Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 13th Sept., 1888
I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI of 5 Stanwick Road West Kensington in the
County of Middlesex Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in conveying electric energy and in applying
the same to the production of motive power.
I make use of alternating currents of high intensity, preferably derived from an
electro dynamo electric machine and to convey these currents to the places where they
are to be utilized I employ a conductor or cable which I suspend from supporting
wires carried upon posts. On the posts are insulators and to theso the supporting
wires are attached and they hang in separately insulated sections each extending from
one post to another. The conductor or cable I connect with these supporting wires
by links preferably of an insulating or semi-insulating material such for example as
leather. Preferably I use for these connections a material which is destroyed by heat.
The advantage in so doing is that if the insulation of the supporting wire should be
accidentally impaired and if an arc should be established between the conductor and
the supporting wire then this arc will cause the destruction of the connection in its
immediate vicinity and so will allow the conductor at this point to fall away from the
supporting wire to a distance greater than that over which the arc can extend. In
this way the fault will be automatically cured. Sometimes, in order to convey the
current I employ posts with insulators and cables in short lengths attached to these
insulators in separate spans from post to post. Electric connection is made between
the cable or conductor and a metallic head upon the insulator. The line is afterwards
coupled up so as to render it continuous by inserting metallic plugs into sockets in
the heads of the insulators. These plugs are connected in pairs by short lengths of
conductor, and at each post the circuit is closed by inserting the plugs, forming a
pair, into the sockets in the heads of two adjacent insulators upon the post.
In order to ensure good contact and also to avoid risk of the plugs escaping from
the sockets I so construct the plugs that when in place they can be expanded by a
screw or wedge and made to bear tightly against the walls of the sockets.

page_text: As the cables and conductors are liable to elongate I provide for the adjustment of
the length between post and post. For this purpose the end of the cable or conductor
is led round the insulator and back to a clip through an eye in which it is threaded
and it is then led to the metal head of the insulator and electrically connected with it.
The clip is made to embrace the cable or conductor and is shifted to such a position as
is requisite to give the desired tension in the span. The same method is applicable to
supporting wires except that in this case the wire when led to the insulator is made
fast to it in place of being threaded through an eye.
I utilize these alternate currents for obtaining motive power by causing them to
pass through a compound apparatus consisting of two electro motors. The principal
motor is one without commutator and such that when running at a suitable speed it
will maintain this speed and synchronize itself with the alternaternation of the currents
passing through it. The other electro motor is of much smaller dimensions, it is
provided with a commutator and is capable of starting from rest when the current is
passed through it. The armature of this machine is geared with or preferably on the
same shaft with the armature of the first electro motor, so that when the circuit is
first closed the small motor drives the armature of the main motor, and so brings it
to the speed requisite to enable it to work synchronously with the current supplied to
it by the circuit. The motors are then in a position to perform the work required of
them.
In place of the arrangement above described 1 sometimes employ an electro motor
without commutator and of a novel construction I arrange both the armature and the
field magnets in such manner that they are able to rotate about a common axis. I
provide hand or other gear, by means of which the armature can be started and raised
to the synchronizing speed, the machine at this time doing no external work. Then
when the proper speed is attained and the armature is driven by the current I apply a
brake to the axis of the armature in such manner as to check its rotation, whereupon
the energy in the circuit is applied to move the field-magnets and these are gradually
put into motion togethor with the mechanism which they have to drive. As the
armature continues to be checked the speed of rotation of the field magnets increases
until finally the armature is brought to rest and the field magnets remain in movement
at the proper speed to synchronize with the currents on the circuit.
I prefer that the circuit through the field-magnets should be derived from a
secondary battery, and this battery may be charged by means of a dynamo driven by
the motor from time to time when it is at work. Or the battery may be charged from
the main circuit by the aid of a commutator and suitable appliances to adjust the
intensity of the current.
Sometimes in dynamos in which both the armature and the magnets are capable of
rotating, I employ variable gear connecting two together and so arranged that either
may be allowed to rotate whilst the other is at rest, or that both may rotate at any
desired relative speeds.
In order to prevent sparking at the commutators of dynamos and motors I
magnetise the contact pieces of the commutator so that the current passes from a pole
of one sign to a pole of another sign and sometimes I provide for the reversal of the
magnetism in the contact pieces as the brush travels over them. Or in place of this
arrangement I sometimes with a like object surround the commutator with a coil in
which a current passes; or the coil may be placed inside the commutator.
Dated this 13th day of September 1887.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Conveying Electric Energy and in Applying the
same to the Production of Motive Power.
I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI, of 5 Stanwick Road, West Kensington in the
County of Middlesex, 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 conveying electric energy and in applying
the same to the production of motive power.
