Improvements in or relating to Systems of Electrical Distribution.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1856-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Systems of Electrical Distribution.
A communication from GORDON JOHN SCOTT, of 651 North 33rd Street,
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Electrical
Engineer, and WILLIAM SMITH JANNEY, of 1535 North Broad Street,
Philadelphia, United States of America, Physician.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 111 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex,.
Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and.
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved system of transmission, distribution and
regulation of electric currents and to improvements in apparatus employed in
connection therewith. In practising the invention a single phase alternating
current is transmitted through any desired number of independent circuits
consecutively and without commutation. The principal application of the invention
which is contemplated is to set up in an alternating current motor a rotary electric
and magnetic field, and in the following specification, as a convenient illustration,
I shall describe the invention as thus applied. For convenience I shall term the
circuits in which the currents are induced "motor circuits" although, as will be
evident, they may be used as light circuits in cases where it is desirable to vary
the intensity of electric lights, and for various other purposes. A leading feature
of the invention is that my correspondents are able to control absolutely the rate
at which the current is directed from one circuit to another and the order of
In the illustration
succession in which it passes through the several circuits.
adopted this enables the motor to be operated either forward or backward and at
any desired speed and to be started and stopped at will.
The
The apparatus of this invention I have termed an "induction director." This
apparatus consists, broadly stated, in a primary ring or rings through which the
current from the generator passes, a secondary ring or rings in parallel inductive
relation to the primary ring or rings, a motor circuit or circuits connected to said
secondary ring or rings, by fixed or movable connections, and means for varying
at will the electromotive force and current in said motor circuit or circuits.
electromotive force in the motor circuits is usually controlled or varied by move-
ment or rotation of the points of greatest difference of potential in the secondary
ring or rings relatively to the points of connection of said motor circuits with said
secondary ring or rings. This may be accomplished in different ways, several of
which I will illustrate and describe bereinafter. By the term "parallel inductive
relation" which I use in this specification I mean a relation of the primary rings,
coils, or circuits to the secondary rings, coils or circuits in which said primary and
secondary members, or parts thereof, are mechanically parallel and electrically in
inductive relation. It is a leading feature of this induction director that when
either member is movable its coils or rings move in the direction of their length
and always remain in parallel relation to the coils or rings of the other member."
In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference sigus refer to similar
parts throughout the several views,
Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system of electrical distribution according to
this invention.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of one form of the induction director.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a diagram of a system of distribution similar to that shown in Fig. 1,
but illustrating a modification of the induction director,
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a system in which the induction director is
coupled mechanically with one of the motors.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views similar to Figs. 2 and 3, illustrating an
induction director of modified construction, and
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of coils which may be used in
lieu of the secondary rings h, ', h².
Referring to Fig. 1, A indicates a single-phase alternating current generator,
B the induction director and C the motor. The single-phase circuit a is connected
to the induction director in a manner to be hereinafter explained and the induction
director is connected with the motor by motor circuits b, b', 62. As shown, the
circuits b, b1, b2, are field circuits, but it will be evident that they may be either
field or armature circuits so far as the present invention is concerned and we shall
call them simply motor circuits.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, which illustrate the induction director, D indicates
a shaft mounted in suitable bearings d' in the ends e of a drum-like frame E, and
having a pulley d. Within the frame is a revolving cylinder F carried by suitable
arms and a hub fupon the shaft. Surrounding the cylinder F is a fixed
circular laminated core G composed of plates which, as shown, are supported in
the ends of the drum by tenons g. In the inner faces of the plates G are notches
in which are embedded a series of copper coils or rings, the inner rings H being
continuous, or closed, while the outer rings h, h', 12, are preferably continuous
when solid, and made in two sections when composed of coils or wire. The several
rings are insulated from each other. On the periphery of the rotatable cylinder F
is a circular series of iron plates, forming a core I, supported in the ends of the
cylinder y tenons i, the core I being arranged close to the stationary core G of
the drum. At diametrically opposite sides of the cylinder are longitudinal rows
of brushes which are arranged respectively opposite to, and constantly in direct
contact with, the closed or primary rings H. These rows of brushes are indicated
by the numbers 1, 4, 5, etc., and 2, 3, 6, etc., respectively, the reference figures
upon the brushes indicating the order in which the current passes through them as
will be presently explained. Upon the shaft D are insulated rings L and L' and
in contact with these rings are stationary brushes M, M', to which are connected
the terminals of the alternating circuit a.
The interual circuits of the induction director are as follows: The current
entering through the brush M passes to ring L and thence through wire m to the
brush 1 where it divides and passes in opposite directions around the ring H to
the brush 2, (see Fig. 2), thence through wire n to the brush 3 and then around
second ring H in opposite directions to brush 4. Similarly the brushes in each
of the rows are connected in pairs, and the current passes in opposite directions
around each pair of adjacent rings, until it reaches the last brush, which, in the
illustration, is numbered 16. In other words, the rings H are connected in series.
