Auguste de Méritens
Encyclopedia
Baron Auguste de Méritens was a French electrical engineer of the 19th century.
He was born in 1834.
He is best known his work on magneto generators, particularly those used for arc lighting
and lighthouse
s. Similar magneto generators had been produced earlier by Nollet
; de Méritens' innovation was to replace the rotor coils previously wound on individual bobbins, with a 'ring wound' armature. These windings were wound on a segmented iron core, similar to a Gramme ring, so as to form a single continuous hoop. This gave a more even output current, which was advantageous for use with arc lamps.
In 1881 he was awarded a French patent for the first arc welding
process. This used a carbon electrode to generate an arc to the workpiece. The process achieved relatively low temperatures and was not successful with steel. However it was widely used commercially, for welding lead
plates to manufacture storage batteries
. De Méritens produced this welding equipment with an enclosed hood and fume extraction pipe, to control the hazardous lead oxide
fumes from the hot lead.
He died in poverty at Pontoise
in 1898.
He was born in 1834.
He is best known his work on magneto generators, particularly those used for arc lighting
Arc lamp
"Arc lamp" or "arc light" is the general term for a class of lamps that produce light by an electric arc . The lamp consists of two electrodes, first made from carbon but typically made today of tungsten, which are separated by a gas...
and lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
s. Similar magneto generators had been produced earlier by Nollet
Floris Nollet
Floris Nollet was a Belgian physicist, engineer, inventor.Nollet was a grandnephew of Jean-Antoine Nollet. He became professor of physics at the École Militaire in Brussels...
; de Méritens' innovation was to replace the rotor coils previously wound on individual bobbins, with a 'ring wound' armature. These windings were wound on a segmented iron core, similar to a Gramme ring, so as to form a single continuous hoop. This gave a more even output current, which was advantageous for use with arc lamps.
In 1881 he was awarded a French patent for the first arc welding
Arc welding
Arc welding is a type of welding that uses a welding power supply to create an electric arc between an electrode and the base material to melt the metals at the welding point. They can use either direct or alternating current, and consumable or non-consumable electrodes...
process. This used a carbon electrode to generate an arc to the workpiece. The process achieved relatively low temperatures and was not successful with steel. However it was widely used commercially, for welding lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
plates to manufacture storage batteries
Lead-acid battery
Lead–acid batteries, invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté, are the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Despite having a very low energy-to-weight ratio and a low energy-to-volume ratio, their ability to supply high surge currents means that the cells maintain a relatively large...
. De Méritens produced this welding equipment with an enclosed hood and fume extraction pipe, to control the hazardous lead oxide
Lead oxide
Lead oxide may refer to:* Lead oxide, PbO, litharge, massicot* Lead oxide, Pb3O4, minium, red lead* Lead dioxide , PbO2Less common lead oxides are:* Lead oxide, Pb2O3, lead sesquioxide...
fumes from the hot lead.
He died in poverty at Pontoise
Pontoise
Pontoise is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.-Administration:...
in 1898.
Patents
- 10 April 1878, French patent no. 123,766 (improved magneto-electric generator).
- 17 September 1878, British patent no. 3,658 (improved magneto-electric generator).
- 1881, French patent (electric arc welding)