Improvements in the Distribution of Electricity.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Distribution of Electricity.
We THOMAS PARKER Works Director of The Electric Construction
Corporation Limited of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford and JOHN
HAROLD WOODWARD and EDMUND SCOTT GUSTAVE REES both of Commercial
Road Wolverhampton aforesaid Electrical Engineers do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved system of starting stopping and controlling
electric circuits whereby an economical and efficient distribution of electricity from
central stations is obtained by means of continuous high tension currents and
motor-generators for governing the electro motive force required for the lamps or
motors being supplied and consists in starting stopping and generally controlling
the motor generators situated at the various sub-stations by means of switches at
one or more main switch-stations which may be situated at the generating station
or at any one or more convenient places in the district to be supplied.
The motor generators at the sub-stations are supplied with high tension currents
from the switch stations and the circuits from the switch-stations to the sub-stations
and the switches for controlling these circuits are so arranged that when not more
than a certain fraction (depending upon circumstances) of the maximum current
supplied from any sub-station is being used, the motor-generator at that station is
stopped, the lamps or motors then in use being then supplied from the switch-
station direct at a suitable electro motive force through the same leads as those
used for supplying the high tension current to the motor generators when more
than the fraction of load determined is being used. This current which is supplied
direct may be taken from a low tension dynamo or dynamos or from motor
generators situated at the switch station.
This system of distribution and controlling the supply of current from one or
more switch stations may be used in conjunction with accumulators or storage
batteries fixed at the switch station or at the various sub-stations.
The above described system is also applicable to an alternating current system,
transformers being cut in or out of circuit as required, the supply of current being
controlled generally as before described from one or more switch-stations thus
allowing the transformers in circuit being worked at an economical load and
increasing the total efficiency of the plant.
Dated this 10th day of October 1890.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Distribution of Electricity.
We, THOMAS PARKER Works Director of The Electric Construction
Corporation Limited of Wolverampton in the County of Stafford and JOHN
HAROLD WOODWARD and EDMUND SCOTT GUSTAVE REES both of Commercial
Road Wolverhampton aforesaid Electrical Engineers, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved system of starting stopping and controlling
electric currents whereby an economical and efficient distribution of electricity
from central or generating stations is obtained by means of high tension currents
°

page_text: and a motor generator or transformer or motor-generators or transformers (we will)
refer to them as motor generators for transforming the current to the electro-
motive force required for the lamps, motors or equivalent translating devices being
supplied (these we shall refer to as lamps) and our said invention consists in
arrangements for starting stopping and generally controlling the motor generators
situated at sub-stations by means of switches at a switch station or switch stations,
which switch station or stations may be situated at the generating station or at any
convenient place or places in the district to be supplied. The motor generators at
the sub-stations are supplied with high tension currents from the switch station or
stations (these being supplied from the generating station) and the circuit or
circuits from the switch station or stations to the sub-stations and the switches for
controlling these circuits and currents are so arranged that when the low tension or
distributing mains supplying the lamps consist of a number of detached circuits
each supplying a comparatively small number of lamps and fed by motor
generators the said motor generators are stopped when only a small number of
these lamps is in use and the low tension current required to maintain such small
number of lamps is supplied from the switch station direct at a suitable electro-
motive force through the same leads as those used for supplying the high tension
current to the motor generators.
In certain cases where the low tension or distributing mains form a network
throughout the area supplied with current it is more convenient when only a small
number of the lamps is in use to stop the motor generators and to supply the
necessary current at a suitable electro-motive force direct from the switch station
or stations feeding into the network direct at a point or points nearest to the switch
station or stations. The current which is supplied direct from the switch station or
stations to the low tension or distributing mains may be taken from a low
tension dynamo or dynamos, or from motor-generators or accumulators situated at
the switch station or stations. This system of distribution and controlling the
supply of current from a switch station or stations may (when continuous currents
are employed) be used in conjunction with accumulators situated at the switch
station or stations or at the sub-stations.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures of the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a diagram representing an arrangement of circuits (wherein continuous
currents are used) and switches such that when only a small number of lamps is in
use the motor-generators may be stopped and the necessary current to supply this
small number of lamps be fed through the high tension mains at a suitable electro-
motive force direct from the switch station.
Figure 2 represents an arrangement in which there is a network of low tension or
distributing mains connected directly to the switch station so that when only a
small number of lamps is in use the continuous current motor-generators are stopped
and the current is then supplied directly into the network from the switch station
at a suitable electro-motive force.
Figure 3 is a diagram representing the general arrangement of a complete
distribution system corresponding with Figure 2.
Referring to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1. A represents the bigh
'tension armature, and B the low tension armature of a motor generator having a
field magnetising circuit C and supplying low tension current to the distributing
mains D. This motor-generator is supplied with a starting current through thin
wire leads E, and when running with load, is supplied through thicker leads E
connected in parallel with the leads E.as hereinafter explained.
G is a thin wire conveying current from the switch station for energising the
field magnet circuit C of the motor generator. Another wire is provided for
energising the electro-magnet J for moving over the switches K so as to connect
the leads E with the terminals of the high tension armature A.
The switch station is provided with two two-way switches L' for connecting the

