Improvements in Methods and Mechanism for Generating Heat, Steam, and Light by Electricity.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application 18th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods and Mechanism for Generating Heat,
Steam, and Light by Electricity.
1, THEOPHILUS DAVIES FARRALL, of Park Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee,
United States of America, Glass Manufacturing Chemist and Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
and the drawings accompanying the same, forming the specification therool:-
My Invention consists in practical methods and means for generating heat, steam
and light by electricity, and embodies the combinations of Dynamo Electric Machines,
Storage Batteries or Accumulators, or other electric supplying mechanisu, electric
heating cartridges, steam generating boilers, steam engines, and electric lighting
apparatus, and embraces other mechanism and certain details of construction relating
thereto by which electricity, heat, steam and light are generated and applied without
the use of coals or other fuel, for heating, for motive power, and for lighting pur-
poses, and by which surplus power and exhaust steam and momentum are utilized
for the same, and by which heat, steam, and light, are generated and applied by
electricity from a central electric plant or plants, or other sources of electricity, by
the present means now in use or otherwise.
My Invention is equally applicable to Locomotive and Stationary and Marine
Engines, as well as to Buildings, and is useful for other purposes where heat, steam
or light is required.
When applied to a Locomotive or other Engine, no smoke, steam, sparks, or
noxious fumes issue therefrom. It does away entirely with the Furnace, smoke
stack, and draught plate or blower, and permits the exhaust steam to be secured in
an exhaust steam receiver, and used for power, or for heating passenger or other cars,
and to be returned to the engine tank or otherwise, and a portion of the electricity
generated to be used for producing electric light.
When applied to a Stationary Engine or Marine Engine, similar results are
obtained, and in the case of a Marine Engine the storage capacity of the steam ship
is greatly increased, allowing space previously used for the storage of coals, to he
utilized for general merchandise.
In the forms of construction shown Fig. 1 is a partially transverse vertical section
of a locomotive, tender, and car, showing my Invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is
transverse vertical section in detail of the insulating electric heating cartridge
broken in places, showing the heating electric conductor in different forms. Fig. 3
is a detail plan view of the electric arrester applied to the electric conductor and
electric diverter. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the devices for operating the Dynamo
Electric Machine from an axle. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, are traced electrical
circuits designating the principal features of my Invention as applied in various ways
for heating, generating steam and lighting purposes.
In my Invention, I take a plain or coiled or corrugated or other suitable form of
wire or ribbon of platinum or other suitable heating electric conductor A Fig. 2,
and encase it by metal B', asbestos, asbestos paper, or other suitable material B,
and put in a filling of asbestos, soapstone, powdered glass, or some other electric
non-conducting, or other suitable material C, thereby forming an insulating electric
heating cartridge D, to extend entirely through or partially through the tubes of a
tubular steam boiler E, or to be inserted otherwise when the steam boiler is not
of tubular construction, the heating electric conductor running partially through or
entirely through the electric heating cartridge, and in plain, straight, coiled, corrugated
or other form A.
The heating electric conductor may be a double wire or ribbon returning the electric
current through the electric heating cartridge, or a single wire or ribbon,or otherwise,
assing out at the end thereof, or only approaching thereto, adapted to be fastened, or

page_text: connected to another wire F of the same diameter or capacity as the wire F, Fig. 2, at
the other end of the electric heating cartridge, which carries forward the electric
current to the heating electric conductor A. This second wire F being of the same
size and material and capacity as the first wire brings the electric current to its
normal condition after it has passed through the heating electric conductor and caused
intense heat. The heating electric conductor A, whether plain, straight, coiled, corru-
gated or otherwise, may be so inserted as to cause intense lieat in one or more places I,
Fig. 2, along the length of the electric heating cartridge D, or may be so formed as to
bring the current to its normal condition by joining at intervals electric conductors
of the same size or capacity as the electric conductors F, forming sections of the
heating electric conductor in the electric heating cartridge D.
