Improvements in the Distribution and Regulation of Electric Currents.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Distribution and Regulation of Electric
Currents.
1, WILLIAM CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Win. Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Sigmund
Schuckert and Co., of Nürnberg, Germany, Manufacturers, through their Agents,
Wirth and Co., of Frankfort on the Main, Germany) to be as follows:—
This invention relates to improvements in the distribution and regulation of electric
currents, which have for their object
1. In a system of distribution designed for a uniform tension of consumption and
receiving electric. energy from two or more current supply circuits () to regulate
tensions at the terminals of all the supply leads with variable consumption of current
and (b) to allow of unequal falls of tension in the several supply leads with a maximum
consumption of current.
2. At places where variation in the intensity of the light is required, to allow of the
alteration of the tension of the lamps according to the brightness desired, both being
effected without the usual resistances which consume uselesslya portion of the electrical
energy and convert the same into heat.
The supply leads, particularly where the areas of consumption are extensive, are of
very unequal lengths and there are, in consequence, various losses of tension when each
lead has its profitable cross-section (as defined in Thomson's formula).
In order to effect this (with uniform teusion of the system) I lay the supply leads
at points of different potential and employ for this purpose, besides the current-
generating dynamo D, a storage battery B, as illustrated in Figure of the accom-
panying drawings. Since the tension of one cell amounts to about two volts, it is
possible in this manner, to cause the fall of tension of the positive and negative supply
lead of the two-wire system to take place in steps of 2, 4, 6,
volts each or the
whole fall of tension in the positive and negative lead together to take place in steps
of approximately 4, 8, 12,
volts.
At first sight it would appear as if the cell (Figure 1) were short-circuited through
the two positive supply leads A and A¹ and the intermediate distributing lead r, but
that is not the case as long as consumption takes place in the system, that is to say
that current is conveyed in the direction of the arrow through both supply leads A
and A'. In order to control this, each supply lead is provided with a device shewing
the direction of the current, in order that, in the case of a wrong direction of the
current (in A¹ for instance) this lead may be either cut out or connected to the point
of connection of A.
In order that short-circuiting of the cells through two similar supply leads (caused;
for instance, by inattention on the part of an attendant) and the connecting
distributing lead may be at once stopped, I provide the supply leads with cutting
out devices which operate in an automatic manner when the current takes a wrong
direction.
In Figure 1, the supply leads A and A" are shewn provided with cutting out
devices each consisting of an electro-magnet E included in A and A", a steel magnet
(pivoted at o) of the electro-magnets as armature which is attracted when the
current is in the right direction and, by means of two contacts dipping in mercury
cups, maintains the closure of the circuit but is repelled when the current is in the
wrong direction and causes the breaking of the circuit. Now, both the tension of the
cells (according to the state of charging and discharging) and the fall of tension in

page_text: the supply leads (according to the consumption of current in the system) are variable.
I therefore arrange the connecting points of the supply leads also in a variable manner
and so that both the connection of each supply lead separately and the connections of
all the supply leads together are movable (see Figure 2). In this figure Co. C1, C².
etc., are leads (for instance copper rods) which come from successive cells, and have
cach a different potential. These copper rods are provided, with projections / with
which the slides T of the supply leads A, A, are brought into contact. The slides T
are in the form of nuts screwing on the threaded spindles F. When these spindles
are rotated by the hand-wheels G. the contact slides T move to the right or to
the left, according to the direction of rotation, and thus effect al corresponding
alteration in the tension in the respective current-supply circuits. All the small
hand-wheels are detachably coupled with the through shaft W so that each
spindle may be rotated separately and all the spindles rotated together, by means of
the wheel R, on shaft W.
The arrangement hereinbefore described is particularly advantagious for the three-
wire system as the middle leads can be fixed to one and the same point whilst the two
systems of the outer leads are connected symmetrically to points of different potentials
(Figure 1) and are each provided with a separate regulating device, but several supply
leads of the same fall of tension can also be regulated together. In the case of unequal
consumption of current in the two halves of the three-wire system, the middle lead
also conveys current in one or the other direction and causes thereby a loss of tension
which decreases the system-tension of one half and simultaneously increases the
system-tension of the other half. Both could be compensated in the casiest manner
by shifting the middle lead-connection, as the cell passing out of the last half would
pass into the first half, but this need not be done under ordinary circumstances
in view of the saving of one regulating device, as the influence of the loss of tension
in the middle lead can also be removed by shifting the two outer main leads.
