US669055A - Electric-arc lamp. - Google Patents

Description

" N 669,055- hunted nu. 2s, 190|.

vM. H. BAKER.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

. (Anuman md am. u, 1999.)

(Ilo Ioddl.) 2 Shun-Shoot l.

Patented rp. 2s, lsol.

n. H. Immun.v

ELECTRIC ABE LAUF.

(Applicltion'lod Sept. 5, 1899.)

2 Shank-Shea! 2.

(llo Iodol.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MALCOLM H. BAKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE MANHATTAN GENERAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF NEVV YORK.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,055, dated February 26, 1901.

Application filed September 5, 1899. Serial No. 729,440. (No modell To f/,Z 'lull/0117. may concern:

Beit known that I, MALCOLM H. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Central- Core Arc-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of the present invention is an 1o arc-lamp capable of being used upon either series or multiple circuits and of being operated by either direct or alternating currents. It has been impossible heretofore to construct a commercial arc-lamp for use on alternatingt 5 current circuits in which the solenoid-magnet and armature were concentric with the carbon and the carbon tube or rod of the lamp. It has been usual to employ a series winding on one or more magnet-spools and to arrange zo these at one side of the carbon tube or rod, whereby there has been considerable loss. In other words, no one has heretofore succeeded in constructing an alternating-current arc-lampof the concentric type--thatis to say, a lamp in which the solenoid and the carbon-carrying rod or tube have a common center. I have constructed such a lamp and I [ind that it is capable of perfectly successful use on altemating-current circuits as well 3o as circuits operated by the direct current. When used upon'alternating-current circuits, the lamp is t'ree from noise or vibration, the workingv parts being controlled by the opposing action ot a weight acting to draw the arc 55 and a concentric solenoid in a shunt to the arc. There are no series windings employed in the lamp mechanism. For this reason and because, as stated, the working parts are controlled entirely by gravity and by a concentric magnet arranged as a shunt across the arc it follows that the operation ot' the lamp is virtually independent of the amount of current liowing through the main circuit, which includes the carbons. For

this reason the lamp when used upon multiple alternating-current circuits may carry a small regulating-coil, as described farther on, which will maintain the current constant at any desired value, and thus cause the lamp 5o to be independent of the voltage or the variations, as above described, or the lamp may carry a lixed reactance-coil, and the adj ustment for varying voltages may be made by changing the numbei1 of turns in use on the shunt-coil until the desired amount of current flows in the main circuit. The adjustment of the arc-voltage is made entirely by altering' the position of the counterweight, and

after once being fixed it need not bealtered. Owing to the structure of the lamp and the 6o fact that the arc is drawn slowly by the action of the counterweight the starting of the lamp is always accomplished Without any shock or jar or strain of any kind, whereby the life wear of the moving parts is considerably increased.

The main structural features ot' the lamp remain unchanged under all the conditions enumerated, except that the size of wire employed in the solenoid-magnet winding is va- 7o ried and that a reactance-coil, resistancecoil, or a cut-out is introduced in the lampbody according as the lamp is used upon multiple or series alternating-current or multiple or series direct-.current circuits.

In adapting my lamp to the above-designated uses I have developed certain novel structural arrangements and devices which constitute improvements in a lamp of this kind,'and it is upon these structural arrange- 8o ments and devices that I rely mostly for producing the results at which I have aimed.

One ofthe peculiarities of the arrangements referred to is that of normally withholding the upper carbon from contact with the lower through the act-ion ot' a counterbalancingweight and of establishing the arc by first drawing down the upper carbon by means of the concentric magnet, whereupon the counterweight draws up the carbon as soon as the 9o current passes through the main lamp-circuit, including the carbons, and thus lowers the voltage across the concentric-magnet tern minals. To make this arrangement effective,

I rigidly attach to the carbon-holding tube a sleeve consisting of several layers of thin iron, which constitutes the core of the concentric magnet and is drawn down by the latter at starting, whereby contact is established between the carbons. Thereupon the weight too or connterbalance assumes control of the carbon-carrying tube and withdraws the set tube and carbons until a balance is established between the downward pull ot' the solenoid and the upward pull of the weight.

By the employment of the lamp structure above described I do away with all springs and with practically all vibrations of the lamp mechanism. Inasmuch as the arc-voltage is maintained constant the life of the carbons is practically constant.

In order that the details of my invention may be fully understood, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved arc-lam ps. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the carbon-carrying tube detached, the lower part of the said tube being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section ofthe upper portion ofthe lamp-frame, showing the lamp-clutch in place. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the detachable clutch which I employ in connection with my lamp. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the lower part of the frame for holding` the lower carbon. Fig. G is a diagram of the circuits of my lamp as adapted for series lighting, and Fig. 7 is a diagram of the circuits ot my lamp as adapted for multiple work.

