Improvements in and Means or Apparatus for and Connected with the Generation, Distribution, Measurement, and Control of Electricity.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
Improvements in and Means or Apparatus for and Connected with
the Generation, Distribution, Measurement, and Control of
Electricity.
I HENRY EDMUNDS of 10 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:
The object of my Invention is to provide means in connection with the generation
distribution measurement and control of electricity wherein there is automatic
regulation or control of the generation and distribution of electricity in accordance
with the requirements of the system or circuit means being also provided for ensuring
proper insulation and connection of the conductors and for the prevention of the
discontinuance of current on rupture or interruption of the conductor to any place of
utilization in the system or main_circuit.
. According to my Invention I use a steam or other prime motor operated by a
constant pressure which constant pressure may be automatically regulated for example
in a cylinder or container in connection therewith and I use in combination with
this motor an electric generator producing current of approximately a constant and
pre-determined value, which generator shall have a variable speed according to the
electro-motive force or pressure required according to such variations as the work
may demand but which speed may be mechanically or otherwise governed in case
of interruption or breaking of a closed circuit containing the work.
I may use in combination with such circuit and included therein electric motors
operated in series with each other whose dimensions are such that the current
operating them is approximately constant but whose speed is a factor which varies
according to the resistance or work which they may have to do but which are
centrifugally or otherwise governed should their work he interrupted. . A counter of
revolutions attached to or connected with the motor or generator will thus constitute
an electricity meter.
I may use in combination with such electric motors electric generators or dynamos
operated on the same shaft or otherwise by suitable gearing which electric generators

page_text: or dynamos receive a constant torque and which generate
constant current but
whose electro motive force or pressure varies according to the conditions of the work
but which may be centrifugally or otherwise governed should their work be suddenly
interrupted or broken.
This as a whole includes a system where the steam or other pressure shall be
constant where the currents generated in the prime circuit shall be constant where
the currents generated in the secondary or other derived circuits shall be constant:
but where the speeds of the various parts including the prime motor, the prime
generator, the prime electric motors, the secondary electric dynamos, shall all of them
be electrically controlled automatically by their own resistance or torque and may be
used with or independently of other modes of governing heretofore used in connection
with electric generators and motors such as the rocking or shifting of the brushes.
the compounding or shunt winding of the fields and whose speed regulation in the
event of break down shall be otherwise controlled.
Further, for electric motor or other purposes where a constant speed may be
desired with a constant current I may use a device as hereinafter more fully described
which will in conjunction with such electric motor cut out or otherwise short circuit
such portions of the wire exciting the fields of force in order to control the magnetic
field as may be required which cutting in or out or reducing of such wires in such
magnetic fields is automatically done according to the variations of the work required
from the motor and also I may provide in combination therewith or otherwise as
may be required the automatic rotation of the brushes to the best position on the
commutator connected with such Electric motor.
Such arrangement may be automatically controlled so that the approximately
constant speed may be given to this electric motor also an electric dynamo or
generator for the exciting or maintenance of such constant current circuits whose
current shall be kept constant and whose speed shall be approximately constant but
whose electro motive force may be varied according to the variations of the work
included in à derived circuit derived therefrom which electro motive force in con-
junction with a constant speed may be controlled by an automatic centrifugal
governor whose operations are enforced in the event of any tendency to variation of
the speed either of the said Generator or the motor driving it which centrifugal
governor shall cause a device to automatically cut in or out such portions of the
imagnetic fields as may be required and also if necessary roiate or otherwise operate
the brushes collecting current from the commutator of such generator thereby
enabling the production of a constant current with a variable electro motive force
with a constant or approximately constant speeded electric generator.
It is evident that my Invention may be used as a mode of distributing electricity
whereby currents of large volume and suitable potential may be operated over
circuits of great length. The circuit wire or conductor should be of high insulation
and at all times separated from the circuits of work thus enabling me to transmit to
electric motors included in such primary or main circuit which electric motors may
in turn operate local secondary electric generators or dynamos whose current may be
of a pre-determined value which current when used locally shall not be in contact
with the primary circuit and whose electro motive force shall automatically vary
with the work included in. their local or secondary circuits and whose speed shall
vary automatically as the electro motive force in such local or secondary circuit may
demand which in turn react on their own primary circuit thereby automatically
governing the speed of the prime motor used in the first place.
