US304882A - weston - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. WESTON.

SYSTEM OF ELEGTRIG LIGHTING. No. 804,882. Patented Sept. 9, 1884.

Illlk (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. WESTON. SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING. No. 304,882. Patented Sept. 9, 1884.

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EDIVAED \VESTON, ,OF NEIVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 30%,882, dated September 9, 1884-.

Application filed February 1, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD W ns'roN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Systems of Electric Lighting, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

In systems of electrical illumination by means of incandescent electric lamps it is often advantageous to connect two or more lamps in series in cross or multiple circuits. This arrangement, however, presents certain objections, the chief of which is that if any one or more lamps of a series give out or be extinguished the cross-eircuit will. be broken and the remaining lamps in the series put out. To overcome this objection various systems have been devised for re-establishing the continuity of the circuit in which a break has oc curred through a path including a resistance equal to that of the lamp or lamps extinguished. Both manual and automatic means for accomplishing this have heretofore been proposed. The systems heretofore devised for maintaining the continuity of the crosscircuits and compensating for the extinction of lamps, while perhaps overcoming the chief objections to the system, make no provision for a reduction of the amount of electrical e11- ergy expended. This it is the object of my invention to accomplish. The system form ing the subject of my invention combines with two or more incandescent lamps in series devices in part automatic and in part manual, or adapted to be operated by hand, which are constructed and arranged to introduce into the circuit a resistance in place of and equal to each lamp cut out or extinguished, and cut out all the resistances when the last lamp of the series is extinguished.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a switch of peculiar construction. I will first, therefore, describe the switch and then show the manner of its application, referring for this purpose to the drawings hereto annexed, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the switch. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switch with certain parts cut away. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrative of the system.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresp'ondin g parts.

A is a wooden or insulating base, to which is secured a support, B. Below this are two perforations in the base, through which extend springs O C, secured to metal plates D D, fixed to the under side of the base.

Passing through. the support or frame B is a vertical spindle, E, turning in a step, E, and provided with a key or thumb-piece, F. On the spindle E is a collar, G, that slides freely on the spindle and on. two pins, 11 H, set in the plate A, and passing through ears or lugs on the collar. The upper edge of the collar G is formed as a double cam, with depressions or notches at the highest points. A pair of rollers or any equivalent therefor are carried by the spindle and bear upon the cam.

A spiral spring, K, forces the collar G upward. By turning the key F, therefore, the collar G will be depressed or raised. The lower portion of the collar G presents two fiat or square surfaces, with which the springs G C are brought into close contact, when, by the manipulation of the key, the collar is depressed.

L L are two flanges on the collar above the flat contact-surfaces.

M M are flat sp rings,secured to metal blocks N N on the base A, and are set so as to extend into the path of movement of the flanges 8 5 L L. These parts are so arranged that when the collar is depressed it establishes the circuit between springs C O and interrupts it between springs M lll. Nhen the key is turned to either side out of the notches in the cam, 0 the collar, by the force of the spring K, is thrown suddenly upward, breaking the circuit between springs O 0 without appreciable spark, and bringing the flanges L L into contact withthe springs M M. Conducting-wires 95 P R are secured to the plates and blocksNN D D, as shown. This instrument or any equivalent to it in that it makes one circuit on breaking another, I employ in the system invented by me.

Referring to Fig. -l, let T V designate the conductors of any circuit with which a certain number oi'ineandcseent lamps or like devices are to be counectedin whatis commonly designated. multiple series. Two of such series are shown, each comprising an equal though arbitrary number of lamps I) I) Z). in the vicinity of each amp is arranged a switch similar to that shown in l ig. 1, and designated by c c c, and an electro-magnctie cut out device, I 'I. t, that shown beinga common form consisting ot an electro-magnet, d, an armature, c, pivoted to a metal post, f, and a metal back-stop, g, the whole mounted on an insulating-plate, 71. There is also near each lamp and cut out a coil, k 7.; La, oi. the same resistance as one ot' the lamps. A. conductor is run from wire T and branched, the branch 1 is connected to th inning ll of the switch 0, the branch it to the spring 0 of the same switch, and the branch S to the postfof the cut-out (2. The remainder oi the circuits thus started, being designated by the letters I. It S,

is easily traced. The spring iii of the switch c is connected to spring M of the next switch 0, and so on, the spring h oi the last switch of the series being connected to the conductor V by a wire connected with a cut-out,m,similar to those described, but ot' very high resistance. The spring t) of the iirst switch 0 is connected to one of the terminals oi thelamp Z) by a conductor, it, including the cut-out t. From the other terminal of thelamp the wire It leads to spring (I of switch 0, and so on, the last lamp terminal being connect edto the backstop got' the cut-out in. One terminal of the resistance-coil li connect ed to the back-stop ol' the contact '1, the other to the wire it between the lamp t; and switch c,and also to the post of the second cut-out 1, and so on. The terminal of the last coil of the series isjoined to wire it between the last lamp and the back stop 5 of cut-out in. The same order and plan of connections is made whatever the number of lamps in series.

