US240795A - Liroharp werdermann - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. WERDERMANN Electric Lamp. No. 240,795. Patented April 26,188L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ RICHARD YVERDERMANN. OF LONDON, l lhTiLAlYl).

ELECTRIC LAMP.

'PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,795, dated April 26, 1881.

Application filed June 30, 192 0 (No inedel.)

To all 10710111, it 7)L(l[/ concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD \VE'RDER- MANN. of London. England, civil engineer, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Lamps, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in (lreat Britain, No. 2,477,

bearing dateJune 21, 1878, and No. 2,301, hearing date June 10, 1879,) of which the following is a specification. I

My said invention relates to improvements in electric lighting apparatus, and comprises various novel devices and arrangements of the parts of such apparatus as hereinafter set forth.

In order that my said invention and the principle upon which it is founded, as well as the manner in which I carry the same. into effect, may be fully understood, I desire to make the following preliminary rcmarks that is to say, when'in an electric lamp or lighting apparatus electrodes each havingthe same sectional 'area are used, the changes at the points between which the voltaio arc is produced take place in a manner which is well known to electricians, namely, a crater or hollow is formed in the positive electrode, which emits the light, this crater being heated by the electric current to whiteness and the surrounding part to redness, while the negative electrode, which, under the influence of the current, assumes the form of a'eonc, is only heated to redness and emits scarcely any light.

I have discovered that an increase in the sectional area of the positive electrode diminishes the light emitted by this electrode, and it this difference bet ween the two electrodes is very great the positive electrode ceases entirely to emit light, whereas the heating ef fect upon the negative electrode in connection therewith is increased, and light is emitted by the same; and, furthermore, by increasing the sectional area of the negative electrode the heating effect upon the same is decreased proportionally to the increase of its area, until,

- the area having been increased sufficiently,

the heat disappears altogether, and conse' quently no consumption or wearing away of the said electrode occurs. The light emitted by the positive electrode in connection therewith, on the contrary, is increased in proportion to the difference between the sectional areas of the two electrodes, and instead of a Patented in England Tum-2i, WW, and Jnnelt), ISTEI.

crater being formed in the positive electrode thelattcr assumes the form of a cone, as former] y was the case with the negative electrode. In carrying my said invention into practice I propose to adopt this niani'icr of arranging the electrodes to produce an absolutely steady and noiseless electric light, and for this purpose I provide an electrode of circular, square, prismatic, or other convenient form in transverse section, and which I fit in a holder connected with one pole of either a gal vanic battery, a magneto-electric machine, or any other source of electricity, or of an induction-coil or condenser, 01' other intermediary apparatus. In contact with the surface of this electrode, which surface may be either plane or curved, I place another electrode of suitable shape, but of much smaller sectional area, and which is kept preferably in a vertical or inclined position, or in a horizontal or any other desired position, by a holder, in which it is allowed to slide upward, downward, or otherwise, being maintained in the same in a steady condition, either by means of friction rollers, brushes, springs, or hollow cylinders 01 tubes in two or more parts, or by other convenient means. This electrode during the emission of the light is kept in constant contact with the aforesaid large electrode either by weights, springs, or the pressure of mercury or other liquid, or by other suitable means, so that while it is slowly consumed the electric circuit is never broken, and a steady, brilliant, and noiseless light is emitted by the heating to incandescence of the smaller electrode at its point of contact with the larger one, where an infinitesimally small voltaic arc is produced, to which the incandescence ofthc smaller electrode is duethat is to say, the resistance at the point of imperfect contact causes the formation of an infinitesimally small electric or voltaic are and the incandescence of the electrode. Therefore, it will be seen that in my invention the existence of the voltaic arc is necessary for the emission of the light, as in various other arrangements for the production of electric light, this feature forming a very important distinction between such lights and those in which thelightis produced solely by the incandescent-e of the portion of an electrode between two points of contact.

It is advantageous to make the connection ot'the electric current, in ordcrto avoid the extension of the intense heating too near to the contact where the current enters the said electrode. For the same reason the pressure between thctwo electrodes must be regulated in accordance with the intensity of the electric current, becauseit' the pressure istoo greatno voltaic are would be produced, but. incandescence of the whole length of the carbon be tween the points of contact (which I partieuform of the said devices.

larly desire to avoid) will occur, and there will be no effect of electric repulsion.