The local circuits may be utilized for any suitable work such as the charging of
secondary batteries the operation of electric motors for driving tram Cars or
telpherage whose current should be taken up by lines or other auxiliary conductors
and whose current should be of such low pressure as not to be dangerous to life and
which tram cars or motors in the system should run on separate and detached circuits
each of which circuits should be automatically charged and maintained by such local
motor generators as may be required. The electric motors propelling the cars may
be a simple form of series wound machine whose speed power and direction may if

page_text: desired be varied by the position of their brushes on their respective commutators.
Or such a system might include the operating of arc or incandescent lights in
series on a secondary or derived circuit the speed of the motor generator varying
automatically with the electro motive force required in such are or series incan-
descent lighting circuit and not necessitating any mechanical or controlling device
except in the ovent of breakdown or the closing of the circuit for the purpose of
stopping it.
I may use in such a system an arrangement of motor generator in conjunction with
storage batteries which shall automatically come into operation when a predetermined
current is being discharged from the batteries and which shall be disconnected from
such circuit when the said predetermined charge shall have diminished to an arranged
point or in the event of such charge being increased automatically control the addition
of such extra current as may be required.
Also I may use in conjuction with such a system electric motor generators which
shall be included in the main circuit whose speed shall be approximately constant,
thereby producing local currents of constant potential but whose ampére value
may be varied according to the work required. Such motor generators being controlled
automatically by a centrifugal or other governor which shall alter the magnetic field
with such suitable adjustment of the position of the lead of the brushes as may be
required.
For the hereinbefore described system or arrangements I prefer to use conductors
joined in lengths and insulated as follows.
I provide at intervals on the copper or other conductor constituting the electric lead
insulating struts or distance pieces preferably taking the form of star shaped pieces
encircling the conductor and arrange around these a protecting tube which may be
of iron or other sufficiently strong material. The star shaped or distance pieces I can
conveniently form of a vitreous material and attach them by means of a covering of a
similar material applied to the conductor. The protecting tubes of metal may bo
enamelled inside. The space between the conductor and the protecting tube I fill with
an insulating material which can be conveniently applied by means of a pumping or
forcing device which passes the insulating material whilst in a liquified state up into
the said space. To join the lengths of conductors and protecting tube together I make
cach length of conductor project beyond each length of the protecting tube and on the
ends of the lengths of the conductors I form reversely threaded screws preferably
conical screws and I provide a similarly screwed collar which 1 pass over the screws
on the adjacent ends of two lengths of conductor when they are brought together and
I screw this collar on the ends of the lengths of the conductors so as to join them
together. I form around each end of the protecting tube a screw thread and over
this I screw a collar piece which is screwed from the end of one length of protecting
tube over the end of the adjacent length of protecting tube so as to attach them
together and lock nuts may be used to give a firm fixture of the said collar piece.
This collar piece includes between itself and the joint of the lengths of conductor and
the ends of the filling of insulating material a space which I fill with an insulating
material preferably a liquid which may be passed into the space by means of an
opening capable of being closed by a screw plug. This filling may be effected by a
pump and a pressure indicator may be used to indicate when a pressure has been
obtained of the insulating liquid in the space sufficient to ensure a thorough closure
and protection by the insulating material.
In connection with the conductors as the cut-out hereinbefore described, I may use
the following arrangement-I provide at each place of utilization of the current as
hereinbefore mentioned a double path for the current, it normally passing through a
coil, the attractive force of which maintains a weight or its equivalent in such a
position that mercury in a container is at such a level that it does not make contact
with the two ends of the conductor which forms the second path or bye-pass for the
current If from any cause the circuit is ruptured or interrupted through the
conductor by which it passes through the aforesaid coil, to the place of utilization
the attractive force of the coil ceases and the weight or the like enters the mercury

page_text: and causes it to make contact with the ends of the conductor and the second path or
bye-pass for the current is completed and the current so passes the place where the
rupture or interruption has occurred and the continuity of the main conductor is
maintained.
