Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-28

an eminentiy practical and paying basis.
The light can be produced by much less
complicated and cheaper machinery
than gas, and though no one has been
able TO formulate a theory to explain
what electricity really is, we have at
tanned to q comparatively accurate
knowledge Of how TO collect, regulate
and apply it to useful purposes. Though
there are few large American cities IN
which the electric light is not nightly
in operation, its processes are little
known to the public, but an intelligent
insight, if not a strictly scientific ex-
PLANTATION, can be given n a short arti-
Gle
MEANING OF ELECTRICAL TERMS.
For convenience OF explanation we
regard electricity as fluid. Its tiow Is
called a current, the substance through
which Il flows the conductor, the path
Il follows a circuit, which, when con-
tinuous, is a closed, when broken an
omen circuit. Potential is the term en-
pioyed to express the degree OF cleo
trical energy, the same as pressure is
used for steam. The difference OF po-
tential between two points connected
by a conductor produces 4 passage OF
electricity from one TO the other until
the potential Of both points Is the same;
thus when a current is passing 1t proves
that the potential Of each point In the
circuit is less than that OF each preced-
ing point. The electro motive force
(E. NJ. FL IS the name used TO express
the force which tends 10 move cleo
tricity from one place 70 another.
Finally, bodies offering such resistance
as TO prevent its passage are called in
sulatOrs.
There are two kinds Of electric cur
rents, says the Detroit Free Press, the
continuous and the alternating, differ
Ing very much in character, but both
are employed 20 produce light on a
large scale. such as for city lighting by
either arc or incandescent lamps, and
indifference Is noted in the light given.
The continuous current may be sup
posed TO be flowing always in the same
direction, the alternating changes from
one direction to another as often as 200
times a second.
THE DYNAMO.
These currents are both obtained
from machines called dynamOs, part
OF which IS rapidly revOlved by some
motive power, generally steam, gas, or
other engines, connecting either direct
~ with the dynamo or indirectly by
belt or other gearing. There is an end
less variety Of dynamos, all differing in
appearance and construction, but all
based on one common principle, and
only the chief features Of the two va
rieties current need be noted. In realty
all dynamOs are alternating current
machines, the special difference
consists in the number of magnets
used, the C. G. continuous current)
dynamo having usually only four, the
A. c.. (alternating) as many as thirty
TWO, and then the first uses are cOmpli-
Gated mechanical device called a COM
municatOr by which the successive al
ternating pulSatiOns are made to flow in
one direction. The dynamo producing
the &C. is made up Of a powerful sta
tionary horseshoe shaped electro mag
net, formed Of piece of soft iron wound
around with a large number Of turns of
insulated wire, and q revolving bobbin
or spindle called an immature. This is
nothing more than an insulated, contin
uOus, specially wound coil Of wire bound
round a soft iron core, through which
an axle runs in bearing between the
poles of the electro magnet. At the
end of the axle is
THE CONrSIUTATOR,
A copper cylinder made up OF number
Of clOse-ftting plates, insulated from
one another and from the axle, but be-
ing each connected by wire with the
armature. On this commutator press
firmly and steadily two groups Of fine
copper wire or thin plates called
brushes, one taking all the positive, the
other ali the negative currents and to
these are attached the wires that carry
the current wherever it may be desired.
In the A. G. dynamo a large number
Of small magnets, usually sixteen, are
attached to a framework revolving di-
rectly opposite and only an inch or so
apart from q similar number of others
OF the same size. These are all electro
magnets and wound in such manner
that when excited by current, every
alternative one shall have the same mag
netism and every opposite one a con-
trary magnetism. A small continuous