AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTOR ENGINE.
Year: 1871

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LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTOR ENGINE.".
A communication from abroad by Maurice Howell Utley, Doctor
of Medicine, and Alexander Ross, Optician, both of Montreal,
Canada.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th August 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,. & Co.,
5 Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "Ax IMPROVED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTOR.
ENGINE," a communication, to be as follows:—
The object of the present Invention is to produce a double action
electro-magnetic motor that may be made available for many purposes

page_text: 5
where rotary motion is required, including generally all those for which
steam power is at present used, and many others for which steam power
cannot casily be adapted, as for example the acting simultaneously
upon all the brakes of a railway train by the mere movement of a
handle by the finger of any of the persons in charge of the train.
Two discs of metal forming the ends of a framework are secured
together by pillars to which are attached two rings. In the centre of
each disc is a set screw, with jam nuts for holding the shaft forming
the axis of the machine. On the said shaft a cylinder of brass is secured
by means of a diaphragm in the centre of the cylinder, the cylinder
extending on both sides of the diaphragm, sufficiently to form a
surface for attaching two sets of magnets, which I call the first and
second series. In the periphery of the cylinder, plates of soft iron are
secured, there are two for each magnet inserted at equal distances
around the periphery of the cylinder, and they are turned to a true
surface with it. At the back of the soft iron plates openings are formed.
in the cylinder to allow the end of the magnet core to pass and rest
upon the said plates to which they are attached by screws, thus the
plates become the poles of the magnets. The insulated wire in this
caso is continuous in each series of magnets, the current of electricity
-entering on one coil traversing in succession the whole, and leaving
when it has completed the circuit of magnets. To the aforesaid rings
magnets of a similar character to those above described are attached,
forming the third and fourth series, and being equal in number to them
and at cqual distances apart, their poles terminate in plates corre-
sponding to the above mentioned soft iron plates, and situated at equal
distances apart in a circle a little larger than the diameter of the
cylinder, so that the two though close to each other do not touch.
When the poles of the first series of magnets are opposite those of
the third series the poles of the second series are intermediate with the
poles of the fourth series, and in case of using a greater number of
series of magnets they will be similarly arranged, so that the poles
of no two series will be in the same position at the same time with
regard to the outer series of magnets.
The compound.commutators by means of which the direction of the
current is changed exactly at the points required in the first and second-
series of magnets are constructed as follows:-On the shaft a piece of
ebonite or other insulating material is placed and secured, this is sur-

page_text: mounted with two pieces of suitablo metal which do not touch each
other, these form the terminals of the wire, the necessary insulation
from every other part of the machine being provided in the ordinary
manner. Each of the said terminals has longitudinally projecting parts
corresponding to the number of poles in that series of magnets to which
it is attached, and they are so arranged that when revolving with
the axis a fixed spring will press alternately on one of their longi-
tudinally projecting parts connecting the same with one pole of the
battery, while a similar spring connects the other terminal with the
opposite pole of the battery. On the shaft pulleys are secured for
transmitting motion by means of belts, or gear wheels may be used if
preferred.
Or the commutator may be constructed as follows:-In a plate of any
insulating material studs are inserted passing through it, they are con-
nected as follows:-One set to the negative pole of the battery, one set to
the positive pole of the battery, and another set to the above-mentioned
springs respectively. These studs are placed at equal distances from
a common centre and equally apart from each other. Two plates of
metal fixed on arms of insulating material are actuated by a handle so
as to connect the poles as required. The said plates must be of such a
size that they may rest on two studs without connecting or touching
any of the others.
The condenser of the engine is constructed as follows:-A series of
thin plates of metal such as tinfoil are laid above each other with
sheets of insulating material placed between them to prevent contact,
the alternate sheets of metal being connected at their opposite ends,
and the ends of the condenser being attached to the aforesaid springs.
The engine has a governor which may be formed on the shaft or made
as a separate piece, and may be placed any where in the electrical
circuit.
I prefer to construct the said governor as follows:-On a spindle
carried by bearings in any ordinary manner a pulley is placed for
causing it to revolve with the motor by a belt. To the said spindle is
secured a cylindrical piece of insulating material, the spindle passing
through its centre. To the extremities of this are attached two metal
rings, to one of which are attached two springs having their lower
extremities loaded with weights of metal, which are made to press upon
the rings with greater or less force by adjusting a screw. To place this