page_text: leads E' with the high tension mains S or with the low tension mains R the high
tension mains S being supplied with current from the generating station. The
low tension mains R are supplied from a motor-generator low tension dynamo or
accumulators situated at the switch station.
The switches at M N and O and the switch P are provided at the switch.
station for controlling the current in the leads G F and H and the resistance coils
respectively.
When only a small amount of current is being taken from the distributing mains D
all the switches at the switch station (with the exception of those marked L) are
"off" those marked L' being in position for making contact so that low tension
current is supplied directly from the leads R through the leads E' and switches: K
to the said distributing mains. Under these conditions the motor generator A B
is out of action.
When a larger current is required in the distributing mains the motor generator
is started by closing the switch M and thereby energising the magnets C of the
motor generator. The switch L is then closed and completes the circuit from the
high tension mains S through the leads E to the high tension armature A so as to
start the motor generator. A resistance P may be inserted in circuit to enable the
current to be turned on gradually at starting. The switch O is then closed so that
the electro-magnet I is energised and operates the switch T and so connects the low
tension armature B with the distributing mains D.
The switches L' are then placed in an intermediate position so as to cut off the
supply of low tension current from the leads R.
The switch N is now closed and energises the electro magnet J which operates
the switches K so as to connect the leads E' with the armature A. The switches L'
are then thrown over to connect the leads E' with the high tension mains S thereby
enabling the motor generator to be supplied with current up to its full capacity.
The regulation of the electro-motive force at the terminals of the armature B may
be obtained in the usual manners by varying the electro-motive force of the current
supplied to the armature A.
In order to put the motor-generator out of action the switches are operated in
reverse order and restored to their original positions so as to connect the maius D.
with the low tension leads R.
Referring now to the modified arrangement illustrated in Figure 2, the
distributing mains D being brought into the switch station are supplied, when only
a small amount of current is being used, by the leads R directly from a notor
generator or a low tension dynamo or accumulators situated at the switch station.
When a larger amount of energy is required, the switch M is closed thus
energising the field magnets C of the motor generator.
By closing the switches L, the high tension mains S S are connected through
the mains E to the high tension armature A thereby starting the motor generator.
A resistance and switch P may, as in the example Figure be used to regulate
the amount of current in starting.
The switch O is then closed so as to energise the electro magnet I which operates
the switch T so as to connect the low tension armature B to the distributing
mains D. The switch T in this case is arranged so that on completing the circuit
at an electro-magnet I is energised which pulls in the switch. The switch O
may now be turned off leaving the switch T still on. Ou again completing the
circuit at O the switch T is pulled off and so on alternately. The switch T may,
as shewn at Figure 2, be arranged in conjunction with an electro maguet ✗
round which the main low tension current passes. This electro-magnet attracts
an armature when the current exceeds a certain amount releases the catch
wheel of the switch T and so breaks the circuit but still leaves the switch T
so that it can be put on again by energising the electro-magnet 1 from the
switch station. The electro-motive force at the terminals of the motor generator
may be regulated by the ordinary means and the said motor generator be stopped
by manipulating the switches in the order reverse to that observed in starting.

page_text: In the distribution system illustrated in the diagram Figure 3. three transformer
sub-stations Z, Z, Z are employed in combination with a central switch station B
receiving the current from motor generators at A. Another motor generator Z' is
provided at the switch station combined with accumulators with switches W so
arranged that they may be connected up to charge or discharge from or into
the distributing mains. The connections and switches at the central switch station
in Figure 3 are arranged to operate in the same way as those herein before described
with reference to Figure 2.
We have hereinbefore referred to continuous current or motor generators but
alternating current transformers may be used in place thereof with such modification
in the arrangement as will be clearly apparent from the preceding description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The improved means of distributing electric energy consisting in providing
a supply, or distributing, system with a switch station or switch stations from which
a transformer or motor-generator or transformers, or motor-generators situated
at a sub-station or sub-stations and feeding into distributing mains is, or are, cut in,
or started, and cut out, or stopped, and generally controlled, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Second. The combination or arrangement of electric circuits and switches
enabling the high tension mains supplying the transformer or motor generator or
transformers or motor-generators to supply current of low tension directly to the
distributing mains when only a small number of lamps is in use and the transformer
or motor generator or transformers or motor-generators is or are stopped substan-
tially as herein before described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
Third. The arrangement and combination of circuits and switches and their
adjuncts as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement and combination of circuits and switches and their
adjuncts as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
DL L 1
1001
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.