OR IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING, DISTRIBUTING AND UTILISING ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING, MOTIVE POWER AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Laker Voice of 1 Francis Street Torrington.
Square in the county of Middlesex Electrician for an Invention of NEW
OR IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING, DISTRIBUTING AND
UTILISING ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING, MOTIVE POWER AND OTHER
PURPOSES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Laker Voice.at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1883. .
EDWARD LAKER VOICE of 1 Francis Street Torrington Square in the county
of Middlesex Electrician NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCING, DISTRIBUTING AND UTILISING ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING, MOTIVE
POWER AND OTHER PURPOSES.
My invention consists of means or apparatus for utilising the advantages to be
gained from the phenomena of electro-magnetic or magneto-electric induction by
constructing machines or apparatus which may be appropiately termed "motor-
inductors" or "inductors"
Faraday demonstrated the principle that if a conductor in electrical
communication with a battery has an electro-magnet in its circuit with--a shunt
wire joined to its flow and return wire between the magnet and the battery, in
breaking contact with one of the battery terminals. the electro-magnet is
demagnetised, thereby setting up an induced current which has no alternative
but to traverse the shunt wire. By this means platinum is heated and other effects
obtained.
In the above experiment, however, the induced current, caused by demagneti-
sation is only made use of: all these currents being in the same direction.
In my invention I utilise this principle by obtaining mechanical effect on
making contact, and electrical effect on breaking contact; and in a modification of
my invention, the mechanical effect produced is caused to produce dynamo-electric
:

page_text: effect, whilst on breaking contact an induced electrical effect is obtained. These
results are obtained in the following manner :-
A number of electro-magnets are mounted on a shaft, whose poles are alternately
arranged, thereby forming an armature capable of rotating. A number of
stationery electro magnets, whose poles are also alternately arranged, are so placed
as to allow the rotating magnets or armature to revolve in close proximity to the
said stationery magnets.
This machine or apparatus is placed in a circuit electrically supplied by
dynamo-electric machines, batteries or other suitable generators.
Intermediate between this apparatus or "motor-inductor" and the electric
generator, a cross wire or shunt conductor forming the consumption circuit, is
joined to the flow and return wire of the main circuit.
The electrical resistance of the consumption circuit is governed by the number of
lamps or the nature of apparatus to be electrically acted upon.
By a suitable commutator, or other mechanical device, the whole of the magnets
are periodically demagnetised and the polarity of one or other set of magnets is
reversed each time the, main circuit is closed. The action is as follows:-The.
commutator closes the main circuit causing. the armature poles to face like
stationery poles, the movable poles are consequently repelled from this position
and place themselves so that a S'armature pole faces a N stationery pole; the
commutator then opens the circuit and the demagnetisation produces an induced
current which traverses the consumption circuit. The circuit is again closed,
and so on.
The whole of this apparatus may be caused to be stationery, thereby utilising the
induced electrical effect only, but if the armature is allowed to rotate, it may actuate
an auxiliary dynamo-electric generator for accentuating the E. M. F. in the main
circuit of the "motor-inductor."
When the induced electrical effect is only desired, the induction apparatus may
consist of a fixed battery of magnets having one main circuit, the consumption
circuit being a shunt conductor joined to the main circuit outside of the
induction apparatus. The main circuit may be opened and closed either
automatically by a contact breaker or by a commutator operated by suitable
means.
'
In a modification of my invention the shunt conductor or consumption circuit,
or part of the same, is coiled on the ends of either the stationery or rotatory
magnets or armature, causing the mechanical effect to expend itself in generating
dynamo-electric currents in the consumption circuit, thereby augmenting the
induced current set up by the periodical demagnetisation of the whole apparatus.
The dynamo-electric currents can be made to traverse the consumption circuit in
the same direction as the induced magneto-electric currents by having a seperate
commutator placed in the consumption circuit.
It is desirable, although not essential, to have both the movable and fixed
magnets demagnetised, and to render them capable of rapid change of polarity they
may be constructed of bundles of iron wire, insulated or not.
In the above apparatus either the main or consumption circuit may be in " series
or in "parellel for tension or quantity.
For distributing and utilising the electricity produced by the above means, one
or more apparatus may be placed in each house and may be supplied by a
generator from a central station having flow and return wires laid in the streets;
the latter, however, would not be closed circuits unless one or more "induction"
apparatus were at work
The same system would also apply to street lighting.
;

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Laker Voice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th November 1888.