In cases where the circuits are required to be interrupted or diverted under manual
control I may provide a container of mercury which when moved will cause the
mercury to take up a position either to complete electrical connection or interrupt it
as desired.
I may at each placo make several gaps so controlled and I may operate at once two
or more of these containers so as to ensure the proper relative interruption and
diversion without danger.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Means or Apparatus for and Connected with
Control of
the Generation, Distribution, Measurement, and
Electricity.
I, HENRY EDMUNDS of 10 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex Electrical
Engineer, 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 :-
The object of my Invention is to provide means in connection with the generation
distribution measurement and control of electricity wherein there is automatic regula-
tion or control of the generation and distribution of electricity in accordance with the
requirements of the system or circuit means being also provided for ensuring proper
insulation and connection of the conductors and for the prevention of the discon-
tinuance of current or rupture or interruption of the conductor to any place of
utilization in the system or main circuit.
According to my Invention I use a steam or other prime motor operated by a
constant pressure which constant pressure may be automatically regulated for example
in a cylinder or container in connection therewith by a reducing valve or equivalent
device and I use in combination with this motor an electric generator producing
current of approximately a constant and predetermined value, which generator shall
have a variable speed according to the electro motive force or pressure required
according to such variations as the work may demand but which speed may be
mechanically or otherwise governed in case of interruption or breaking of a closed
circuit containing the work.
In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings which illustrates diagrammatically an
arrangement of apparatus for the purposes herein described 1 is a steam boiler
supplying steam (at a constant pressure determined by the reducing valve 2) to the
steam engine 3 which drives the principal electric generator 4. This generator
provides current of a constant and predotermined value for the circuit 5 containing
electric motors as at 6, 7, in series with each other-the motor 6 being so proportioned
that with a constant current its speed is a factor varying according to the resistance
or work which it may have to do and a counter of revolutions 8 attached to or
connected with the motor or the generator 9 driven thereby will thus constitute an
electricity meter. This motor 6 may be centrifugally or otherwise governed by means
of a contact breaker or other short circuiting device in the bye pass 22 operated by a
governor as at 10 should its work be interrupted and the motor therefore attempt to
run at too high a speed.
The electric generator or dynamo 9 operated by the motor 6 is one arranged to
receive a constant torque and to generate a constant current but its electric motive
A centrifugal
force or pressure varies according to the conditions of work.
governor 11 or other governor operates to short circuit the generator at 12 to prevent
evil effects resulting from racing which would occur upon diminution of the work
below a certain limit.

page_text: If the work required of the secondary generator 9 be increased or diminished, the
speed of rotation of its armature and of the armature of its motor 6 will be accelerated
or retarded respectively according to the consequent diminution or increase of
electrical resistance in the circuit 13 which the generator 9 supplies and any alteration
in the speed of these armatures produces in the circuit 5 a similar diminution or
increase of electrical resistance the result of which is that the rotation of the armature
of the principal generator 4 is retarded in exact accordance with the increase or
decrease in the work demanded in the secondary circuit-and thus as the pressure and
volume of steam supplied per stroke to the engine 3 which drives the principal
generator 4 are constant the speed of this engine, and consequently the work given
out is automatically adjusted to the expenditure of energy in the secondary circuit 13.
If at any time either the principal circuit 5 or the secondary circuit 13 be broken
or interrupted the speed of the primary generator and the motor might increase
injuriously and to guard against such a contingency a centrifugal governor 14 is fitted
to the engine 3 and is inoperative until the maximum safe limit of speed is reached
when it operates to throttle the steam supply in the usual manner.
This as a whole includes a system where the steam or other pressure shall be constant
where the currents generated in the prime circuit shall be constant where the currents
generated in the secondary or other derived circuits shall be constant but where the
speeds of the various parts including the prime motor the prime generator, the prime
electric motors, the secondary electric dynamos shall all of them be electrically
controlled automatically by their own resistance or torque and may be used with or
independently of other modes of governing heretofore used in connection with electric
generators and motors such as the rocking or shifting of the brushes the compounding
or shunt winding of the fields and whose speed regulation in the event of breakdown
shall be otherwise controlled.
