IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND POWER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt of Sutton in the County of Surrey for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND POWER DISTRIBUTING
SYSTEMS"
A communication to him from abroad by Eli T. Starr (Electrician)
of the City of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania and William J. Peyton
(Patent Solicitor) of the City of Washington in the District of Columbia both
in the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1883.
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
LIGHTING AND POWER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS" communicated to me from abroad
by Eli. T. Starr (Electrician) of the City of Philadelphia in the State of Penn-
sylvania and William J. Peyton (Patent Solicitor) of the City of Washington in
the District of Columbia both in the United States of America.
This Invention relates more particularly to a system of distributing electrical
energy or power from a generator or generators by means of automatic or time
switches, whereby an electric current or currents may be automatically directed to
or cut off from apparatus to be acted upon or worked by the current or currents, at
predetermined times.
The subject matter claimed is
Specification, while the objects and
also hereinafter sufficiently appear.
at the close of this Specification.
distinctly pointed out at the close of the
some of the capabilities of the invention will
No claim is made save as recited in the claims
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the improvements as embodied and
organized in the best way known. Some of the said improvements may be used
without the others and in ways differing from that particularly shewn in said
Drawings.
In said Drawings,
Figure 1 is a diagram shewing an organization of the improvements, there being
illustrated two sets of apparatus to be worked by the current of the main or
charging line, with their respective automatic switches to throw them into and cut
them out of said line, or a branch thereof, at predetermined times; there being also

page_text: depicted, in said figure other apparatus to be worked by the said main current when
desired, said last mentioned apparatus being thrown into and cut out of action at
will by means of an independent circuit including electro-magnetic switch devices.
Figure 2 is a view on a larger scale than that of Figure 1, of the automatic
switch arrangement and portions of the circuit connections, with the apparatus to
be acted upon operated by the current of the main line.
Figure 3 is a detached view of the setting device of the automatic switch on a
still larger scale than that of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section through said device and through a portion of the clock work
mechanism on the line 4, 4, of Figure 2 and
Figure 5 is a view shewing a modification of the devices depicted in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the switch for throwing the apparatus into
and cutting it out of the main circuit as controlled by electro magnetic clockwork
operated by a clock at a central station, an independent line being run from said
last mentioned clock and a suitable generator of electricity at the main or charging
station, to the clockwork of the switch or switches.
Figure 7 is a diagram somewhat similar to that of Figure 1, with the apparatus
to be worked by the current of the generator or generators arranged in branches of
the main line.
A generator or generators of electricity A (preferably a dynamo or magneto
electric machine or machines) is shewn as organized to throw current upon a
main line B, in which, or in branches thereof are included the apparatus C, to be
ncted upon or worked by the current of said generator. This apparatus C to be
acted upon by the current is shewn as consisting of a secondary battery or electric
accumulator which is to be charged from the main line or charging current
and then cut out to constitute an independent source of electricity, so as to work,
when required electrical apparatus included in the working circuit of said battery.
In order to automatically throw said secondary battery or electric accumulator C,
into the charging circuit and automatically cut it out at predetermined times, said
circuit is provided with a switch D which when in one position directs the current
through the battery, while when in another position it deflects or carries the
current around said battery, so as to have no effect thereon. The position of said
switch D is determined by clockwork mechanism E which may be set or adjusted
to throw the battery into the charging circuit at the time desired and cut it out of
said circuit after submitting it to the charging operation for a requisite time. Said
Bwitch D preferably consists of a conducting lever pivoted to a suitable support at
one end (for instanco upon the clock face or frame) by an insulated pivotal
connection e, the said pivotted end of the lever being electrically connected with the
charging line so as to constitute the switch a part of the charging circuit. Said
lever switch extends in the present example, across the face of the controlling clock-
work E thereof, and its weight causes it to rest lightly upon the periphery of the
Betting device F of said clock work, which device by determining the position of
said switch around the pivot, determines whether the current shall be conducted
through or directed around the battery, the range of movement of the switch lever
being limited by contact pieces or points g g', forming part of the circuit connections.
Said contact pieces or points g, g¹, may be mounted as shewn in Figure 2, upon an
upright support G the said contact pieces being independently insulated.