They may, however, be connected in multiple if desired. From brush 16 the,
current passes to the ring L' and back to the line through brush M. It will be;
seen that the direction of the currents being opposite in adjacent rings H will set
up alternate north and south poles throughout the laminated cores G.
movable core I is arranged close to the stationary core G in order to complete the
magnetic circuits around the rings. The sets of secondary rings h, h¹, h³, respec-
tively may be connected together in series, or in multiple, and the motor circuits
are connected to the terminals of the sets.
'The
In Fig. 1 the primary rings H and the secondary rings h, h, and h³, are repre-
sented diagramatically and a single pair of brushes 1, 2, are likewise illustrated.
As shown in this figure the terminals of the notor circuit 6 are connected to the.
inner secondary ring at diametrically opposite points, and the circuit includes

page_text: opposite coils of the field magnet; likewise the terminals of the motor
circuits 6, 6, are connected to the rings h¹, h, and the circuits include the
opposite field coils o¹ and o² of the notor respectively. The several motor circuits
are connected at equi-distant points with respect to the circumference of the rings.
Suitable means are provided for turning or moving the shaft of the induction
director. For some purposes, as for instance in operating rock drills, it might be
desirable to rock the shaft instead of giving it continuous rotation; but ordinarily
it will be desirable to rotate the brushes of the induction director by some means
under easy control. This may be done by a band crank, or, as shown in Fig. 1,
by an independent motor P which is included in a branch circuit g provided with
a switch g. The motor may be connected to the induction director by a belt p
or other suitable means. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a combined induction
director and motor so arranged that the former is driven by the latter, as will
be described in detail hereinafter.
The operation of the induction director above described is as follows: The
current passing in opposite directions through the rings H will set up strong
induced currents in the secondary rings. The points of greatest difference of
potential in the secondary rings will always be opposite the brushes, and the
points of least difference of potential will be at right angles to the brushes, while
diametrically opposite points in other parts of the rings will have a difference of
potential varying with their proximity to the line of the brushes. It will thus be
understood that with the brushes and connections, as shown in Fig. 1, the coils o
in the motor circuit 62 will be strongly energized, while the coils o and o¹ in the
circuits 6 and 6' will be less active, all of the coils tending to set up poles of
opposite polarity at points midway between the coils o³. The rotation of the
brushes, it will be readily seen, will rotate the points of maximum and minimum
potential in the secondary rings, and the motor circuits will be energized in
rotation and a rotary field be set up in the motor. It will therefore be seen that
in order to regulate the speed and direction of the revolving part of the motor, it
is simply necessary to regulate the speed and direction of the induction director, as
the motor will run synchronously with it. The currents set up in the motor
circuits gradually rise from nil. to a maximum and then gradually fall, and may be
aptly called waves of current and electromotive force, or electrical energy.
This. wave action of my correspondents induction director is a feature which
distinguishes it from machines having a like object in view and in which
the current is shifted from one circuit to another by means of commutators,
switches or other make and break devices. In such machines the current is
switched into and out of the motor circuits at full strength and much sparking
inevitably results.
The
In Fig. 4 is shown in diagram a modification of the induction director.
generator, generator circuit, motor and motor circuits in this figure are the same as
those in Fig. 1 and a detailed description of these portions of Fig. 4 may therefore
be omitted. The induction director is, however, in its arrangement the reverse of
that shown in Fig. 1. The outer rings or coils R, R1, R2, are the primary
members and the inner rings r, r,, are the secondary members. Although
shown separately on the diagram the several members R, R, etc., are designed to
be mounted upon a common shaft S. The primary members are arranged in
series or multiple in the circuit a. For each secondary member there is a pair of
brushest, t, which connect the terminals of the motor circuits through the
secondary rings. As shown, the brushes t, t', are connected to insulated rings u, u',
from which the current is taken by the motor circuits.
.:
The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, in so far as it differs from that
shown in Fig. 1, is' as follows: The line wire A is connected to the several
primary rings at diametrically opposite points and the current divides and passes
through the opposite halves of each ring, thus setting up in the secondary rings
points of greatest difference of potential opposite the points where tlie line wire is
connected to the primary members. As the brushes in contact with any secondary

page_text: member rotate, the current and electromotive force in the corresponding, motor
circuit will rise and fall, being greatest when the brushes are in line with the
points of maximum and minimum potential in the secondary member, and gradually
increase and decrease as they approach and recede from those points. The
brushes of the several motor circuits are equally spaced about the shaft of the
induction director and a rotary electric and magnetic field is thus set up in the
motor C, the speed of rotation of which is in fixed relation with the speed of
the induction director.
