Propulsion of Boats and other Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Propulsion of Boats and other Purposes.
I
I ANTHONY RECKENZAUN of 8 Osborne Road Forest Gate in the County of
Essex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO ELECTRIC MOTORS, FOR THE PROPULSION OF BOATS AND
OTHER PURPOSES to be as follows:-
The object of my present Invention is to provide means whereby the direction
of rotation of an Electric Motor or Motors can be reversed and at the same time to
effect such reversal only at the moment when no current is passing through the
armature or armatures of the propelling apparatus.
It has been well known, ever since the introduction of Electric Motors, that the
armatures of such Machines will rotate right handed or left handed according to
the position in which the brushes are placed relatively to the poles of the field
magnets forming part of a motor. In the Specifications to Letters Patent granted
to John Hopkinson dated the 21st June 1879 N° 2481 and the 14th November
1879 No 4653 there are described means of shifting the position of the brushes by
pivotting the free ends of the same on a pin."
If, however, the brushes of a motor are removed from the commutator whilst a
current is flowing through the armature two serious things may happen: firstly, an
arc is formed between the receding brush and the nearest commutator segments,
thereby damaging the metal surfaces; and, secondly, the flow of the current
from the generator being suddenly directed into the armature through different
points, the currents induced by the sudden make and break have the tendency to
destroy the insulation between the adjacent wires and thus often permanently
njure part or the whole of the motor circuit.
According to my present Invention I obviate these defects in the following
nanner, viz
I effect the reversal or the displacement of the brushes relatively to the com-
nutator by means of parallel bars capable of sliding to and fro in or on fixed
lides. Upon these bars I place the brushes which will approach to or recede from
he commutator according to the movement of the bars which are in plan at right
ngles to the axis of the armature.

page_text: Now in order to prevent the possibility of an untimely reversal which often
occurs in a hurry during an excitement on board an electric boat, car or other
vehicle propelled by electricity, or on anything driven by Electric Motors, I connect
the said sliding bar or bars by suitable means with the lever of a switch which
makes and breaks the main circuit between the motor and the generator. Either
the switch lever is provided with an oblong hole, or the reversing bar or some
intermediate link can be made to have sufficient back lash or freedom of movement
so that the contact on the switch is broken whilst the brushes of the motor are at
rest. By moving the switch handle still further the brushes are reversed, and
finally by putting the lever to the end of its course contact is made in the switch
to allow the current to flow when the rotation of the armature is the opposite of
what it was with the switch lever in its original position. The return movement
will of course bring the mechanism back to the first condition. The back lash of
the mechanism and an intermediate spring or its equivalent determine the relative
motion of the switch handle and the brushes.
The arrangement of switch lever for making and breaking the main circuit
between the motor and the generator before reversing, may also be employed in
combination with other reversing arrangements depending on the displacement of
the brushes.
It will be seen that when the switch lever is moved to reverse the motor the
main circuit between the motor and the generator is broken, and the defects which
are liable to take place when the brushes are removed from the commutator whilst
the current is flowing through are thereby obviated.

page_text: Propulsion of Boats and other Purposes.
I, ANTHONY RECKENZAUN of 8. Osborne Road Forest Gate in the County of
Essex 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 present Invention is to provide means whereby the direction
of rotation of an Electric Motor or Motors can be reversed and at the same time to
effect such reversal only at the moment when no current is passing through the
armature or armatures of the propelling apparatus and all as hereinafter described.
It has been well known ever since the introduction of Electric Motors, that the
armatures of such machines will rotate right-handed or left-handed according to
the position in which the brushes are placed relatively to the poles of the Field
Magnets forming part of a motor. In the Specifications to Letters Patent granted
to John Hopkinson dated the 21st June 1879 N° 2481 and the 14th November
1879 N° 4653 there are described means of shifting the position of two pairs of
brushes by pivoting the free ends of the same on a pin.
If however the brushes of a motor are removed from the commutator whilst a
current is flowing through the armature, two serious things will happen; firstly an
arc is formed between the receding brush and the nearest commutator segments
thereby damaging the metal surfaces; and secondly the flow of the current
from the generator being suddenly directed into the armature through different
points, the currents induced by the sudden make and break have the tendency to
destroy the insulation between the adjacent wires and thus often permanently
injure part or the whole of the motor circuit.
According to my present Invention I obviate these objections in the following
manner viz
I effect the reversal or the displacement of the brushes relatively to the com-
mutator by means of parallel bars capable of sliding to and fro in or on fixed
slides. Upon these bars I place the brushes which will approach to or recede from
the commutator according to the movement of the bars, which are in plan at right
angles to the axis of the armature.
Now in order to prevent the possibility of an untimely reversal, which often
occurs in a hurry during an excitement on board an electric boat, car or other
vehicle propelled by electricity or on anything driven by electric motors, I connect
the said sliding bar or bars by suitable means with the lever of a switch which
makes and breaks the main circuit between the motor and the generator, Either
the switch lever is provided with an oblong hole, or the reversing bar or some
intermediate link can be made to have sufficient back lash or freedom of movement
or lost motion so that the contact on the switch is broken whilst the brushes of the
motor are at rest. By moving the switch handle still further, the brushes are

