Improvements in Regulating and Controlling the Resistance of Electric Circuits.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Regulating and Controlling the Resistance of
Electric Circuits.
We, HENRY LYON, of Hornsey Chambers, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, and HENRY JOHN LESLIE, of the Lyric Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue, London, in the County of Middlesex, Sole Proprietor of the said
theatre as aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to a means of regulating and controlling the resistance of an
electric current for use in electric lighting, electro plating or typing, or in the
accumulation, generation, or transmission of power, and it has for its object the
regulation of the resistance of an electric current in a more perfect and efficient
manner than at present obtains. 1 attain this object by means of one or more resistance
cells of novel construction. Each cell consists of a pot or jar, preferably of circular
shape and made of earthenware or other suitable material. In the bottom of this pot
or jar is placed a plate of lead, or other suitable metal, in the form of an inverted cone
or its equivalent. To this plate is connected one of the terminal wires passing either
through a suitable hole at or near to the bottom of the pot or jar, or up to the top of
the said pot or jar. On the top of the pot or jar is a suitable bar having a central hole
in which is a metallic ferrule or bush through which passes freely a spindle carrying on
its lower end a metallic plate in the form of an inverted cone, or its equivalent, to
correspond with the plate in the bottom of the pot or jar, and on its upper end a small
hand wheel or its equivalent. On this spindle is a cut a screw thread with which the
end of a stud pin threaded in the ferrule or bush engages, thus forming a nut of the
said ferrule or bush, and at the same time affording a ready means of allowing
the spindle to move freely up and down in the said ferrule or bush when desired. The
other terminal wire is connected to this ferrule or bush and thus indirectly to the
spindle by means of small springs fixed to the said ferrule or bush, and adapted to be in
constant contact with the spindle. We sometimes form a cup in the bottom of the
lower coned plate and fill it with mercury so that the final contact of the two plates-
reducing the resistance to nil-may be gradual, and so prevent flickering when the
resistance is used in connection with electric lighting.
The pot or jar is partially filled with water either with or without sulphuric acid,
and by raising or lowering the upper coned plate the resistance is increased or
diminished as desired. By making the plates connected to the terminals of an inverted
cone shape the gases generated between the plates is assisted to escape, so that there
is no danger of an explosion within the cell when leaving the highest point of
resistance.
In carrying our invention into practical effect for varying the intensity of the light
produced by an electric current, for theatrical or stage effect, we use one of these
resistance boxes or cells for each group or cluster of lamps, and we couple all the
bars of the cells together in such a manner that the whole of the series of upper plates
may be raised or lowered 'at once if desired, which with the facility afforded by the
stud pin engaging with the thread on the spindle of each cell, enables any single one
or combination of two or more cells to be worked without interfering with the
others.
When used for electro plating or electro typing, each cell may be used for one or
more depositing vats, or two or more series of cells may be used for regulating or
controlling the equal quantity of current in each vat without interfering with the
remainder.
When used in connection with the storage and transmission of power by charging

page_text: accumulators with a compound wound dynamo, the resistance may be used to control
the current in the shunt of the dynamo when using either the shunt, or the combined
result when driving the dynamo direct without the accumulators being in charge.
Dated this 10th day of April 1890.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
.. 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C. Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Regulating and Controlling the Resistance of
Electric Circuits.
We HENRY LYON of Hornsey Chambers, Shaftesbury Avenue London in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, and HENRY JOHN LESLIE of the Lyric Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue London in the County of Middlesex, Sole Proprietor of the said
Theatre as aforesaid, do hereby declare that 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:-
Our invention relates to a means of regulating and controlling the resistance of an
electric current for use in electric lighting, electro plating or typing, or in the
accumulation; generation, or transmission of power, and it has for its object the
regulation of the resistance of an electric current in a more perfect and efficient
manner that at present obtains. We attain this object by means of one or more
resistance cells of novel construction. Each cell consists of a pot or jar, preferably of
circular shape, and made of earthenware or other suitablo metal. In the bottom. of
this pot or jar is placed a plate of lead or other suitable metal in the form of an
. inverted cone, or its equivalent. To this plate is connected one of the terminal wires
passing either through a suitable hole at or near to the bottom of the pot or jar, or up
to the top of the said pot or jar. In the top of the pot or jar is a suitable cover or bar
having a central hole in which is a metallic bush through which freely passes a spindle
carrying on its lower end a metallic plate in the form of an inverted cone, or its
equivalent, to correspond with the plate in the bottom of the pot or jar, and on its
upper end a small hand-wheel or its equivalent. On this spindle is cut a screw
thread with which the end of a stud pin threaded in the bush engages thus
-forming a nut of the said bush, and at the same time affording a ready means of
allowing the spindle to move freely up and down in the said bush when desired.
The other terminal wire is connected to this bush and thus indirectly to the coned
plate carried by the spindle by means of small spring plates or conductors fixed
to the said bush and adapted to be in constant contact with the spindle.
•
The pot or jar is partially filled with water, either with or without acid, and by
raising or lowering the upper coned plate the resistance is increased or diminished as
desired.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1. is a view in sectional elevation of our improved resistance cell,
Figure 2 is a view in elevation thereof.
Figure 3. is a plan thereof, and
Figure 4 is a sectional plan on line x. x Figure 2.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
In the bottom of a suitable pot or jar A is fixed by means of wooden wedges a, a, etc.
as shown in the accompanying drawing, a metallic plate B shaped like an inverted
cone and having suitable fect bb etc. to keep it in an upright position. In a suitable
hole formed at or near the bottom of the pot or jar A is placed a terminal C which is
connected with the coned plate B by means of a suitable metallic conductor D'as shown
in the accompanying drawing.
On the top. of the pot or jar A is a cover or bar A' in the centre of which is fixed a