In the four or more,wire systems on the contrary, the regulation of the two outer leads
'does not suffice. I therefore employ for the five-wire system, for example, the arrange-
ment illustrated in Figure 3. The four circuits H' to H, situated one behind the other.
are provided with as many cell-including devices (I' to I) in a combination such that
the regulation of the one circuit will not influence the others. The cell-including
devices are therefore connected with the four outer leads K-K whilst the middle lead
is connected with the middle of the series of cells. The cell-including device I is
detachably coupled with 12 by means of a clutch device M' of any suitable construction:
the cell-including device is similarly connected by a similar device Me, with 1.
This clutch M (M²) is thrown out of gear as soon as the group H' (H) is to be
regulated alone but it is thrown in gear as soon as HP (HP) is to be regulated alone. By
operating the cell-including device 12 (13) in one or the other sense (P) is caused to
follow in the same sense; the number of cells for the circuit H (H) remains therefore
completely unaltered for the regulation of the circuit H2 (H³).
For the four-wire system. I arrange, corresponding to the three circuits situated
one behind the other, three cell-including devices for example for the first third and
fourth lead the two latter coupled detachably in the manner above.
In the arrangements herein before described, regulation by hand is assumed; but it
must be understood that the regulating devices may also be automatic. In such case,
the coupling illustrated in Figure 3 would also be arranged to operate automatically.
This can be effected in the simplest manner by means of a solenoid which is included
in the circuit of the electro-magnets for the automatic cell-including device 12 (13)
and effects the coupling every time the cell including device 12 (13) is moved
automatic devices are particularly advantageous when accumulator stations are
employed at a greater or less distance from the machine station: the accumulators
distributing the current supplied from the machine station over the next area
and therefore sending out one or more supply leads to the distributing system of
their area.
The
In those places of consumption which require various alterations of the tension of

page_text: the lamps (such as on the stage in theatres) for varying the intensity of the light I
employ the following arrangement:-To the main lead of the stage is connected an
accumulator-battery B (Figure 4) consisting of one or more parallel rows of cells.
Each group of lamps L, the degree of light of which is to be regulated separately,
provided with a cell-including device, consisting of a number of fixed contacts, a
fixed sliding piece connected to the supply lead of the group of lamps, and a
movable contact which is attached to the pivoted switch lever and makes con-
nection between the cell contact and the sliding piece (or lamp lead). The position
of the lever determines the connection of the group of lamps with a greater or less
number of cells so that the tension and, consequently, the intensity of the light may
be varied in a very simple manner. The cell-including devices for several groups of
lamps can be combined in a suitable manner by using cell-contacts common to all, as
indicated in Figure 2, for the supply leads of the distribution system.
For the purpose, for instance, of mingling two colors (say red and yellow) and also
of changing from one color to the other, I employ the arrangement illustrated in
Figure 5. The leads of the red and yellow lamps Land L2 are connected to the
terminals of a row of cells and a cell-including device is provided for the middle cells
which is connected with the return lead common to the two groups of lamps. As
long as the switch lever is in its middle position, the intensity of light in both the red
and the yellow lamps is equal but when the switch lever is rotated to the left in the
direction of the arrow the tension and the brightness of the red lamps (L') is
increased and that of the yellow ones 12, is reduced at the same time. When the
lever is in its extreme left hand position, the first group of lamps glows with normal
brightness whilst the other group glows with but a weak light so that the red pre-
dominates almost to the exclusion of the yellow. When the leyer is rotated towards
the right, this color changes gradually to yellow,
Figure 6 shews a modification of this arrangement wherein groups of lamps are
branched off parallel with a row of cells by means of double-cell-including devices;
the return lead may be common to all. The double-cell-including device is provided
with two rows of cell-contacts, . placed in reverse order: Therefore when the
switch lever, is rotated the row of cells of the one group increases whilst the other row
diminishes at the same time, as shewn in Figure 5. In order to effect the mingling of
colors and the change from one color to the other in every combination of the three
lamp system with lamp globes L. 1. L. (colored blue, red, and yellow, for instance)
and with a common return lead for all three groups of lamps, employ a triple
switch S as shewn in Figure 6. This switch consists of two contact bars p' con-
nected with the sliding pieces of the, double-cell-including device and of three
switch contacts a connected with the supply leads of the blue red and yellow lamps
which contacts can be separately connected with p or por may be disconnected
therefrom as required, In the position shown in Figure 6, the red lamps are
connected with, the blue with and both groups of lamps glow with medium
brightness. When the switch lever is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the
number of cells and, consequently, the brightness of the bine lamps is increased that
of the red lamps being at same time diminished.
