IM- PROVEMENTS IN THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Scott at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1878.
WILLIAM SCOTT, of 23, Rood Lane, in the City of London, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS.”
My Invention relates to the economical production of electricity in a better and
more advantageous manner than has hitherto been effected by means of galvanic
batteries, magneto electric, or dynamo electric machines, or by any other form
of thermo electric pile, and with more durable generator.
In order to effect this I use a combination of two metals in contact with each
other, and apply heat from any convenient source to their point of contact, thereby
generating a current of electricity in the said metals.
The metals I use by preference are wrought iron in combination with pure nickel
prepared as in my Patent No. 4118, and dated 17th October 1878, or in any other
better and cheaper mode, or otherwise wrought iron in combination with alloys of
pure nickel and copper, which are materials of a very strong and durable nature,
and may be subjected to a very considerable heat without injury or liability to
fusion.
The bars, sheets, or plates of which my couples are composed I carefully braze
together with lap folded joint at the end exposed to the heat, and connect them at
the other end each respectively to opposite plates of the adjoining couple direct by
brazing or by a connection of copper wire.
I may sometimes deposit the ends of my iron bars for a short distance with a
thin coating of copper.
The series of couples I arrange in tiers perpendicular to the direction of their
joint, and I insulate them from each other by the use of silicate wool or slag wool
rammed in between the couples; I may also use asbestos in any convenient form to
make more complete insulation between respective tiers.

page_text: I may in the construction of my couples sometimes use bars, sheets, or plates,
having their central sectional area considerably reduced, either by cutting a portion
out of the centre of the bar, or by reducing its width or thickness.
I may arrange the tiers in auy convenient form around the source of heat or
combustion chamber, being careful to keep the broader face of the joint towards the
impact of the heat or flames.
When an isolated arrangement is required I arrange the tiers vertically around a
central combustion chamber in which the heat is generated by gas, coke, coal, or
other heat generator, the tiers of couples being inclined towards one another in a
hollow frustrum of a cone.
The exit for the heat should be preferably downwards so as to most fully utilize
the heat before allowing it to escape.
All the vertical tiers are terminated at the ends by binding screws which are
conveniently arranged so that the pile may be connected up either for quantity or
in multiple arc irrespective of the manner in which the couples are connected.
I may arrange these binding screws on a bar of non-conducting material, along
which I arrange a good conductor of brass, copper, or other suitable material.
Upon this conductor a slide is fitted moved by a screw or in other suitable manner.
This slide I arrange to move from one end to the other of the range of tiers, so that
two or more or the whole range of tiers may be thrown into circuit as desired, one
of the wires by which the electricity is conducted away from the generator being
connected to this central bar, and the other to complete circuit being connected to
_the_terminal tier.
The said slide is so arranged that the tiers not in-use-shall-be-short-circuited_in_
order that the electricity generated by these tiers may freely circulate through
themselves; or I arrange the connection at top and bottom of each tier to two
parallel series of isolated and insulated metal blocks. The electrical communication
between any of these blocks either in the direction of the length of the parallel
series or between any pair of blocks, one in each of the parallel series, may be made
by pressing in a metal pin into a suitably prepared socket, half in each of the
isolated blocks that have to be connected. In this way the series, may be connected
up for largest quantity, or in multiple arc, or in any combination that may be
desired.
I construct each tier separate and complete in itself, so that it can be casily
removed from the generator for repair in case of the fracture or burning of any
joint.
Should it be considered desirable to protect the ends of the couples from too
fierce a fire, I may use a fire clay lining in immediate contact with the fire or heat
generator.
Should the pile be of large size and embedded in a seating, I may arrange the
tiers in an arch over the top of the fire grate and flues as may prove most suitable.
The details of arrangement and connection remaining as before described.
I may also use a combination of several electric generators of any form, all
heated from a single regenerating furnace or other economical source of heat.
I may also so arrange the indraught of air to any of my thermo electrical piles,
so that before entering the fire or mixing with the gas to produce combustion
the incoming air may be made to pass between all the outer ends of the couples,
and an outside shell or covering which will thus add to the economy of heating.
For domestic purposes I may apply my battery in such a form as to suit what-
ever spaces may be afforded in the chimney, fire-place, or hearth, so that the waste
heat from the kitchen or other domestic fire may be utilized.
I would apply the electricity generated by my battery to lighting, electro
depositing, and to motive or any other industrial purposes where electricity may
with advantage be applied. In gas works and industrial factories the waste heat
of retorts, boilers, or furnaces may be utilized to generate electricity by my
improved thermo battery for all or any of the above described purposes.

page_text: In railway trains the waste heat of the locomotive may be utilized to generate
electricity from my pile for the purpose of lighting up the carriages, and for
affording a constant and ready means of communication between the guard, engine
driver, and passengers. The pile may be arranged in the smoke-box of the
locomotive or other suitable position.