page_text: metal brush E through which freely passes a spindle F carrying at its free end a
metallic plate B₁ shaped like an inverted cone and adapted to fit within the coned
plate B. This plate B₁ is preferably perforated with holes b' betc., to enable it to be
more freely moved through the liquid in the cell. On the spindle F is cut a screw
thread and it is provided at its upper end with a handwheel F¹. In the bush E is
threaded a screw e the point of which is adapted to engage with the thread on the
spindle F and thus make the brush E the equivalent of a nut, enabling the coned
plate B' to be gradually raised or lowered by means of the hand wheel F¹, or to he
simultaneously raised and lowered in conjunction with the plates of similar cells, by
means of mechanism adapted to lift the bars or covers A', or by withdrawing the
screw e to allow the plate B' to remain in contact with the plate B while the plates of
the other cells are raised or lowered. Instead of this device a split nut may be used
in, or on, the bush E in a similar manner to the split nut on a screw-cutting lathe. To
the bush E is fixed the other terminal C¹ and to ensure contact between the bush E
and the spindle F small metallic conductors D' D' are fixed to the brush E and adapted
to be in constant communication with the spindle F. The plates B and B are made
of lead, zinc, or any other suitable metal or alloy.
The pot or jar A is partially filled with acidulated water with or without sulphates of
the metal or metals used for the plates B. B¹, or other chemicals substances, and by raising
or lowering the coned plate B with respect to the plate B, to increase or decrease the
resistance of the column of liquid, the resistance of the electric current is increased or
diminished as desired.
We sometimes form a cup in the bottom of the plate B to receive mercury, so that
the final contact of the plates may be gradual, and thus prevent flickering when the
resistance is used in connection with electric lightning.
It will be seen that by making the plates B & B' of a coned shape the gas that is
given off, is carried away in a uniform quantity according to the surface of the
plates B & B exposed, so that the resistance is uniformly constant in proportion to the
column of liquid used, and as the surface of the plates exposed gradually decreases,
there is no danger of an explosion within the cell when leaving the highest point of
resistance.
In carrying our invention into practical effect for varying the intensity of the
light produced by an electric current for theatrical or stage effect, we use one of these
resistance boxes or cells for each group or cluster of lamps, and we couple all the bars
or covers A¹ of the cells together in such a manner that the whole series of upper
plates B may be raised or lowered at once if desired, which with the facility afforded
by the screws e engaging with the threads on the spindles F, enables any single one
or combination of two or more cells to be worked without interfering with the
others.
We do not limit ourselves to any particular device for regulating or controlling a
series of these cells, as any of the methods now in use are suitable.
When used for electroplating or electro typing, our improved resistance cell may
be used for one or more depositing vats, or two or more series of cells may be used in
regulating or controlling the equal quantity of current in each vat without interfering
with the remainder.
When used in connection with the storage and transmission of power by charging
accumulators with a compound wound dynamo, our improved resistance cell may be
used to control the current in the shunt of the dynamo when using either the shunt or
the combined result, when driving the dynamo direct without the accumulators being
in charge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is ;-
1st. The improved resistance cell for regulating and controlling the resistance of
electric currents, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying

page_text: 2nd. In a liquid resistance cell, the use of terminal plates of a cone-shape, as and
for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In à resistance cell, the combination with the pot or jar A partially filled with
a liquid, of the plate B of an inverted cone-shape fixed to the bottom of the pot or jar
and connected with the terminal by a metallic conductor D, of the plate B₁ of an
inverted cone-shape adapted to be raised and lowered in the pot or jar A by means of
the screw spindle F the hand wheel F and the bush E with the screw e, or by any
other equivalent device, of the cover or bar A¹ adapted to carry the raising & lowering
mechanism and the other terminal C acting between the spindle F carrying the
plate B' and the terminal ( through the busb E or its equivalent, and of the metallic
conductors D & D³, all combined, arranged, and operating as and for the purpose set
forth.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1890.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers, 70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.