Intense heat being generated by the heating electric conductor A, which passes
through the electric heating cartridge D, intense heat is given off to the asbestos or
soapstone or other electric non-conducting substance of the electric heating cartridge
to a body to be heated, or to the tubes of a steam boiler, or to a steam boiler to
generate heat and steam.
Asbestos of all known poor conductors of electricty is pre-eminently adapted for the
shell B and the non-conducting filling of the electric heating cartridge, as it is almost
indestructible by heat and is a well known article of commerce, while soapstone also
is a poor conductor of electricity, and not easily destroyed by heat, and may be used
successfully for the purpose.
The ends of the electric heating cartridge have suitable rings J, Fig. 2, or other
forms of electric non-conducting material, preferably of soapstone or asbestos, to
insulate the projecting ends of the heating electric conductor in the electric heating
cartridge, the projecting ends being carried forward in order to make the connections
with the cable, wire or other electric conductor and the circuit complete.
These electric heating cartridges may be multiplied indefinitely and be placed within
all or any or such tubes of an electric heater or of a steam boiler, as will be sufficient
to generate heat, or the steam necessary to successfully work an engine or engines to
which the steam boiler is attached or forms a part thereof, or in non-tubular boilers
and electric heaters may be placed in any suitable position to obtain the best results.
To obtain and supply electricity to produce sufficient heat to heat an electric heater,
or to generate steam, electric storage batteries or accumulators are used of sufficient
capacity to produce such electric current or currents as will heat the electric heating
cartridge to a sufficient degree for the purpose, or any source of electricity may be
utilized to that end.
-
By an electric arrester K, Fig. 3, formed of two or more metals L M of different
electrical carrying power placed in the electric conductor. F near the point of contact
with the electric heating cartridge, or in any other suitable position, and by an electric
carrying wire or electric diverter N in contact with one of the metals of the electric
arrester and which only partially breaks the electric current, and leads to the storage
battery or accumulator H, Fig. 5, the storage battery or accumulator is supplied with
electricity diverted from the electric conductor F.
In the case of a steam boiler and engine, I place a suitable dynamo electric machine
or other electric generator, to work in any suitable manner by pitmans O, cranks P,
eccentrics Q on one of the axles R, or other mechanism, and this is especially
applicable to a stationary or marine engine where the action of the engine is
comparatively continuous.
I also employ a small supplemental engine S, Fig. 1, attached to the boiler, to work
the dynamo electric machine, separately by belt or pitman T or other suitable devices,
when the large engine is or is not in motion or operation, taking sufficient steam from
the boiler by suitable connection U, the amount of steam required for the purpose
being comparatively small. This small engine is especially applicable in the case of a
locomotive. The dynamo electric machine G thus operated, with the other electric
generating and supplying mechanism as required, will supply sufficient electricity to
produce ample heat to heat the electric heating cartridges to generate the necessary
steam to operate the engine

page_text: The storage batteries or accumulators are supplied from outside sources of electricity
with electricity, whenever necessary, or the empty ones exchanged for filled ones as
desired.
The electric currents run from the dynamo electric machines, storage batteries or
accumulators, and one or more currents run to the electric heating cartridges, and any
suitable device is used for attaching the electric conductor For other electric con-
ductor carrying the electric current, to the electric heating cartridges.
When the heating electric conductor in the electric heating cartridge is destroyed
or rendered inoperative from any cause, the electric heating cartridges when made
detachable may be withdrawn and a new one substituted, the tubes of a boiler being
generally so constructed as to allow the electric heating cartridge to be easily changed.
In the case of a locomotive, I constitute the tender the receptacle for the dynamo
electric machine and storage batteries or accumulators, and of the small supplemental
engine to work the dynamo electric machine, and no draught being required or smoke
produced the smoke stack is dispensed with and the steam returned to the engine
tank V, Fig. 1, by any suitable means, as a pipe W, and condensed, warming the
water for the boiler. The exhaust steam not being required for the purpose of
creating a draught up the smoke stack as is usual in locomotives, it can be utilized for
heating the cars by steam heating appliances X and suitable connections Y and the
steam afterwards returned to the engine tank.
