IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert John Kaye, of Bury, in the County
of Lancaster, Letter Press Printer, and John Ormrod Openshaw,
of Roach Mount, near Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Woollen
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert John Kaye
and John Ormrod Openshaw at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th April 1853.
We ROBERT JOHN KAYE and JOHN ORMROD OPENSHAW do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAIN-
ING MOTIVE POWER BY ELECTRO MAGNETISM" to be as follows
Our Invention consists firstly in the fixing of a number of electro
magnets in a frame in such position that their poles form a circle.
They are arranged either near each other or at suitable distances apart;
these may be termed "a range of magnets." The frame may be con-
structed of any suitable material provided that no metal be used so as
to connect the poles of any of the magnets. In the centre of the circle
29626-8.

page_text: thus formed by the poles of the magnets is placed a shaft and on this
shaft are fixed two wheels which extend a short distance beyond the
poles of the magnets, in these two wheels are fixed a number of bars
of soft iron generally called keepers or armatures when intended to
develope the attractive powers of the magnet; these are arranged on
the periphery of a circle which is of such dimensions as will just allow
them to revolve within the circle formed by the poles of the magnets.
When one range of magnets does not produce the requisite power the
engine is constructed of as many more ranges as will be capable of
imparting such power, each range corresponding in number and
position with the first range; the keepers also with their respective
wheels correspond in number and position upon the same shaft with
the first wheels and keepers.-The wires of those magnets which are
placed in juxtaposition are connected together so that the galvanic
current which traverses the wires will surround all the other magnets
of the same position in the other ranges. The galvanic current may
be transmitted to the wires surrounding the magnets and regulated by
many methods; by the following for instance. A frame of wood or
other suitable non-conducting substance is fixed in a proper position, on
which frame are arranged in a circle conductors from the batteries to
each of the magnets in the range, each of these conductors is broken
in the immediate neighbourhood of a small armature of suitable form
for closing the circuit; this small armature is suspended at a short
distance from the conductor by a spring which keeps open the circuit
until it is requisite to excite the magnet when this armature is made to
complete the circuit by means of a permanent magnet; the same
number of these magnets are used as there are keepers to be attracted,
each magnet accompanying its respective keeper and are fixed on a
wheel of brass wood or other suitable substance and in such position
that each will attract the small armatures at such times and for so long
as will obtain the greatest amount of power it is possible for the magnet
to develope; when moving onward the armature is released from contact
with the conductor by which the magnet in the range is demagnetized
and the keeper passes onward without drawback to be again attracted
by the next succeeding magnet, and so of all the keepers and magnets

page_text: at once and in succession such wheel being firmly attached to the shaft
of the engine.
According to another method there is a frame of wood or other
suitable substance similar to the preceding on which are fixed as
many metallic plates as there are magnets in the range, to which are
attached the wires from the respective magnets, that is a magnet to a
plate, these plates are arranged in a circle and are insulated from each
other. Within this frame and extending beyond it, is a wheel formed
partly of wood or other non-conducting material and partly of iron,
brass, or other suitable metal, which wheel is fixed to the shaft and
when in action revolves within the .frame and along with the keepers.
To this wheel are fixed as many metallic springs as there are keepers
on the shaft and so fixed that they press upon the metallic plates of the
frame as to transmit the galvanic current to one or more of the
magnets towards which it is necessary to attract the keepers in order
to obtain motion of the shaft in the direction required.-The current is
communicated to the wheel by means of other metallic springs which
have a connection with one of the poles of the batteries, the first-
named springs are fixed and adjusted to the wheel by means of binding
screws which run in slots made for the purpose of adjusting such
springs with the greatest exactness.
A third method of effecting the transmission of the galvanic
currents consists in a frame of wood or other non-conducting material
on which are arranged in a circle as many metallic springs as there
are magnets in the range, the wires from each respective magnet
are attached to one of these springs which are made to press upon
a metal ring (say of copper, brass &c.) which ring is connected
with one of the poles of the batteries; a wheel having on one of
its sides certain raised surfaces of such dimensions that when fixed
upon the shaft of the engine in a proper position these surfaces detach
the spring from its connection with the aforesaid metal ring thereby
cutting off the galvanic current from the wires of the magnet when
the keeper is at such distance from its poles as shall impart the greatest
amount of power to the shaft which the magnet is capable of developing.
According to a fourth method there is a frame on which are fixed