I make use of alternating currents of high intensity, preferably derived from an
electro dynamo electric machine and to convey these currents to the places where
they are to be utilized I employ a conductor or cable which I suspend from supporting
wires carried upon posts. On the posts are insulators and to these the supporting
wires are attached and they hang in separately insulated sections each extending from
one post to another. The conductor or cable I connect with these supporting wires by
links preferably of an insulating or semi-insulating material such for example as
leather. Preferably I use for these connections a material which is destroyed by heat.
The advantage in so doing is that if the insulation of the supporting wire should be
accidentally impaired and if an are should be established between the conductor and
the supporting wire then this arc will cause the destruction of the connection in its
immediate vicinity and so will allow the conductor at this point to fall away from the
supporting wire to a distance greater than that over which the arc can extend.
this way the fault will be automatically cured.
In
Figure 1 of the drawings annexed is an elevation of part of a cable conductor
suspended in the above manner-A A are the upper part of posts-B B insulators
carried by the posts at a distance apart from one another-C wires extending from an
insulator on one post to an insulator on the next-D a conductor or cable supported
by leather thongs E from the wires C. One of these thongs is shewn separately at
Figure 2-it is formed with a slot E' through it at one end it is doubled around the
conductor and the other end is threaded through the slot so that the conductor is
embraced by the thong as shown at Figure 3. A split ring F is afterwards threaded
through an eye in the narrower end of the thong and over the supporting wire C and
its ends are closed together.
Sometimes, in order to convey the current I employ posts with insulators and cables
in short lengths attached to these insulators in separate spans from post to post.
Electric connection is made between the cable or conductor and a metallic head upon
the insulator. The line is afterwards coupled up so as to render it continuous by
inserting metallic plugs into sockets in the heads of the insulators. These plugs are
connected in pairs hy short lengths of conductor, and at each post the circuit is closed
by inserting the plugs, forming a pair, into the sockets in the heads of two adjacent
insulators upon the post.
In order to ensure good contact and also to avoid risk of the plugs escaping from

page_text: 4
the sockets I so construct the plugs that when in place they can be expanded by a
screw or wedge and made to bear tightly against the walls of the sockets.
As the cables and conductors are liable to elongate I provide for the adjustment
of the length between post and post. For this purpose the end of the cable or con-
ductor is led round the insulator and back to a clip through an eye in which it is
threaded and it is then led to the metal head of the insulator and electrically connected
with it. The clip is made to embrace the cable or conductor and is shifted to such a
position as is requisite to give the desired tension in the span. The same method is
applicable to supporting wires except that in this case the wire when led to the
insulator is made fast to it in place of being threaded through an eye.
Figure 4 is a plan and Figure 5 an elevation of a post carrying a pair of insulators
to each of which is secured the end of a length of conductor and electrical connection
made between the ends of the two conductors in the manner above described.
Figures 6 and 7 are similar views showing a means for enabling the connection to
be made or unmade safely. .Figure 8 is an end elevation of one of the insulators and
key or handle for making or unmaking connection. Figure 9 is a section through
the line ab Figure 6. Figure 10 shews the connecting conductor separately.
Figure 11 shews separately the tapering wedge by which the plug at the end of the
connecting conductor can be expanded. Figures 12 and 13 shew two parts into which
the key for making or unmaking connection is divided. Figures 14 and 15 are
sections through the clip by which the end of each length of conductor is held.
In these figures A is the upper end of a supporting post-B B are insulators carried
by the post at a distance apart from one another-Care metallic caps fixed on the
top of the insulators-D D lengths of conductors secured to these metallic caps and
making contact with them-"C" sockets cast in one piece with the caps CE' E'
hollow expansible plugs to be inserted into the sockets and formed one at each end
of a short connecting conductor E-F, F, are cones or tapering wedges which can be
inserted into the plugs E¹ to expand them. Each cone has a screw thread at one end
to screw into a corresponding thread in the end of the plug-it has also a square end
or head for a key G to fit over to turn it. On the exterior of the end of the plug is
also a screw thread for a handlo H to screw on to- the handle is hollow to allow of
the key G to pass through it. Each of these handles is also formed with a disc H¹
of insulating material projecting around it to ensure safety.
To uncouple the metallic caps one from the other the handles H can be screwed on
to the plugs E-the keys G passed through the handles H and on to the square heads
of the conical wedges F-By turning the keys the conical wedges can be withdrawn
from the plugs E¹ leaving the plugs loose in the sockets and when they have been so
set free they can be withdrawn from the sockets by the handles H and taken away
together with the connecting conductor E.