The operation oi the system is as l'ollows: If all the switches be turned so as to complete the circuit between springs tit) and i ntcrrupt that between M. hi, then all the lamps will be in circuit, all. the cut-out magnets energized, and all the resistance-coils cut out. In other words, the path. for the current will be through the circuit it alone. This is the condition of things represented by the lower or right-hand series of lamps in llig..-t. Should one of the lamps, as '1), be turned out by its switch, the continuity of circuit it is interrupted but immediately reestablished by the armature of the cut-out t, which falls and completes the circuit around the lamp and through the re sistance 7r. .ly this means no disturbance is caused, as all. the other lamps will receive the same amount of current as before. The act ot' turning the switch 0 completes the connectionbetween spring M of switch 0 and spring M of switch 0. Circuit i. still remains broken at two points, however, in switches c and a. One or more of the lamps in the series may be turned oil with similar results. "When the last lamp of the series is turned oil, the circuit I, through the springs M M, of all the switches is completed. The magnet oi the cutout is then energized and the resistance-oi rcuitrl i n terrn pt ed. The circu i t 1?, being oi'very high resistance, and. the only one remaining complete, allows but little current to pass; hence there is no appreciable loss of energy. it will be observed that by turning any one of the switches from their positions shown in the upper or left hand series of Fig. 1-, the lamp corresponding to it will be at once rendered active by the rupture of the circuit 1?.

I have described this system as adapted for running ordinary incandescentlamps. 1 may, however, employ other forms of lamp or eleetrical devices operating in an etplivalent manner.

The special features of novelty shown and described herein in connection with the switch mechanism I do not claim herein, as they have been made the subject of other applications tiled or to be tiled.

\Vithout confining myself to any special form or arrangement of the mechanical. elc mcnts herein shrnvn in illustration oi the principle oi my invention, what I new claim is- .1.. The combination, with a circuit and a series of electric lamps included therein, of a series of resistance-coils, devices for interposing the resistance-coils in the place of the lamps when extinguished, a supplemental circuit 01' high resistance, a device included therein for interrupting the lamp-eircuit, and means for closing or completing thesupplemental circuit, and thereby interrupting the lamp-cireuit, when all the lamps are extinguishct'l, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a main circuit, cross or multiple-arc eircui is, and series ot'elcctrio lamps included in the (moss-circuits, 01. a series of resistancocoils, one l'or each lamp, devices for inter-posing the resistance-coils in the place of the lamps when extinguished, sup plemental. cross-oi reuits of high resistance, de vices included therein .tor interrupting the lamp-circuits, and means for closing or eo1npleting the supplemental circuits, and thereby interrupting the corresponding lamp-cirtaiits, when all the lamps ol. such circuits are ext-inguished, substantially as set :l'orth.

3. In a multiple-series system, the combina tion, with the translating devices ofresistaneccoils in circuits around said devices, supplemental crosscircuits of high resistance, containing devices for interrupting, when the supplemeutal circuits are closed, the cross-circuits including thetranslatin devices, switch mechanism for cutting out the translating devices and constructed to close at the same time breaks in the runppleinenta'l. circuits, and elec IIO tro-magnetic devices for bringing in the resistance-circuits when the translating devices are cut out, as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. A system of electrical distribution,wherein the lamps or similar translating devices are connected with the circuit in multiple series, each series being combined with the following instrumentalities and parts, arranged in the manner specified, to wit: resistance-coils to be inserted in place of lamps withdrawn, electro-magnetic shunting devices in circuit with the lamps and operating to bring in the resistance-coils onthe withdrawal of lamps, a supplemental circuit of high resistance, an electro-magnetic device included therein for interrupting the lamp-circuit when energized by the closing of the supplemental circuit, and switches connected with both lamp and supplemental circuits, and constructed to close a break in the latter when operated for cutting out one of the lamps;

1n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of January, 1884.

EDXVARD VESTON.

WVitnesses:

W. FRIsBY, W. H. I'IARTLEY.

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