The dynamo electric machines and storage batteries or accumulators may be used
separately or conjointly by suitable switch mechanism Z depending upon the amount of
heat required either in starting the engine or in an emergency requiring increased
power, as running up a heavy grade in the case of a locomotive.
The boiler of an engine can be enlarged to the extent of the space now used as the
fire box without extending the length of the engine, and this or any other suitable
part of the boiler can be formed into a separate compartment A³ to receive the exhaust
steam from the cylinders, and the steam utilized to work the supplemental engine
running the dynamo electric machine, or used for heating cars or other heating
purposes, or a separate receiver, boiler or tank A', Fig. 1, can be supplied to the engine
or to a tender or form a part thereof, to receive the steam from the cylinders, to bo
then utilized to work the supplemental engine or to heat cars or for other heating
purposes.
A portion of the electric current generated can be carried forward by any suitable
electric conductors and electric devices A¹ to light cars, headlight A3 of the engine,
signal lamps, and elsewhere as desired, by electric lights As, and in the case of a
stationary engine to light the manufactory and grounds, and in the case of a marine
engine to light all parts of the ship, and in buildings to light the rooms as desired,
after beating the heating electric conductors.
The asbestos or soapstone in the electric heating cartidges is of sufficient compact-
ness to prevent any injury from atmospheric influence, or from the plasticity of the
heating electric conductor when intensely heated.
The dynamo electric machines, storage batteries or accumulators, supplemental
engine, supplemental boiler, exhaust steam receiver, and other mechanism in the torn s
of construction shown in the drawings may be placed in any other suitable positio.i
on the train, and in other forms of construction may be placed in any manner best
adapted for the particular requirement.
My Invention may be embodied in other forms of construction, and applied to other
purposes than those shown, to adapt it for generating steam power, and for heating all
kinds of structures by the action of steam or direct heat, and for lighting by the
electricity previously so utilized, and for application to any, all and every heater D',
Fig. 9, stove D2, Figs. 8 and 10, and electric lighters A³, or devices for heating,
generating steam, lighting, cooking, or other purposes.
The electric generating apparatus, in other forms of construction than that shown
in the drawings, may consist of a central plant or plants G, Figs. 8 and 9, in a
district, for supplying heat to the electric heating cartridges as applied at various
points in a district.

page_text: In Fig. 1 an electric conductor F runs from the dynamo electric machine Gand the
storage batteries H, by switch connection Z, through the heating electric cartridges D to
earth, and an electrical conductor or diverter N, Fig. 5, runs from the arrester K to the
storage battery H' and then to earth, and the electric conductor F, Fig. 1, by further
switch connection Z, runs to the headlight A2 on the locomotive and then to earth, and by
further switch connection runs to the electric lights A³ in the cab of the locomotive and
then to earth, and runs from the dynamo electric machine G and the storage batteries H,
by further switch connection 3, to the electric lights A³ in the cars of the train and then
to earth, but the part of my Invention intended to be exhibited thereby is more fully
shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, with the addition of a transformer K' between the dynamo
electric machine G and the heating electric cartridges D, the transformer being for
the purpose of changing the character of the electric current from the source of
electricity to one best adapted for heating purposes. The electric lights A³. Fig. 7,
being beyond the electric heating cartridge, a transformer K¹ is interposed between
the electric heating cartridge and the electric lights to again change the electric
current, to sustain or strengthen the volume of the electric current, to better adapt it
for electric lighting.
Fig. 8 shows the electric conductor F in connection with an electric lighting
plant G as a source of electricity or an electric generator, and it also shows the
electric heating cartridge D applied to a heating stove D2, and to electric conductors F
then applied to electric lights A³ without an intermediate transformer between the
electric heating cartridges and the electric lighting apparatus.