A
The employment of the triple switch S in the arrangement shewn in Figure 6,
effects the regulation of the three-lamp system according to Figure 7 which will be
readily understood from the preceding without further explanation.
Dated this 4th day of Novemba 1900
WM. CLARK,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Distribution and Regulation of Electric
Currents.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Win. Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Sigmund
Schuckert and Co., of Nürnberg, Germany, Manufacturers, through their Agenis,
Wirth and Co. of Frankfort on the Main, Germany) 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 the distribution and regulation of electric currenis, and
consists in improvements which have for their object;
1. In a system of distribution designed for a uniform tension of consumption and
receiving electric energy from two or more current supply circuits.
(a) to regulate the terminal tensions of all the supply leads with variable con-
sumption of current and
(7) to allow of unequal falls of tension in the several supply leads with a maximum
consumption of current.
2. At places where variation in the intensity of the light is required, to allow of
the alteration of the tension of the lamps, according to the brightness desired.
Both the above mentioned objects are effected without the usual resistances which
consume uselessly a portion of the electrical energy and convert the same into
heat.
The supply leads, particularly where the areas of consumption are extensive, are
of very unequal lengths and there are in consequence various losses of tension when
each lead has its profitable cross-section (as defined in Thomson's formula).
In order to effect this (with uniform tension of the system) I lay the supply leads
at points of different potential and employ, for this purpose, besides the current-
generating dynamo D, a storage battery B, as illustrated in Figure of the drawings
accompanying my Provisional Specification. Since the tension of one cell amounts
to about two volts it is possible in this manner to cause the fall of tension of the
positive and negative supply lead of the two-wire system to take place in steps of
2, 4, 6, - volts each or the whole fall of tension in the positive and negative
lead together to take place in steps of approximately 4, 8, 12,
volts.
At first sight it would appear as if the cell a (Figure 1) were short circuited through
the two positive supply leads A and A' and the intermediate distributing lead but
that is not the case so long as consumption takes place in the system, that is to say
that current is conveyed in the direction of the arrow through both supply leads A
and A. In order to control this, each supply lead is provided with a device shewing
the direction of the current in order that, in the case of a wrong direction of the current
(in A for instance) this lead may be either cut out or connected to the point of
connection of A.
In order that short circuiting of the cells through two similar supply leads (caused
for instance by inattention on the part of an attendant) and the connecting distributing
lead, may be at once stopped, I provide the supply leads with cutting out devices
which operate in an automatic manner when the current takes a wrong direction.
In Figure 1, the supply leads A and A" are shewn provided with cutting out
devices each consisting of an electro-magnet E included in A and A" a polarised
armaturens (pivoted at o) which is attracted when the current is in the right direction
and by means of two contacts dipping in mercury cups maintains the closure of the
circuit but is repelled when the current is in thewrong direction and causes the breaking
of the circuit. Now, both the tension of the cells (according to the state of charging
and discharging) and the fall of tension in the supply leads (according to the con-
sumption of current in the system) are variable. I therefore arrange the connecting

page_text: points of the supply leads also in a variable manner and so that both the connection
of each supply lead separately and the connections of all the supply leads together are
movable (see Figure 2). In this figure Co, C, C2, etc., are leads (for instance copper
rods) which come from successive cells and have each a different potential. These
copper rods are provided with projections with which the slides T of the supply
leads A A are brought into contact. The slides Tare in the form of nuts screwing
on the threaded spindles F. When these spindles are rotated by the hand wheels G,
the contact slides T move to the right or to the left, according to the direction of
rotation, and thus effect a corresponding alteration in the tension in the respective
current supply circuits. All the small hand wheels G are detachably coupled with
the through shaft W so that each spindle F may be rotated separately and all the
spindles rotated together, by means of the wheel R on shaft W.
