Improvements in Governors for Dynamo-electric Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Governors for Dynamo-electric Machines.
I, MAHLON SMITH CONLY, of 5459 Monroe Avenue, Hyde Park, Chicago,
Illinois, United States of America Electrician, do hereby declare the 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of governors for dynamos
which are automatically operated through the influence of the dynamo current to
change or alter the voltage, or electro motive force of such current, with each
change in the condition of the circuit operated thereby.
Such governors may be employed in connection with dynamos operating line
circuits for any use, but are especially designed and adapted for use upon dynamos
operating arc light circuits, and it is therefore this use which is illustrated in the
drawings and will be instanced in the Specification, for clearness of description and
to afford a perfect understanding of the purpose of the invention.
It is well known that substantially the same ampereage of current is required to
operate one or two are lights that is required for a dozen or more lights, but the
voltage or electro motive force required is considerably less, and unless changed
with each change in the condition or resistance of the line circuit, great wastage
of energy occurs, besides of involving danger of injury to apparatus included in
the line, and to the dynamo, as well as to persons and property.
It is therefore the purpose of this class of regulators or governors, to auto-
matically increase or decrease the voltage or electro-motive force of the current
produced by the dynamo, in proportion to the work to be performed by such
current, so that when once the current is proportioned for operating a circuit of a
given resistance any change in the resistance or any change in the speed of the
armature which results in a change in the ampereage of the current, will be almost
instantly compensated for by a corresponding change in the voltage or electro
motive force of the current, through the instrumentality of the regulator or
governor, thus automatically adjusting the current to the new conditions of the
circuit.
This result has been accomplished, more or less effectually, by many different
forms of apparatus, some of which operate to shift or change the position of the
commutator brushes, some to introduce resistance in the circuit corresponding with
the unused apparatus, and others to change the field magnet, while still others
operate to change the speed of the armature; but none of the prior forms of
apparatus are capable of accomplishing the desired result, except through the
instrumentality of the particular organisms with which they are especially designed
to co-operate; beside which the prior devices, so far as I am aware, are more or
less complicated and expensive, in addition to being uncertain in operation, for the
actuating power, in all cases is indirectly applied through the intervention of spring
actuated levers, magnets and movable contact points, all of which contribute to
the uncertainty of the operation of the device.
The prime object of this invention is to have a governor capable of use in
connection with any dynamo-electric machine; that is capable of controlling or
regulating the electric current in any manner in which that result has heretofore
been accomplished; and which applies the power directly to the part to be affected
or actuated without the intervention of levers or any equivalent device.
Another object of this invention is to have a governor comprising a series of
electro-magnets constantly energized by the current from the dynamo, and an
armature common to all of said magnets, and cooperating with the same, so as to

page_text: increase or decrease the voltage or electro-motive force of the current with each
change in the line circuit.
A further object is to have a governor comprising a series of electro-magnets
constantly energized by the dynamo current, and an armature common to all of
said magnets, one of which organisms is normally stationary but rotable, and the
other continuously rotating, whereby with every change in the line circuit
producing a corresponding change in the magnetism of said magnets, the normally
stationary organism will be influenced to partially rotate by the continuously
rotating organism, thus instantly operating to produce a corresponding change in
the voltage or electro-motive force of the dynamo current.
A still further object is to have the governor of such character that it may be
readily adjusted to any initial current and so sensitive as to be instantly operated
by any change in the initial current, to change the voltage or electro-motive force
of the current to compensate for the variation in the initial current, whereby a
constant and uniform current is produced, notwithstanding, but on the contrary,
corresponding with changes in the initial current.
These objects are attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which,
Fig. 1, represents a face view of a governor embodying my invention ;
Fig. 2, a central vertical section thereof;
Fig. 3, a plan view of a dynamo with my governor applied thereto for governing
the current through the intermediary of the commutator brushes.
Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 ;
Fig. 5, a diagram showing the government of the current through the fields of
a dynamo; and
Fig. 6, a similar view showing the current governed by resistance introduced
into or cut out of the line circuit by the governor.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
As before stated, my governor is not only capable of use in connection with
any dynamo electric machine, but is adapted for governing the current in many
different ways, in fact in any way in which the current has heretofore been
governed.
This governor comprises a disk wheel or ring A, of any suitable construction,
mounted concentrically with the axis of the armature shaft B, either upon a
separate journal, or upon an extension of the bushing C, which lines the bearing
of the armature shaft, in order that the wheel may not be affected by the rotation
of the armature shaft, the latter method of journalling the wheel being preferable
on account of the compactness and simplicity of the construction which avoids the
employment of separate and extra parts, involving additional expense and
uncertainty of operation through poor or disturbed adjustment.
To this wheel, ring or disk, is secured a series of electro magnets D, projecting
inwardly and radially therefrom and terminating at equal distances from the axis
of the wheel, which latter constitutes a common heel-piece for all of the magnets,
the coils of which are connected with the line wires E, of the outside or line
circuit, that the polarities of the magnet alternate with each other.
Thus it will be seen that each magnet has on each side of it a magnet of opposite
polarity that is to say, if its pole is north the poles of the magnets on each side of
it will be south, so that each magnet serves to cooperate with the magnets at each
side thereof, to successively form an ordinary electro-magnet of two poles, and
operating to attract an armature when current is flowing through the magnet; and
as all the coils are connected in, and in fact form part of, the line circuit operated
by the dynamo, all of the current generated by the machine necessarily passes
through the coils and energizes the electro-magnet, but in large machines where
heavy currents are generated, a shunt may be used and only a part of the current
taken.
For these electro-magnets I provide a series of armatures E, which become.

