IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-DYNAMIC AND DYNAMO-ELECTRIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO EFFECT DISCONTINUOUS MOVEMENTS IN PARTS OF ENGINES AND MACHINERY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, of Tew Park, in the County
of Oxford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-DYNAMIC AND
DYNAMO-ELECTRIC APPARATUS, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO EFFECT
DISCONTINUOUS MOVEMENTS IN PARTS OF ENGINES AND MACHINERY."
Sealed the 23rd May 1879, and dated the 8th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Piers Watt
Boulton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March
1879.
"
MATTHEW PIERS WATT BOULTON, of Tew Park, in the County of Oxford. IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-DYNAMIC AND DYNAMO-ELECTRIC APPARATUS, AND IN
THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO EFFECT DISCONTINUOUS MOVEMENTS IN PARTS OF
ENGINES AND MACHINERY."
In applying electro-magnetism to produce motion of machinery a difficulty is
experienced owing to the very small space through which the attractive and
repulsive force of magnets is capable of acting without great diminution of intensity.
In consequence of this recourse is generally had to a large number of magnets, by
means of which many successive impulses are given following each other with great
rapidity. In many cases this is inconvenient, a slower movement and a smaller
number of magnets being desirable.
The same remarks apply to the converse case in which dynamo-electric apparatus
is employed to produce electricity by means of mechanical movement. The object
of my Invention is to provide means for avoiding the inconvenience above
mentioned.
For this purpose I connect a pair of electro-magnets together in such a manner
that they both move or rotate in the same direction, while the distance between
them changes, at one period diminishing, at the other increasing.
This may be done in various ways; one way is to connect the magnets with
cranks or eccentrics, one of these having a larger throw than the other in the
proportion desired.
Thus, while the magnets are moving in one direction the distance between them
increases, and while they move in the reverse direction the distance between
them diminishes at a rate determined by the difference of throw of the cranks or
eccentrics.

page_text: When this arrangement is used electro-dynamically or for production of motion
by electricity, the currents in the coils of the electro-magnets are directed by a
suitable commutator in such a way that the magnets attract one another while
they are approaching, and repel one another when they are separating.
In this manner the mutual attraction and repulsion of the magnets are exerted
through a stroke of as great length as may be desired, while during the whole
of it the magnets are very near one another, so that their mutual action is
powerful.
The movement thus produced may either be utilised as a reciprocating motion or
may be converted into a continuous rotary motion.
Instead of a single pair of magnets several pairs may be arranged to act as above
described.
Also several pairs or sets of magnets may be connected with one axis, their
movements being timed as in multiple engines so as to produce greater uniformity
of action during each revolution.
In such a case if desired the magnet or magnets of each set may be acted on only in
one manner, that is, by repulsion only or by attraction only, so that the strain on the
connections may be always exerted in the same direction.
Another construction is to connect the magnets with two axes parallel but
eccentric, revolving with the same angular velocity under the circumstances; as the
magnets revolve they change their relative positions, sometimes approaching one
another, sometimes separating; the electric currents which act on them and cause
repulsion and attraction being directed by means of a commutator in the manner
above described.
In apparatus such as above described instead of using pairs of electro-magnets
one member of the pair may be a permanent magnet.
When it is desired to use the apparatus for the production of electricity the
general arrangement is the same, but mechanical force is applied to cause the
approach and separation of the magnets whilst the commutator operates so as to
cause attraction between the magnets while they are separating, and repulsion while
they are approaching.
One purpose for which electro-dynamic apparatus such as above described may
be used is to move valves and other moving parts of engines, such as steam engines
and other engines worked by fluid pressure, or generally parts of machinery which
have discontinuous movements.
In working these engines it is frequently desirable that a valve or moving part
shall move in one way during a certain portion of the stroke or revolution of the
engine, and shall during other portions move differently or be at rest.
Generally this is effected by means of cams, but owing. to the sudden changes of
strain this method is objectionable when the movement of the engine is rapid.
Discontinuous movements of this kind can be effected by means of apparatus
such as above described. For this purpose a source of electricity is provided. The
electricity may conveniently be generated by a machine worked by the engine,
which may be of the nature previously described, or may be a dynamo-electric
machine of any known construction. Or the electricity may be generated by a
voltaic battery.
A commutator worked continuously by the engine brings the coils of the electro-
magnets at suitable times into the electric circuit.
At times they are connected so that the magnets repel one another, at other
times so that they attract one another, and the force thus exerted by the magnets
causes the movement of the valve or part which it is desired to move, the magnets
being suitably connected with this.
If during a certain period the valve or body is to remain at rest, then during
this period the coils of the magnet are thrown out of circuit, and the magnets are
inert.
In order to utilise the movement of the dynamo-electric machinery during the
period when the electro-dynamic apparatus is not moving, the former may be made