The arrangement herein before described is particularly advantageous for the three-
wire system, as the middle leads can be fixed to one and the same point whilst the two
systems of the outer leads are connected symmetrically to points of different potentials
(Figure 1) and are each provided with a separate regulating device, but several supply
leads of the same fall of tension can also be regulated together. In the case of unequal
consumption of current in the two halves of the three-wire system, the middle lead
also conveys current in one or the other direction and causes thereby a loss of tension
which decreases the system-tension of one half and simultaneously increases the system-
tension of the other half. Both could be compensated in the easiest manner by shifting
the middle lead-connection, as the cell passing out of the last half would pass into the
first half, but this need not be done under ordinary circumstances in view of the saving
of one regulating device, as the influence of the loss of tension in the middle lead cali
also be removed by shifting the two outer main leads.
In the four, or more, wire systems on the contrary, the regulation of the two outer
leads does not suffice. 1 therefore employ for the five-wire system, for example, the
arrangement illustrated in Figure 3. The four circuits H' to H, situated one behind
the other, are provided with as many cell-including devices (1 to 1') in a combination
such that the regulation of the one circuit will not influence the others. The cell-
including devices are therefore connected with the four outer leads K-K whilst
the middle lead is connected with the middle of the series of cells. The cell-
including device I is detachably coupled with 1 by means of a clutch device M³ of
any suitable construction, the cell-including device 1 is similarly connected by a similar
device with B. This clutch M (M²) is thrown out of
gear as SOON as the
group H (H) is to be regulated alone, but it is thrown in gear as soon as H2 (H³) is
to be regulated alone. By operating the cell-including device 12 (1) in one or the
other sense I' (14) is caused to follow in the same sense, the number of cells for the
circuit H (H³) remains therefore completely unaltered for the regulation of
the circuit H (H³).
For the four-wire system. I arrange, corresponding to the three circuits situated
one behind the other, three cell-including devices for example for the first, third, and
fourth lead, the two latter coupled detachably in the manner above.
In the arrangements herein before described, regulation by hand is assumed; but it
must be understood that the regulating devices may also be automatic. In such case,
the coupling illustrated in Figure 3 would also be arranged to operate automatically.
This can be effected in the simplest manner by means of a solenoid which is included
in the circuit of the electro-magnets for the automatic cell-including device 12 (13)
and effects the coupling every time the cell including device 12 (1) is moved. The
automatic devices are particularly advantageous when accumulators stations are
employed at a greater or less distance from the machine station, the accumulators
distributing the current supplied from the machine station over the next area and
therefore sending out one or more supply leads to the distributing system of their area.
In those places of consumption which require various alterations of the tension of
the lamps (such as on the stage in theatres) for varying the intensity of the light, I
employ the following arrangement-To the main lead of the stage is connected an
accumulator-battery B (Figure 4) consisting of one or more parallel rows of cells,

page_text: "'
Each group of lamps L. the degree of light which is to be regulated separately, is
provided with a cell-including device, consisting of a number of fixed contacts, a
fixed sliding piece connected in the supply lead of the group of lamps, and a movable
contact which is attached to the pivoted switch lever and makes connection between
the cell-contact and the sliding piece (or lamp lead). The position of the lever h
determines the connection of the group of lamps with a greater or less number of cell:
so that the tension and consequently the intensity of the light may be varied in a very
simple manner. The cell-including devices for several groups of lamps can be com-
bined in a suitable manner by using cell-contacts common to all, as indicated in
Figure 2, for the supply leads of the distribution system.
For the purpose, for instance, of mingling two colors (say red and yellow) and also
of changing from que color to the other, I employ the arrangement illustrated in
Figure 5. The leads of the red and yellow lamps L' and 12 are connected to the
terminals of a row of cells and a cell-including device is provided for the middle cells
which is connected with the return lead common to the two groups of lamps. As
long as the switch lever is in its middle position the intensity of light in both the red
and the yellow lamps is equal but when the switch lever is rotated to the left in the
direction of the arrow the tension and the brightness of the red lamps (L') is increased
and that of the yellow ones L is reduced at the same time. When the lever is in its
extreme left hand position, the first group of lamps glows with normal brightness
whilst the other group glows with but a weak light so that the red predominates
almost to the exclusion of the yellow. When the lever is rotated towards the right.
this color changes gradually to yellow.
