US257588A - keith - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. N. S. KEITH.

ELECTRIC LIGHT REGULATOR.

No. 257,588. Patented May 9,1882.

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(No Model.) 36heets-Sheet 3.

N. S. KEITH.

ELECTRIC LIGHT REGULATOR. No. 257,588. Patented May 9,1882.

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W'Lmgsses KXW enter 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL S. KEITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,588, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed July 27,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NATHANIEL S. KEITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Electric-Light Regulator, of which the followin g is a specification.

My invention relates to the feeding and regulating devices of electric lamps; and its object is to produce a feeding mechanism that shall be perfectly steady and uniform in its action, and shall be free from the defects of voverfeeding, vibration of the electromagnetic supporting devices for the carbon, accidental release of the carbon-carryin g rod by a sudden jar communicated to the lamp, and other disadvantages incident to the constructions now in general use.

In carrying out my invention 1 make use of an electromagnetic motor in a derived circuit, which is geared or connected to the carboncarrier, so that the movement of the latter in both directions is dependent wholly upon the movement of the motor. The reversal of movement in the carbon-carrier is produced either by positively reversing the direction of movement of the electro-magnetic motor or by operating a reversing-clutch interposed in the train of gear between the motor and the carbon-carrier, the reversal being in either case depend ent upon the movement of devices actuated and controlled by electro-magnets placed in a derived circuit to the arc and in the main or principal circuit with the carbons.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of mylamp. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the circuits in the motor and reversing device more in detail. Fig. 3 shows a modification of the devices for reversing the motor in response to the changes in the length of arc; Figs. 4 and 5 show in side and plan view a modified arrangement for reversing the movement of the carbon-carrier without reversing the direction of rotation of the motor-armature.

Referring to Fig. 1, A and B represent the bottom and top plates of the lamp frame or casing. From the lower plate, B, the lowercarbon carrier is suspended in the usual manner. The upper-carbon carrier, 0, is provided with a rack, which gears with a pinion, 0, upon the wheel of a worm-gear, D E. The worm E is formed upon the shaft, or an extension of the shaft, of an electro magnetic motor, F, which is fed by a derived circuit, in the manner to be presently explained.

The motor here shown consists of three sets of electro-magnets, 1, 2, and 3, as shown in Fig. 2, placed symmetrically on a shaft and rotating within a rectangular casing, G, of iron. The commutator of the motor is of the construction described in the patent to O. J. 13. Gaume, No. 211,985, dated February 4, 1879; and it consists of a series of plates or segments, every third one of \vhichis joined to the same metallic disk or plate, which in turn is electrically connected to one of the electro-magnets 1 2 3. Thus, referring to Fig.2, the segments marked 1 are electrically connected to one terminal of the electro-magnet 1, the segments marked 2 and 3 in a similar manner to the electro-magnets 2 and 3 respectively. The other terminals of the electromagnets are joined together and t0 the shaft of the machine, which is in electrical connection with the frame of the lamp and the binding-post I.

H and H represent commutator-wheelsbearing upon the segments and electrically connected to contact-points Sand 6, through which the circuit is closed by the action of the regulating electro-magnets. Then the circuit is closed through E and 5 the motor is caused to rotate in a direction indicated by the arrow, thus allowing the upper carbon to move downward by gravity, so as to shorten the distance between it and the lower carbon. In this operation the movement of the carrier depends entirely upon the movements of the motor. In the construction here shown the speed of movement of the last wheel of the train may be suf ficient to increase the speed of movement of the carrier beyond that which would naturally belong to it if gravity alone acted, and themotor may thus act as a propelling motor. If, however, the speed of the last wheel of the train be less than that which would naturally belong to the carrier, the motor will act partially to retard the carrier; but in both cases, as willreadily be seen, the carrier moves \vith'the motor,

and is dependent entirely upon such motor for its feeding movement. \Vhen the circuit through H and 5 is broken and that through H and 6 closed the direction ofrotation of the armature-magnets is reversed, thus lifting the upper carbon and lengthening the arc. The reversal of the motor is due to the fact that the wheel H is placed so as to bear upon a segment of the set-adjoining that upon which H bears. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, H and H are arranged to bear simultaneously upon segments 3 and 2 respectively, so that if the circuit be closed through H the magnet 3 will be attracted toward the side of the case, thus setting up a rotation in a direction indicated by the arrow, while,vice versa, if the circuit be closed through H and 2 the magnet 2 will be attracted toward the side of the case, and the severalmagnets will be drawn toward the sides of the case in the succession 2 3 1, thus producing rotation in the opposite direction.

K and L represent main and derived circuit magnets respectively, arranged as usual, the one, K, in direct circuit with the arc, and the other, L, in a derived circuit around the are. These electromagnets act in opposition to one another upon an armature-lever, M, which is electrically connected to the binding-post N, and is adapted to make electrical contact with the point 5 or the point 6 under the preponderating attraction of K or L.

The circuits through the lamp are as follows: From the post P in electrical contact with the frame of the lamp the main circuit is to carbonearrier 0, upper carbon,lower carbon, supporting-rod R, insulated from the frame, electromagnet K, and to exit-post N.

The path of the current through the derivedcircuit magnet L is from the post P, frame of the lamp, wire 7, connected to the frame, coils of L, wire 8, attached to the insulated support R of the armature-lever, wire 9 to post N.

