IMPROVED MEANS OF TRANSMITTING ELECTRICITY TO GREAT DISTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Ulysse Parod, Engineer, of Paris, 17, Boulevard
St. Martin, in the Republic of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
MEANS OF TRANSMITTING ELECTRICITY TO GREAT DISTANCES."
Sealed the 13th May 1879, and dated the 19th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Ulysse Parod at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1878.
ERNEST ULYSSE PAROD, Engineer, of Paris, 17, Boulevard St. Martin, in the
Republic of France. "IMPROVED MEANS OF TRANSMITTING ELECTRICITY TO GREAT
DISTANCES."
This Invention consists in the substitution for the telegraphic cables or wires
heretofore employed for the transmission of electricity of a condenser of large size
acting as a reservoir of electricity, and extending from one end of the territory to
the other; this reservoir is charged at one of its extremities or at any intermediate
point between the extremities by any suitable generator of electricity, actuated by
any of the natural sources of motive power which abound in mountainous districts,
such for example as rapids and waterfalls, and delivers the electricity with which
it is charged at as many points as may be required along its whole length for the
purpose of supplying or actuating any machines or apparatus to which it is
connected. This reservoir may thus be employed as the sole source of electricity
for the purposes of telegraphy, electro metallurgy, chemical analysis, and com-
binations, electric lighting, and even as a motive power for small machines.
For example, the electricity may be generated in the mountains of Auvergne, the
Pyrenees, or in any locality where the requisite natural source of motive power is
to be found, and be distributed along the line on which the condenser is laid in any
desired quantity with the same facility, with which gas for lighting purposes or
water raised to an elevated reservoir by means of a special motor is now distributed
on all the floors of a building.
In carrying out this Invention, a suitable source of electricity being obtained at

page_text: a given point as hereinbefore described, from this point, say for example to Paris,
a long series of glass tubes in lengths of say about 6 feet, and of a diameter of say
about 8 or 10 inches or upwards if required are laid down, the ends of each length
being connected to the next length by a collar, also of glass, and a hermetic joint
being made between the ends of the tubes and the collars by means of a cement of
gumlac. These tubes hermetically secured at each end are supported at convenient
intervals upon non conducting supports, at convenient intervals upon non conducting
supports, which in their turn are supported by the bottom of a second cylindrical
tube forming a casing enclosing the first tube, and constructed of stone ware, china,
or any other suitable material.
The central tube or condenser is lined or filled throughout its whole length by
an internal armature, which may be composed of tin foil, or copper foil, metallic
paper, white metal, or sheet copper, chips, or waste, or with resin, either pure or
mixed with copper or brass filings, or it may even be filled with water or any other
conducting liquid.
The extremity nearest to the generator is provided with a metal rod communi-
cating with the internal armature, and connected to the positive pole of the
generator. The external surface of the condensing tube is covered throughout its
whole lenggth with a tin armature, terminating in a rod in the same manner as the
internal armature, but which places it in communication with the negative pole of
the same generator.
Upon the glass collars serving to connect the lengths of glass tube, there are
provided small orifices or tubes containing metal rods which pass through a stopper
at the lower part, and are connected at one end with the internal armature, and at
the other end with a binding screw for the distribution of the electricity. These
binding screws are arranged in a species of chamber formed by the small tube, and
are below the level of its outer edge or flange so as to admit of closing the end of
the tube, and covering the binding screw with a stopper luted with gum lac when
the electricity is not required at this point.
On the opposite side to the small tube upon the same collar there is formed a
projection of glass having a conical hole ground with emery; into this hole (which
does not penetrate into the body of the collar) the external armature is caused to
extend, a second binding screw is fitted into the hole, and consequently placed in
communication with the external armature.
The external tube serving as a casing to the condenser proper is likewise
constructed in sections of the same length as the glass tubes, and fitting into each
other by means of suitable sockets or unions, an empty space of say about 6 or 8
inches being left between it and the condenser. The lengths of external tubes
are divided longitudinally into two semi circular halves, the lower one of which is
provided with a suitable base, and is grooved on each side for the reception of
corresponding tongues formed upon the upper half, which admits of being readily
removed after the manner of a lid for the purpose of making the connections or for
repairs.
The two extremities of the external tube are hermetically closed, and the rods of
the armatures pass through them to the generator opposite each small tube
provided on the internal tube for the distribution of electricity; there are provided
on the external tube, tubes, or orifices having luted stoppers for the passage of wires
conducting the electricity from the reservoir.