In the method by which I produce my light. no incon\-'enience results from the deposit of any impurities upon the surfaces of the carbons; therefore, I am not compelled to resort to any cont-rivances for giving to the large carbon any movement or adjustment looking to the prevention of such deposit.

The proportion between the sectional area of the two electrodes I prefer should not be less than about one to four, which proportion Lil is, in most cases, sufficient to prevent consumption or wearing away of the larger electrode, which is of the highest importance; but I prefer a much greater difference between the sectional areas of the electrodes, and generally adopt the proportion of about'one to sixtyi'our.

The said invention consists in improved means for constantly keeping the two electrodes .in the proper relative position with regard to each other, whatever may be the irregularity in the consumption of the vertical electrode or carbon rod during the development of the light.

It also consists in means whereby the carbons'or electrodes in any lamp in a circuit will be automatically cut out of, or detached from, the said circuit whenever the carbon-rod oi' the said lamp is entirely or nearly consumed, so that when any one or more of the lamps in the circuit is in this condition the other-lamps will not be in any way ailected thereby.

The said invent ion also consists in improved means whereby any excess or deficiency in the rate of movement of the smaller electrode or carbon pencil will cause the larger electrode or carbon disk to move and adjust devices which immediately counteract such excess or deficiency. By these means I am enabled to insure the uniformity of the light, which depends in a great measure upon the maintenance of an exact proportion between the rate of combustion of the smaller electrode and the rule ol'its movement toward the larger electrode.

The'apparatus for advantageously carrying my said invent ion into pract ice is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings; but I wish it understood that 1' do not limit myself to the details of the construction aml arrangements shown in these drawings, as many modifications of the same are possible and may he required to adapt the said apparatus to the circumstances or conditions of each particular 5 case.

l l l In the drawings, Figure 1V is a view of a lamp constructed according to my invention, the standard being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion ofa lamp,

representingone form of my improved devices for maintaining the two electrodes in their proper relative position, and for cutting out the carbons or electrodcsin a circuit whenthe carbon rod is entirely or nearly consumed, amt Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a modified Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of another modified form of the said devices, and Fig. 6 is a plan of portions of the same. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a still further n'iodilied form of the said devices.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 4, illustrating one form of my improved lamp orlightgiving device, a is a standard or pillar,i.vhich may be constructed of metal or other suitable material, and which supports the elect rodcs and the mechanism connected therewith.

b is the fix ed electrode, which is considerably'larger in its sectional area than the other electrode. it may be formed entirely of can bon or with a core or central part of carbon, surrounded by a ring or outer portion of other suitable material. b is the clamp or holder in which this electrode 1) is secured. I have hereinabove stated that in my apparatus no movement of this large elect-rode is required for the purpose of preventing the deposit of cinder thereon, and it will be seen that no meansl'or producing such movement are shown; but the clamp b permits the ready insertion, removal, and adjustment of the said electrode. The clamp is provided with an arm, I)", which is pivoted to a piece, 1/, fitted to slide on the fixed vertical bar, and the said arm I) is connected wit-h the devices for controlling the movement of the lower carbon, as will be presently described,with reference to figures showing the parts enlarged.

c is the movable electrode or carbon-rod, which is fitted to slide through the guides hereinafter described, and is thereby kept in contact with the disk b,wit-h exactly the required pressure, by the following devices.

(I is a piece fixed within the standard or pillar a, and to which are secured the small pulleys (1. Over these pulleys are passed chains, cords, or hands d", which are secured at one end to the rod 0, and have attached to their ol her ends the \\'eiglitj,wmcli is fitted-to slide upon the tube 0,which incloses the said rod 0. The latter is fitted to slide through the fixed piece (I and in the said tube, which is secured at its lower end to the pieceg, fixed in the pillar u. The piece d has in it a cavity or recess for the reception of the lower end of the lube /z,whose upper end is fitted within the tube '1', fixed at the top of the standard a. The elec trode or carbon rod 0 is inclosed within the tube 7:, and, by sliding upward in the same, is kept in continual contact with the disk 'I). The sliding weight is accurately adjusted to preponderate over the weight to-bc raised just sufliciently to keep the point of the electrode c in continual contact with the electrode or disk I) with the slightest possible pressure. The tube i forms the aforesaid guides. This tube is secured by its lower end in the pillar or standard, as above specified, and its upper portion above the line i is divided into two parts or halves, fitted together and kept in the proper posit-ion by pins 1" or by other suitable means.