$
:
EDWARD LAKER VOICE of N. 1 Francis Street Torrington Square in the
county of Middlesex Electrician NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCING, DISTRIBUTING AND UTILISING ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING, MOTIVE
POWER AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
My invention consists of means or apparatus for utilising the advantages to be
gained from the phenomena of electro-magnetic or magnoto-electric induction by
constructing machines or apparatus which may be appropiately termed "motor-
inductors" or inductors Faraday demonstrated the principle of obtaining the
after current in a single circuit by placing an electro-magnet in one main circuit
enclosing a battery. A cross wire of high resistance was joined to the flow and
return wire of the main circuit between the magnet and the battery and by.
breaking contact with the latter the magnet was demagnetised thereby setting up
an induced current which had no alternative but to traverse the cross wire. By
this means platinum was heated and other effects obtained. In this experiment,
however, the induced current caused by demagnetisation was only made use of;
all these currents being in the same direction I utilise a modification of this
principle by obtaining mechanical effect on making contact and electrical effect on
breaking contact; and in a modification of my invention the mechanical effect
obtained is caused to produce dynamo-electrical effect whilst on breaking contact
induced currents are obtained
I have a number of electro-magnets, whose poles are alternately arranged
mounted on a shaft thereby forming an armature capable of rotating A number
of stationery electro magnets, whose poles are also alternately arranged, are so
placed as to allow the rotating magnets or armature to revolve in close proximity,
to the said stationery magns. This machine or apparatus is placed in a circuit
electrically supplied by dynamo-electric machines, batteries or other suitable
generators. Between this apparatus or "motor-inductor" and the electric generator
a cross wire or shunt conductor or conductors forming the consumption circuit is
joined to the flow and return wire of the main circuit. The electrical resistance
of the consumption circuit is governed by the number of lamps or the nature of
apparatus to be electrically acted upon By a suitable commutator or other
mechanical device the whole of the magnets are periodically demagnetised and the
polarity of one or other set of magnets is reversed each time the main circuit is
closed. The action is as follows-The commutator closes the main circuit causing
the armature poles to face like stationery poles; the movable, magnets are con-
sequently repelled from this position and place themselves so that a Sarmature
pole faces a N stationery pole; the commutator then opens the circuit and
the demagnetisation of the machine sets up an induced current which traverses
the consumption circuit. The circuit is again closed and so on. The whole of this
apparatus may be caused to be stationery thereby utilising the induced electrical
effect only, but if the armature is, allowed to rotate it may actuate an auxiliary
dynamo-electric machine for increasing the E. M. F. in the main circuit of the
"motor-inductor When the induced electrical effect is only desired the induction
apparatus consists of a fixed battery of magnets of any suitable form and having
one main circuit, the consumption, circuit, being a shunt, conductor: joined to the
main circuit outside of the induction apparatus or battery of magnets.. The main
circuit may be opened and closed in this case either automatically by a contact
">

page_text: breaker or by a suitable commutator operated mechanically In another modifica-
tion the shunt conductor or part of the same is coiled on the ends of either the
stationery or rotatory magnets or armature causing the mechanical effect to expend
itself in generating dynamo-electric currents in the consumption circuit thereby
augmenting the induced currents set up by the periodical demagnetisation of the
whole apparatus. The dynamo-electric currents can be made to traverse the
consumption circuit in the same direction as the induced magneto-electric currents
by having a seperate commutator placed in the consumption circuit It is desirable,
although not essential, to have both the movable and fixed magnets demagnetised,
and to render them capable of rapid change of polarity, they may be constructed
of bundles of iron wire insulated or not. In the above apparatus either the main
or consumption circuit may be in "series" or in "parellel" for tension or quantity.
For distributing or utilising the electricity produced by the above means one or
more apparatus may be placed in each house and may be supplied by a generator
from a central station having flow and return wires laid in the streets; the latter
however would not be closed circuits unless one or more induction apparatus were
at work. The same system would also apply to street lighting
:.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention. The pole pieces in
the outer ring or field magnets R are alternately arranged and are fixed to a core:
preferably consisting of soft iron wire to fecilitate demagnetisation The armature
is similarly built up. Although four poles are shown two or any suitable even
number may be used. The commutators C and C. are shown on a larger scale at
Figures 2 and 3. It will be seen that the commutator C'. forms the circuit to and.
from the armature, the object being to cause the induced currents arising from the
armature to flow in the same direction as the induced current obtainable from the
field-magnets. B and B', are insulating substances. B³, B and B are metallic.