Lumps of quicklime are spread in the lower part of the external tube in order to
render the air perfectly dry within this tube, and avoid waste.
4
5
It will be understood that the electricity supplied by the electric generator is
entirely stored up in the reservoir, and that if there is no solution of continuity in
the armatures, the fluid will have the same tension at every part of the said
reservoir. By the employment of a generator of sufficient power, this tension in
the reservoir will therefore be maintained irrespective of the position and number 5
of the points at which the fluid is distributed. It will also be apparent that the
reservoir may be charged either by one or more generators of electricity acting at

page_text: any part of the line where natural motive power can be obtained, or from any other
cheap source of electricity.
Various methods may be adopted for effecting the delivery of the fluid from the
reservoir, according to the intensity of the current required, and the purposes to
which it is to be applied. If a current of great intensity is required, both the
armatures are simply connected to the apparatus to be worked by means, if suitable
binding screws provided for the purpose of a less powerful current is required, one
of the poles of the apparatus to be worked is connected with the external armature,
and the wire from the other pole terminating in a point presented to the corre-
sponding binding screw connected with the internal armature.
The internal and external armatures of the reservoir may be connected with an
electro magnetic apparatus in the ordinary manner, such apparatus being provided
with a hammer mounted upon a flexible blade supporting a non conducting bar,
which carries on the right and left hand two metal tappets, the latter acting as
receivers for each kind of electricity, and becoming charged with electricity at each
oscillation from two binding screws connected with the same wires as serve to
conduct the electricity to the electro magnetic apparatus herein before referred to,
and transferring this electricity to two other binding screws connected with the
poles of the machine or apparatus to be supplied.
According to another arrangement a simple induction coil is employed. This
reservoir of electricity may be employed to supply long lines of telegraph without
making any alteration in the existing plant and apparatus; the reservoir then
performs the functions of the main battery, and of the relay battery.
By employing condensers as conductors, facility is afforded for dividing the
electric light as required, whilst the electricity may be economically produced and
transported to the place where it is to be consumed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
:
the said Ernest Ulysse Parod in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th May
1879.
ERNEST ULYSSE PAROD, Engineer, of Paris, 17, Boulevard Saint Martin, in the
Republic of France. "IMPROVED MEANS OF TRANSMITTING ELECTRICITY TO GREAT
DISTANCES."
"
My Invention relates to improved means of transmitting or distributing electricity,
and consists in the employment for that purpose, in substitution for the telegraphic
cables or wires heretofore used, of condensers constructed and arranged in any con-
venient manner and charged by any suitable means with electricity of any nature
produced by any method adapted to the purpose. The Invention also consists of
peculiar constructions and arrangements of condensers and auxiliary devices to be
employed in the transmission or distribution of electricity, as hereinafter described.
Telegraphic wires or cables have been employed for a considerable time for
transmitting signals by means of electricity, and since electricity has been applied to
industrial purposes the wires have also been employed for transmitting electricity to
a single insulated apparatus or to a small number of such apparatus interposed on
the circuit and combined or arranged so as to equalize the tension.
It has not, however, heretofore been possible to effect any division of the current
when employing one electric wire or cable for supplying an apparatus, as the whole
of the current, however intense, always passes along the shortest circuit, the tension
of the fluid being unequal along the wire or cable.
This division of a current of electricity is, however, a great desideratum, so as to
render practicable the distribution of electricity to an unlimited number of indepen-
dent apparatus employed for various purposes and requiring varying quantities of
fluid by means of branches connected to one main conductor. According to the
existing systems it is necessary to produce the electricity on the spot where it is to
be used, either by means of batteries or magneto electric machines, the employment
of which apparatus is open to objections and attended with inconveniences which
prevent their general adoption.
Now my said Invention has for its objcet obviating the objections and incon-
veniences before referred to by providing means for the transportation of large
quantities of electricity to great distances and the distribution of the same
simultaneously in variable amounts. For this purpose it is absolutely necessary,
for the reasons hereinbefore mentioned, that the fluid delivered to the conductor
should be capable of issuing therefrom at any point required, and consequently it is
necessary to obtain a uniform tension at every part of the said conductor; and as
this uniformity of tension can only be obtained by employing very large conducting
surfaces sufficing for the flow of considerable quantities of fluid I have been induced
to arrange these surfaces after the manner of a condenser.