It will be seen that the modification shown in Fig. 4 is the reverse of that
shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1 the points of greatest difference of potential are made
to rotate in the primary and secondary rings, while the terminals or points of
connection with the motor circuits to the secondary rings are stationary. In
Fig. 4 the points of greatest difference of potential are stationary in the primary
and secondary rings while the points of connection of the motor circuits with the
secondary rings, that is the terminals of the brushes, are made to rotate.
In Fig. 5 is shown en arrangement in which the induction director is driven
by the motor C. For the purposes of this illustration the generator and the
induction director may be considered the same in construction as those shown in
Fig. 1. The coils on the rotary field of the motor C are similar to those shown in
Fig. 1 but the motor circuits b, 61, 62 have a common return wire 63 which includes
the armature of the motor, the return circuit being connected to the brushes c. In
other words the armature is in series with the field.
The armature of the motor C and the brushes of the induction director are
connected mechanically, and the induction director is driven by the motor at any
desired speed, the necessary speed depending upon the particular constructions of
motor and induction director employed. As shown, this is accomplished by
connecting them together by means of a belt T. It will be evident that this may
be accomplished in various ways ss by placing the motor and induction director
upon a common shaft, or connecting them by means of a chain belt or other
suitable gearing. The operation is as follows: Assuming the parts in the position
shown, the coils o are strongly energized. This will create resultant north and
south poles in the field midway between said coils. At this instant the line of the
armature poles is at right angles to the line of the field poles and the armature
will begin to rotate. The armature carries with it the brushes of the induction
director and a rotary field is thus set up in the motor, the poles of which are
constantly ninety degrees, or any other desired amount, in advance or in the rear of
the poles of the armature. As the brush 1 moves to the left the coil o¹ becomes
more strongly energized and after it is moved through an arc of thirty degrees the
coils o² and o¹ will be equally energized and the current in the coil o will be mil.
At this instant the resultant poles of the field will be in the middle of the coils o
and the poles of the armature will be ninety degrees from the field poles. As the
brush 1 continues to move to the left the current in the coil o' will increase and
that in the coil o will decrease, and when the brushes reach a position sixty
degrees from the vertical the coils ol will be energized a maximum amount and the
coils o and o will be energized equally, the conditions being the same as when the
brushes are vertical. The motor and induction director, as shown in Fig. 5, con-
stitutes a load starting non-synchronous machine which is adapted to be operated
on a single-phase alternating current circuit.
In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated a form of the induction director which differs from
that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 in that the primary rings or coils are movable
relatively to the secondary rings or coils and the brushes are dispensed with. In
these figures the primary rings H are embedded in the core of the rotating
cylinder F while the secondary rings h, h', h, are embedded in the core G of the
stationary drum. The primary rings H may be connected in series just as the
brushes are connected in the form shown in Fig. 2, and the end rings or coils are
connected to the line circuit of the generator through the brushes M, M', and
conductors m, m'.

page_text: In operation, the primary rings are rotated in close proximity to the inner-
secondary rings and the points of greatest difference of potential in said secondary
rings are simultaneously rotated. The motor circuits are connected to the-
secondary rings, as shown in Fig. 1, and the current rises and falls in the several
motor circuits successively as the cylinder F rotates, thus creating a rotary field in-
the motor.
In Fig. 8 is shown in diagram an arrangement of coils adapted to be used.
in the induction directors illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, in lieu of the secondary-
rings h, h, h. I shall designate the internal circuits corresponding to these several
rings respectively as y, y', y'. The wire is laid in circular recesses of the core G
corresponding to the recesses in which the rings are shown embedded in Fig. 2,
and I have designated the several coils which are placed in the recesses corre-
sponding to the brushes 1, 4, 5, etc., by the reference signe 1, 4, 5, etc., respectively.
Referring particularly to the circuit y³, the actual method of winding, which it is.
rather difficult to illustrate by diagram, is as follows: Applying the diagram of this
circuit to the machine shown in Fig. 2, the two semi-circular coils are placed in the-
recesses corresponding to the brushes 1 and 4, the wires running in one direction
in each, coil, and designated by 1", being placed in the recess opposite brush 1, and
the return wires of the coils, designated 4", being placed in the recess opposite the
brush 4. These coils are connected together and to the next succeeding coils 5"
and 8. The coils 5" and 8" are placed in the recesses corresponding to the
brushes 5 and 8 and likewise connected together and to the succeeding coils of the
series. The coils of the circuits y and y are connected similarly to the coils of
the circuit y and are arranged in the same recesses, the coils being insulated from
each other. The dividing lines of the semi-circular coils of the several circuits.
are spaced about the induction director angularly, corresponding to the points at
which the motor circuits are connected with the rings shown in Figs. 1 and 5, so-
that the internal circuits y, y', y, are energized successively. These circuits are
connected with the motor, circuits b, 1, 3, either as shown in Fig. 1, or Fig. 5, or
in any other desired manner. The disposition of the coils of the internal
circuits y, y', y, should be such as to present the greatest possible length of wire
parallel to the primary rings or coils and with the least possible length at right.
angles to said primary rings or coils, and all of the rings or coils should lie in
planes at right angles to the axis of the induction director.
