The New York herald., 1879-12-27
THE SCIENTIFIC WONDER.


NEW METHOD OF DIVIDING THE ELGcrEIc
CURRENT FOR ILLuMISATING PURPOSES DIS
COVERED by MISSISSIPPI ELECTRICIAN.
Fir. Flannery. of Mississippi. who is connected
with the Western Union Telegraph Company. has
invented new method of dividing an electric cur
rent for illuminating purposes. or any other use
where several currents of electricity generated from
one source may be needed. As Mr.. Edison aud
other celebrated electricians in this country ana in
Europe have given much time and thought to the
problem of dividing currents Of electricity. Mr..
Fannerys invention will command attention.
especially all of his claims have been allowed and
recognized in the Patent Office at Washington. His
attorneys in this city have copy Of the speciaca
tions. which in substance follows:-
The chief aim Of the invention is to provide an
improved method Of regulating and dividing cleo
trio currents, to maintain from one to large num-
ber of lamps aud the main feature Of the invention
consists in. electric condenser in the circuit Of
the generator and the lamps This condenser is
divided into sections that by turninA
switch in the circuit these sections may be
thrown into out Of the circuit. increasing OF
decreasing the capacity OF the condenser. and.
accordingly. increasing or decreasing the gen.
erative action OF the machine The force of tho
various subcurrents 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
eral parts of the apparatus and special form OF
lamp. The inventor claims, among other things. the
described mode OF regulating the electric current
consisting OF generator or electricity one or many
lamps, and a condenser of electricity. arranged in
circuit with each other and one or moro switches to
regulate the currents or electricity.
THE DRAWINGS.
The drawings represent agenerator-preferably .
magneto-machine OF the Siemcns or other kind
driven by suitable motor in tho usual manner and
arranged to give an alternating current. One ter
mnal Of the generator is connected with large wire
or conductor of low resistance, which may ba ar.
ranged under or ground along the course where
the light Is TO be distributed aud properly insulated
on its course. The other terminal of the generator
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 connected to the
One eide OF the electrical condenser is connected
with the opposite terminals OF the lamp, while
the other side OF the condenser connects to ground
plate. so that the circuit from the condenser to tho
generator is completed through the earth which il
preferable. but return wire may be used when de-
sirable The condenser is constructed in any of the
approved manners preferably by plates Of brass al
ternaing from opposite sides OF the condenser and
separated by layers Of mica; but other equivalent
materials may be adopted electricians will readily
understand. The size capacity" OF the con-
apparatus and the number Of lights to be maintained
which will, OF course. vary i'll different cases.
Hence. by this system. each lamp connects
portions are divided into number of sections, each
consisting OF pair of condenser plates from which
separate wires extend and terminated with fixed
knobs arranged in the sweep of switches Now, the
terminals OF the lamps which extend to the con.
densers connect directly with these switches.
that by turning the switches moro or less greater
or less number OF the condenser sections may be
turned into circuits with the lamps and into the
general circuits of the apparatus. The movement Of
the switches in either direction s limited by stops.
and by turning the switches off all the wires the
lamp corresponding to that switch will be extn.
Rushed. and may be again lighted by turning the
switch on.
INCREASED OR LrssENED AT WILL.
Hence by adjusting the switches Of the different
lamps on the condenser one way or the other, the
electrical capacity" Of the condenser. OF that
portion In the circuit of the different lamps, Be
increased or decreased 1t WILL and this increase
deceaSe Of the capacity Of the condenser the
generstive action of the machine to increase de-
crease accordingly so that by this means the guam
ty and intensity OF the current produced by it may
be raised or lowered according to the demands OF
the lights. sufficient electricity being generated
In each case to amply maintain the lights and
overcome the resistance OF the circuit and no more
work being put upon the generator than IL neces-
sary to produce the desired effect In this way the
current to each lamp may be proportioned to sutt
the size and character OF the lamp and to maintain
1t either In high or low state OF action. may be
desired. Furthermore. each lamp is in circuit
with y distinct portion of the condenser. one lamp
may be extingushed either deliberately or 60 out
accidentally without affecting the others. Any suit
able form Of lamp may be used with this apparatus
either incandescent or carbon lamps and OF the lat
ter class the point to point" or "candle lamps.
may be used. Where but one light is needed the
lamp may be placed in any part Of the circuit be-
tween the generator and the condenser between the
and the generator. For general purposes. however.
whore two or more lights used the position Of
the several parts before described Is preferable
Instead of employing magneto-electrc or dynamic.
electro machine, as the generator, voltac battery
may be substituted with pole changer for produo-
ing an alternating current.