It should here be observed that this arrangement differs essentially from that of
the transatlantic cables, which although apparently bearing some resemblance to
condensers are destitute of the essential quality of all condensers, which consists in
the uniformity of the tension at every point on its armatures.
Moreover transatlantic cables are only employed for the purpose of transmitting
signals by means of electricity and not for transmitting electricity itself.
In carrying out my said Invention I employ condensers, the dimensions of which
are well proportioned with a view to obtaining the desired effect; the area of the
conducting surfaces ensures the flow of the whole of the fluid produced by the
generator without resistance to its passage, and the uniformity of the tension over
the whole extent of these surfaces is ensured by arranging them after the manner
of armatures insulated from each other by a nonconducting material. Moreover by
placing the two kinds of electricity in presence of each other upon the armatures

page_text: serving as conductors the two electricities attract one another through the insulating
material and prevent the radiation and waste of the fluid in the surrounding
atmosphere, which would inevitably occur in the case of conductors separated from
each other and upon which the fluid is in a very high state of tension.
The circumference of the armatures of the condenser being much greater than
that of the collectors for the currents from the generator of electricity the fluid will
not meet with any resistance in flowing off from the said collectors on to the con-
denser in consequence of the difference of the tension in the two apparatus, and it
is instantly distributed over the whole length of the armatures provided so that
there is no solution of continuity either in the armatures themselves or in the
insulating material; then, as fast as fresh quantities of electricity are supplied to
the condenser the tension of the fluid increases over the entire surface of the arma-
tures, causing the fluid to penetrate each armature, and then only it is attracted
molecule by molecule by the fluid of opposite denomination on the opposite armature
until it has attained the degree of tension possessed by the fluid supplied by the
generator.
The tension of the fluid being uniform at every part of the condenser it will have
no tendency to escape at any one point more than at another and will issue indiffer-
ently by every outlet which may be provided.
The fluid stored up in this condenser as in a reservoir may therefore be distributed
at any desired part of its extent by means of wires of suitable diameter and con-
ducting power in a manner similar to that in which water and gas are distributed
at a certain pressure by conduits of a sectional area proportioned to the volumes
which they are required to deliver, so that the electricity may be divided with
facility and delivered in equal or different quantities at any required number of
points simultaneously.
My said Invention therefore consists in the employment in lieu of the telegraphic
wires and cables heretofore employed for the transmission of electricity to a distance
of a large condenser extending after the manner of a conduit between the point at
which the electricity is produced and the point or points where this electricity is
to be used, for any purpose whatever without regard to the distance between such
points, and in distributing it along the whole extent of the line by branches of any
desired number and dimensions.
I thus transport large quantities of electricity from one point to another by means
of what may be designated an immense Leyden jar, which may extend from one
extremity of the country to the other, the armatures of which serve as conductors
and store up the electricity which is produced in any convenient manner at one or
more points along the line.
According to this system of distributing electricity no electric circuit is employed,
but two conduits (videlicet, the armatures) are provided extending along a certain
route and charged with electricity of opposite denominations at a certain uniform
tension; the electricity flows from the generator to the condenser and from the latter
to the various branches without undergoing any change.
This condensing conductor may thus be employed as a reservoir or sole source
of electricity for general use, as, for example, for private purposes, for use in mines,
factories, towns, railways, and also for government purposes; the electricity from
this single source being utilized in telegraphy, lighting, electro-chemistry, the
production of electro magnetic power, and generally for whatever purposes electricity
is required.
This system will admit of the motive power of streams, and falls of water, and
other natural forces which may exist along the line, being used in substitution for
the comparatively costly steam motors heretofore employed in towns for generating
electricity, but the employment of such natural forces is not indispensable to the
application of my system, as any convenient source and generator of electricity may
be used, and such generators may be actuated by any description of motor.
This condenser also possesses the advantage of a capability of being charged with

page_text: the electricity requisite for producing certain determined effects with a considerably
smaller expenditure of motive power than would be required for producing the same
effects through the intervention of wires or cables.
It is evident that this condensing conductor may be constructed of small dimen-
sions, in order to be employed for the service of one locality, town, or establishment 5
of any description.
It will also be evident that the area of the armatures should be proportioned to
the quantities of fluid to be transported, and that in order to preserve a uniform
tension on the condenser it will be sufficient to maintain the number and power of
the generators in proportion to the number and extent or demands of the branches 1
or outlets which it is required to supply.
