IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st December 1869.-A communication from abroad by Louis
Bastet, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
ENGINES," to be as follows:―
This Invention of improvements in electro-magnetic engines con-
sists in arranging electro-magnets in a circle in combination with.
a series of armatures, the number of armatures in the circle being
greater than the number of magnets, so that when the circuit is broken.
and closed from one magnet to the next in the circle the distance
through which the attracting force shall have to act on the next
armature in the circle shall be equal only to the difference between the
distance of the centres of two adjacent magnets and the distance
between the centres of two adjacent armatures.
Also the application of a distributing wheel and círcuit breaker í
combination with electro-magnets and armatures. The distributing
wheel is so constructed that it can be turned on its axis relatively to

page_text: the circuit breaker either to the right or left so as to reverse the motion
of the engine.
Another improvement relates to the means of moistening and cooling
the surface of the distributing wheel and circuit breaker.
The engine consists in a suitable frame, which carries a rotating
shaft. A hub is mounted on this shaft, from which projects a series of
arms that carry armatures arranged at equal distances apart and at
equal distances from the centre of the axis of the shaft. These
armatures are arranged in pairs projecting from each side of each arm
and parallel with the axis of the shaft, and with a view to strengthen 1
the arms which carry these armatures their outer ends may be
connected by a rim or felloe. By this means a fly wheel is formed. It
is proposed in the present instance to use only eight pairs of armatures,
but the number can be varied at the will of the constructor.
The machine is worked in the following manner:-The fly or 1
armature wheel is caused to rotate by the alternate pull of a series of
electro-magnets, the alternate breaking and closing of the circuit being
effected by a distributing wheel.
The electro-magnets, of which there are twelve in the present instance,
are arranged in pairs and are made of horse-shoe form. They are
secured to two sleeve hubs (six magnets on each hub) mounted one on
each side of the main shaft and fixed to the frame so as not to rotate.
These electro-magnets are wrapped around with insulated wire in the
usual way, and are connected together in pairs, so that there will be
three pairs on each side of the fly wheel. The wire is then passed down
below the fly or armature wheel to the corresponding pairs of electro-
magnets on the other side of the armature wheel. By this means two
sets of magnets on each side of the armature wheel will form a series,
and the wires from each separate series will be connected or hitched to
their respective section of a distributing wheel.
As there are six sets of electro-magnets in the circle and at equal
distances apart, and eight sets of armatures in the circle at equal
distances apart, it will be understood that when two sets of magnets are
in line with two sets of armatures the other magnets will not be in line
with any other sets of armatures but will be within attracting distance,
so that if the current of electricity be cut off from the first-mentioned
set of magnets and computed with the second set of magnets and the
armatures nearest to them the latter will be attracted and will thus

page_text: turn the armature wheel until these armatures get into line with the
magnets, when the circuit will be broken, and the operation will be
repeated with respect to the following sets of magnets and armatures.
The distributing wheel is mounted on the main shaft, but connected
with the frame so that it does not turn with the shaft, and consists of
three conducting rings, separated from each other by any suitable
insulating material. The periphery of the wheel is composed of
alternate strips of conductors. The respective terminal wires of the
magnets are connected respectively by a suitable hitch with one of the
rings above mentioned.
On the end of the shaft is a metallic or conducting arm which carries
a metallic roller termed the circuit breaker. The periphery of this
roller as the armature wheel rotates rolls around in contact with the
periphery of the distributing wheel, and hence in contact with the
conducting strips, which may be termed keys. A metallic spring from
the positive pole of the battery rests against the hub of the arm of the
circuit breaker, so that as the roller passes on to either of the keys
the current of electricity will pass through the ring and thence through
the coils of the magnets in connection with that ring, and by the opposite
terminal of the coils to the negative pole of the battery; and as the
circuit to the other magnets is then broken the armatures nearest to
these magnets (thus magnetized) will be attracted, and the rotation
(thus induced) will carry the roller from that key to the next, which
will break the circuit first-named, and close the next through the ring
and the magnets connected therewith.
The distributing wheel is also provided with an arm or lever by means
of which the wheel can be turned to the right or left. Below the
distributing wheel there is a cup to contain water, or sponge wetted
with water, and is so situated that at every revolution the roller of the
circuit breaker will be moistened and will transfer a portion of that
moisture to that portion of the periphery of the distributing wheel on
which the roller travels. This will effectually prevent the surface of the
keys and roller from being oxidized by the current of electricity, which,
if not prevented, will soon impede the working of the engine.