Fig. 9 also shows an electric lighting plant G as the electric generator or source
of electricity, and the electric conductor Frunning from the electric lighting current
in connection with a storage battery Has a source of electricity, and also as a
transformer, and then in connection with a transformer K to electric lights A³.
Fig. 10 shows the electric conductor F running from a storage battery H as a
source of electricity, then to the electric heating cartridges D in a cooking stove_1)²,
then to a storage battery H¹ as an electric storer and transformer, then applied to
electric lighting.
The electric heating cartridge may be made with or without a metal case and
have an electric cable conductor or conductors, instead of a single or double electric
conductor, and consist of any suitable electric conductor or conductors for evolving
heat insulated and protected by any suitable medium or mediums for insulating and
protecting the heating electric conductor or conductors and for receiving, retaining,
and transmitting, the heat evolved, to the substance or thing to be heated.
An electric transformer or transformers K' may be interposed between the electric
generator or generators, or a source of electricity, and the electric heating cartridge
or electric heating cartridges, or they may be placed in any position, as between the
electric heater and the electric lighting apparatus, or wherever required, to increase
the heating or the lighting power or the volume of the electric current, and any other
well known electric appliances may be used where necessary.
Portable storage batteries or accumulators A, Fig. 1, may be supplied with electricity
and placed in a car or otherwise for reserve, or to be disposed of along a railway for
any purpose, or they may be filled by an extra dynamo electric machine or electric
generator operated from the axle of cars when in motion or from some other suitable
part of the train and be connected to the conductor F by switches Z'.
The details of construction and operation and the substances and devices used, may
be varied within the scope of my Invention, and the Invention may be applied to
other purposes than those named, where the action of heat or steam or electricity is
required, and the electric current necessary may be generated by other means than
the dynamo electric machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. For generating heat by electricity, the combination of an electric generator, an
electric conductor, and a detachable electric heating cartridge.

page_text: 2. For generating heat by electricity, the combination of an electric generator, and
a detachable electric heating cartridge electrically connected, and a body to be heated
by the electric heating cartridge.
3. For generating heat by electricity, the combination of an electric generator. and
an electric heating cartridge electrically connected, and an electric transformer
between the electric generator and the electric heating cartridge.
4. For generating heat by electricity, the combination of an electric generator, and
an electric heating cartridge, electrically connected, and a body to be heated by the
electric heating cartridge, and an electric transforminer between the electric generator
and the electric heating cartridge.
5. For generating steam by electricity, the combination of electric generating
mechanism and an insulating electric heating cartridge electrically connected, and a
steam generator adapted to be heated by the electric heating cartridge.
6. For generating steam by electricity, the combination of an electric generator,
and a detachable electric heating cartridge, electrically connected, and a steam
generator adapted to be heated by the electric heating cartridge.
7. For generating steam by electricity, the combination of an electric generator, an
electric storage battery or accumulator, and an electric heater electrically connected,
and a steam generator adapted to be heated by the electric heater.
S. The combination of an electric generator and an electric heater electrically
connected, a steam generator adapted to the electric heater, a steam engine, a supple-
mental steam engine, and operative connecting mechanism.
9. The combination of an electric generator, an electric transformer, and an electric
heater, electrically connected, a steam generator adapted to the electric heater, a
steam engine, and operative connecting mechanism.
10. For generating steam by electricity and operating a steam engine, the com-
bination of an electric generator, an electric storage battery or accumulator, and an
electric heater, electrically connected, a steam generator adapted to the electric heater,
a steam engine, and operative connecting mechanism.
11. For generating steam by electricity, the combination of an electric generator
and a detachable electric heater electrically connected, an intermediate electric
transformer, and a steam generator adapted to the electric heater.
12. The combination of an electric generator, and an electric heater, electrically
connected, a steam generator adapted to the electric heater, an exhaust steam receiver,
a supplemental engine, and operative connecting mechanisin.
