for retarding the up-and-down movement of said frame, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

5. In an electric lamp and in combination with the connected ends of a pair of carbonholders, the dust-protector described, consisting of a pair of plates held in place upon each side of the connected ends of the carbon-holders, openings in said plates for the passage of the ends of the carbon-holders, and the enlarged cone-shaped hubs of said holders adapted to cover the openings in the plates, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. HEINRIOHS.

\Vitnesses:

F. L. MIDDLETON, WALTER DONALDSON.

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