The end of each length of conductor D is as shewn bent around the exterior of one
of the caps and its extremity is clipped and held by a screw clamp I carried by the
cap. The way in which I form these clamps is clearly shewn at Figures 14 and 15.
I utilize the alternate currents for obtaining motive power by causing them to pass
through a compound apparatus consisting of two electro motors. The principal motor
is one without commutator and such that when running at a suitable speed it will
maintain this speed and synchronize itself with the alternation of the currents passing
through it. The other electro motor is of much smaller dimensions, it is provided
with a commutator and is capable of starting from rest when the current is passed
through it. The armature of this machine is geared with or preferably on the same
shaft with the armature of the first electro motor, so that when the circuit is first
closed the small motor drives the armature of the main motor, and so brings it to the
speed requisite to enable it to work synchronously with the current supplied to it by
the circuit. The motors are then in a position to perform the work required of
them.
Figure 16 is a longitudinal vertical section and Figure 17 a transverse section
through the line A B of two electro motors combined as above described.
G is the 'armature of a dynamo electric machine such as is described in the

page_text: specification of a former Patent granted to me No. 3419 in the year 1882-H H are
electro magnets ranged in circles on two opposite sides of the armature and concentric
with its axis I the magnet poles in each circle being alternately North and South as
described in the above mentioned Specification-J is a Siemens armature on the same
axis and K K are electro magnets acting with this armature the cores and pole pieces
of these magnets are made up of parallel plates of iron insulated from one another so
that the magnets may be excited with an alternating current with as little loss as
practicable L L are brushes for conveying the alternating current with which the
machine is to be worked to the commutator of the Siemens dynamo. The electro
magnets of this dynamo may be excited by current passed to their coils from an
accumulator by the wires c d-When an alternate current is conveyed by the
wires a to the armature of the Siemens dynamo the armature will be rotated. When
the speed of the armature has risen to above the speed at which it would be rotated if
the alternating current were passed through the armature G the alternating current is
switched off from the wires a b to the wires gh so that it then passes through the
armature G of the alternating current dynamo and as soon as the speed at which this
armature is revolving slows down to the speed at which the alternating current will
drive it it remains revolving at this speed and may be utilized for driving
an endless
band passing over a driving pulley M as shown in the drawing or in other ways.
Current for exciting the magnets of the alternating current dynamo may be obtained
from the accumulator and the current be for this purpose switched off from the
wires c d to the wires e fat the same time that the alternating current is passed to the
armature of the alternating current dynamo- or they may be excited by the continuous
current which would be obtained from the Siemens dynamo by coupling the
brushes L L to the wires ef-At the same time a portion of the continuous current
obtained might be used for keeping the accumulator charged.
In place of the arrangement above described I sometimes employ an electro motor
without commutator and of a novel construction I arrange both the armaturo and
the field magnets in such manner that they are able to rotate about a common axis.
I provide hand or other gear, by means of which the armature can be started and
raised to the synchronizing speed, the machine at this time doing no external work.
Then when the proper speed is attained and the armature is driven by the current,
I apply a brake to the axis of the armature in such manner as to check its rotation,
whereupon the energy in the circuit is applied to move the field-magnets and these are
gradually put into motion together with the mechanisin which they have to drive.
the armature continues to be checked the speed of rotation of the field magnets
increases until finally the armature is brought to rest and the field magnets remain in
movement at the proper speed to synchronize with the currents on the circuit.
As
Figure 18 is a vertical section of a machine constructed in the above manner-N is
the armature carried within a ring O which rests between pairs of flanged rollers Pat
intervals apart around its circumference-Q are two circles of electro magnets on the
two opposite sides of the armature with their poles ranged alternately north, south,
these are carried by the axle R which is concentric with the ring 0-S is a brake
block which can be pressed against the ring O to stop it from rotating.
To start the machine the alternate current is passed through the armature by the
wires a band the armature is revolved by hand aided by the current-the armature
can quickly be revolved at the required speed as it is very light and when revolving
at the speed at which the current will drive it it will be kept revolving by the current
at this speed the magnets and the axle which carries them remaining practically at
rest but if the brake block be gradually pressed against the ring O the armature will
be gradually stopped and the magnets and axle will commence to revolve and will gain
in speed as the armature loses until when the armature is absolutely stopped the
axle will be driven at the speed which the current will drive it at-and power can be
taken from the axle by an endless belt or otherwise.
I prefer that the circuit through the field-magnets should be derived from a
secondary battery, and this battery may be charged by means of a dynamo driven by
the motor from time to time when it is at work. Or the battery may be charged from

page_text: the main circuit by the aid of a commutator and suitable appliances to adjust the
intensity of the current.