13. For generating steam by electricity, the combination of a heating electric con-
ductor, insulating material around the heating electric conductor, a protecting case
around the insulating material, and the flues of a steam generator insulated from the
heating electric conductor.
14. For generating steam by electricity and operating a steam engine, the com-
bination of an insulated heating electric conductor, a steam generator, adapted to and
insulated from the heating electric conductor, a steam engine, and operative connecting
mechanism.
15. The combination of an insulated heating electric conductor, a steam generator
adapted to and insulated from the heating electric conductor, a steam engine, an
exhaust steam receiver; and operative connecting mechanism.
16. For generating steam by electricity, the combination of an insulated heating
electric conductor, and a steam generator adapted to and insulated from the heating
electric conductor.
17. The combination of a storage battery or accumulator and an electric heater,
electrically connected, a steam generator, and operative connecting mechanism.
18. For generating steam by electricity, the combination with a source of electricity,
of an electric heater, electrically connected, a steam generator adapted to the electric
heater, a steam engine, a dynamo electric machine, and operative connecting
mechanism.
19. For generating steam by electricity, the combination with a source of electricity,

page_text: .
of an electric storage battery or accumulator and an electric heater electrically con-
nected, a steam generator adapted to the electric heater, a supplemental engine, a
dynamo electric machine, and operative connecting mechanism.
20. For generating steam by electricity, the combination with a source of electricity,
of an electric heater electrically connected and to be heated thereby, a steam generator
adapted to the electric heater and in which to generate steam by the electric heater,
an exhaust steam receiver to receive exhaust steam, a supplemental engine to be
operated by the exhaust steam, and operative connecting mechanism.
21. For generating steam by electricity, the combination with a source of electricity,
of an electric heater electrically connected, and to be heated by the electricity, a steain
generator adapted to the electric heater and in which to generate steam by the electric
heater, mechanism to be operated by the steam and momentum, and a dynamo
electric machine to be operated by the mechanism so operated.
22. For generating heat and light by electricity, the combination of an electric
generator, an electric heater, and electric lighting apparatus electrically connected,
and an intermediate electric transformer between the electric generator and the electric
heater.
23. For generating heat and light by electricity, the combination with a source of
electricity, of an electric heater to be heated by tho electricity, an electric storage
battery or accumulator to receive electricity from the electric heater, electric lights to
be lighted by the electricity from the storage battery or accumulator, and electrically
connecting mechanism.
24. For generating heat, steam and light by electricity, the combination of an
electric generator and an electric heater electrically connected, a steam generator
adapted to the electric heater, electric lighting apparatus electrically connected to the
electric heater, and an intermediate electric transformer or transformers.
25. For generating heat and light by electricity, the combination with a source of
electricity, of an electric heater to be heated by the electricity, electric lights to be
lighted by the electricity after it has passed through the electric heater, and inter-
mediate electrically connecting meebanism.
26. For generating heat and light by electricity, the combination with a source of
electricity, of a heating electric conductor, an electric transformer or storage battery,
electric lighting apparatus, an intermediate electrically connecting mechanism.
27. For generating heat and steam by electricity, an insulating electric heating
cartridge, consisting of a heating electric conductor insulated in a protecting case,
adapted for connection to electric generating mechanism, and for application to a
steam generator.
28. For generating heat by electricity, the combination of a heating electric con-
ductor, an insulating shell with electric non-conducting filling, and a metallic case
having electric non-conducting ends.
29. For generating heat by electricity, an electric heating cartridge, having a
heating electric conductor, a casing and refractory material therein.
30. The combination with a dynamo electric machine, a storage battery or accumu
lator, and an electric heater, of an electric conductor having a section or arrester of
different electric conducting capacities, and an electric diverter from that portion of
the arrester having the greatest conducting capacity, to divert a portion of the
electricity for storage.
31. The combination with an electric conductor, of an electric arrester of different
electric conducting capacities, and an electric diverter from the arrester, to divert a
portion of the electricity for storage or other purposes.