page_text: small levers which work on axles the levers together with the con-
ductors from the batteries (but broken in the circuit similar to those
named in the first method) are placed in a circle, one end of this
lever is so constructed that is closes the circuit when pressed upon the
other end by a ratchet wheel which is fixed upon the shaft, which
wheel is so constituted that when the keepers are at such distance
from the magnets as will give the greatest amount of power to the
shaft they press upon these levers and when such power is obtained
they again allow the springs to raise the levers from their connection
with the conductors thereby breaking the circuit and cutting off the
galvanic currents from the magnets.
Another part of our Invention consists in a method of reversing the
motion; this we accomplish by turning the frame above mentioned on
which are fixed in circles the small armatures, metallic plates springs
and small levers-This movement is performed by means of a handle
fixed on the outer edge of such frame and by manual force overcoming
the resistance of a spring of a peculiar construction which is fixed for
the purpose of keeping it in position, and turning it to a certain point
which gives the reverse. motion.
Another part of our Invention consists in a method of regulating
the power of electro-magnetic engines by either of the following
contrivances
Firstly a vessel containing mercury is placed in a convenient
position and a wire from each of the batteries employed is made to
terminate in this vessel; the wires communicating with the various
magnets of the range are also made to terminate therein the galvanic
current traversing the mercury betwixt the wires of the engine and
those of the batteries, the vessel is of such depth as to allow all the
wires which are of various lengths to be lowered into the mercury
taking care that each wire is insulated from the rest; a small
pair of "governor balls" is by the usual appliances made to lift
out of and lower into the mercury so many of these graduated wires
as shall employ such number of magnets as may be required for the
purposes the engine has to accomplish.
"
Secondly the said." governor balls are employed to raise the

page_text: metallic plates of the batteries from the fluid or fluids in which they
are immersed thereby regulating the power or speed of the engine.
In locomotive engines instead of the "governor balls" a lever is
attached to these wires and regulated by the person having control of
the engine
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent;
filed by the said Robert John Kaye and John Ormrod Openshaw,
in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 12th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME we
ROBERT JOHN KAYE of Bury in the County of Lancaster Letter Press
Printer and JOHN ORMROD OPENSHAW of Roach Mount near Bury in
the County of Lancaster Woollen Manufacturer send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Twelfth day of April One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three and in the sixteenth year of Her reign
did for Herself Her heirs and successors give and grant unto us the
said Robert John Kaye and John Ormrod Openshaw Her especial
licence that we the said Robert John Kaye and John Ormrod Open-
shaw our executors administrators and assigns or such others as we
the said Robert John Kaye and John Ormrod Openshaw our 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 use exercise and
vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland the
Channel Islands and Isle of Man an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER BY ELECTRO MAGNETISM" upon the condition
amongst others that we the said Robert John Kaye and John
Ormrod Openshaw by an instrument in writing under our hands and
seals should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention and in what manner the same was to be 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE that we the said Robert John Kaye and John
Ormrod Openshaw do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement and accom;
panying drawing (that is to say)
Our Invention consists firstly in fixing a number of magnets in a
frame in such a position that their poles shall form a circle, they are
arranged either near each other or at suitable distances apart, and within
the circle thus formed is placed a shaft carrying by means of wheels or
discs a series of bars of soft iron usually called keepers or arinatures.
When one range of magnets does not produce the requisite power the
engine is constructed of as many more ranges as. will be capable of
imparting such power, each range corresponding in number and position
with the first range; the keepers also with their respective wheels or
discs corresponding in number and position upon the same shaft with
the first wheels and keepers. The galvanic current may be transmitted
to the wires surrounding the magnets and regulated by many methods
but we have certain peculiar arrangements to effect that object which
we shall hereafter describe.
Another part of our Invention consists in a method of reversing the
motion of the engine; this we accomplish by turning a frame..in
which the apparatus for transmitting the current is mounted..so. as
to cause the said current to act upon the keepers with a. reversed
attraction.
Another part of our Invention consists in regulating the power of
electro magnetic engines by causing an ordinary governor to. act upon
a series of wires which establish the connection of the galvanic current
with the magnets so as to insulate one or more of them or place
them in communication according to the power. required. And in
order that our Invention may be fully understood we have.appended
to this our Specification certain drawings which we will now proceed
to describe.
Fig 1 is a front elevation of the engine and Fig: 2. a cross section.
thereof. The framework a of the machine may be of any suitable,
materials provided that no ferruginous metal be so used as to connect