As before stated, I provide the clamp b with an arm, Zr, which is pivoted to a piece, b reference being now made to Fig. 2, fitted to slide on the said fixed vertical bar. The said arm is arranged in such a manner that it can 1 move upon this pivot as its center, and therefore the larger or upper electrode 1), with the said arm I)", is capable of adjustment toward and away from the lower electrode or carbon pencil, c. The said arm 0- extends beyond its pivot on the vertical rod a, and is screwthreadcd upon a portion ofitslength and provided with a nut, b*, on this screwed portion. the said nut being sutliciently heavy to counterbalance the elect rode or disk I). The said nut isto beso adjusted thatthe weight of the electrode will slightly prcponderate over that of the nut, in order that the electrode may descend when not in contact with the point of the smaller or vertical electrode or carbon rod 0, and as the latter is consumed the larger electrode assists by its gravity in maintaining its proper connection with the smaller. electrode or carbon pencil c. The latter is fitted to slide through guides i, as above described, thctwo portions 1' i of which are fitted together by pivoting one to the other at i, or otherwise so connecting them that the part i will be capable of adjustment. In commencing to work, these guides are adjusted as nearly as practicable to exert the required pressure upon the carbon rod, to insure its moving upward at the proper rate of speed by the action of the springs, weights, or other means used for this purpose; but this upward movement cannot be advantageously maintained at one uniform rate, because of the va riations which occur in the rate of combustion of the carbon. 1 therefore provide for varying this rate of movement inproportion to the variations in the rate of combustion by in creasing or decreasing the lateral pressure on the said carbon rod, to prevent its traveling too slowly or too rapidly. This variation of pressure is obtained automatically and with great exactitudc, according to the require ments of the lamp, under all circumstances, by the following devicesthat is to say, a flat spring-or spring-bar, j, is placed near the said preferably provided with a milledhead to fa-' cilitate its manipulation, so that the point of the screw which extends through the spring to the surface of the guide imay set or adjusted, as required. Thcsaid spring orspringbar is attached at its lower end to the short to a lug or car on the standard or pillar u. The other arm, j", of 1 his lever is bifurcated at its extremity, to fita doubly collared or flanged nut, j, on avertical rod, j, connected at its upper end to the aforesaid arm I), which can I ries the larger electrode 7). The aforesaid doubly flanged screw-nut has it flanges or collars milled, to facilitateitsmanipulation. This nut provides for any required adjustment of the two-armed lever, and consequently ot' the vertical spring attached thereto.

From the above description it will be seen that the vertical rod j" being connected to the arm Z1", carrying the larger electrode. moves with it, and that any motion imparted to this red will be communicated through the two armed lever j j" to the springj and the screw j. Should the carbon rod orpcncil c be rising too rapidly by reason of insuiiicieni pressure on the guides, the large or upper electrode 1) will be thereby pushed upward, consequently the vertical rodj will also rise, carrying with itthe bifurcated arm j of the two-armed lever, the point of the screw j in the upperend of the spring being then pressed against the guide-piece i, and the pressure or friction of the latter on the carbon rod c being increased, the upward movement of the said carbon rod will thereby be immediately checked or retarded, so that it is no longer loo rapid forthe rate of combustion of the carbon. and the upper carbon 72 will then descend to its normal position. As it descends the vertical rod also descends, and the pressure of the screw) on the guidepiecc i is relaxed, so that the speed ot'thc carbon rod maybe again accel erated, if not quick enough. Thus the speed of the carbon rod is continuously and automatically regulated. and there will be no variation or irregularity of the light by reason of variations in the rate of combustion, or excess l or diminution of weight of the carbon.

It will be obvious that the variations in the movement of the rod 0 and ot' the disk (I, and parts connected therewith, will be very slight. as, in comn'icneing to move, the said disk immediately imparts a compensating or counteracting movement to the checking devices; and l as the said regulatingor checking devices are exceedingly delicate or sensitive, they will be subject during the development of the light to a succession ofminute and imperceptible oscillations, which will not permit the slightest perguides, and has in its upper part a screw, 9'',

i arm, 3*, ol' atwoarmed lever, which is pivoted I of this rodj that when this descent occurs its lower end will come into contact with a screw,

j, in an arm extending from the standard or pillar u. The lower portion of the rod j" is insulated from the upper portion by theintroduction of any suitable insulating material at f the electriccurrcnt will therefore be providcd with a short circuit-that is to say, it

will not travel from the wire or conductor 1 through the carbons, but through the bifurcated arm j of the two armed lever to the vertical rod j, thence through the screwy": with which the end of this rod is in contact, and thence to the line-wirc out of the lamp. The carbons in this particular lamp will thus automatically be cut out of or detached from the main circuit, and the otherlamps in the circuit will not be effected.