plates these sections are governed in number by the number of poles in the
machine. When commutator C is out of the main circuit, commutator C¹ is in the
consumption circuit enabling the brushes to take off the induced current caused by.
the commutator C breaking the main circuit. When the machines are supplied by
a dynamo-electric generator or when they are worked in series it is desirable to
have the commutator C arranged as at Figure 3 whereby the arrangement of plates
at C³ closes the main circuit when it is broken at C. thereby preventing the
demagnetising of the generator. I do not confine myself to the form of com-
mutators shown as they may be constructed in varius ways to give the same
results. It will be seen at Figure 1 that the current passes from the battery round
the field magnets R through brush I, commutator C. through one of the plates
of C (which is out of contact with its brushes) and magnetises the armature
causing it to revolve when in order to reverse the polarity of the armature,
commutator C for an instant breaks the main circuit the whole of the machine
immediately loosing its magnetism and as the plates in commutator Care then in
contact with their brushes this powerful current is utilised in the consumption
circuit At Figure 4 two consumption circuits are shown; one from the armature
and the other from the field-magnets that in the armature circuit being alternating
whilst the field magnet. circuit developes continous induced currents, constituting
a series of electrical waves all pushing in one direction. The commutator C¹ is in
this case dispensed with the alternating current being taken off by collectors
pressing on two insulated metallic bands fixed to the shaft. The field-magnet con-
sumption circuit is joined to the main circuit before it enters the machine and just
after it passes out of the field magnets as shown. Figure 5 is a cross section of the
machine Figure 4. I do not confine myself to the precise forms of machines as it
is evident that the invention applies to all electro-motors depending on the
periodical reversal or cessation of current to obtain a revolution of the armatures
In some cases it is convenient to dispense with the return wire of the consumption
circuit and take it to earth instead, in any known manner. When the induced
electrical effect is only desired without motion the brushes of commutator C¹
are made adjustable and an automatic contact breaker is brought to bear on

page_text: commutator C instead of which the commutator C may be caused to rotate on the
shaft, while the armature remains stationery, by means of a small electro motor or
other mechanical arrangement. Figure 6 Sheet 2 shows one form of a fixed induction
apparatus consisting of a number of electro-magnets in the form of a ring. The
magnets are shown connected up in series with a number of metallic plates P.
placed in the circuit. The "cut-out" C is made to press on one of the plates and
by that means any one or more of the magnets can be placed in circuit. The
consumption circuit is joined to the flow and return wire outside of the induction
apparatus so as to cause the latter to be in a closed circuit when the main circuit
is broken. This apparatus is electrically supplied by a suitable generator and
periodically demagnetised by an automatic contact breaker or suitable commutator
actuated mechanically. For distributing the electricity produced in this manner
one or more "motor-inductors " or induction apparatus may be placed in each
house and may be supplied by battery or other electrical power so as to render
each installation self-contained Figure 7 shows a number of motor-inductors
working in series L. L. & are lamps placed in the consumption circuit in a manner
herein before explained. The induced currents in the consumption circuit may be
made to charge secondary batteries and the mechanical power developed may be
made to actuate auxiliary dynamo-electric generators In some cases it may
be convenient to arrange several motors on one shaft so that the poles are a little
in advance of each other thereby obtaining more rapid induced currents Having
now explained the nature of my said invention and the manner of carrying it into
effect. I Claim
Firstly The utilisation of the induced currents caused by the periodical cessation
or reversal of magnetic polarity in electro-motors whereby mechanical power and
electrical effects are obtained from the said electro-motors substantially as herein
before set forth
Secondly In electro-motors the arrangement of commutators or their equivalents
whereby alternating currents and direct or continous currents may be taken off
in seperate circuits respectively substantially as herein before set forth and with.
reference to accompanying drawings
Thirdly The arrangement of the said electro motors when stationery with
contact breakers. or movable commutators whereby the said electro-motors are
caused to develope induced electrical effects only, substantially as herein before set
forth
:
Fourthly. The arrangement of working electro-motors or inductors in "series "
or in "
parallel-series" with the mode of obtaining induced currents therefrom for
lighting, electrolysis and other purposes substantially as berein before set forth.
Fifthly The general arrangement and construction of "motor inductors" and
induction apparatus substantially as herein before set forth with reference to
accompanying drawings
In Witness whereof I the said Edward Laker Voice have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord 1883