page_text: in the electrical circuit two springs are provided for each of the said
rings, one on each side of them, and having one of their extremities
pressing on the rings while the other is suitably attached to any
stationary part of the engine and connected to a part of the electrical
wiro which may be severed for that purpose. The aforesaid third and
fourth series of magnets are connected in the circuit of electricity any
where between one of the commutator springs and the battery. If
desired the said electro-magnets may be removed, and permanent
magnets used instead, or the first and second series of magnets may be
permanent magnets.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 21st February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, uso, excrcise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTOR ENGINE," a communication to me from abroad
by Maurice Howell Utley, Doctor of Medicine, and Alexander Ross,
Optician, both of Montreal, Canada, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be

page_text: performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification.
The object of the present Invention is to produce a double action
electro-magnetic motor that may be made available for many purposes
where rotary motion is required, including generally all those for which
steam power is at present used, and many others for which steam power
cannot easily be adapted; as, for example, the acting simultaneously
upon all the brakes of a railway train by the mere movement of a handle
by the finger of any of the persons in charge of the train.

page_text: form of bearing giving the least frictional resistance; but if required the
bearings may be made in any other suitable or ordinary form, as will be
the case when the ends of the shaft require to be extended. Although
but two rings 6, 6', and other parts which will be berein-after described
are shown in the Drawing, their number may be increased as desired, or
as found most beneficial to the particular purpose for which the machino
is applied. On the shaft c a cylinder of brass c³ is secured by means of
a diaphragm c³ in the centre of the cylinder, and which may be cast in
one with it, the cylinder c¹ extending on both sides of the diaphragm
sufficiently to form a surface for attaching two sets of maguets d, d¹. In
the periphery of the cylinder c¹ plates d³ of soft iron are dovetailed or
otherwise secured, there being two provided for each magnet and inserted
at equal distances around the periphery of the cylinder, and turned to
a true surface with it. At the back of the plates openings are formed
in the cylinder to allow the end of the magnet core to pass and rest
upon the plates d³, to which they are attached by screws, thus the plates
become the poles of the magnets. It will therefore be readily understood
that e, e, are the cores of the magnets of soft iron, and e¹ is the ordinary
insulated copper wire wound around them in the usual way of forming
an electro-magnet. The wire e¹ in this case is continuous in each series
of magnets d, d³, the current of electricity entering on one coil traversing
in succession the whole, and leaving when it has completed the circuit
of magnets. To the rings b, b', magnets f, f', of a similar character to
those above described as d, d³, are attached, being equal in number to
them, and disposed in the manner indicated in the Drawing at cqual
distances, and their poles terminated in plates f" corresponding to the
plated; these are situated at equal distances in a circle a little larger
than the diameter of the cylinder c³, so that the two do not touch, but
otherwise they will be brought as near as possible.
·
In the arrangement of the two series of magnets d, d³, those marked
d may be said to be placed in the position shown in Figure 5, while those
marked dare in the position shown in Figures 3 or 4; in other words
when the poles of the upper series d are opposite the poles of the
series ƒ the poles of the series d' are intermediate with the poles of the
series . This arrangement is designed to obviate the possibility of
the stopping of the machine in such a position that the switching on of
the battery would fail to start it without other appliances (as in the dead
centre of a single crank steam engine), and in case of using a greater

page_text: number of series of magnets they will be so arranged that the poles of
no two series will be in the same position at the same time with regard
to the outer series of magnets.
The compound commutators by means of which the direction of the
3 current is changed exactly at the points required in the series of
magnets d, d', are shown in Figures 1, 2, 6, and 7, and are each con-
structed as follows:-On the shaft c and in the position shown in
Figures 1 and 2, a piece g of ebonite or other insulating material is
placed, being secured to it; this is surmounted with two pieces of
suitable metal g³, g³, which do not touch each other in any part; these
form the terminals of the wire e¹, one end being attached to g¹ and the
other to ³, the necessary insulation from every other part of the
machine being provided in the ordinary manner. Each of the terminals
g³, g³, has longitudinally projecting parts corresponding to the number
of poles in that series of magnets d or d³ to which they are each
of them attached, and so arranged that when revolving with the axis a
fixed spring will press alternately on each of the longitudinal pro-
jecting parts of g¹ and g³ and g³, connecting it with one pole of the
battery, while a similar spring / placed, as clearly shown in Figure 6,
connects the other terminal with the opposite pole of the battery, that is
to say, when the spring his in connection with the terminal g' the
spring his in connection with the terminal 92, and vice versa. On the
shaft c pulleys i of any suitable configuration are secured for the purposa
of transmitting the motion to any other body by means of belts, or worm
or toothed gear wheels may be used if preferred.
Figure 9 shows a plan of a simple commutator switch for starting,
stopping, or reversing the motion of the motor. In a plate i of any
insulating material studs N, N, P, P, M, M, are inserted passing through
it; they are connected as follows :—N, N, are connected to the negative
pole of the battery, P, P, to the positive pole of the battery, and M, M,
to the springs h, h¹, respectively. The aforesaid studs aro placed as
shown at equal distances from a common centre k, and equally apart
from cach other, while from the centre k two plates of metal k¹ are fixed
on arms of insulating material actuated by a handle 7, by which the
plates may be turned, so as to connect N or P with M on one side, and
the opposite pole with M on the other side. The plates must also
be of such size that they may rest on two studs without connecting or
touching any of the others. Thus by moving the handle and thereby