32. The combination with an electric conductor from a source of electricity, of an
electric arrester of different electric conducting. capacities, and an electric diverter
from that portion of the arrester having the greatest conducting capacity to divert
and conduct a portion of the electricity for storage or other purposes.
33. For generating heat, steam and light by electricity, the combination with a
dynamo electric machine or a source of electricity, of an electric heater electrically

page_text: connected, and to be heated by the electricity, a steam generator adapted to the
electric heater and in which to generate steam by the electric heater, and electric
lights electrically connected, and to be lighted by the electricity after it has passed
through the electric heater."
34. For generating steam by electricity, the combination with a source of electricity
and an electric conductor, of a heating electric conductor to be heated by the
electricity, and a steam generator adapted to the heating electric con luctor and in
which to generate steam by the heating electric conductor.
35. For generating steam by electricity, the combination with a source of electricity,
of a heating electric conductor electrically connected and to be heated by the
electricity from the source of electricity, and a steam generator adapted to the
beating electric conductor and to generate steam by the beat from the heating electric
conductor.
36. For generating heat and light by electricity, the combination with a source of
electricity or a dynamo electric machine and an electric conductor, of an electric
heating cartridge electrically connected and to be heated by the electricity, an inter-
mediate transformer or storage battery, and electric lights electrically connected
and to be lighted by the electricity after it has passed from the electric heating
cartridge.
37. For generating heat and light by electricity, the combination with a source of
electricity and an electric conductor, of an electric heater electrically connected and
to be heated by the electricity, and electric lighting apparatus electrically connected
to be lighted by the electricity that heats the electric heater.
38. For generating heat steam and light by electricity, the combination with a
source of electricity and an electric conductor therefrom, of a heating electric
conductor electrically connected and to be heated by the electricity, a steam generator
adapted to the heating electric conductor and to which the heating electric conductor
is applied and in which to generate steam by the heat from the heating electric con-
ductor, and electric lights electrically connected and to be lighted by the electricity
after it has passed from the steam generator and the heating electric conductor.
39. The method of heating and lighting railway cars, steam ships and buildings
by electricity, consisting in generating heat and steam by electricity from a source
of electricity, and then operating steam heaters by the steam thus generated, and.
operating electric lighting apparatus by the electricity after it has passed from the
electric heaters.
40. The method of heating railway cars by steam, consisting in generating steam
in the locomotive boiler by electricity from a source of electricity thereby dispensing
with combustion draught, and then heating the cars by the exhaust steam from the
locomotive engine through an exhaust steam receiver.
41. The method of heating and lighting by electricity, consisting in heating an
electric heating cartridge by electricity, from a source of electricity, then lighting
electric lights by the electric current after it has passed through the electric heater.
42. The mothod of heating, generating steam and lighting by electricity, consisting
in heating an electric heater by electricity from a source of electricity, then generating
steam in a steam generator by the electric heater, then lighting electric lights by the
electricity after it has passed from the steam generator and the electric heater.
43. The method of generating heat by electricity, consisting in conducting an
electric current from a source of electricity to a transformer, storage battery or
accumulator, then heating a heating electric conductor by the electric current from
the transformer, storage battery or accumulator.
44. The method of generating heat and steam by electricity, consisting in con-
ducting electricity from a source of electricity to an electric transformer, storage
battery or accumulator, then heating an electric heater by the electricity from a
transformer, storage battery or accumulator, and then generating steam in a steam
generator by the electric heater.
45. The method of generating steam by electricity, consisting in conducting
electricity from a source of electricity by an electric conductor to a heating electric

page_text: conductor, then generating steam by the heating electric conductor in a steam
generator.
46. The method of generating steam by electricity, consisting in heating a heating
electric conductor by electricity from a source of electricity, then generating steam
by the heat from the heating electric conductor applied to a steam generator.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theophilus Davies Farrall, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 16th day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.
THEOPHILUS DAVIES FARRALL. (L.S.)