page_text: to charge a condenser, the electricity accumulated in this being used when the
electro-dynamic apparatus is in action.
In some cases where the movement is very rapid it might be thought best to
work with the magnets only in one direction, to avoid sudden change of strain on
the connecting rods. In such a case two arrangements of magnets may be provided
in connection with one valve or moving body, one set causing the movement in one
direction, the other in the reverse direction; or the magnets might be arranged to
act in opposition to springs.
In a Provisional Specification filed by me on the 7th February 1879, I have
described a construction of engine with a displacing piston which has a discon-
tinuous movement moving at certain times, and at other times resting. The
movement of such a piston may be caused in the manner above described.
If it is desired to give movements of a varying kind to a moving part, this may
be done by increasing the number of pairs of magnets employed, and bringing
them into circuit at suitable times, by which means the movement of the moving
piece can be varied in a great variety of ways.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Matthew Piers Watt Boulton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th September 1879.
"
MATTHEW PIERS WATT BOULTON, of Tew Park, in the County of Oxford. 'IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-DYNAMIC AND DYNAMO-ELECTRIC APPARATUS, AND IN
THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO EFFECT DISCONTINUOUS MOVEMENTS IN PARTS OF
ENGINES AND MACHINERY."
In applying electro-magnetism to produce motion of machinery a difficulty is
experienced owing to the very small space through which the attractive and.
repulsive force of magnets is capable of acting without great diminution of intensity.
In consequence of this recourse is generally had to a large number of magnets, by
means of which many successive impulses are given following each other with
great rapidity. In many cases this is inconvenient, a slower movement and a
smaller number of magnets being desirable. The same remarks apply to the
converse case in which dynamo-electric apparatus is employed to produce electricity
by means of mechanical movement. The object of my Invention is to provide
means for avoiding the inconvenience above mentioned.
For this purpose I connect a pair of electro-magnets together in such a manner
that they both move or rotate in the same direction, while the distance between
them changes, at one period diminishing, at the other increasing.
This may be done in various ways, one way is to connect the magnets with cranks
or eccentrics, one of these having a larger throw than the other in the proportion
desired;
thus while the magnets are moving in one direction the distance between
them increases, and while they move in the reverse direction the distance between

page_text: them diminishes at a rate determined by the difference of throw of the cranks or
eccentrics.
When this arrangement is used electro-dynamically or for production of motion
by electricity, the currents in the coils of the electro-magnets are directed by a
suitable commutator in such a way that the magnets attract one another while
they are approaching, and repel one another when they are separating. In this
manner the mutual attraction and repulsion of the magnets are exerted through a
stroke of as great length as may be desired, while during the whole of it the
magnets are very near one another, so that their mutual action is powerful.
The movement thus produced may either be utilised as a reciprocating motion,
or may be converted into a continuous rotary motion.
Instead of a single pair of magnets several pairs may be arranged to act as above
described. Also several pairs or sets of magnets may be connected with one axis,
their movements being timed as in multiple engines so as to produce greater uni-
formity of action during each revolution. In such a case, if desired, the magnet or
magnets of each set may be acted on only in one manner, that is, by repulsion only
or by attraction only, so that the strain on the connections may be always exerted
in the same direction.
Another construction is to connect the magnets with two axes parallel, but
eccentric, revolving with the same angular velocity. Under these circumstances as
the magnets revolve they change their relative positions, sometimes approaching
one another, sometimes separating; the electric currents which act on them and
cause repulsion and attraction being directed by means of a commutator in the
manner above described.
In apparatus such as above described instead of using pairs of electro-magnets
one member of the pair may be a permanent inagnet.
When it is desired to use the apparatus for the production of electricity, the
general arrangement is the same, but mechanical force is applied to cause the
approach and separation of the magnets, whilst the commutator operates so as to
cause attraction between the magnets while they are separating, and repulsion while
they are approaching.
One purpose for which electro-dynamic apparatus such as above described may
be used is to move valves and other moving parts of engines, such as steam engines
and other engines worked by fluid pressure, or generally parts of machinery which
have discontinuous movements. In working these engines it is frequently desirable
that a valve or moving part shall move in one way during a certain portion of the
stroke or revolution of the engine, and shall during other portions move differently
or be at rest. Generally this is effected by means of cams, but owing to the
sudden changes of strain this method is objectionable when the movement of the
engine is rapid. Discontinuous movements of this kind can be effected by means
of apparatus such as above described. For this purpose a source of electricity is
provided. The electricity may conveniently be generated by a machine worked by
the engine, which may be of the nature previously described, or may be a dynamo-
electric machine of any known construction. Or the electricity may be generated
by a voltaic battery. A commutator worked continuously by the engine brings the
.coils of the electro-magnets at suitable times into the electric circuit. At times they
are connected so that the magnets repel one another, at other times so that they
attract one another, and the force thus exerted by the magnets causes the movement
of the valve or part which it is desired to move, the magnets being suitably connected
with this. If, during a certain period, the valve or body is to remain at rest, then
during this period the coils of the magnets are thrown out of circuit, and the
magnets are inert.
In order to utilise the movement of the dynamo-electric machinery during the
period when the electro-dynamic apparatus is not moving, the former may be made
to charge a condenser, the electricity accumulated in this being used when the
.electro-dynamic apparatus is in action.
In some cases where the movement is very rapid it might be thought best to