The principle of the induction director may be otherwise stated as consisting in
moving the points of greatest difference of potential in the secondary coils or rings.
relatively to the terminals of the motor circuits, thus creating in the motor circuits
a gradual rise and fall of current and electromotive force. It will be evident that.
this may be accomplished by various means, many of which may differ widely, both
mechanically and electrically, from those herein described for the purpose of
illustration. It will also be understood that instead of connecting the field circuits
to be secondary rings, as shown, the rotary effect may be accomplished by
In other words the-
connecting up the armature circuits in the same manner.
circuits of either the field or armature, or both, may be acted upon by the induction
director. Likewise, it will be obvious that in the induction director either the-
cylinder For the drum E, or both, may be rotated. It is, however, preferable
from a mechanical point of view to rotate the inner portion or cylinder F.
Our correspondents do not limit themselves to the precise construction and
arrangement of parts illustrated and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven--
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what manner
the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a system of electric power transmission, an induction director for
inductively transmitting a single-phase alternating current through a plurality of
circuits in succession, consisting of secondary coils included in said circuits; a.
primary coil or coils in inductive relation to said secondary coils, and movable

page_text: means for gradually increasing and then decreasing the electromotive force and
current in said, circuits whereby waves of electrical energy are sent through them
successively, substantially as described.
2. In a system of electric power transmission, an induction director for
inductively transmitting a single-phase alternating current through any desirel
number of circuits in succession, consisting of secondary coils, to different points
of which the terminals of the circuits are connected, a primary coil or coils in
parallel inductive relation to said secondary coils, and means for moving the points
of greatest difference of potential in the secondary coils relatively to the terminals
of the circuits, whereby waves of electrical energy are sent successively through
said circuits, substantially as described.
3. In a system of electric power transmission, a single-phase alternating current
circuit, a motor having a plurality of motor circuits, and an induction director for
inductively transmitting a single-phase current successively through said motor
circuits, said induction director consisting of secondary coils, to opposite points of
which the terminals of the motor circuits are connected, a primary coil or coils in
parallel inductive relation to said secondary coils and to opposite points of which
the line circuit is connected, and means for moving the points of greatest difference
of potential in the secondary coils relatively to the terminals of the motor circuits,
whereby waves of electrical energy are sent successively through said motor
circuits, substantially as described.
4. In combination, a primary or inducing ring or member included in a single-
phase alternating current circuit, a secondary ring or member in inductive relation
to said primary member, a circuit having its terminals connected to opposite
points of said secondary member, and means for mechanically moving the points
of greatest difference of potential in said secondary member, substantially as
described.
5. An induction director for single-phase alternating currents, consisting of two
rings or coils in parallel inductive relation, brushes constantly in direct contact
with one of said rings and movable relatively thereto, the single-phase alternating
line circuit being connected through the brushes and the ring in contact with said
brushes, and a circuit having its terminals connected to opposite points of the other
ring, or vice versa, substantially as described.
6. An induction director having a closed primary ring or coil, relatively movable
brushes constantly in direct contact with said ring at opposite points, a series of
secondary rings in parallel inductive relation to said primary ring, a laminated
core in which said rings are embedded, and a series of motor circuits corresponding
in number to and having their terminals connected with said secondary rings at
opposite points, substantially as described.
7. An induction director having a series of closed primary rings or coils, a
corresponding series of movable brushes constantly in direct contact with said
rings at opposite points, a series of secondary rings or coils in inductive relation to
said primary rings, a laminated core in which all of said rings are embedded,
connections to the brushes whereby the current is passed through adjacent rings in
opposite directions, and motor circuits connected to said secondary rings,
substantially as described.
8. An induction director for single-phase alternating currents, consisting of a
frame carrying fixed primary and secondary rings or coils in parallel inductive
relation, a shaft mounted in the frame, brushes carried by the shaft and constantly
in direct contact with the primary rings, means for rotating the shaft, and internal
circuits whereby the current may be passed through the brushes and the primary
rings, substantially as described.
9. The combination with a motor having a series of field circuits, of an induction
director having a corresponding series of secondary rings or coils, the terminals of
each field circuit being connected to opposite points of its respective coil, a primary
ring or coil in parallel inductive relation to the secondary coils, a pair of movable
brushes connected to a single-phase alternating circuit and in constant contact with

page_text: the primary ring or coil, and mechanical connections from the armature of the
motor for rotating the brushes of the induction director, substantially as
described.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.