The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-29
TIE sc.ent.ac yHondcr.

n kltHEDeU lSNENTuR NEW AEI bud ut ul~
vIDISS THE ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR 1LLU-
MTSA11SG PURP0sEs-THE APPARATUS IN
- THE WASHINGTON PATEST oFPEcE-aR.
EDIsoN's ELECTRIC LIGHT. &c. s'a
Mr.. D. Flaunery, assistant superinten-
dent OF The Western Union Telegraph Com
paHy in this city, has invented new
method Of dividing On electric current for
illuminating purposes, or any other use
where several carrents OF electricity gen.
Grated from one source may be needed. AS
Mr.. Edison and other celebrated electri-
clans in this country and in Europe have
given much time and thought to the pro-
blem of dividing currents of electricity,
Mr.. Flapnery's invention will command at
tention, especially as ell Of his claims have
been allowed and recognized In the Patent
Office at Washington. His attorneys have
a copy OF
The SPECIFICATIONS,
which In substance are rs follows:
The chief aim OF the invention is to pro-
vide an improved method OF regulating and
dividing electric currents, to maintain from
one to q large number OF lamps, and the
main feature Of the invention consists in an
electric condenser in the circuit OF the gen.
orator and the lamps. This condenser is
switch in the circuit these sections may be
ing or decreasing the capacity OF the con-
denser, and, accordingly, increasing or
| decreasing the generative action Of
| the machine. The force Of the various
sub-currents Is thus regulated, and one
| lamp is rendered independent of any OF the
other lamps in the circuit. The invention
also consists in the relative arrangement and
connection OF the.seyeral parts Of the appa-
ratus and in special form OF lamp. The
! inventor claims, among other things. the
described mode OF regulating the electric
current for illumination An electric light
| ing-apparatus, consisting OF a generator OF
electricity, one or many lamps, and con.
denser OF electricity, arranged in circuit
with each other, and one or more switches
to regulate the currents OF electricity.
| THE DRAWINGS.
| The drawings represent generator
preferably a magpeto-machine OF the Sie-
mems or other kind-driven by suitable
motor in the usual manner, and arranged
to give an alternating current. One terlnl-
nal OF the generator is connected with q
large wire, or conductor, OF low resistance,
which may be arranged under or over
ground along the course where the light is
TO be distributed and properly insulated on
| its course. The other terminal OF the gen.
orator is preferably connected to ground
plate. From the conductor lateral branches
may be extended TO connect with the lamp,
and may be OF any number, according to
the power OF the apparatus. One side
or terminal Of the lamp is connect
ed to the branches or sub.branches
OF the main conductor. One side OF
the electrical condenser is connected
with the opposite terminals OF the lamp
while the other side Of the condenser con
meets to ground plate, so that the circul,
from the condenser to the generator is com
pleted through the earth, which is prefera
BILE, but return wire may be used wher
desirable. The condenser Is constructed lr
any OF the approved manners, preferably By
plates OF brass alternating from opposite
sides OF the condenser and separated oy
layers OF mica; but other equivalent ma
terials may be adopted, as electricians VII
readily understand. The size or capacity J.
OF the condenser is proportioned according
to the power OF the apparatus and the mum
Der Of lights to be maintained, which Will, OF
course, vary in different cases. Hence bl
this system, each lamp connects to dis
tinct portion OF the condenser and these
portions are divided into number OF sec
tiOns, each consisting OF pair OF conden
| ser. pietcs, from which r~r-""te wires ex
tend and are terminated with liked knob:
arranged in the sweep OF switches. Now
the terminals OF the lamps which extend tt
the condensers connect directly with these
switches, so that by turning the sWitche:
more or less greater or less number OF INT
condenser sections may be turned into cir
cults with the lamps and into the genera
circuits OF the apparatus. The movemen
OF the switches IN either direction is limit
ed by stops, and by turning the switches OF
all the wires the lamp corresponding t
that switch will be extinsuished, and ma.
be again lighted by turning the switch on
INCREASED OR LEssENED AT WILL.
Hence by adjusting the switches OF to-
differen lamps on the condenser, one way o
the other, the electrical capacity" OF tb
condenser, or OF that portion in the cIrcul
OF the different lamps, may be Increased O
decreased at will, and this increase or de
crease OF the capacity OF the condense
causes the generative action OF the machln
to increase or decrease accordingly, so tha
! by this means the quantity and intensity o
, the current produced By it may be raised o
!, lowered, according to the demands OF tb
!; lights, sufficient electricity being gene
rated in each case to amply MAINTAIN
the lights and overcome the reststanc
OF the circuit, and nc more work bein
put upon the generator than is neces
sary 10 produce the desired effect In thl
way the current to each lamp may De Pre-
: portioned to suit the size and character Q
the lamp and TO maintain it either IN mig
or low state OF action, as may be desired
Furthermore, as each lamp is in circuit wit
distinct portion OF the condenser, on
, lamp may be extingushed either deliberate
+ " or 20 out accidentally without at1ectln
> the others. Any suitable form OF lam
may be used with this apparatus, elthe
, incandescent or carbon lamps, and
, the latter class the point to polnt'
= or "cande lamps" may be uset
Where but one light is needed th
|, lamp may be placed in any part OF the cl
cult between the generator ana the conuel
ser. between the condenser and tue groune
or between the ground and the generato
For general purposes, however, where I"
or more lights are used the positlon OF u
' several parts as before described Is pre1er'
, BILE. Instead Of employing magneto-eie
Z trio or dynamie-electro machine Us the gen
rator, a voltaic battery may be substltn'
, with pole-changer for producing al alte
. mating current.
D. PERsoSAL.-Rev. Charles Manly, u. u
: pastor OF the Baptist church in Staunto
has accepted a call to Greensyille Baptl
E church, South Carolina.