In the modified form of the devices for ob taining the above-named results, as shown in Fig. 3, the two electrodes, b c, are arranged as above described; but instead of using a regulating device consisting of the vertical rod and spring or spring-bar and two-armed lever, I attach to the pivoted arm b carrying the larger or upper electrode, 1), a spring, k. so formed that its lower end extends to,*or nearly to, the surface of the guide '1 and at this part of the latter I provide a piece of some insulating material, as shown at z. The lower end of this spring k therefore serves the same purpose as the sercwj in the end of the spring j, hereinbefore described. If the carbon rod or electrode 0 rises-too rapidly and raises the upper or larger electrode 1), the spring I." also rises, and its lower end presses against the guide and retards the movement of thecarbon rod 0, and the falling of the upper electrode relaxes the pressure, as and with the effect above described. This bent spring also serves to short circuit vthe current as fol-' lows-that is to say, an arm, i", is attached to the lower part of the guides i, and extends upward to such a position that when the carbon or electrode 0 is nearly consumed, and the upper carbon or disk, b, has descended, the lower end of the said spring k comes in contact with the arm or piece i", thereby forming a short circuit through the arm 1?, spring 1.", arm b, and pillar a.

In the modification of the said apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4, the carbon disk or electrode b is carried by the arm b", which is pivoted at b to the vertical rod or bracket (4. The latter is formed of ebonite or other suitable insulating material, or if made of metal, is insulated in any convenient manner. At b this arm b has jointed to it a rod or link, b whose lower end is jointed to the long arm tached at its fulcrum b to the adjustable part z" of the guide, so that this part of the guidev is movable with the said lever. Consequently, when the disk b is raised by reason of the too rapid upward movement of the carbon rod 0, and thereby, through the link b", depresses the arm I) of the said lever, the upper extremity of the part '5 of the guide is-forced inward, and thus the lateral pressure upon the carbon rod P will be increased. Then the upward movement of the carbon rod 1 will be retarded until the disk b descends and relaxes the lateral pressure of the guide on the rod 0. The compensating action thus obtained will, as above described, prevent any perceptible variation or fluctuation of the light, as in the apparatus above described \Vhen the carbon rod 0 is nearly consumed, the lamp is shortcireuitcd as follows: The descent of the disk b and its arm b'-' causes the rod If and arm b ot' the two-armed lever to rise. Consequently, the short arm b of the said lever has its adjustable screw or stud I) brought int-o contact with the plateor piece b, with which the conducting-wire 2 is connected. The current then passes from the point b through the arm b of the said lever, and through the stud b and piece b", to the wire 2.

According to another modification of the said apparatus, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the clamp or ring b, which carries the carbon disk b, is supported ecccntrically on pivots or pintles b fitted in a fixed horizontal arm extending from the rod or bar a. The eccentricity of the carbon disk is such that its weight preponderates on the side with which it is in contact with the carbon rod 0. The spring I. in this case is fixed on the ring or clamp b of the disk b, and bears against a piece of insu lating material on the guide 1', as in the apparatus shown in Fig. 3. The eli'ert of the raising and lowering of the disk band the result ing compensating action of the regulating devices will be the same in this form of my invention as in those above described, and the short-cireuiting devices may be arranged as in Fig. 3, or in any other suitable manner.

In Fig. 7 the lateral pressure on the carbon rod c, for the purpose above specified, is controlled or regulated by means of two rollers, c c, mounted on a rod or bar, 0-. which is pivoted or i'ulcrumcd at c", and extends through aspace or opening in'the lower partof the guides. One end ot'thisbarisconuected to the lower end'of a vertical rod, 0, whose upper end is attached to the arm b", which is connected with the upper or larger carbon b. To the other end of the said roller-bar a" a spiral spring is attached, the latter being con nectcd to ashort rod provided with a nut, by which it may be adjusted vertically. The tension of the spiral spring is adjusted, by any suitable means, to regulate the pressure of the rollers on the carbon rod. The rising and fall ing of the upper electrode or carbon ball b will have the same compensating efi'ect as in the other forms of my improved apparatus above described.

