IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES." A communication from abroad by James
Sanford Lamar, of Augusta, Richmond County, State of Georgia, United
States of America.
Sealed the 30th April 1880, and dated the 18th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th November 1879.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES." [A communi-
cation from abroad by James Sanford Lamar, of Augusta, Richmond County,
State of Georgia, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to an improved magnetic motor designed to utilise an
electric current for the production of power, and it consists in the peculiar con-
struction and arrangement of electro magnets and permanent magnets as organised
for more effective use; also in the construction and arrangement of an automatic
governor or regulator for rendering the action of the motor uniform; also further
in the construction and arrangement of a reverser for the wheel and a starter for
the same, all as hereinafter fully described.
The motor is composed of a wheel made of wood or other suitable material,
around the circumference of which electro magnets are arranged parallel with the
shaft and equi-distant from each other.
Their number varies with the diameter of the wheel and the dimensions of the
permanent magnets hereinafter mentioned, but must in any case be an even number.
The bobbins or spools of the electro-magnets are all wound the same way, and their
wires are so connected with each other that if an electric current in any given one
of the series moves in the direction of the hands of a watch, in the next it will
move in the opposite direction, in the third the same as the first, and so continue
to alternate throughout the series.
Around the wheel are disposed two series of permanent U shaped magnets equal
in the aggregate to the number of electro magnets, and with poles of any one series

page_text: of permanent magnets the same distance apart as the distance between the poles of
any two adjacent electro magnets on the wheel. The two series of permanent
magnets are clamped upon opposite sides of a rim, and are so arranged about the
wheel that as it revolves the poles of the electro magnets pass between the poles of
the two series of the permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are so placed
that poles of different name always succeed each other, whether their order be
traced around the circle or in direction parallel with the shaft, i.c., the north pole
not only alternates with the south pole in circular arrangement of each series, but
the north pole of any one series is exactly opposite the south pole of the opposite
series. Other series of coils and magnets may be arranged upon and around the
same shaft, the wires being connected with the first series and with each other,
according to the same general principle of alternation, and the additional magnets
also arranged according to the principle observed in the first series.
A commutator is placed upon the shaft at any convenient distance from the
wheel. It consists of a thimble of wood or any insulating material carrying upon
its face two metallic bands provided with oblong tongues, which interlock with
each other, the tongues of one band entering the notches of the other, and the
notches being larger than the corresponding tongues so as to receive them without
metallic contact. To the band most remote from the wheel a wire is made fast by
bolt or other means, and the other end of said wire passing through a hole in the
wooden thimble between the bands and the shaft is made fast to one of the wires
of the series of electro-magnetic coils, say the initial wire, while the other or
terminal wire is connected immediately with the other band of the commutator.
Two metallic springs connected respectively with the positive and negative poles
of a galvanic battery or other source of electrical supply press on the tongues of
the commutator, and are so adjusted that when one is pressing upon a tongue of
one band the other will press upon a tongue of the other. They are also so adjusted
that when the shaft revolves they will both pass from tongue to tongue at the same
time, and precisely when the poles of the electro magnets are immediately in front
of the poles of the permanent magnets, the two bands together having a number of
tongues equal to the number of electro magnetic coils in a series.
The
The wheel reverser consists of a small block of wood or other insulating substance
fitted with metallic ends, which are constantly pressed by springs connected with
the electric poles through binding posts. The metal ends of the reverser rest
respectively when the current is complete upon two metallic bars lying parallel to
each other, and connected respectively with the springs of the commutator.
reversing block turns upon a bolt passing into the wood between the two metallic
bars, with which bars the metal ends aforesaid are kept in close contact by means
of a spiral spring placed between the block and the head of the bolt. The space
between the bars may be made flush there with by filling it with any insulating
material, and is preferably of such width that when the reverser is resting length-
wise between the metallic bars the metal ends of the reverser are out of electrical
contact with said bars.
