IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Shelverton Frost at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th July 1883.
WALTER SHELVERTON FROST, of Copeland Road, Peckham, London, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC MACHINES
"
The object of my Invention is the production of an Engine whereby a continuous
current of Electricity may be mechanically maintained without the continuous use
of steam or any other prime mover
I propose to attain my object by means of a machine or apparatus which shall
derive from an ordinary accumulator, or any other power, sufficient force to start
an ordinary or any Dynamo-Electric Machine, or other Electric Current Generating
Machine, and then, when the current from the accumulator, or other starting
power, is cut off therefrom, shall be continuously driven by the current generated
by such Dynamo-Electric Machine or other Electric Current generating machine,
and being on the same axle as the Dynamo-Electric Machine or other Electric
Current generating Machine, or connected therewith by. band, or otherwise, will
continuously and automatically drive the same, a continuous current of Electricity
being thus maintained, which may be applied to Electric Lighting, or any other
purpose for which electricity is now or may be found applicable.
For this purpose I may use an Engine consisting of a series of Electro-Magnets
working compoundedly together, thus, for example, I may make a wheel or
armature.composed of for instance 8 electro-magnets arranged around at equal
distances and parallel to the axis of rotation, which I mount on two bearings in
the ordinary way for the purpose of revolving. I also fix on the frame a like
number of Electro-magnets at the corresponding spaces or distances of those on the
axis of rotation, these magnets surrounding in close proximity to those on the axis,
but not touching them, so that the axis with its electro-magnets can freely revolve
within the fixed ones on the frame.
I propose also to fix on the Axis a Commutator or Commutators for the purpose
of directing the Electric Currents at the proper time to the series of Electro-magnets
to give the attracting and repelling powers
Or I may construct iny Engine of a ring fixed on an axle and revolving within
an outer fixed ring-I prefer that these rings be composed of solid iron with

page_text: enlargements at intervals to form poles, and between each of these poles I coil wire
in opposite directions to form North and South poles. Thus, the attraction of the
North of the inner ring to the South of the outer ring will by the alternation of
the currents passing through the wire of the two rings produce the desired motion.
I also provide this Engine with a Commutator or Commutators, and it will like
that first described be started from an Accumulator, or otherwise, and then keep the
Dynamo or other Electric Current generating machine at work by means of the
Electricity generated thereby.
I desire it to be understood that the above are only given as illustrations of
machines or apparatus whereby I may work one or more Dynamo-Electric, or other
Electric Current generating Machines with their own current, and that their
construction may be greatly modified.