My improved apparatus may be readily and conveniently adapted to the existing streetlamp posts or pillars.

As will be seen from the foregoing explanation, the electric light of my improved apparatus is not due to what is termed incandescence, but to the production of a voltaic are, which, though infinitesimally small, exists and is due to the infinitesimally small distancc which separates the electrodes, and to the phenomcnonot the repulsion or rcpulsions exerted by the adjacent or contiguous elements of the voltaic or electric current. The best effect of the light can only be obtained by observance of the proportions between the areas of the electrodes, the distance between the points of contaet,thc p ressu re,and the strength or intensity of the current,as above explained. These proportions cannot be exactly stated for all cases,but the proper regulation of the same will always be indicated by the appearance of the light, and the required adj usi ments may be made in accordance with such indications.

Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood that 1 do not claim as a .novel feature of my invention a device or apparatus of which the only peculiarity is the difference between the dimensions of the two electrodes, as I am aware that the employment in anelect riclight apparatus of two electrodes, one of which is larger than the other, has been disclosed in the specification of patents existing long before the date of my invention. 1. further wish it understood that I do not claim or use any arrangement or combination of parts that will cause the emission of light by the incandescence or heating to whiteness of an electrode or conductor between two points of contact, except such a degree of incandescence as may be due to the voltaic are. I also wish it understood that although the various forms and modifications shown in the accompanying drawings afl'ord examples in which the said invention may be very conveniently and advantageously carried into prac tiee, yet I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement of the parts shown, as such details may be further varied or modified. without changing or departing from the principle of my invention. Forexample,theupper-electrodemaybeformcd of graphite, copper, or othersuitable metal or material instead of carbon. The construction of the guides and the means or devices for causing the movement of the upper electrode to efi'ect the variation of the lateral pressure on the other electrode, and the arrangement of the short-circuiting devices are susceptible of various modifications other than those above described, and, if desired, the lamp may be constructed with the carbon disk orlarge electrodc placed below or in any other convenient position with regard to the other electrode. Furthermore, the variation of the rate of movement of the one electrode may be produced by its pressure on the other electrode otherwise than by varying the lateral pressure; but all of these different arrangements or modifications of the said ap iaratus should embody one of the essential features of myinvention-that is to say, the compensating action whereby the movement of the one electrode toward the otheris maintained in due proportion to the combustion of the electrode; but

I claim 1. In an electric lamp or lightingapparatus in which the light is produced between two electrodes, substantially as described, the combination, with the two electrodes, of devices connecting with a swinging or other adjustable holder for one of the electrodes, and arranged to be operated thereby, and to control the movement of the lower elcctrodeby lateral pressure thereon, substantially as described.

2. in an electriclamp or lighting apparatus in which the light is produced between two electrodes, one of which bears continuously upon the other,the combination,with the electrode c and mechanism for feeding the same, of the electrode 1;, arranged to bear'upo'n the lower electrode, and connected with devices adapted to automatically control the feed of the electrode 0, substantially as described.

In an electric lamp or lighting apparatus in which the light is produced between two electrodes, substantially as described, the combination of the electrode 0 with the two-part holder 1', and devices connecting with a swingin g holder of the upper electrode, and arranged to be operated thereby, and to regulate and control the lateral pressure of the two-part holder upon the electrode 0, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the electrodes be, in an electric lamp or lighting apparatus, of the pivoted holder for the electrode 1), the two part holder *5, through which the lower electrode, c, is fed, and devices connected with the pivoted holdcrb", and arranged to bear against the hinged part of thcholder 'i, substantially as described.

5. The combination,with the two electrodes 1) c, in an electric lamp or lighting apparatus, of a mechanism connected with the pivoted holder of the electrode 1), and adapted to act against the hinged or movable part of the twopart holder i, said mechanism being constructed to automatically establish a short circuit in the apparatus after the electrode 1) has dropped to a certain extent, substantially as described.

R] .l [ARD \VER] )ERMANN.

\Vitnesses:

LEWIS SAN nisnsox, ROWLAND Gno. Bnowx.

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