In the drawings, land 2 are, respectively, the binding-posts for the incoming and outgoing circuits of my arc-lamp.

At 3 I show a third binding-post, which is capable of being electrically joined to the binding-post 1 in the usual manner for cutting the lamp into and out ot' the main circuit by means ot aswitch-arm el, operated by a handle In a series lamp the main circuit passes from the binding-post 1, along the wire o', carbon-carrying tube 7, upper and lower carbons S and 9, and the wire 10 to the bindingpost 2. A shnntcircuit extends across from the wire G to the wire 10 through a concentric solenoid-coil 11. The said solenoid 11 is supported on the outside of a tube 12, which surrounds the carbon-carrying tube 7. The said tube 12 is a split tube of brass secured at one end to a split disk or plate 13, of similar material, and at the other to a split laminated head 14, of iron, the said disk 13 and head 14 constituting the ends or heads between which the solenoidcoil is wound. rPhe solenoid thus constituted is set into a trame 15, of iron, consisting of the heads 1G and 17, supported and held in a fixed position with relation to each other by means of arms or posts 1S and lil. These arms or posts maybe formed in one piece with the heads 1o' and 17 or they may be joined thereto by any suitable means. It should be noted that iron washers S1 are placed on the lower end of the solenoid, so that the solenoid-core, these heads, the iron lamp-body, and the upper laminated iron head of the solenoid constitute very nearly a closed magnetic circuit. 'The head 16 is provided at the top with a screw-threaded boss 60 for receiving the lower screw-threaded end of a metallic tube 20, which when secured in place within the said boss constitutes, practically, au extension of the tube 12, surrounding the carbon-carrying tube. On the top of the tube 2O a cross-arm 2l, which carries the bindingposts l, 2, and 3, is secured by any suitable means. I show the said cross-arm as being formed intoa cap at its center and fitted over the upper end of the tube 2O and as being held in place by set-screws 22 Any other suitable device for securing the crosspiece to the tube may be employed. In the upper end of the tube 2O is firmly secured a plate or disk 23, closing` the said end and carrying a screw-threaded rod 2i, which receives` ascreweye 25 for suspending the entire lamp structure.

The carbon-carrying tube 7 is supported within the tubes 12 and 20, being so suspended in the said tubes as to have free longitudinal movement therein when the conditionsare suitable. A separate view ofthe said carbon-carrying tube appears in Fig. 2. It will be seen that the upper end of the said structure is formed into a pairot arms 2G 27, between which the plunger 7l ot' a piston 28 is swiveled. The said piston acts, as is well understood, as a dash-pot device, in connection with the closed upper end of the tube 20, to prevent too-sudden movements of the carbon-carryingt ubc. Between the opposite ends of the arms 26 27 is pivoted a tongue 29, which is itself formed into a lyoke at its 'free end and has pivoted toit a link 30. The said link 30 extends outward through an opening in the tube 2O and is pivoted centrally to lugs 3l 3l on the outside thereof. On the outer end of the link 3() a screw-thread is formed and by means of this formation a screwthreaded weight or counterbalanee is capable of adjustment on the said link. Thus the weight 32 acts to hold the carbon-carrying tube 7 in a raised position within the tubes 12 and 2O unless the power of the said weight is resisted by some other iorce. 'lhis forceis provided by the solenoid 11, and in order to give eiiect to this forceI providea ring or sleeve 33, otiron, surrounding the carboncarrying tube 7 and normally located above the center of the solen l1, so that when the said solenoid is energized by the passage of' an electric current the magnetic pull will tend to draw the tube 7 downward against the force of the weight Accordingly when the lamp is inaction the posit-ion ot' the carbon-carrying tube,aud consequentlyof the upper carbon, is determined by the balance between the power of the weight. and the magnetic pull of the solenoid 11.

The connections at the upper end of the earbon-carryiupr tube 7, as between the said tube and the dash-pot piston and also as between the said tube and the external weight IOO IIO

32, are such as t-o give great freedom and flexibility to the reciprocating movements of the said tube. The effect of the weight 32 aan be varied by adjusting the position of the said weight upon the link 30. This capacity of my lamps for quick and easy adjustment in respect to current or arc voltage without removing the case from the lamp will be found of advantage in the oase where it is desirable that a given lamp or lamps should supply more light than others owing to the position which the said lamp or lamps occupy.

