USRE11916E - Electric-arc lamp - Google Patents

Description

Reissued June 25, I90I.

' E. w. RICE, In. ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

A iicmon filed m 1, 1901.

2 Sheats8haet 2.

Fig.2.

I IhVenTOr kftlfnesses. E mWRi Jr:

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN .lV. RICE, JR, OF SOI-IENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Reissned Letters Patent No. 11,916, dated June 25, 1901. Original No. 641,891, dated January 23,1900. Application for reissue filed May L 1901. Serial No. 58,886.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, EDWIN 1V RICE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Arc-Lamps,(Case No. 1,173,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an alternatingcurrent are lamp which will burn with a comparatively steady are under currents of low frequency and through the instrumentality of a single arcregulating electrode.

In carrying out the invention I provide the lamp with a plurality of electrodes carrying polyphase currents, one of said'electrodes being under the influence of the arc-regulating mechanism of the lamp to maintain a uniform arc length. hen operating with a two-phase current, I provide a lamp with three electrodes, two of which connect with two of the leads from a two-phase circuit and the other from a common return for the two phases, the latter being controlled by the arc regulating circuit. \Vith an organization of this kind some one of the phases is always active in maintaining the are, as there are no intervals of zero potential at the arc-terminals, and a steady light is produced at a much lower frequency than is possible with a singlephase current. This will be readily understood on consideration of' the fact that the energy ofa polyphase system is substantially constant from instant to instant.

The several features of novelty of the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described and will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a view of a two phase lamp embodying my improvements, an inclosedarc type of lamp being shown. Fig. 2 is'a diagrammatic view of the controlling circuits ofthe lamp of Fig. 1. I

VVhileI haveherein illustrated a two-phase type of lamp, I wish it to be understood that myinvention is equally applicable to a poly phase current of any number of phases and have specifically shown this type merely as an example of a system commonly employed in the commercial distribution of electricity.

Referring first to Fig. 2, 1 2 3 represent three carbon electrodes, the former of which connect respectively with two leads 4 5 of a quarter-phase distribution-circuit. A third carbon connects through a regulating-coil of the lamp 5 with a common return-wire 6. If the system be of. the type, however, in which two independent quarter-phase circuits are employed, the third carbon may haven common connection with two of the leads or may be fed by a transformer the secondary of which is provided with three leads, as indicated in the figure. anism is shown only in a diagrammatic way in the drawings, as of course many different feed-regulating devicesand circuit arrangements may be employed. The coil 5 being in series with the arc and electrically connected with the movable electrode varies in its magnetic effect under the varying lengths of the arc and may operate a clutch in the usualmannerforeifecting periodic feed ofthe movable electrode. should be given a greater cross-section than the electrodes 1 and 2, since it carries the sum of the currents transmitted through the lower carbons. I have shown the are as surrounded by a transparent or translucent inclosure 7 to prolong the life of the electrodes. This, however, is notessential to the practice of my invention, as the latter may be applied to open-air, as well as inclosed, arcs. Itwill be evident that since the two currents differ in phase the arc will .be much steadier' with low frequency than where a single-phase current is employed, since there will always be a considerable potential difference between the arc terminals. As the sum of the three currents is a constant value, the luminosity of the arc will be fairly constant at very low frequencies. The stationary electrodes should be spaced a Wider distance apart relatively to one another than the arc length for which the lamp is adjusted, as it is undesirable to permit an arc across them which might be maintained after the fashion of a Jablochltoft candie by the path between the dilierent poten The regulating meeh- The movable electrode tain the arc.

2. A multiphase arclamp with a plurality of electrodes in circuit with two or more currents differing in phase, a movable electrode ina common return for said currents, and a regulating device for maintaining and adjusting the are.

3. An arc-lamp provided with a plurality of electrodes all symmetrically related elec- -.trically with respect to the leads of a polyphase alternating-current circuit and means for effecting relative movement between one of the electrodes and the others to maintain the are.

4. A quarter-phase arc-lamp, comprising three electrodes, means for connecting said electrodes with three leads of a quarter-phase system, and means in circuit with one of said electrodes for adjusting or regulating the are. In Witness whereof I have hereunto se't-my hand this 22d day of April,-l901.'

J'EDWIN W. RICE, R.

WVitn'esses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, MARGARET E: WooLLEY.

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