Further for electric motor or other purposes where a constant speed may be desired
with a constant current I may use as a device as hereinafter more fully described
which will in conjunction with such electric motor cut out or otherwise short circuit
such portions of the wire exciting the fields of force in order to control the magnetic
field as may be required which cutting in or out or reducing of such wires in such
magnetic fields is automatically done according to the variations of the work required
from the motor. And also I may provide in combination therewith or otherwise as
may be required the automatic rotation of the brushes to the best position on the
commutator connected with such electric motor.
Such arrangement may be automatically controlled as will be presently explained so
that an approximately constant speed may be given to this electric motor also an
electric dynamo or generator for the exciting or maintenance of such constant current
circuits whose current shall be kept constant and whose speed shall be approximately
constant but whose electro motive force may be varied according to the variations of
the work included in a derived circuit derived. therefrom which electro motive force
in conjunction with a constant speed may be controlled by an automatic centrifugal
governor whose operations are enforced in the event of any tendency to variation of
the speed either of the said generator or the motor driving it which centrifugal
governor shall cause a device to automatically cut in or out such portions of the
magnetic fields as may be required and also if necessary rotate or otherwise operate
the brushes collecting current from the commutator of such generator thereby
enabling the production of a constant current with a variable electro motive force with
a constant or approximately constant speeded electric generator.
This type of motor is shown at 7 in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings as
receiving constant current from the circuit 5 and driving shafting for the workshop 15.
In such a case it would be desirable that an approximately constant speed of the motor
and of the machinery driven by it should be maintained notwithstanding variations
in the amount of work performed by such machinery, to effect this a centrifugal
governor 10 upon or driven by the shaft of the motor 7 operates (upon any alteration
in speed caused by variation of load) the switch lever 17 which by the contacts 18
automatically varies the intensity of the motors' field of force in accordance with the

page_text: work required, by cutting out or in or otherwise short circuiting portions of the
exciting wires 19. Any alteration in the intensity of the field of force brought about
by an increased or decreased demand upon the motor will tend to retard or accelerate
respectively the armature of the motor 7 just as in the case of the motor 6 and the
armature of the principal generator being retarded in exact accordance with the work
required, the automatic regulation of the speed of the steam engine taking place in
the manner hereinbefore explained with reference to the motor 6.
In the event of "racing" occurring on the part of the motor 7 the governor 16 by
means of the contacts 20 will short circuit it through the bye-pass 21 and prevent
speed rising above a certain safe limit.
It is evident that my invention may be used as a mode of distributing electricity
whereby currents of large volume and suitable potential may be operated over circuits
of great length. The circuit wire or conductor should be of high insulation and at
all times separated from the circuits of work thus enabling me to transmit to electric
motors included in such primary or main circuit which electric motors may in turn
operate local secondary electric generators or dynamos whose current may be of a
predetermined value which current when used locally shall not be in contact with the
primary circuit and whose electro motive force shall automatically vary with the work
included in their local or secondary circuits and whose speed shall vary automatically
as the electro motive force in such local or secondary circuit may demand which in
turn react on their own primary circuit thereby automatically governing the speed of
the prime motor used in the first place.
The local circuits may be utilized for any suitable work such as the charging of
secondary batteries the operation of electric motors for driving tram cars or telpherage
whose current should be taken up by lines or other auxiliary conductors and whose
current should be of such low pressure as not to be dangerous to life and which tram
cars or motors in the system should run on separate and detached circuits each of
which circuits should be automatically charged and maintained by such local motor
generators as may be required. The electric motors propelling the cars may be a
simple form of series wound machine whose speed power and direction may if desired
be varied by the position of their brushes or their respective commutators. Or such
a system might include the operating of are or incandescent lights in series on a
secondary or derived circuit the speed of the motor generator varying automatically
with the electro motive force required in such are or series incandescent lighting
circuit and not necessitating any mechanical or controlling device except in the
event of breakdown or the closing of the circuit for the purpose of stopping it.
Also I may use in conjunction with such a system electric motor generators
which shall be included in the main circuit whose speed shall be approximately
constant thereby producing local currents of constant potential but whose ampére
value may be varied according to the work required. Such motor generators being
controlled automatically by a centrifugal or other governor which shall alter the
magnetic field with such suitable adjustment of the position of the lead of the
brushes as may be required.