The amount of tension may be indicated upon a graduated scale by means of an
apparatus adapted for the purpose, and any suitable apparatus may be employed
for discharging automatically into the earth any excess of electricity which might.
result from the sudden closing of a certain number of the outlets. The condensing 1
conductor will thus be provided with the equivalents to a manometer and a safety
valve after the manner of a steam engine so as to obviate all liability to accidents.
Any suitable arrangement of condenser may be employed in carrying out my said
Invention, but I prefer to adopt the arrangement, two modifications of which are
indicated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which I shall now proceed to 2
describe.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section of one
extremity of a conductor constructed according to one modification of my said
Invention, the section being taken along the line 1, 2, Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same taken along the line 3, 4, Figure 1, 2
and Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5, 6, Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a longitudinal section taken along the line 7, 8, (Figure 5)
of one extremity of a conductor constructed according to another modification of
my said Invention.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of the same taken along the line 9, 10, Figure 4; 3
and Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken along the line 11-12, Figure 5.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the apparatus is composed
of a tube A formed of a series of cylinders of glass or other suitable material con-
nected together by means of collars B of similar material to the cylinders; this tube,
which extends from one extremity of the line to the other, and forms the condenser 3
proper, is carried upon supports C of insulating material resting upon the bottom of
another tube D enclosing the tube A, likewise formed of a series of cylinders,
which may be composed of earthenware or other suitable materials. The tube A
contains an armature a of metal or other convenient materials (water may be
employed for this purpose if necessary) and is covered externally by the armature b
of rolled tin or other metal adapted for the purpose.
The inner tube or condenser A (which, as well as the outer tube or casing B, is
hermetically closed at each extremity) is charged by means of two rods E, F, which
are respectively connected with the armatures a, b, and are passed through the
outer casing in order to communicate with the two poles of the generator of
electricity.
In order to effect the distribution of the fluid stored up in the condenser, the
collars B are provided with rods H connected to the external armature b, and rods G
connected to the internal armature a, the number of such rods G, H, corresponding
to the number of points at which the electricity is to be distributed. These rods
may, when required, be connected with a supplementary generator of electricity, and
be also employed for charging the condenser.
The tube D is divided longitudinally into two semi-circular halves suitably fitted
and cemented together throughout their length at c; the upper half forming a cover
is provided with projections d for the facility of manipulating the said cover, and
the lower half is furnished with short tubes I, J, through which the rods G, H,
+
4

page_text: respectively are passed into the interior of the tube D without admitting the external
atmosphere, and the lower part of this tube is also formed with a base or stand f for
the purpose of steadying the whole apparatus.
Quick-lime may be placed in the lower part of the tube D, as shewn at p,
Figure 2, in order to render the air perfectly dry, and avoid waste or loss of
electricity.
In order to work this apparatus, the rods E and F are respectively connected
with the negative and positive poles of a generator of electricity, and the internal
armature a and the external armature b are thus respectively charged with elec-
tricity of opposite denominations. When the conducting condenser
thus charged,
the electricity may be drawn off as required by placing the rods G, H, respectively
in communication with the negative and positive poles of the apparatus to be
supplied, and the electricity may be divided or distributed among any number of
such apparatus along the line of the conductor by means of a corresponding number
of rods arranged in the same manner as the said rods G, H.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the apparatus is constructed
generally in a similar manner to the apparatus herein before described with reference
to Figures 1, 2, and 3, but is slightly modified in its details. It is composed of a
cylinder or tube A of glass, porcelain, earthenware, or any other insulating material
secured to and closed by a disc e at each end by means of a flange and bolts e¹.
This tube, which forms the condenser proper, is covered internally and externally
respectively with armatures a, b, of metal, the tube itself being composed of a series
of cylinders connected together by collars or rings B of similar material to the
cylinders, provided with a metallic surface internally and externally, and attached
to the cylinders by means of lugs and bolts m, Figure 2. The latter serve to
connect the parts of the external armature together, and the bolts e' serve to connect
the same armature with the negative conductor of the generator or with the
earth.
The joints between the extremities of the cylinders composing the tube A and
the ring B are hermetically closed by a ring or washer of india-rubber bordered by
a thin strip of leather extending across so as to connect the armatures on the
different cylinders. A conductor F of copper is secured to the disc e and serves to
support a cup shaped piece K of the same metal, the mouth of which is of the same
diameter as the interior of the tube A, and bears exactly against the armature a
in order to connect it with the positive pole of the generator of electricity.