The setting device F preferably consists of a main wheel or disc f having say one
half of its periphery of less diameter than the other, as shown (partially by dotted
lines) in Figures 3 and 5, and of another wheel f¹ of similar construction fitted to
turn around a hub f2 of said main wheel f, said last mentioned wheel being
mounted by friction or an equivalent connection upon, for instance, the tubular
spindle or arbor H of the hour hand H' of the clockwork mechanism so as to turn
therewith while adjustable thereon when desired as shewn in Figure 4. A semi-
circular slots, is formed in the wheel f', concentric with its axis, and a set screw h,
working through this slot into the main wheel ƒ enables the two wheels of the
setting device F to be adjusted circumferentially relatively to each other and fixed
L

page_text: This
together as desired. When the two wheels or discs f. ƒ³. are adjusted so as to have
their largest diameters or portions opposed, it will be obvious that a wheel is
presented the periphery of which is of substantially the same diameter throughout,
while if adjusted so as to have the parts of largest diameter cross or overlap each
other, a recess or depression a in the periphery of the setting device is formed as
shewn, for instance in Figure 3 and the other figures of the drawings.
interruption in the continuity of the periphery of largest diameter of the setting
device For in other words, the extent of the recess a may be varied as desired, the
limit in the example shown, being to one half of the periphery of the device which
maximum limitation, it will be readily understood is equal to six hours inasmuch as
the setting device rotates with the hour hand of the clockwork as before stated.
It has been stated that the weight of the switch lever D causes it to rest lightly
upon the periphery of the setting device. The lever is supported upon the setting
device by an insulated inclined projection or tooth d. As long as the switch
lever D, by its tooth d rests upon the periphery of largest diameter of the setting
device F, the outer or free end of said lever will be held up in contact with the
contact piece or point y forming part of the circuit connections whereby the
current will be carried or directed around the secondary battery C so as to have no
effect upon said battery which is thus consequently cut out. When however by
the lapse of time and by the rotation of the setting device by the clockwork
mechanism the pre-determined space or depression a, in the largest diameter of
said setting device arrives opposite the tooth d, of the lever D said tooth will
drop quickly down into said recess and will cause the lever to break contact with
the contact point y and make contact with the contact point g', whereby the
charging current will be directed through the battery C, to charge it, and the said
battery will be continued in the charging circuit until by the rotation of the setting
device with the clockwork, the shoulder f of said device comes against the inclined
face of the tooth d, and gradually wedges or forces it outward, thus separating the
lever from the contact point g', and again making contact with the contact point g
The battery will thus be cut out of the charging circuit, and will constitute an
independent source of electricity to work when desired, electrical apparatus such as
lamps and motors for example, which are included in the working circuit C¹ of the
battery.
The length of time the battery or other apparatus C remains in the charging
circuit or subject to the action of the main current will of course be determined by
the extent of the recess or depression a, of the setting device, and this may be
varied by adjustment as before described; while the period at which said apparatus
is put into the circuit to be acted upon may be determined by adjusting said setting
device, by its frictional or other connection, around the spindle or shaft of the
clock work mechanism which carries it.
In order that the make and break or change of the circuit in throwing in and
cutting out the apparatus C, may be practically simultaneous or the make effected
with one contact point just before the break with the other, so as to avoid sparks‍
which would occur on breaking from one contact before making with another, the
contact pieces or points g. g', are constructed in the form of plungers surrounded by
light or weak springs as shewn in Figure 2. The plungers have a range of
movement end wise in their guides or boxes sufficient to enable them to follow the
lever switch in its movements for a limited distance, Said lever in its movement
thus makes contact with the opposite contact point just before breaking contact with
the point with which it has been in contact and from which it is to be separated
The current is thus shifted from one contact point to the other without an actual
break of the circuit. The weight of the lever, after the lever has been shifted from
the contact point g, to the contact point g¹, depresses said point g¹, and thereby
carries the lever away from said point g to direct the current wholly through the
point g¹ while when said lever in moving upward under the action of the setting
device F has made contact with the point g, its contact with g' is then broken by
the continued upward movement due to the continuation of the wedging or lifting

page_text: Retion of said setting device and the yielding or endwise movement of said contact
point g.
In order to lessen friction between the tooth d of the lever D and the setting
device F said tooth may be provided with a friction roller as shown in Figure 5.
The working circuit or circuits C¹, of the battery C, is provided with a switch or
switches c, by which to make and break said circuit or circuits as desired.