The regulator consists of an ordinary centrifugal governor rotated by a belt from
a pulley on the wheel shaft, and swivelling at the bottom in the end of a lever,
which is arranged to break and close the electrical circuit by raising or lowering a
bar. This bar has a conducting face of metal underneath, and is forced down in
contact with the disconnected sections of the metallic bar leading to the spring for
closing the electrical circuit through the wheel, or is lifted to break said circuit by
the increased speed of the governor. The bar is normally held down in contact
with the section by a spring.
The starter consists of a wheel made fast to the shaft, and supplied with cogs in
the form of a crown wheel. On a line opposite one of these cogs a lever is pivoted,
so that when its longer arm is moved in either direction its shorter arm will
engage with a cog, and so move the wheel. Having accomplished this work it
becomes by the movement disengaged, and rests out of the way in a line parallel
with the tangent of the circle of cogs.

page_text: The operation of the motor is as follows:-When no current is in the coils they
will severally be drawn by the permanent magnets, so as to rest immediately in
front of their poles, and their cores will have by induction poles of different name
from those of the permanent magnets opposite to them. When in this position the
springs of the commutator will each lie across an insulated space between two of
the tongues, and will press upon the edges of those two tongues.
Consequently in this position when the electrical current is sent into them
it does not enter the coils, but completes the circuit through the commutator
itself.
Now by means of the starter before described the wheel is moved, say the
fraction of an inch, just enough to cause the springs of the commutator to press
each upon only one tongue, when the current instantly circulates through the coils,
magnetizes the soft iron cores, giving them poles of the same name with those of
the magnets severally in front of them. By mutual repulsion the wheel is driven
forward towards the next magnetic poles, and these being of different name from
those approaching them they mutually attract each other till their poles come
opposite; then the commutator reverses the current, changes the electro-magnetic
poles, mutual repulsion again drives them forward, and so on indefinitely. Hence
all the poles, not only of all the electro-magnets, but also of all the permanent ones,
are constantly at work, and concurring in the production of motion.
The wheel reverser by sending the positive current to the commutator through a
different spring changes the direction of the current in the coils, and so first
converts the entire motive force of the machine into a brake, which speedily arrests
the motion, and then secondly carries the wheel in the reverse direction.
The arrangement and combination of the different parts of the machine are such
as to convert the attractive and repulsive power of all the permanent magnets into
dynamic or working force. This with the similar power of the electro-magnets
diminished by whatever obstruction may be due to induction will represent in
general terms the power of the machine. The power however increases rarily
with the diameter of the wheel, and in much greater proportion than the increased
cost of current. A wheel of twice the diameter, for example, will accommodate
twice as many electro-magnets, and require twice as much current to magnetize
them, but it will have four times as much power, viz., twice as much from the
magnetic influence, and twice as much more from the leverage, and so of other
proportions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th May 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES." A commuui-
cation from abroad by James Sanford Lamar, of Augusta, Richmond County,
State of Georgia, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in electro-motors, and consists in the
novel arrangement of one or more revolving wheels carrying series of electro

page_text: magnets, and one or more stationary rim supports carrying series of permanent
magnets, and in combination therewith of one or more commutators mounted either
on the wheel carrying shaft, or upon an independent shaft connected with the
former through suitable gearing. The Invention further consists in the construction
and use of a combined brake and reverser arranged to throw the current in opposite
directions to change the rotation of the electro magnet carrying wheels after having
arrested their motion, and in combination with the wheel or wheels and commutator
or commutators of a crown wheel and starting lever. The Invention further
consists in the construction and use of devices for substituting the current from one
battery by that from another battery, when the current of the former has become
too feeble.
In the accompanying Drawings,—
Figures 1 and 2, Sheets 1 and 2, are elevations, the former partly in section, and
Figures 3, 4, and 5, are plan views, the former two also partly in section of the
improved electro-magnetic engine, illustrating the Invention, and certain modifications
of arrangement and construction.
In the above Drawings like letters of reference are employed to indicate like parts,
wherever such may occur in the several Figures.
