Improvements in Means for the Distribution of Electricity Simul- taneously to Circuits Requiring Currant of Uniform Pressure, and to Circuits having Variable Load.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1996-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for the Distribution of Electricity Simul-
taneously to Circuits Requiring Currant of Uniform Pressure, and
to Circuits having Variable Load.
HENRY EDMUNDS of. 39. Victoria Street in the City of Westminster
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare.the nature of this invention (which, has
been communicated to me from abroad by Guglielmo Meugarini of 100-Piazza
S. Bpruardo Rome, Italy, Electrician) to. be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means by which one generating. plant
can be used to supply electricity simultaneously to circuits requiring a uniform
pressure (say for lighting) and to other circuits in which the load is variable (say
for electric motors or tramways).
In circuits containing both lights and motors at times the energy absorbed, by
the motors varies so largely that the generating plant cannot maintain a constant
potential, although specially constructed for the purpose, and consequently the
supply is irregular. This is especially the case in alternating, current systems,
where power from continuous current motors is required for various industries at
In these cases
the same time that lights from the alternating current are in use.
the disturbing effect on the lights caused by the continuous current motors has
hitherto been so great as to necessitate entirely separate installations for the two.
purposes where it is necessary to supply alternating. current electricity at the same
time to lights and to motors for tramways, spinning, crushing stones, calendering
lifting weights or any intermittent or variable work. If a separate plant bé
installed for each purpose, there will be beside the additional prime cost and
working expenses, a loss of economy due to the fact that each unit of plant is
working for only a short time. in each day, for instance with a lighting plant working
at its maximum power only at night and a plant for motors working only in the
day. If both of these can be run from the same generating and distributing
system the machinery can be working at full power the entire day, whereas, if
two separate plants be used each will be working economically for only a small
portion of the day. Consequently it is an advantage to be able to employ one
single, plant for the different purposes. This is accomplished according to this
invention by installing (either in the central station or in a sub-station electrically
connected to the central station) the.combinations of apparatus hereinafter described
to produce the above desired result.
In describing the nature of this invention I will refer to the accompanying
diagrams.
In Figure, 1 are shewn at A, and B, apparatus for converting alternate currents
(single or polyphase) into continuous currents. These are known as rectifiers, or
converters of current from alternating to continuous. These rectifiers or converters.
may work separately or with several coupled together as shewn in Figures 1 and 3.
Each rectifier or converter has its own adjuncts for exciting and starting, for
measuring the current produced and the like which are however not shewn in the
figures. The alternating current is supplied at the same time either directly, or
through ordinary-transformers, to circuits requiring a constant potential, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 3 E. F. G. The continuous current circuit containing the electric
"

page_text: motors whose output varies suddenly to a large extent is attached to the points b b₁
of the rectifying or converting apparatus A. B. In Figure are indicated an
electric tram, a locomotive, motors for factories, and continuous current lamps, in
the circuits H. H.
It is possible to obtain a continuous current from an alternating circuit by means
of alternating current motors driving continuous current dynamos. Figure 2 shews
at A and B, two such motors driven by the alternating current (single or polyphase)
through transformers or directly. These motors are driving continuous current
dynamos supplying the circuits H, H. The same alternating circuit X, Y, is
supplying circuits requiring a constant potential either with or without ordinary
transformers, as indicated at E, F, G, in Figure 2.
That the potential in the circuits E, F, G, must remain the same whatever
variation takes place in the circuits H, H, it is necessary that the apparatus
between a and b (Figures 1. 2 and 3) should always take a constant amount of
power from the alternate current circuit X, Y, no matter what amount of power
is being absorbed by the circuits H, H. This may be accomplished in various
ways:-
1. By inserting between the alternate current circuit and the points a a,
a resistance having suitable self-induction.
2. By placing, either on the shaft of the apparatus A, B, or on the circuits bb'
motors provided with brakes.
3. By inserting a liquid resistance in parallel with the circuits H, H, at the
terminals bb'.
At M, N, in Figure 1 is shewn a liquid resistance possessing such ohmic
resistance and polarising effect as to be able to convert into heat and chemical
energy all the power which may be delivered from the apparatus A, B.
A resistance R S inserted between the terminals and the circuits H, H, and
M, N, allows the power absorbed by the apparatus A B to be regulated to an amount
equal to, or little greater than, the amount absorbed in the circuits H, H. The
amount of power delivered from A, and B, which remains practically constant,
will always be divided between the circuits M, N, and H, H'; and the variations
occurring in the circuits H, H, will produce no effect in the alternating current
circuit X, Y. The apparatus A, B, continually delivering the maximum of energy
required by the circuits H, H, rather than that the difference between the average
and the maximum energy consumed should be wasted in heat or chemical energy
it is advantageous to store such difference of energy, and this is easily accomplished
by using a secondary battery in place of a liquid resistance. Figure 3 shews this
arrangement. The battery M N is in parallel with the circuits H H at the
terminals bb'. One of the terminals of the battery is in connection with bb, the
other is connected with b' by an ordinary multiple contact accumulator switch.
The arrangement shewn in Figure 1 allows an entire battery to be charged from
the rectifying apparatus A, B, the said battery M N storing the balance between the
energy produced from the rectifier or converter or from the continuous current
dynamo, and the energy consumed in the circuits H, H. If the power absorbed
in the circuits H, H, be very variable, it can be arranged so that the power given
from the rectifiers, or converters, is always equal, or a little greater than the
average power absorbed by the circuits H, H, the power required at any time
beyond, this energy being supplied from the battery. The resistance R, S, inserted
between the terminals 66 and the points where the circuits H, H, and M, N,
branch off, allows the load of the rectifying or converting apparatus A, B, to be
regulated according to the average demands of the circuits H, H; and this load
on A, B, will never be exceeded. The resistance of R, S, therefore must be
regulated according to the working conditions of the circuits H, H. It can be
done either by hand, or automatically, and may be either a metallic, or a' liquid,
resistance. In place of the resistance R, S, one of the other methods hereinbefore
described can be used in order to regulate the power absorbed by A, B, from the

