Kilowatt. A compound unit; one thousand watts; an electric-current measure. Abbreviation, K-W.
Kilowatt Hour. The result in work equal to the expenditure or exertion of one kilowatt in one hour.
Kinetoscope. A photographic instrument invented by Edison for obtaining the effect of a panorama or moving objects by the display of pictures in rapid succession—in familiar parlance, “moving pictures.”
Knife Switch. A switch with a narrow and deep, movable blade, or bar of copper or brass, which resembles the blade of a knife. It is forced between two spring-clamps attached to one terminal so as to make perfect contact.
L
Laminated. Made up of thin plates, as an armature-core.
Laminated Core. (See [Core, Laminated].)
Lamp-Arc. A lamp in which the light is produced by a voltaic arc. Carbon electrodes are used, and a special mechanism operates and regulates the space between the carbons so that a perfect arc may be maintained.
Lamp, Incandescent. A lamp in which the light is produced through heating a filament to whiteness by the electric current. It consists of a glass bulb from which the air is exhausted and sealed, after the filament is enclosed. The ends of the filament are attached to platinum wires, which in turn are made fast to the contact-plates at the head of the lamp, so as to connect with the current.
Lamp-socket. A receptacle for an incandescent lamp. It is generally made of brass and provided with a key-switch to turn the current on and off.