page_text: changing the position of the plates k¹ so that they cover different studs
the direction of the electric current is reversed.
Figure 10 represents a section of a condenser similar to those used
in connection with induction coils, and applied for a similar purpose
with the motor to collect the electricity induced in the wire by the
demagnetization of the iron cores at the instant of reversing the current
or breaking the circuit, and fully utilizing the battery power. This is
constructed in the usual manner, viz., a series of thin plates of metal,
such as tinfoil, are laid above each other with sheets of insulating
material between them to prevent contact, the alternate sheets of metal
being connected together at their opposite ends, and the ends of tho
condenser being attached to the springs h, h¹.
Figure 11 represents a section of a governor for regulating the speed
of the motor. It may be constructed on the shaft c or made as a
separate piece, as shown, and placed anywhere in the electrical circuit.
In this case it is constructed as follows:-On a spindle q carried by
suitable bearings a pully q' is placed for causing it to revolve with the
motor by a belt. To the spindle is secured a cylindrical piece of insu-
lating material 7, the spindle passing through its centre. To the
extremities of this are attached two metal rings ", "; to rare attached
two springs ™ª³, as shown in the Drawing, having their lower extremitics
loaded with any suitably formed weights of metal s made to press upon
the ring with greater or less force as required by adjusting the
screws 8'. To place this in the electrical circuit two springs &² arc
provided for each of the rings r, 1ª, one on each side of them, and having
one of their extremities pressing on the rings, while the other is suitably
attached to any stationary part of the machine, and connected to a part
of the electrical wire which may be severed for that purpose. The
parts 7³, 8, 8ª, 8ª, are made in duplicate in the Drawing for the purpose
of greater surety of connection, and form an equilibrium to the spindle
revolving at a high speed. When the speed of the motor is such that
it causes the centrifugal force of the weights & to overcome the action
of the springs, they press outwards and become separated from contact
with the ring r¹, and consequently break the electric circuit.
Referring again to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the magnets f, f¹, are
connected in the circuit of clectricity anywhere between one of the
springs h or h¹ and the battery. If desired the electro-magnets f, f
may be removed and permanent magnets used instead; or the series of

page_text: magnets d, d, may be permanent magnets, while those f,f', are electro-
magnets, the various other changes requisite (which will be well
understood) being made.
The operation of this improved motor is as follows:-A suitable
galvanic battery being provided and its poles attached to the simple
commutator switch as described in relation to Figure 9, the current
passes thence to the springs h, h', and is by them transmitted as herein-
before described to the magnets d, d', and having traversed the circuit
of these in succession (it being understood that cach series of magnets
acts separately) it traverses in like manner the series of magnets ƒ, ƒ³,
(when electro-magnets are used), but not being acted upon by the com-
pound commutator it always flows in the same direction; from these
it passes through the switch, Figure 10, to the other pole of the battery.
By this means the magnets d, d³, are attracted, as they revolve to the
magnets ff, and as each of the poles in the series d and ď pass these
inf and f', the poles being reversed by the action of the compound
commutator in the revolving magnets their action is rendered double by
attracting them as they approach, and repelling them immediately on
passing, this may be better understood by reference to Figure 5, in
which the pole of the magnet is attracted by one pole and repelled
by the pole next, and so on all round the series.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. The novel arrangement of the magnets d, d, f, f, together
with other parts of the motor for producing a repelling and attracting
power and giving useful motion, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose described.
Second. The novel arrangement of the compound commutator com-
posed of springs h, h, and terminals g³, g³, working substantially in the
manner and for the purpose described.
Third. The novel application of the condenser herein-before described,
working substantially as and for the purposes herein stated.
Fourth. The novel application of the simple commutator switch
composed of studs N, N, P, P, M, M, plates, and other parts arranged
substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

page_text: Fifth. The novel construction and application of the governor com-
posed of the spindlo q, cylinder q³, rings r, r², springs 7 and 8, weights 8,
and other parts, all arranged substantially in the manner and for the
purpose described.
Sixth. The novel combination of the motor as herein-before described
with the compound commutator, condenser, simple commutator, switch,
and governor, arranged and operating substantially in the manner and
for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twentieth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
W". ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)