On the lower end of the carbon-tube 7 is supported a ring 34, of any suitable metal, and on the bottom of the said ring is formed an angular arm 35, constituting a bayonet connection for detachably supportinga clutch The said clutch is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. The central portion of the clutch is in the form of a ring adapted to surround the carbon, with just enough intervening space so that the ring will not bind upon the said carbon when the clutch and the carbon are in planes at right angles to each other. When, however, the clutch is tilted with relation to the carbon, it binds upon the latter and either holds it in a fixedr position or in case of a movement of the clutch carries the carbon with it. It will be seen that the clutch is pro- 'Vided with projecting arms on opposite sides of the central ring and that one of the said arms is adapted to enter the opening formed by the bending of the depending arm 35, while the other arm of the clutch is adapted to rest upon a ledge formed by a bent arm 37, attached to the rigid or fixed part of the lamp. The said bent arm 37 is secured to but insulated from an arm 38, depending from a metallic ring 39 on the lower end of the upper lamp-frame. The said ring is secured by screws to ascrew-threaded T-shaped piece of metal 40, which in turn is secured by screwbolts to a disk 41, of iron, constituting the lower end of a frame 42. The last-named frame is secured by screw-bolts to the head 17, as shown, and the described parts unite to forni the lower end of the main lamp structure. Between the disk 4l and the T-shaped piece 40 is a disk 43, of metal, and a plate 44, of insulating material, is also inserted between the said parts.

The circuit of the lamp being closed, current passes through the solenoid 11, draws down the carbon-carrying tube, and establishes the main circuit by bringing the carbons into contact. Current is thus diverted from the solenoid-circuit, and the power of the solenoid is thereby weakened. Accordingly the weight 32 again lifts the upper carbon', thereby establishing the arc. In the process of pulling down the carbon-carrying tube the latter carries the clutch 3G into a horizontal position, after which there is no resistance to the sliding of the carbon by gravity within the clutch until contact is made, as described. On the surrender of the carbon-carrying apparatus into the power of the weight 32 the bent arm 35 lifts one end of the clutch and causes the latter to bind upon the carbon and raise it. 'lhus the clutch, although a separate and detachable part of the apparatus, is positive in its action upon the carbon when the latter is moved for establishing the arc. At other times, except when it has been carried `to a position at right angles to the carbon, it assists gravity in moving the carbon'downward against the force of the weight 32.

The described construction furnishes an excellent counterbalance for the moving parts of an arc-lamp, relieving all shock, strain, or jar, and is calculated to maintain the arc at a uniform length under all conditions of the circuit.'

Wfhen it becomes necessary to trim the lamp, the trimmer i needs only to lift the clutch out of the bayonet-joint and slip it off with the carbon, replacing both the clutch and the new carbon by reversing the process.

It should be stated that the upper carbon is secured within a split tube 80, forming part of the usual carbon-rod, and that the latter, as shown in Fig. 2, is held in position within the carbon-carrying tube in the usual manner by means of spring-pressed bearings impinging against theinside of the said tube.

The part 50 represents the frame which carries the lower carbon. This frame forms no part of my present invention and is simply illustrated in order to show a complete lamp.`

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated the arrangement of circuits for a series lamp and in Fig. 8 the arrangement of circuitsfor a multiple-arc lamp. In the last-named lamp I employ a reactance-coil or a resistance 57, and I place it in the lamp-circuit, as shown, before leading off the solenoid-circuit. In a series lamp constructed in accordance with myinvention the binding- posts 2 and 3 are permanently connected by a Wire 72, and when the lamp is in operation the switch-lamp 4 is disconnected from the binding-post 2. tion of cutting out the lamp consists in moving the said switch-arm into'connection with the said binding-post. On the other hand, in a lamp adapted for use on multiple-arc circuits'the binding- posts 2 and 3 do not have any connection except through the various lamp-circuits. The inleading Wireor main is connected to the binding-post l, and the lamp-wire 6 is joined to the binding-post 2, so that in order to put the lamp into operation it is necessary to move the switch-arm 4, so as to make electrical connection between the bindingposts I and 2. The lamp is switched out ot the circuit by moving the said switch-arm away from the said bindingpost. i

I claim as my invention- I. In an arc-lamp, a carbon-carrier, and a tube surrounding the same, a weight or counterbalance for the said carrier external to the said tube, and a'pivoted arm or link joining The opera- IOO IIO

the Said Weight und carbon-Carrier, the said weight or oountelbzila-noe being;` adjustable on the said arm or link.

2. In an aro-lamp, a carbon-carrier and a. tube surrounding the same, a weight. 01' counterlmlance for the Said carrier external to the said tube, and a pivoted arm or link joining the said Weight und carbon-carrier.

Signed it New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 7th day of 1o August, A. D. 1899.

MALCOLM H. BAKER.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL, G. H. STOCKBRIDGE.

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