For the hereinbefore described system or arrangements I prefer to use conductors
joined in lengths and insulated as follows. (See Figure 2 perspective view,
Figure 3 side elevation partly in section and Figure 4 cross section on the line A B
of Figure 3.
I provide at intervals on the copper or other conductor constituting the electric
lead insulating struts or distance pieces 29 preferably taking the form of star
shaped pieces encircling the conductor and I arrange around these a protecting
tube 30 which may be of iron or other sufficiently strong material. The star
shaped or distance pieces I can conveniently form of a vitrious material and attach
them by means of a covering of a similar material applied to the conductor. The
protecting tubes of metal may be enamelled inside. The space 31 between the
conductor and the projecting tube I fill with an insulating material which can be
conveniently applied by means of a pumping or forcing device which passes the
insulating material whilst in a liquified space up into the said space. To join the

page_text: lengths of conductors and protecting tube together I make each length of conductor
project beyond each length of the protecting tube and on the ends of the lengths
of the conductors I form reversely threaded screws 32 preferably conical screws
and I provide a similarly screwed collar 33 which I pass over the screws on the
adjacent ends of two lengths of conductor when they are brought together and I
screw this collar on the ends of the lengths of the conductors so as to join them
together. I form around each end of the protecting tube 30 a screw thread 34
and over this I screw a collar piece 35 which is screwed from the end of one
length of protecting tube over the end of the adjacent length of protecting tube
so as to attach them together and lock nuts 36 may be used to give a firm fixture
of the said collar piece. This collar piece includes between itself and the joint of
the lengths of conductor and the ends of the filling of insulating material a
space which I fill with an insulating material preferably a liquid which may be
passed into the space by means of an opening capable of being closed by a screw
plug 37. This filling may be effected by a pump and a pressure indicator may be
used to indicate when a pressure has been obtained of the insulating liquid in
the space sufficient to ensure a thorough closure and protection by the insulating
material.
In connection with the conductors as the cut out or governor hereinbefore
described may use the following arrangement illustrated by Figure 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
I provide at each place of utilization of the current as herein before mentioned a
double path for the current it normally passing through a coil 22 in the normal
path 28 the attractive force of which maintains a weight 23 or its equivalent in
such a position that mercury 24 in a container 25 is at such a level that it does
not make contact with the two ends 26 of the conductor which forms the second
path or bye pass 27 for the current. If from any cause the circuit is ruptured or
interrupted through the conductor 28 by which it passes through the aforesaid
coil to the place of utilization the attractive force of the coil ceases and the
weight 23 or the like enters the mercury and causes it to make contact with the
ends 26 of the conductor and the second path 27 or bye pass for the current is.
completed and the current so passes the place where the rupture or interruption
has occurred and the continuity of the main conductor is maintained.
In cases where the circuits. are required to be interrupted or diverted under
normal control I may provide a container of mercury which when moved will
cause the mercury to take up a position either to complete electrical connection or
interrupt it as desired I may at each place make several gaps so controlled and 1
may operate at once two or more of these containers so as to ensure the proper
relative interruption and diversion without danger.
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. In or for generating and distributing Electricity a prime motor provided
with means for maintaining the pressure which operates it constant, in combination
with an Electric generator producing a constant current and having a variable speed
according to the electro-motive force required by the work.
2. In a system of generating and distributing Electricity a prime motor with a
pressure automatically maintained constant operating a prime Electric generator
producing constant currents operating secondary motors connected with secondary
Electric generators producing constant currents, which currents automatically re-act
on the whole system varying the speed and electro-motive force according to variations
in the work.
3. In combination with the subject matter of the preceding first claiming clause,
an Electric motor or Electric motors arranged and operating substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to figure I of the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: 4. In combination with the subject matter of the preceding first claiming clause
an Electro-motive generator arranged substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described with reference to that shewn at 7 in figure 1.
5. The method of or means for joining and insulating Electric conductors
hereinbefore described with reference to figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
6. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the means or
apparatus for generating, measuring, or controlling electricity, substantially as
bereinbefore described and illustrated in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The cut-out herein before described and illustrated in figure 5 of the accompanying
drawings.