Figure 6 shews a modification of this arrangement wherein groups of lamps are
branched off parallel with a row of cells by means of double cell-including devices;
the return lead may be common to all. The double cell-including devices is provided
with two rows of cell-contacts placed in reverse order, therefore when the switch
lever is rotated the row of cells of the one group increases whilst the other row
diminishes at the same time, as shewn in Figure 5.
A modification of Figure 6 is shown by Figure 6ª annexed hereto, where two
separate switch devices are employed. The same paris being indicated in this figure
by the same letters of reference, it will be understood without further explanation..
In order to effect the mingling of colors and the change from one color to the other
in every combination of the three lamp system with lamp globes L L 13 (colored
blue, red, and yellow, for instance) and with a common return lead for all three groups
of lamps 1 employ a triple switch S, as shown in Figure 6. This switch consists of
two contact bars ppl connected with the sliding pieces of the double cell-including
device and of three switch contacts a connected with the supply leads of the blue red
and yellow lamps, which contacts can be separately connected with por pl or may be
disconnected therefrom as required.
In the position shewn in Figure 6 the red lamps are connected with the blue
with and both groups of lamps glow with medium brightness. When the switch
lever is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the number of cells, and consequently
the brightness of the blue lamps, is increased, that of the red lamps being at same
time diminished.
The employment of the triple switch. S. in the arrangement shown in Figure 6,
effects the regulation of the three-lamp system according to Figure 7 which will he
readily understood from, the preceding without further explanation.
1
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
...
1. The combination with a storage battery and feeders leading from 'different cells
of said battery and connected to the distributing wires at various points, of switch
devices inserted in said, feeders, whereby each feeder may be disconnected from the
point to which it normally belongs and connected to the point of another feeder,
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. The combination, with a storage battery and feeders leading from different cells
of said battery and connected to the distributing wires at various points, substantially
as set forth, of cut-out devices inserted in said feeders and adapted to break the
circuit when the direction of the current is reversed, substantially as described and
shewn.
3. The combination, with a storage battery and feeders leading from different cells
of said battery and connected to the distributing wires at different points, substantially
as set forth, of switch devices inserted between said feeders and the cells of the battery,
whereby each feeder may be disconnected from the cell to which it normally belongs
and connected to anyone of the adjacent cells, substantially as described.
4. The combination, with a storage battery and feeders leading from different cells
of said battery and connected to the distributing wires at different points, substantially
as set forth, of switch devices inserted between said feeders and the cells of the battery
whereby each feeder may be disconnected from the cell to which it normally belongs
and connected to anyone of the adjacent cells and of a coupling device connecting
the said switches and enabling them to be operated simultaneously, substantially as
described.
5. The combination, with a storage battery and feeders leading from different
sections of the cells of said battery and connected to the distributing wires at
different points, substantially as set forth, of separate switch devices permanently
connected to the feeders and adapted to be moved to connect them with the various
cells of the sections of the battery to which they respectively belong, substantially as
described.
6. The combination, with a storage battery and one or more mains leading from the
same battery to lamps the brightness of which is to be regulated, of switch devices
inserted in said mains and adapted to connect them with various cells of the battery
in order to vary the tension of current and the brightness of lamps in any desired
degree, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, with a storage battery and two separate mains for two groups
of lamps the brightness of which is to be varied, of a switch device inserted in the
third common main for both said groups of lamps and adapted to connect any one of
the adjacent cells in order to raise the tension of current and the brightness of one
group of lamps and to diminish simultaneously the brightness of the other,
substantially as set forth.
S. The combination, with a storage battery and three separate mains for three
groups of lamps the brightness of which is to be varied, of a fourth common main
for said three groups of lamps and of a triple switch the contact bars of which having
leads to said battery in order to connect any one combination of said three groups of
lamps with the same battery, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination, with a storage battery and three separate mains to three groups
of lamps the brightness of which is to be varied, of a fourth common main for said
three groups of lamps and of a triple switch inserted in said separate mains having
two leads to said battery in order to connect any one combination of said three groups
of lamps with the same battery and of switch devices inserted in said leads and
adapted to connect various cells in order to vary the tension of current and the
brightness of said groups of lamps in any desired degree, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of July 1890.
WM. CLARK,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.