It will be noticed that the clock work nechanism E and switch D are shown
as mounted on the battery vessel, but of course, this is not necessary although in
some cases desirable. The gearing and other internal connections of the clockwork
are not shown, as it is unnecessary that they should be. Any suitable form of
clockwork in common use may be employed to rotate the hands and the setting
device, or the latter alone, but is preferably such as is capable of running for a long
time, say a week or more when once wound up.
In Figure 1 the main circuit is shewn as organized for charging two independent
batteries the one at the right of the Figure to be charged between the hours of six
and seven o'clock, and the one at the left hand to be charged between the hours of
seven and eight o'clock, or in other words when the first battery is charged and
cut out the next battery is thrown in to be charged in turn. In practice in electric
lighting in Cities for example, there will be a large number of separate batteries
having independent working circuits C¹ in one district into a number of which
districts the City will be divided to be charged simultaneously at one hour or other
length of time, another large number of independent batteries in another district to
be charged during the next hour or length of time desired and so on whereby it
will readily be understood that may utilize a comparatively small generator, or
sinall number of generators to charge a vast number of secondary batteries inas-
much as but a comparatively small number of the batteries will be charged at
one time, the operation of cutting out and throwing in the batteries in succession
or order being accomplished automatically as before fully described.
Each house to be lighted will preferably be provided with a secondary bat-
tery C made up of the desired or requisite number of cells or elements and
provided with an independent working circuit C' while the charging circuit or its
branch, at each house will be provided with a cut out switch I whereby any one or
more of the batteries and the apparatus worked thereby may be cut out of the
main line or charging circuit when desired for an indefinite period without cutting
out or affecting the others. The dotted lines in Figure 1 shew the cut out switch
of one of the batteries in the position to cut out its respective battery.
If any one or more of the batteries in any district is of greater capacity or
requires longer time to be fully charged than the others, the setting device or
devices will of course be set to keep said battery or batteries in the charging circuit
for the time required, it being understood that each battery of each district or series.
is independent of the others in the same district or series, and may be charged for a
greater or less time.
Secondary batteries have been particularly described as to the apparatus to be
affected by the current of the main line, but it will be obvious that in distributing
electrical energy as a source of power the apparatus C, may for instance be electric
motors to be automatically thrown into and cut out of the main circuit or its
branches at fixed times. For example the motors may be thrown into the main
circuit during the usual working hours of the machanic during the day and then cut
out while the current of the generator may be utilized to run other apparatus
during the remaining hours of the daylight and during the succeeding night.
In some instances as for electric lighting with secondary batteries it will be
desirable to throw the batteries or apparatus C. into the main or charging circuit,
but once only during the twenty four hours of the day instead of once during every
twelve hours so that the batteries for instance may be charged during the daylight
and then cut out to constitute sources for running electric lamps at night. In these
instances it is preferred that the clock face be graduated to show twenty four hours
instead of twelve as is usual with the hands and the setting device of the switch.

page_text: organized correspondently so as to make but one revolution in twenty four hours.
The change is so obvious and may be accomplished in so many different ways as to
need no illustration.
•
Instead of employing clockwork to be wound up by hand to control the switch
or switches D it is preferable in some instances to employ an electro magnetic clock
or clocks to control said switches. Said clock or clocks are included in an indo-
pendent circuit J and their movements are governed by a clock K and battery or
generator L also included in said circuit and located for instance at the central or
charging station Such an organization is shewn in Figure 6 and it is advan-
tageous in that it avoids the necessity of separately winding up each of the clocks
in each district for example which clocks may be very numerous and some of them
widely separated. By the electro-magnetic clock system herein described all the
switch controlling clocks in one or more districts may be run and controlled in their
movements from a central station. The clock circuit J is provided with a switch j
by which said circuit may be made and broken.
Running or controlling one or a series of separate Electro magnetic clocks from a
distant point or central station is very common and may be accomplished in many
ways. The details of construction of such clockwork is therefore not shewn or
described as such description would extend this Specification to an unnecessary
length.