page_text: common to all of the magnets of the series by being revolved or traveled past
them continually in rapid succession, each armature being successively acted upon
by each pair of magnets.
These armatures preferably consist of segmental iron pieces, laminated, and
having a comb-like structure in cross section for the purpose of providing air
spaces for cooling them, they are mounted upon and carried by a wheel F, which
is keyed to the armature shaft and revolves therewith, being of such diameter that
the armatures carried thereby travel in close proximity to, but without actually
making contact with the poles of all the magnets in successive order.
Hence, whenever the current is flowing, the electro-magnets are energized, and
their attraction for the rapidly revolving armatures induces a partial rotation of
the wheel carrying the electro-magnets, which partial rotation differs in degree
with the strength or ampereage of the current which increases and decreases the
attractive force of the magnets for the armatures.
This partial rotation or movement of the governor wheel is utilized for operating
the different devices employed for controlling or governing the voltage or electro-
motive force of the current; aud in order that different, and, in fact, any desirable,
voltage or electro-motive force may be selected for the normal current, the partial
rotation of the governor wheel should be opposed by some adjustable force, such as
a spring or the counterpoise or weight G, adjustable upon the arm H, projecting
radially from one side of the governor wheel, by means of which the attractive
force of the governor magnets with any desirable initial current, may be exactly
counterbalanced and practically nullified so far as its effect upon the wheel, with
relation to the devices operated thereby, is concerned.
Hence after the counterpoise is. adjusted to balance the attractive force of the
magnets, this balance will not be disturbed as long as the resistance in the line
circuit and the speed of the armature remains the same, for the strength of the
current produced by the machine will remain substantially the same, but
immediately the resistance in the line circuit is changed, the speed of the armature.
being maintained, although the electro-motive force of the current will remain the
same, the quantity or ampereage of the current will be changed, causing a corre-
sponding increase or decrease in the attraction of the electro magnets of the
governor, sufficient to disturb the balance between such attraction and the counter-
poise, either by acting against, so as to overcome, the counterpoise and move the
governor wheel in one direction so as to actuate the governing devices to reduce
the electro-motive force or voltage of the current, or else acting with, and
permitting the counterpoise to move the governor wheel in the opposite direction,
and thereby actuate the current controlling devices to increase the electro-motive
force or voltage of the current.
Thus it will be understood that any change in the strength or ampereage of
the current from any cause whatever, will be almost instantly compensated for
by a change of electro-motive force or voltage, the governor wheel assuming a new
position with each change of the current, in each of which positions it is balanced
by the counterpoise, although the latter remains out of its normal position until the
resistance is restored to the normal for the initial current; but there is no limit to
the number of changes in the position of the governor wheel, which may take place
continually in one direction, according to the continued increase or decrease of the
current strength, due to changing conditions in the line circuit, or armature speed,
or alternately in opposite directions, for the governor will respond to every change of
the current strength.
As before mentioned, there are many ways in which the voltage or electro-motive
force of the current may be controlled and changed, and the movement of my
governor may be utilized to effect this result.
For instance, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the governor wheel may be
connected by rods I with the yoke carrying the brushes K, of the dynamo, so
that with each change in the strength of the current, the position of the brushes
upon the dynamo will be shifted toward or away from the neutral point, according