Upon bearings supported by any suitable frame work is mounted a shaft A¹
carrying a wheel A that has a series of electro-magnets attached to its periphery,
with their axes parallel with said shaft, and equi-distant from each other. The
helices are so connected that when an electrical current passes through them the
polarity of their respective cores will be alternate, that is, a positive pole will
always lie between two negatives, and a negative between two positive poles. The
cores of the helices, which may be solid or tubular, are furnished at their extremities
with thin soft iron attachments b of cylindrical shape, as shown, though I prefer to
make them of elliptical or elongated form. These attachments are screwed or
otherwise securely fastened to the poles of the electro magnets.
The object of these attachments, which are placed with their longer sides
tangential to the circle in which they revolve with the wheel A is to extend the
electro-magnetic poles, both in front and rear. On a rim of wood D surrounding
said wheel A are secured a series of permanent steel magnets C, in number equal to
the number of electro-magnets on the wheel A, and they are so arranged upon both
sides of the rim that poles of different name always succeed each other as shown,
and the poles of the electro magnets are made to revolve between the two series of
permanent magnets. A commutator E consisting of two or four, or any desired
number of interlocking tongues or bars, insulated from and mounted either upon
the shaft A, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5, or upon a separate shaft A", as shown
in Figure 4, which under certain circumstances will be found more advantageous,
said shaft A¹¹, being geared to shaft A', and this latter arrangement of commutator
differs from all others in general use in the mode by which the current is trans-
mitted to the helices. This is effected by means of two insulated metallic bands i¹, ¿¹¹
placed upon the main shaft and connected respectively with the initial and terminal
wires of the series of helices, and also by means of the contact springs h, h¹, with
the bands of the commutator. Two central springs k, k, which connect immediately
with the battery or other electric generator, press upon the tongues of the com-
mutator in the usual way; the gearing m, m', is proportioned to the number of
tongues on the commutator, and also to the number of electro magnets on the
wheel A, and the whole arrangement and adjustment are such as to secure reversal
of the current when the helices come in front of the poles of the permanent magnets.
By this construction any definite number of reversals may be effected simply by
increasing the relative speed of the commutator by means of the gearing. It also
ensures with much greater regularity a more speedy reversal at the precise points
desired.
I have found by experiments that the engine becomes much more efficacious
when two or more wheels A mounted upon the same shaft A¹ are employed, such a
construction being shown in Figures 2 and 5. The arrangement of the helices upon

page_text: their wheels, and the relative arrangement of said helices with the series of
permanent magnets is precisely the same as that herein before described, except,
firstly, that the wheels A are sufficiently distant from each other upon shaft A to
prevent interference, and to place them beyond the reach of sensible magnetic
influence; secondly, that the position of the permanent magnets upon their
respective stationary rim supports D is such that the magnets of one series will
face the space between two magnets of the next series, that is to say, the permanent
magnets on the rim supports are not in line with each other, the same relative
arrangement being of course observed with regard to the several series of electro-
magnets on their respective wheels A; and, thirdly, that each series of electro-
magnets is provided with its independent commutator E or E¹, each having, in
this case, a number of insulated interlocking tongues equal to the number of electro-
magnets upon its respective wheel. These commutators may be mounted upon the
main shaft A¹, as shown, or upon an independent shaft A", in the manner above set
forth. The electric current is divided at o, o', so that one half thereof will pass
through each commutator by the contact springs h, h¹, and thence to the electro-
magnets B.
The
The object of having two or more sets of electro and permanent magnets (each of
which may be multiplied when great power is desired) is not only to increase the
force by keeping one or the other series always within the strongest magnetic
influence, but also to insure the starting of the shaft by the electric current.
arrangement is such that when the circuit is broken, in whatever position the
wheels come to rest, one half of the electro magnets will be in proper relation to
their permanent magnets for moving the shaft again upon the closing of said
circuit, and thus dispensing with the mechanical starter H, I.