The tube A forming the condenser proper is enclosed in another tube D, also
secured to the disc e, but which is unprovided with armatures; this external tube is
likewise composed of a series of cylinders connected together hermetically, and is
divided longitudinally into two halves united together at c, as in the arrangement
first hereinbefore described, the upper half being provided with handles or projec-
tions d, so as to facilitate its removal in order to obtain access to the interior of
the apparatus, whilst the lower half is formed with a base or stand f, affording a
firm bearing for the whole. Tubes J are also provided on the lower half of the
tube D at all the points where the elasticity is to be distributed, the said tubes being
intended for the reception of rods H having a metal plate n which is pressed against
the external armature 6 by means of a spring n¹. These rods are secured by a
nut o, and another nut screwed upon a prolongation of the screwed part of the rod
serves to connect the conducting wire leading to the negative pole of the apparatus
to be supplied with the external armature of the condenser.
The lower half of the casing D is also formed with tubes I, through each of
which, and through a boss on the ring B, passes a rod G into the interior of the
ring, a washer r¹ being employed in order to separate the boss from the casing D.
The rod G supports the internal tube A by connecting it to the external tube D, and
also serves to effect a communication with the internal armature a by means of a
head or enlargement g on its extremity, which is in contact with the said armature.
The number of the rods G, H, should correspond with the number of points at
which the electricity is to be distributed.

page_text: This apparatus operates in a similar manner to the apparatus described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the electric fluid being delivered to the conductor
by connecting the rod F with the positive pole of the generator of electricity, and
connecting the bolts e' with the negative pole or with the earth. The electricity
is distributed by the conductor at any desired point or points by means of a suit-
able number of rods G connecting the internal armature with the positive poles of
the apparatus to be supplied, and a corresponding number of rods H connecting the
external armature with the negative poles of the same apparatus.
The supplies of electric fluid from the condenser may be employed as a main
battery or relay battery for telegraphic purposes in the same manner as if the
electric fluid were obtained from two distinct batteries, and without necessitating
any alteration in the apparatus or wires of the system of telegraph usually
employed.
· These supplies may consist of electricity in large quantities or electricity of high
tension in the usual manner by taking the supply direct from the armatures of the
condenser by means of cylinders of metal of the suitable diameter when effects of
quantity are desired, and when high tension is required by taking the supply from
the condenser by means of elongated cones connected at their apex with the wires
of the apparatus to be supplied, and connected at their base (the diameter of which
must be in proportion to the intensity of the effects required) with the armatures
of the condenser. By these means the same result is produced as that obtained by
grouping together with relation to tension or with relation to quantity a series of
battery cells or elements of an electro motive power corresponding to that of the
condenser in its normal state of tension.
The internal and external armatures of the condenser may be connected at each
of the points where the electricity is to be delivered to an electro-magnetic appa-
ratus the hammer of which is mounted on a flexible blade supporting a bar of
non-conducting material provided on the right and on the left with two tappets of
metal, which are insulated from each other by the bar of non-conducting material,
and act as contact makers for each description of electricity. These tappets at each
oscillation become charged with electricity from two binding screws or terminals
connected with the wires conducting this electricity from the condenser to the
apparatus, and transfer this electricity to two other binding screws or terminals
situate opposite the two first, and connected with the poles of the apparatus to be
supplied.
Although I have described the best methods with which I am acquainted of
carrying out my said Invention, it is obvious that I may employ condensers of other
descriptions provided with any suitable armatures for transmitting and transporting
electricity to great distances, and I may also employ conductors which are provided
with a second armature for each kind of electricity, in addition to the metal arma-
ture herein before described.
This second armature may be composed of pure water or water saturated with
any metallic salt, pure resin, or resin mixed with filings or with any other suitable
substance.
The second armature will act as an electric accumulator, the body of which being
saturated molecule by molecule with the electricity instantaneously conveyed by
the first armature will restore this electricity stored up in it in the same manner to
the metal armature.
The substance composing the second armature not being such a perfect conductor
as the metal armature will have a tendency to retain this electricity, and whilst it
augments the electrical capacity of the condenser it also increases the power of
resistance of the condenser to the perforation of the insulating surface, so that by
employing such double armatures in lieu of single armatures the electrical capacity
of the apparatus will be greatly increased without adding to its dimensions.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and

page_text: therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use of condensers to and in the transmission or distri-
bution of electricity, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. The employment of condensers and auxiliary devices, constructed and
arranged as herein set forth, for the transmission or distribution of electricity, sub-
stantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Ulysse Parod, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.
ERNEST ULYSSE PAROD. (L.S.)