The derived circuit which feeds the motor F is from P to the shaft of the motor, through the electro-magnets (whose terminals branch from the shaft) to the commutator, thence through wheel H or H, wire 10 or 11, point 6 or 5, armaturelever M, wire 9, and to post N.

The operation of the devices is as follows: The carbons being in contact, when the current passes the electro-magnet K draws down its end of the armature-lever and closes the derived circuit containing the motor through H, 11, 6, and 9. The motor thereupon begins to revolve in a direction to raise the upper carbon and form the are. So soon as the are begins to lengthen beyond the proper point its resistance increases sufficiently to cause the attractive effects of L, assisted by retractorweight W, or a spring, to preponderate, thus breaking the circuit of the motor through H, and closing its circuit through the other commutator-wheel, H, through 10, 5, M, and 9, and reversing the direction of the rotation of the motor, so that the carbon now moves downward and shortens the are to the regulated point. When the armature-lever is in an intermediate position the friction of the wormgear prevents the upper carbon from falling by gravity. The same cause prevents the carbon from being accidentally fed by a jar or concussion. Should the lamp be started with the carbons out of contact, the armature-lever M would, when the current passes, be held in contact with stop 5, thus preserving the circuit through H and causing the motor to rotate in the proper direction for propelling the carbon downward. This movement would continue until the carbons are brought into contact, whereupon the magnet K would close contact 6, and the motor would reverse its movement and separate the carbons to form the arc. \Vhen the lamp is burning with an arc of the proper length the attractive effects upon lever M are balanced and the motor is stationary, neither of its commutatorwheels being in circuit.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the commutator-wheels H and H are attached to the regulating armature-lever. YVhen the attraction of K preponderates wheel H is brought into contact with the commutator-segments, and so long as it remains in contact the motor revolves in a proper direction for separating the carbons. when H is brought into contact with the segments, and the upper-carbon carrier is thus moved in a direction to cause the carbons to approach.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the main and derived circuit coils T and S control the movements of a lever, 12, pivoted at 13, supporting on one arm axial cores for the coils, and actuating by its other arm a reversing-clutch, 14, of any approved construction, which is attached to the shaft of the wormgear propelling the carbon, and which is made to engage with either wheel 15 or 16, as the effects of the current in T or S preponderate. \Vheel15 engages directly with pinion 17 upon the shaft of the motor, which is in a continuously closed derived circuit, and therefore moves continuously in the same direction, while wheel 16 is geared to pinion 17 through wheels 21 and 22, and is thus made to revolve continuously in an opposite direction from 15.

, The lamp is here shown as provided with the ordinary back ratchet, connected to the shaft and wheel gearing with the carbon-carrier, so that the latter may be raised freely without moving the other wheels of the train when a new .carbon is to be inserted. By the above means the portion of the gear-train connected directly to the carrier is made to movein either direction by the action of the electric motor, so that the carbon-carrier may be lifted to form the are, or may be allowed to move in a downward direction to lessen the distance between it and the lower carbon, its movement in the latter direction depending upon the speed of movement of that wheel of the motor-train with which it gears.

When the coils S and T balance one another in their effect upon the lever 12, which is the A reversal of the motor occurs a case so long as the arc is of the proper length, the clutch is held in an intermediate position out of contact with both wheels 15 and 16.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of a carbon-carrier, an electric motor gearing with said carrier, so as to control its movement in both directions, said motor being placed in a derived or branch circuit, devices, substantially as described, for reversing the direction of movement of that portion of the motor-train which engages with the carrier, and two regulating or controlling electro-magnets operating said reversing devices, one of said magnets being placed in a derived circuit to the carbons and the other in the main or principal circuit with said carbons.

2. The combination of a carbon-carrier, an electric motor geared thereto and placed in a derived or branch circuit, circuit-closing devices for reversing the movement of the elec tric motor, and two regulating or controlling electro-magnets for operating said circuit-closing devices, one of said magnets being placed in a derived circuit to the carbons and the other in the main or principal circuit with the carbons.

3. The combination, substantially as described, of a carbon-carrier, an electromagnetic motor gearing with the carrier and provided with two commutator wheels or brushes bearing upon its commutator-cylinder in the manner set forth, said motor being placed in a derived or branch circuit, and devices, sub stantially as described, which close the circuit to one or the other ot'the commutator-brushes, so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor.

4. The combination, substantially as described, of a carbon-carrier, an electro-magnetic motor in a branch or derived circuit,

geared to said carrier, a two-point circuit-closer or derived circuit, provided with a commutator -cylinder, and independent commutator wheels or collectors, applied in the manner described to said commutator-cylinder, so that the motor may be made to revolve in either direction by closing the circuit through one or the other of said collectors, a circuit-closer joined to the collectors, opposing electro-magnets in the main or principal circuit and in a derived circuit to the are, substantially as described.

6. The combination, substantially as described, of a carboncarrier, an electromagnetic motor in aderived circuit, provided with independent commutator brushes or collectors, and a pivoted armature-lever, main and derived circuit electro-magnets acting upon said lever, and circuit-connections, as described,the whole so arranged that when the attraction of the main-circuit magnet preponderates the circuit of the motor is closed through one of the collectors and the motor revolves in one direction, while, vice versa, when the attraction of the derived-circuit magnet preponderates the circuit is closed through theother collector and the motor revolves in the opposite direction.

N. S. KEITH.

Witnesses H. O. TOWNSEND, THOMAS ONEIL.

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