A wheel reverser and brake F2 consists of a small block of wood fitted with
metallic ends,, which project slightly below the wood and rest respectively upon
two parallel electrical conductors which extend beneath them and connect with the
central springs of the commutator. The block F2 turns upon a bolt J, which passes
through it into the solid insulating material filling the space between the con-
ductors. A coiled spring i between the head of the bolt and the block keeps the
metallic ends in close contact with the conductors. Said metallic ends are also
constantly pressed by springs f, f1, which are connected respectively with the
positive and negative poles of the electrical generator. Hence by shifting the ends
of the block from one of the underlying conductors to the other the current in the
helices is reversed, and the entire magnetic influence of the motor is converted into
a brake which first arrests and then reverses the motion of the wheel. The
mechanism for starting the apparatus above referred to, and necessary when but
one set of magnets is employed, consists of a crown wheel H upon shaft A¹, and a
pivoted lever I upon the frame of the engine. The lever is so arranged that when its
Jong arm is moved in either direction its short arm will engage with one of the
teeth of the crown wheel, and so rotate the shaft A' and motor wheel.
As a very
small movement is all that is needed, just enough to enable the current which may
be circulating through the commutator to reach the helices, the lever may be so
pivoted as to give any desired amount of mechanical advantage. The crown wheel
is also fitted to carry a cord or band, and may be used as a driver.
When the power of a battery employed is exhausted, or so far exhausted as to
reduce the desired speed, it would become necessary, unless special means are
provided, to stop the engine either to renew the battery or substitute another one.
This under certain conditions is undesirable, and to avoid it I employ what I term
a "substituter," consisting of an oblong triangular block of wood N oscillating
upon a pivot n at or near the apex of the triangle of the block, upon which apex
presses a spring n¹ secured to the frame of the engine or to a post upon said frame,
as shown by Figures 2 and 4. Upon each corner the block carries the binding
posts p, p, p, p, immediately over the two metallic conductors g, g', with which
they can be brought in contact or thrown out of contact by oscillating the block upon
its pivot. The conductors g, g', are connected with the reverser F by wires w, w',

page_text: passing under the base of the apparatus, as shown by dotted lines, Figure 4.
Two of the binding posts at one end of the block receive respectively the wires from
the negative and positive poles of a battery or other electrical generator, and those
at the other end are similarly connected with another battery. Hence by depressing
the elevated end of the block the current of one battery may be substituted by that
of another without stopping the engine, while the spring n¹ maintains the contact
of the depressed end with the conductors.
The operation of the engine may be briefly described as follows:-
When a current of electricity is introduced through the commutator the engine
being at rest it does not materially affect the helices, because in this condition the
central springs of the commutator press upon two of the tongues at once, when
the engine is constructed as represented in Figures 1, 3, and 4, and by means of
the starter H, I, the circuit has to be completed to magnetize the helical cores, and
give them a polarity opposite to that of the permanent magnets next in front of
them, as well as that of the permanent magnets next in rear of them, hence they
are at the same time driven and attracted forward. When they reach the next
succeeding poles their own polarity is reversed by the commutator, when they are
again driven and attracted forward, and so on continuously. The operation of the
engine, as represented in Figures 2 and 5, is precisely the same, except that no
starter is needed for the reasons herein before described. The speed of the engine
is to be regulated by a centrifugal governor arranged to break the circuit when the
speed becomes greater than is desirable.
Having now described the Invention, and in what manner the same may be
carried into practical effect, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent
is,—
Firstly. The method and means employed therefor, for utilizing electricity as a
motive power, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying two
Sheets of Drawings.
Secondly. In an electro-magnetic motor the use of one or more commutators
upon a driving shaft or upon an independent shaft geared with said driving-shaft,
in combination with one or more driving wheels carrying each a series of electro
magnets, in the manner as described.
Thirdly. In an electro magnetic engine the use of a combined switch or brake
and reverser F, in combination with the main shaft, its electrical wheel or wheels,
and the commutator or commutators.
Fourthly. In an electro magnetic engine the use of a current substituter, as
shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)