Sometimes in dynamos in which both the armature and the magnets are capable of
rotating, I employ variable gear connecting the two together and so arranged that
either may be allowed to rotate whilst the other is at rest, or that both may rotate
at any desired relative speeds.
A diagram view of a machine so constructed is shewn at Figure 19. The machine
is similar to the one just described but the armature is on an axis in a line with
the axis which carries the magnets.
The frame which carries the magnets has a raised rim T around it and the axis
of the armature has fixed upon it a disc wheel V of the same diameter as this rim.
W is a second disc wheel the face of which bears against the circumference both of the
rim T and the disc wheel V on the axis of the armature-The axis of the second disc
wheel W is carried in a bearing which can be traversed in a line parallel with the
armature axis.
To start the machine the second disc wheel W is shifted until its centre rests
upon the rim T around the magnet frame and its right hand side upon the disc V
on the armature axis. The armature can then be revolved and kept revolving by
the current whilst the magnet frame remains at rest. The bearing carrying the
disc wheel W can then be shifted gradually to the left hand and as this is done
the magnet frame will commence to revolve whilst the speed of the armature
decreases until when the parts are brought into the position shown by the drawing
the armature is brought to rest and the magnet frame is alone revolved and power
can be taken from its axle by a band wheel and endless band or otherwise.
The above is a convenient way of gearing together the armature and magnets by
variable gear but other forms of variable gear may be used for the purpose.
In order to prevent sparking at the commutators of dynamos and motors I magnetise
the contact pieces of the commutator so that the current passes from a pole of one
sign to a pole of another sign this may be effected by making the alternate contact
pieces of the forms shown at Figures 20 so that a coil of insulated conductor a may
be between them at one of their ends as shewn whilst the contact brushes may rest
against their opposite ends and sometimes I provide for the reversal of the magnetism
in the contact pieces as the brush travels over them. To do this I place an electro
magnet in the interior of the cylindrical arrangement of contact pieces as shewn at
Figure 21 making the contact pieces alternately of reversed signs where the brush
is passing from one to another. Or in place of this arrangement I sometimes with
a like object surround the commutator with a coil in which a current passes or the
coil may be placed inside the commutator as shewn at Figure 22. In this figure a b
are the contact bars and c the coil of insulated conductor placed within the interior of
the cylindrical assemblage of such bars.
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. Suspending electric conductors or cables from suspended wires which are divided
into comparatively short lengths and are insulated one from the other.
2. Dividing a line of electric conductor into comparatively short lengths and
securing the adjoining ends of the lengths one to one insulated support the other to
another and making an electrical connection between the two ends by readily
removeable couplings.
3. Suspending a conductor from a metallic cap on an insulator on one support to
a metallic cap on an insulator on the next support and making an electric connection
between the two metallic caps on each support by a short length of conductor and
plugs inserted into sockets in the metallic caps substantially as described.
4. The means substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated at Figures 6
to 13 for suspending electrical conductors to allow of branch connections being coupled
on to any part of the conductor with perfect safety.

page_text: 5. The means of securing the suspending wires or conductors or cables to the
insulators to permit of slack being readily taken up.
6. A dynamo electrical machine for producing motive power consisting of two
electro motors one an alternate current machine which, when run at a speed such that
the alternations in the current passed through its armature coincide with the passage
of each part of the armature from one magnetic pole to another of the field magnets,
will be maintained at this speed by the alternating current and the other an electro
motor provided with a commutator and capable of starting from rest when a current
is passed through it and having its armature on the same axis as the armature of
the alternating machine or geared with it so that it may be used for setting it in
rotation.
7. The combination of an alternating current machine with secondary batteries for
exciting its magnets and with mechanism for setting the axis of the machine in
rotation to bring it to a speed to synchronise with the alternations of the current
used for driving the alternating current machine.
8. The construction of electric motor engines to be worked by alternating currents
in such manner that the field magnets and armature can both revolve and one or
other be arrested by a brake so that the one may without doing work be put into
rotation at a speed to coincide with the alternations in the current and then when the
current tends to maintain it at this speed be retarded gradually by the brake to cause
the other gradually to pick up the rotating movement in place of the one that is
retarded.
9. The construction of electric motor engines to be worked by alternating currents
in such manner that the field magnets and armature can both revolve and are so
geared one with the other that as the speed of rotation of one increases the speed of
the other decreases.
10. A commutator for dynamos or motors with the contact bars of magnetic
metal and magnetised in such manner that as one bar passes from a brush and another
comes up to it these bars shall be of opposite polarity.
11. A commutator for dynamos or motors with an insulated conductor coil through
which an electric current is passed placed within the circle of contact bars to hinder
sparking.