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of machine according to my Invention for
applying electricity to produce motion of machinery or for producing electricity by
means of mechanical movement. M., M2, are two electro-magnets, the one M¹
linked by a connecting rod B₁ to a crank C¹ on a shaft S, and the other M² linked
by two connecting rods B2, B2, to cranks C, on the same shaft S. The cranks C²
being of less throw than the crank C, the two magnets M', M³, are when the
shaft S revolves both moved upwards and downwards, approaching each other in
their downstroke, and receding from each other in their upstroke. The coils of the
magnets M1, M2, are connected by wires W¹, w', W2, w², to a commutator of any
known form worked by the engine, which connects them with a source of electricity
in such a manner that the magnets attract one another while approaching, and
repel one another while receding. In this way movement is given to the shaft S,
which may be a continuous rotary movement, or may be an oscillating movement.
If it is desired to impart continuous rotary movement to the shaft several sets of
magnets may be made to act on it at different angles as in multiple cylinder
engines so as to render the action inore uniform.
When it is desired to apply the electricity to give discontinuous movement to a
piece of mechanism, as for example to valves, then S may be a rocking shaft
turning partly round in opposite directions alternately. In this case the com-
mutator is timed so as to cause the magnets to make their stroke when required,
and a rod attached to one of the magnets or to an arm on the shaft S imparts the
movement to the valve or other piece which it is desired to move.
As the current in the coils of one of the magnet needs no alternation it is obvious
that a permanent magnet might be substituted for it. The connecting rods B', B2,
instead of being connected to cranks on a shaft might be connected to lever arms
of different lengths projecting from one rocking shaft, and the alternate attraction
and repulsion of the magnets will in that case cause the arms to oscillate.
The apparatus described may be used for the production of electricity by applying
power to drive the shaft S, causing alternate approach and recession of the magnets.
The currents induced in their coils by these movements are conducted by the
wires W¹, w', W2, w2, to be utilised as alternating currents, or they may be led
through any known commutator so as to give them constant direction.
The same apparatus is applicable when it is desired to generate electricity by
mechanical force. In this case power is applied to work the shaft S, and the wires
are connected to the external circuit in which the electricity is employed either
directly, when alternating currents are required, or through a commutator when
currents of uniform direction are required.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section; and Fig. 3, a front view of an arrangement of
rotating magnets having an alternate approach to and recession from one another
in each revolution; S1, S2, are two shafts caused to revolve at the same speed, but

page_text: having their axes eccentric to one another. On a disc or plate D¹, fixed on the one
shaft S¹, are placed a number of magnets M³, and on a disc or boss D², fixed on the
other shaft S³, are placed a corresponding number of magnets M². It will be seen
that while the poles of the magnets M¹ revolve in the circular path C¹ the poles of
the magnets M³ revolve in the circle C eccentric to C¹, and thus the poles are made
to approach to and recede from one another through a comparatively small distance
during each revolution of the shaft, whilst the magnets themselves travel through
a considerable distance.
This apparatus, like that formerly described, may be employed either for
obtaining rotary motion from electricity conducted to the coils of the magnets or
for generating electrical currents in those coils when power is applied to drive the
shafts S1, S2. The remarks made above as to means of exciting the magnets and
commutating the currents are applicable in respect of the apparatus shewn in
Figs. 2 and 3. One of each pair of the magnets may in this case be a per-
manent magnet, or it may be an electro-magnet excited either by a portion of the
electricity generated by the apparatus or by electricity from a separate apparatus.
When the purpose of the apparatus is to work valves or other moving parts of an
engine or machine the magnet may be excited from a small machine worked by
hand before the engine or main machine is started.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I claim in respect of electro-dynamic or dynamo-
electric apparatus,——
First. Connecting a pair of magnets to rotating cranks or reciprocating arms of
different lengths on the same shaft or axis so that the magnets approach each other
when they are moving in one direction, and recede from each other when they are
moving in the opposite direction, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
Second. Attaching the magnets to arms of different lengths rotating at the samo
angular velocity round axes eccentric to each other, so that in each half revolution
the magnets approach each other, and in the other half revolution they recede from
one another, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.