page_text: to whether the strength of the current is increased or decreased, causing a
corresponding change in the voltage or electro-motive force of the current.
To govern the current by changing the strength of the field magnets, I provide
two series of contact points L, connected respectively by branch wires M with
different sections or coils of the field magnet coils, and successively engaged by
moving contact points N, carried by but insulated from the governor wheel and
connected with the respective brushes O, by wires P. When the governor wheel
moves as a result of a change in the current strength, the contact points carried
thereby move from one stationary contact point to the other, according to the
direction in which the wheel moves, thus cutting out or into the circuit more or less
of the coils or sections of the field magnets, which, as in the movement of the
commutator brushes, produces a corresponding change in the voltage or electro-
motive force of the current.
In Figure 6 I have illustrated the introduction of resistance into the line circuit,
by means of a moving contact point Q, carried by but insulated from the governor
ring and with which is connected the line wire, this contact being adapted and
arranged to successively engage a series of stationary contact points. R, each
connected with a resistance coil S, which coils are connected with one another, and
one of them connected with the line wire T, much after the arrangement of an
ordinary rheostat or "resistance box."
While this arrangement does not serve to change the voltage or electro-motive
force of the current according to the changes of the current strength, it accomplishes
the same end by introducing resistance into the line circuit corresponding with the
cut out or unused lights or other instruments.
It is also obvious that the movement of the governor wheel may be readily
adapted, by one skilled in the art, to operate the governor of the engine driving the
/dynamo, and thus by changing the armature speed effect the desired result; and in
fact this movement of the governor wheel which takes place with every change in
the current strength, may be utilized to govern the current in any manner in which
it is possible to effect such regulation.
Beside the simplicity and durability of its construction a governor constructed in
accordance with my invention possesses the advantage of certainty of operation, and
of a sensitiveness that enables it to promptly respond to the slightest changes in the
strength of the current governed thereby due to changing conditions of the line
circuit, or for any other reason.
Obviously different arrangements of the elements or organisms of my invention
may be effected without departing from the spirit thereof, such for instance as
revolving the magnets and leaving the armature stationary, which is a reversal of
the present arrangements, or by having the armature work upon the outside instead
of in the inside of the series of magnets, an obvious modification which would
produce the same result; nor is it necessary that either the armature or the
governor wheel should be supported by or mounted upon and driven by the armature
shaft, for any other means of supporting and operating these organisms so that one
is revolved in proximity to the other, would come within the scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my 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 dynamo, of a governor, comprising a series of electro
magnets included in the dynamo circuit, or a shunt thereof, and an armature common
to all of said magnets, one of said organisms being normally stationary but
rotable, and the other continuously rotating whereby with every change of current
strength the voltage or electro-motive force of the current produced by the dynamo
will be correspondingly altered, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The combination with a dynamo, and a current controlling apparatus of a
governor comprising a series of electro-magnets included in the dynamo circuit
Cor a shunt thereof, and an. armature common to all of said magnets, one of said

page_text: organisms being normally stationary but rotable, and the other continuously rotating,
and a connection between the normally stationary organism and the current
controlling apparatus, whereby every change in the current strength produces a
corresponding change in the voltage or electro-motive force, of the current, sub-
stantially as described.
3. The combination with a dynamo, of a governor comprising a rotable but
normally stationary series of electro-magnets included in the dynamo circuit, and
a continuously rotating armature common to all of said magnets and working in-
proximity thereto substantially as described.
4. The combination with a dynamo and a current controlling apparatus of a
governor comprising a rotable but normally stationary series of electro-magnets
included in the dynamo circuit, a continuously rotating armature common to all
of said magnets and working in proximity thereto, and a connection between the
support for a series of magnets and the current controlling apparatus, whereby
every change in the current strength produces a corresponding change in the
current produced by the dyuamo, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a dynamo and a current controlling apparatus of a
governor comprising a rotable but normally stationary series of electro-magnets
included in the dynamo circuit, of a rotating armature common to all of said
magnets, mounted upon and carried by the armature shaft of the dynamo in
proximity to the poles of said magnets, and a connection between the support of
said series of magnets and the current controlling apparatus substantially as
described.
6. The combination with a dynamo and a current controlling apparatus of a
governor comprising a series of electro magnets included in the dynamo circuit, a
rotable but normally stationary support therefor, mounted upon an axis common
to the armature shaft of the dynamo, an armature common to all of said magnets,
mounted upon the armature shaft of the dynamo, and working in proximity to the
poles of said magnets, and a connection between the support for said magnets and
the current controlling apparatus, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a dynamo, of a governor comprising a wheel connected
with the dynamo but loosely journalled upon the armature shaft and carrying a
circumferential series of electro-magnets included in the dynamo circuit, and an
armature common to all of said magnets, mounted upon and carried by the armature
shaft of the dynamo in proximity to the poles of said magnets, substantially as
described.
8. The combination with a dynamo of a governor comprising a wheel connected
with the dynamo but loosely journalled upon the axis of the armature shaft and
carrying a circumferential series of electro magnets, included in the dynamo circuit
for which the wheel constitutes a common heel piece and an armature common to
all of said magnets, mounted upon and carried by the armature shaft of the dynamo
in proximity to the poles of said magnets, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a dynamo of a governor comprising a wheel connected
with the current controlling apparatus but loosely journalled upon the axis of the
armature shaft and carrying a circumferential series of electro magnets for which
the wheel constitutes a common heel piece said magnet having alternate polarities,
and an armature common to all of said magnets, mounted upon and carried by the
armature shaft of the dynamo, in proximity to the poles of said magnets, sub-
stantially as described.
10. The combination with a dynamo of a governor, comprising a wheel connected
with the current controlling apparatus, but loosely journalled upon the axis of the
armature shaft, and carrying a circumferential series of electro-magnets, included
in the dynamo circuit, a counterpoise for said wheel, and an armature common to
all of said magnets, mounted upon and carried by the armature shaft of the dynamo,
in proximity to the poles of said magnets, substantially as described.
11. The combination with a dynamo, of a governor comprising a wheel connected
with the current controlling apparatus but loosely journalled upon the axis of the

page_text: armature shaft and carrying a circumferential series of electro-magnets included
in the dynamo circuit, an adjustable counterpoise for said wheel, and an armature
common to all said magnets mounted upon and carried by the armature shaft of
the dynamo, in proximity to the poles of said magnets, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of June 1891.
MAHLON SMITH CONLY.
Witnesses:
GEO. R. CORWIN.
J. C. BRECHT.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.