US778911A - Automatic suspension and contact appliance for electric-arc lamps. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

JQSTEVBNSGN, JR. AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION AND CONTACT APPLIANCE FOR ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

vvrnvsssas /N\/EN TQF? No. 778,911. PATENTED JAN.3, 1905.

J. STEVENSON, JR. N AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION AND CONTACT APPLIANCE FOR ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 22, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES //\/\/ENT0F? UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

JOHN STEVENSON, JR., OF PORTOBELLO, SCOTLAND.

AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION AND CONTACT APPLIANCE FOR ELECTRIC-ARC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,911, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed December 22, 1903.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN STEVENSON, J r., electrical engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Rowan Bank, Durham Road, Portob'ello, Scotland, have invented an Improved Automatic Suspension and Contact Appliance for Electric Arc Lamps and other Apparatus Requiring to be Raised and Lowered, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a suspension and contact appliance for electric-arc lamps and such like requiring to be raised and lowered; and its object is to provide means whereby when an arc-lamp or the like is drawn up into position its weight shall be taken off the lowering and raising chain or rope and at the same time the lamp shall be automatically connected into correct electrical circuit and its weight utilized for making a sound electrical contact.

On the drawings annexed, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line X X and looking from below. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the socket.

- The arrangement shown on the drawings is for three electrical contacts.

' The device, which takes the form of adome or bell a, is secured to the lamp-pillar, preferably by means of a socket-joint b. In the dome are four suspenders 0. two of them being shorter than the other two. The short suspenders are arranged opposite one another, and so also are the long suspenders. Each suspender has a contact step or hook (Z at its lower end, and the contacts of the short suspenders are adapted to engage with the annular inverted-trough-shaped contact a of the socket f, and the contacts of the long suspenders are adapted to engage with the annular inverted-trough-shaped contact g of the socket h. The sockets f and It and the plug 2' are made of porcelain or other insulating material and are of the shape shown. Each hook (Z has a hinged shutter 7', of triangular shape and which is capable of closing or covering the hook. Above the socket f is a tubular or telescopic contact 7c Z, provided with Serial'No. 186,224.

an inner insulating-sleeve m. The sockets are jointed together by means of the bolt 0.

p is the raising and lowering rope for the lamp.

9 is the electric cable leading to the long suspenders c.

r is the cable leading to the short suspenders.

s is the cable leading to the central pole or contact it. The cable t from the lamp it passes to the tubular contact Z. The cable 0 from the lamp passes to the annular contact 0, and the cable 20 from the lamp passes to the annular contact g.

n represents bent guide-rods arranged in the dome or bell.

The action of the appliance is as follows: The dome remains in position at the end of the swanneck ot' the lamp-pillar and is free to swivel on its socket-joint. The sockets 7" /t are raised and lowered with the lamp by means of the cord 1). When the sockets and lamp are drawn up, the sockets are guided into the bell by means of the guide-rods m, and the beveled edge of the top socket f strikes against the wedge-shaped ends of the suspenders and forces them out. At the same time the edge of the socket strikes against the shutters j and raises them up, (see dotted lines,) so that when the lamp is again lowered the suspenders move inward and engage with the annular trouglrshaped contacts g. The engagement of the contacts of the suspenders with the contacts 0 g closes the circuits. The raising of the sockets of course causes the telescopic contacts 7 Z to engage. To disengage the contacts and lower the lamp, the sockets are raised sutticiently high to disengage the step-contacts and allow the shutters to fall down and close the steps. The sockets and lamp can now be lowered, and in falling the beveled edge of the socket itirnpinges on the inclined back of the shutters, and as a consequence forces the suspenders back out of the way. It will be seen that when the contacts are engaged the weight of the lamp is thrown onto the steps of the suspenders, so that the whole Weight is utilized so as to give correct electric contact. Further, as the contacts 0 g are turned downward they are not liable to gather rain, and so short-circuit.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a suspension and contact appliance for electric-arc lamps and such like requiring to be raised and lowered the combination of suspenders having step-contacts with an insulated socket having an annular inverted-troughshaped contact therein the step -contacts of the suspenders being adapted to automatically engage with the contact of the socket substantially as described.

2 In a suspension and contact appliance for electric-arc lamps and such like requiring to be raised and lowered the combination of a bell, suspenders pivoted to the bell, contacts on the suspenders, means for conveying an electric current to the suspenders, an insulated socket, an annular inverted-troughshaped contact therein, means for electrically connecting the socket to the lamp or such like, and means for raising and lowering the socket substantially as described.

3. In combination, a case, freelymoving suspenders arranged within the case, means for conveying an electric current to the suspenders, step-contacts on the suspenders shutters for closing the steps, an insulated socket arranged within the case an annular contact in the socket electrically connected with an arc-lamp and means for raising and lowering the socket and lamp substantially as described.

4. In combination, a case, freely-moving suspenders arranged within the case, means for conveying an electric current to the suspendcrs,step-contacts on the sus1 enders,shutters for closing the steps, insulated sockets arranged within the case and one above the other, annular contacts in the socketssaid contacts being electrically connected with an arc-lamp, means for securing the sockets together,and means for raising and lowering the. sockets and lamp substantially as described.

5. In combination, a case, freely-moving suspenders arranged within the case, means for conveying an electric current to the suspenders,step-contacts on the suspenders,slmtters for closing the steps, insulated sockets arranged within the case and one above the other, annular contacts in the sockets, a telescopic contact arranged above the sockets, said contacts being electrically connected with an arc-lamp,means for securing the sockets together, and means for raising and lowering the sockets and lamp, substantially as described.

Signed at Glasgow this 10th day of December, 1903.

JOHN STEVENSON, JUNK.

\Vitnesses:

JNO. MoFADznAN, W ILLLUL FLEMING.

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