page_text: In Figure 4 is a diagram obtained from the actual working of an electrical
tramway. The white area indicates the electric power taken from such circuits
as H, H. The maximum demand is very high nearly to the point shown by the
lines O, P. But the average is indicated by the lines O, Q. It is evident that for
supplying the circuits H, H, it will be sufficient to arrange the apparatus A, B, to
give the power O, Q, instead of O, P; and as the energy taken from the alternating
current circuit is equal to the constant value of O, Q, the sudden heavy demands of
the circuits H, H, will have no disturbing influence on the alternating current
circuits. Instead of having the source of power from the alternating circuit X, Y,
the rectifying or converting apparatus A, B, can be driven separately, and an
alternating current will be developed at the terminals b. This is diagram-
matically shown in the figures, by adding to the rectifying or converting
apparatus A, B, the pulleys p p'. Therefore, with a continuous current plant
operating apparatus for exceedingly variable work, alternating currents can be
obtained from the same plant, which will give a constant potential.
Dated this 21st day of January 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Means for the Distribution of Electricity Simu]-
taneously to Circuits Requiring Current of Uniform Pressure and
to Circuits having Variable Load.
I, HENRY EDMUNDS of 39 Victoria Street in the City of Westminster,
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Guglielm Mengarini of 100 Piazza
SBprnardo, Rome, Italy, Electrician) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide means by which one generating plant
can be used to supply electricity simultaneously to circuits requiring a uniform
pressure (say for lighting) and to other circuits in which the load is variable (say
for electric motors or tramways).
In circuits containing both lights and motors at times the energy absorbed by the
motors varies so largely that the generating plant cannot maintain a constant
potential, although specially constructed for the purpose; and consequently the
supply is irregular. This is especially the case in alternating current systems,
where power from continuous current inotors is required for various industries at
the same time that lights from the alternating current are in use. In these cases
the disturbing effect on the lights caused by the continuous current motors has
hitherto been so great, as to necessitate entirely separate installations for the two
purposes, where it is necessary to supply alternating-current electricity at the same
time to lights, and to motors for tramways, spinning crushing stones, calendering,
lifting weights, or any intermittent, or variable, work. If a separate plant
be installed for each purpose, there will be, beside the additional prime cost and
working expenses, a loss of economy due to the fact that each unit of plant
is working for only a short time in each day; for instance with a lighting plant
working at its maximum power only at night, and a plant for motors working only
in the day. If both of these can be run from the same generating and distributing
system the machinery can be working at full power the entire day, whereas if two
separate plants be used each will be working economically for only a small portion