page_text: the poles of any of the magnets. The series of magnets are shewn
at 6 mounted radially upon a block c secured as a fixture to the
framework-these magnets are formed in the usual manner by coils
of wire d d coated with cotton or other suitable material wound
around iron. In the centre of the circle thus formed by the poles of
the magnets is a shaft e turning in suitable bearings carried by the
framework. The shaft e is provided with two wheels or discs f
extending a short distance beyond the poles of the magnets and they
are provided with holes by means of which the series of keepers or
armatures 9 (seven we suppose in this instance) are fixed at equal
distances apart and retained therein by tightening screws h. The circle
formed by the outward edges of the keepers g is of such diameter
as to cause them to revolve just clear of the circle formed by the poles
of the magnets. A circular block of wood i is placed loosely within
stationary guides j so as to admit of its being turned when desired by
the handle but it may be kept in a definite situation by means of a
catch taking into notches formed on its circumference. The circular
block i is furnished with metallic plates corresponding in number to
the magnets which plates project slightly in front and at back are
connected to the wires d d by which the magnets are formed-the
plates being thus mounted in the wood work are of course insulated
from each other.
Affixed to the shaft e is a block of wood or other nonconducting
material m upon the face of which is attached a metal plate n pro-
vided with slots o by means of which slots and adjusting screws
springs are adapted corresponding in number to the keepers or
arinatures g. The springs p therefore revolve with the shaft e and
they are so situate as to pass successively over the projecting plates 2.
To the framework are secured two springs q the ends of which press
against the metal plate n and they are connected by means of wires r
to the battery-the plate n becomes therefore a reservoir as it may
be called for the galvanic current and as it revolves will successively
bring the springs p into connection with the plates / and thereby
transmit the current to the magnets 6: the connection in like manner
becoming cut off as the springs pass away from the plates. Thus in

page_text: the position shewn in the drawing the spring p¹ is in connection
with the plate and communicating a galvanic current to the mag-
net the attractive power is therefore exerting its force upon the
keeper (shewn by dots) and the shaft e therefore is caused to
revolve, such revolution bringing the keeper g' within the attractive
power of the magnet 62 which will then have become magnetized by a
connection having been established between the spring p¹ and plate
by which time the magnet 6' will have become demagnetized by the
passing of the spring p' away from the plate . The operation upon
the other keepers is of course precisely similar. When it is de-
sired to reverse the engine the block i and consequently with it the
plate n and springs p are to be turned in the bearings by means of
the handle or other suitable apparatus so as to bring the keepers to
the opposite sides of the magnets which were attracting them by which
means the attraction will take place in the contrary direction and the
revolution of the engine reversed.
:
I
Fig 3 is a partial section illustrating the method we adopt of
increasing the power of the engine. A. B. C. are a series of appa-
ratus similar to those shewn and particularly described in the preceding
figures each range of magnets corresponding in number and position
upon the same shaft. The wires of those magnets which are placed
in juxta-position are connected together so that the galvanic current
which traverses the wires which surround the first magnet also tra-
verse the wires which surround all the other magnets of the same
position in the other ranges.
Fig 4 represents in partial view another method we adopt
for transmitting at intervals the galvanic current to the batteries. In
this instance a number of small armatures 8 are adapted to the circular
block which armatures are carried outwards by the force of light
springs t. Contiguous to the armatures s are projecting wires u one
of each pair of them being connected to a magnet 6 of the range and
the other to a ring which is in communication with one pole of the bat-
tery the wires of the magnets being connected to the other pole. To the
plate are adapted a series of permanent magnets equal in number
to the keepers upon the shaft e which are to be attracted by the
ע

page_text: magnets 6; as therefore the block m revolves the permanent mag-
nets will arrive beneath and draw inward the small keepers s so as
to bring them into contact with the wires u u by which means the
galvanic current will be transmitted to the respective magnets 6 the
further revolution of the plate n allowing the springs t to draw
outward the small armatures s and demagnetise the corresponding
magnets.
Our next improvement applicable to magnetic engines generally will
be illustrated by reference to the diagram Fig: 5, in which w repre-
sents a vessel containing mercury or other conducting fluid. This vessel
is placed in any convenient situation and a wire 1. 2. 3. &c. from each
of the batteries projects into the fluid the said wires having different
degrees of immersion as represented. The wires communicating with
the various magnets employed are also made to terminate in the fluid
the galvanic current therefore traversing it between the wires of the
engine and those of the batteries. The wires 1. 2. 3. &c. are con-
nected to an ordinary governor arranged so as to lift them in proportion
to its centrifugal action and as the wires project to various depths into
the fluid it is evident that this lifting action will raise thein con-
secutively and that therefore the communication with the several cor-
responding batteries will be cut off one after the other as the speed of
the engine advances above its proper rate.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed we desire
it to be understood that we claim as secured to us under the above in
part recited Letters Patent Firstly arranging a series of stationary
magnets in magnetic motive power engines so that the poles of the
said magnets form a circle within which the keepers or armatures
revolve. Secondly fixing the keepers or armatures between two wheels
or discs fixed upon the shaft of the engine. Thirdly the methods de-
scribed of supplying and cutting off the communication between the
batteries and the magnets. Fourthly the adaptation of several ranges
of magnets with respective keepers upon the same shaft such ranges
acting simultaneously with the first of the series. Fifthly the method
above described of reversing the engine. Sixthly the governing the

page_text: speed of magnetic engines by raising and lowering wires of different
degrees of immersion in a fluid constituting the connection between the
batteries and the magnets.
In witness whereof we the said Robert John Kaye and John
Ormrod Openshaw have hereunto set our hands and seals this
Eleventh day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
ROBT J. KAYE.
(L.S.)
JOHN ORMROD OPENSHAW. (L.S.)