When the
In order to afford a ready means of utilizing the current of the generator or
generators A either while it is employed to work the apparatus -C. or after said
apparatus shall have been cut out as for instance at night when the apparatus is a
secondary battery or batteries and they have been cut out I include in the main
circuit or in a branch or branches thereof an armature lever or levers M the upper
or outer ends of which when the said levers are in their normal position rests
against contact points 1, thereby directing the current along the main line without
affecting the apparatus N which may be electric lamps, for instance for street
lighting purposes. The said armature levers are maintained in their said normal
position in contact with the contact points 1 by means of the springs m.
current of the main line is to be directed to the said lamps N at night for instance
when the batteries having been charged during daylight are cut out the electro
magnets O. included in an independent circuit P are excited by closing said circuit
by means for example of the switch Q (leading from a suitable battery or conducting
off a portion of the current of the generator A) whereby the armature switches
will be attracted by the magnets and will be caused to make contact with the
contact points 2. The current of the main line will thus obviously be directed
through the lamps N. and said lamps will continue to be supplied with current as
long as the independent circuit P remains closed. As soon as said circuit is broken
the magnets will be no longer excited the armature switches will be released and
said switches will be thrown back to make contact with the contact points 1 thus
cutting the lamps N. out of the main circuit.
The organization of the lamps N to be run directly by the charging or main
current and thrown into and out of action from a central or charging station is
shown in Figures 1 and 7 The advantages of such an organization are obvious.
At each apparatus N the circuit is provided with a cut out switch n whereby
any one of the said apparatuses may be cut out when desired without affecting
the flow of current along the line.
In Figure 7 both the apparatus C. and the apparatus N are shewn as arranged
in branch circuits. The method of running the circuits is so clearly shown as to
need no description. By opening the switch B'. in the main line B the current is
returned to the generator by the return wire B³. after passing through the branch
lines and apparatus included therein. By opening the switch 6 the circuit through
the branches is broken while by closing the switch B¹. the main circuit direct is
established which organization is desirable for many purposes. It is to be understood
however that other organizations of branches and switches may be employed without
departure from the Invention.

page_text: Having thus described the Invention I would say that I do not claim every way
of controlling a switch or switches by automatic or time mechanism, but what I do
claim herein is.
First: The combination of a generator of electricity, a circuit to conduct the
current of said generator, an electrical apparatus to be acted upon by said current,
a switch forming part of said circuit, and automatic mechanism provided with an
adjustable setting device, substantially as described acting directly (in contra-
distinction to acting through an electric circuit.) upon said switch to control its
movements so as to direct the current through said apparatus for a predetermined
timo: the combination being and acting substantially as described whereby the said
apparatus to be acted upon by the current is automatically inserted in and with-
drawn from the circuit by direct acting mechanism, while the length of time the
apparatus remains under the action of the current may be varied by adjustment.
Second-The combination of a generator of electricity, a circuit to conduct the
current of said generator, a series of independent electrical apparatuses to be acted
upon by said current, a switch for each of said apparatuses forming part of said
circuit, and automatic mechanism provided with adjustable setting devices, substan-
tially as described acting directly (in contradistinction to acting through electrio
circuits) upon said switches to control their movements, so as to direct the current
through said apparatuses for a predetermined time, the combination being and
acting substantially as described whereby the apparatuses to be acted upon by the
current of the generator are automatically inserted in and withdrawn from the
circuit by direct mechanical action while the time said apparatuses or each of them
remains subject to the action of the current may be varied.
Third The combination of a switch forming part of an electric circuit an
apparatus to be acted upon by the electric current and automatic mechanism acting
by direct mechanical action upon said switch so as to direct the current through
or around said apparatus (in contradistinction to acting through an electric circuit)
said automatic mechanism being provided with an adjustable setting device substan-
tially as described and with an adjustable connection between said device and the
shaft of said automatic mechanism which carries it, the combination being and
acting substantially as described, whereby the apparatus to be acted upon by the
current is automatically inserted in and withdrawn from the circuit by direct acting
mechanism, while the period at which said apparatus is put into the circuit to be
acted upon as well as the time the apparatus remains subject to the action of the
current may be varied.
Fourth. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a switch
forming part of an electric circuit, an electric clock to control said switch, a clock to
control said switch controlling clock, and an independent circuit including said
clocks and a generator of electricity.
Fifth. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a generator
of electricity, a circuit to conduct the current of said generator, a series of indepen-
dent electrical apparatuses to be worked by said current, a series of switches to
control the admission of said apparatuses to said circuit a series of electric clocks to
control said switches, a clock at a central station to control said switch controlling
clocks, and an independent circuit including said clocks and a source of electricity.
In witness whereof I the said Sydney Pitt have hereunto set my hand and
seal this thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.