page_text: of the day. Consequently it is an advantage to be able to employ one single, plant
for the different purposes. This is accomplished according to this invention by.
installing. (either in the, central station or in a substation electrically connected to
the central station) the combinations of, apparatus hereinafter described to produce
the above desired result.
In describing the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed I will refer to the diagrams,accompanying my Provisional
Specification.
In Figure 1 are shewn,, at A and B apparatus, for converting alternate currents
(single or poly phase) into continuous currents. These are known, as rectifiers, or
converters of current from alternating to continuous. These rectifiers or converters
may work separately or with several coupled together, as shewn in Figures 1
and 3. Each rectifier or converter has its own adjuncts for exciting and starting,
for measuring the current produced and the like, which are. however not shown in
the figures. The alternating current is supplied at the same time,, either directly,
or through ordinary transformers, to circuits requiring a constant potential, as
shewn in Figures 1 and 3 at E F G. The continuous current circuit containing
the electric motors whose output.varies suddenly to a large extent, is attached to
the points of the rectifying or converting apparatus A B. In Figure 1 are
indicated an electric tram, a locomotive, motors for factories, and continuous
current lamps, in the circuits H.
It is possible to obtain a continuous current from an alternating circuit by means
of alternating current motors driving continuous current dynamos. Figure 2 shews
at A and B two such motors driven by the alternating current (single or polyphase)
through transformers or directly. These motors are driving continuous current
dynamos supplying the circuits. H. The same. alternating circuit X Y is supplying
circuits requiring a constant potential either with or without ordinary transformers
as indicated at E F G in Figure 2.
That the potential in the circuits E F G must remain the same whatever
variation takes place in the circuits H, it is necessary that the apparatus between a
and 6 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) should always take a constant amount of power from the
alternate current circuit X Y, no matter what amount of power is being absorbed
by the circuits H. This may be accomplished in various ways:-
1. By inserting between the alternate current circuit and the points a, a,
a resistance having suitable self-induction.
2. By placing, either on the shaft of the apparatus A B, or on the circuits bb',
motors provided with brakes..
3. By inserting a liquid resistance in parallel with the circuits H.H at the
terminals bb¹.
At M N in Figure 1 is shewn, a liquid resistance, possessing such ohmic, resistance
and polarising effect as to be able to convert into heat and chemical energy all the
power which may be delivered from the apparatus A B. A resistance. RS inserted
between the terminal bb and the circuits H H and M N allows the power absorbed
by the apparatus A B to be regulated to an amount equal to, or little greater
than, the amount absorbed in the circuits H H. The amount of
power delivered
from A, and B, which remaius practically constant, will always be divided between
the circuits M N and H H; and the variations occurring in the circuits H H. will
produce no effect in the alternating current, circuit XY. The apparatus A.B
continually delivering the maximum of energy required by the circuits H.H rather
than that the difference between the average and the maximum energy consumed
should be wasted in heat or chemical energy it. is advantageous to store, such
difference of energy, and this is casily accomplished by using a secondary battery
in place of a liquid resistance. Figure 3 shews this arrangement. The battery, M.N
is in parallel with the circuits H H at, the terminals bb. One of the terminals of
the battery is in. connection with 6 b, the other is connected with 6 by an ordinary
multiple contact accumulator switch.
The arrangement shewn in Figure 1 allows an entire battery to be charged from

page_text: the rectifying apparatus A B the said battery M N storing the balance between
the energy produced from the rectifier or converter or from the continuous current
dynamo, and the energy consumed in the circuits H H. If the power absorbed in
the circuits H H be very variable, it can be arranged so that the power given from
the rectifiers or converters is always equal, or a little greater, than the average
power absorbed by the circuits H H the power required at any time beyond this
energy being supplied from the battery. The resistance R S inserted between the
terminals bb and the points where the circuits H H and M N branch off, allows
the load of the rectifying or converting apparatus A B to be regulated according
to the average demands of the circuits HH; and this load on A B will never be
exceeded. The resistance of R S therefore must be regulated according to the
working conditions of the circuits H H. It can be done either by hand, or
automatically, and may be either a metallic, or a liquid, resistance. In place of
the resistance R S, one of the other methods hereinbefore described can be used.
in order to regulate the power absorbed by A B from the circuits X Y.
In Figure 4 is a diagram obtained from the actual working of an electrical
tramway. The white area indicates the electric power taken from such circuits.
as H H. The maximum demand is very high, nearly to the point shown by the
lines O P. But the average is indicated by the lines O Q. It is evident that for
supplying the circuits H H it will be sufficient to arrange the apparatus A B to
give the power OQ instead of OP; and as the energy taken from the alternating-
current circuit is equal to the constant value of OQ the sudden heavy demands
of the circuits H H will have no disturbing influence on the alternating current.
circuits.
Instead of having the source of power from the alternating circuit X Y, the
rectifying or converting apparatus A B can be driven separately, and an alternating-
current will be developed at the terminals bb'. This is diagrammatically shown
in the figures by adding to the rectifying or converting apparatus A B the
pulleys p p. Therefore, with a continuous current plant operating apparatus for
exceedingly variable work, alternating currents can be obtained from the same.
plant, which will give a constant potential.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement hereinbefore described of electric circuits, rectifiers, motors,.
accumulators, and metallic or liquid resistances which permit a constant energy to
be taken off from the alternating current circuit (single or polyphase) and
develope continuous currents applied to extremely variable work, so that these.
variations have practically no disturbing effect on the alternating current circuits.
2. The arrangement hereinbefore described which permits continuous current.
circuits doing extremely variable work, to be used to develope alternating currents
(single or polyphase) giving a constant potential.
3. The method herein before described of utilizing the power of a plant which
has at times a maximum consumption, and at other times a minimum consumption.
for simultaneously feeding circuits for the distribution of alternating current
circuits subject to extremely variable demands.
4. In an alternating current plant used as herein before described to supply-
continuous current plants subject to extremely variable demands, the method of
taking only the average energy required from the alternating current, while the
maximum or minimum required is available for use in the continuous current.
5. In combination with circuits respectively supplying alternating and continuous
electric currents apparatus for converting current of one character into current of
the other character and a resistance for causing a constant amount of power to be-
taken from the criginal circuit without disturbing the conditions in the other
circuit, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
6. In combination with an alternating electric current circuit, apparatus for

page_text: converting alternating currents into continuous currents and a continuous current
circuit. supplied, thereby and a secondary or storage battery for storing excess of
current beyond the requirements of the continuous. current circuit and for
supplying such circuit with current when excessive demands are made. upon it
substantially as herein before described.
7. In combination with the subject matter, of either of the last two preceding
claiming clauses a variable resistance such as R. S. for the purpose described.
Dated this 20th day of. October 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.