page_text: י
reversed, and finally by putting the lever to the end of its course contact is made
in the switch to allow the current to flow when the rotation of the armature is the
opposite of what it was with the switch lever in its original position. The return
movement will of course bring the mechanism back to the first condition. The
back lash of the mechanism and an intermediate spring or its equivalent, determine
the relative motion of the switch handle and the brushes.
And in order that my Invention may be readily carried into effect I will describe
with reference to the accompanying drawings an arrangement or construction
which fulfils the conditions laid down.
Figure 1 shews the position of parts when the motor runs in one direction and
Figure 2 the position of parts when the motor runs in the opposite direction, as
indicated by the arrow in each case on the commutator O of a motor of any
suitable or usual construction. A¹ and B¹ are the brass or copper backings or
holders for the brushes a and b which latter thus virtually or electrically are only
one brush each although cut in the middle lest the commutator O'should work
against the brushes which if the latter as is usual are made of copper wire or sheet
copper would or might buckle or damage them. The brush holders A and B are
by pins working in oblong slots jointed to parallel bars S and S¹ capable of sliding
to and fro in fixed metal guides p and n and made in parts with insulating
pieces 8 and 8¹ inserted between. Continuation rods R and R¹ with intermediate
springs F F¹ to give the needed elasticity are jointed to one end of the parallel
bars Sand S¹ respectively, and form means of connection with the lever L of a
switch of ordinary construction which makes and breaks the main circuit between
the motor and the generator, there being sufficient lost motion or back.lash by pins
on the lever L working in oblong holes on the rods R and R¹ so that the contact
on the switch is broken whilst the brushes a and b are at rest. The rods R and R¹
are insulated from the switch lever L. P and N are the terminals of the motor.
The switch disc C is fitted with contact pieces or blocks and binding screws D D'
and E E¹ and the current from the source B* passes through them; a circuit being
made when the switch lever L is in either of the positions 1 or 3 for working the
motor in one direction of revolution or the other, while in the intermediate
position 2 and whilst the brushes are at rest, the contact on the switch C is broken.
The current of electricity will in series machines pass round the field magnet coils
then enters at the binding screws P and N thence to the guides p and n and
through the rods S and S₁ and brushes a and b to the commutator O. With shunt
machines the current will pass directly from P and N into p and n and through
the rods S and S' and brushes a and b to the commutator.
The arrangement of switch lever for making and breaking the main circuit
between the motor and the generator before reversing may also be employed in
combination with other reversing arrangements depending on the displacement of
the brushes.
It will be seen that when the switch lever is moved to reverse the motor the
main circuit between the motor and the generator is broken and the defects which
are liable to take place when the brushes are removed from the commutator whilst
the current is flowing through are thereby obviated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. The method of reversing the direction of rotation of electric motors
berein described that is to say by means of a switch connected to the commutator
brushes by the movement of which switch the current is first broken and next the
brushes are taken off the commutator and next the brushes are put into the com
mutator again and in the position for reversing and then the switch recloses the
circuit by which method of action I avoid damage to the brushes and motor circuit
and 'transfer such evil or evil tendency another part substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. In apparatus operating as hereinbefore firstly claimed the employment
of a lost or dead motion in connection with a switch gear.
Third. The construction of reversing apparatus for electric motors operating as
herein before firstly claimed according to which construction two commutator
brushes are mounted on or connected with a sliding bar or bars connected with the
lever of a switch which serves to make and to break the main circuit, such
apparatus being provided with lost or dead motion for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The construction of reversing apparatus described with reference to
the accompanying drawings, substantially as set forth.
07
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