System of Distribution of Electrical Currents.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
System of Distribution of Electrical Currents.
I, SALOMON BERDITSCHEWSKY called APOSTOLOFF of 23, Leadenhall Street.
in the City of London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved system of establishing and controlling at
will electrical communication between a central station and the various points of a
system for the distribution of electric currents in general whatever may be the
purpose for which they may be used.
The invention consists essentially in a mode of grouping by which the number
of switches used at the central or distributing station is only equal to the square
root of the total number of combinations to be made to effect the distribution of
current through as many different circuits.
This result is attained by a special system of grouping the anode and cathode
members of the circuits. Each group comprises a number of elements equal to the
square root of the whole number of circuits to be controlled, the groups of the
same sign being respectively connected each group with its own contact in a row
of insulated contacts whilst the groups of the other sign are respectively connected
each to its own contact in another row of insulated contacts, the number of contacts
in each row being therefore equal to the square root of the number of circuits, any
two contacts of opposite sign forming the members of a switch and being capable
of being connected by a movable connection.
But the system of grouping the anode elements differs from that of grouping the
cathode elements in such a way that the coupling together of any one contact of
the anode row with any one contact of the cathode row will complete one
particular circuit and no other, each possible combination between the contacts of
the two rows therefore corresponding to a different circuit.
This cardinal point of the invention will be more readily understood by reference
to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating such a
system of grouping is one example of the many possible combinations of groupings
which might be adopted it being supposed for purposes of explanation that there
are sixteen circuits in connection with the distributing station.
The numbers 1 2 3 4 etc. up to 16 represent sixteen different electro-receptive
devices to which the current is to be sent from the central station, it being
understood that each electro-receptive device although spoken of in the singular
number may include an indefinite number of electro-receptive devices of the same
circuit. The signs plus and minus indicate the anodes and cathodes of the several
circuits. The anodes of these couples are grouped together in four groups each
grouping comprising a number equal to the square root of 16 that is to say 4 and
the said groups being respectively connected to the respective contacts a¹ a² a³ a*
whilst the cathode elements are grouped also in groups of 4 which groups are
respectively connected to the respective contacts the anodes being taken
ID consecutive order whilst the cathodes are taken in such other order of
progression that the anodes of a group correspond respectively to different cathodes
and conversely

page_text: A is a pair of electrically connected pegs which may be inserted in a socket in
the contacts for the purpose of coupling together any one contact of any one row
with any other contact of any other ow in order to complete the circuit through
the couple corresponding to that combination of contacts. If there were
10,000 circuits distinguished by consecutive numbers they would be divided into
groups of 100, then if the anodes numbered conscentively be grouped together
in one hundred groups of 100 each and each group be connected to its corre-
sponding contact then the cathodes would be grouped together also in one
hundied groups of 100 each but in such manner that the cathodes of any one
of those groups correspond to as many different groups of anodes and conversely.
It is to be observed that the diagram represents an imaginary arrangement of
the couples and that they might be disposed in any other way, for instance in
parallel rows, the anodes and cathodes being coupled in co-ordinate lines the anodes
according to the abscissæ and the cathodes according to the ordinates.
Instead of switch pegs moved by hand, sliding contacts moved mechanically may
be used and in this case there may be more than one sliding contact moving over
the same row so as to divide the row into sections each contact corresponding to a
section and each connected to its own division in a secondary row of insulated
contacts over which a sliding contact is movable so that the distance to be travelled
over the rows of contacts is very greatly reduced.
It is evident that this system of grouping the terminals of the groups illustrated
in the diagram may be carried still further for a similar purpose.
Dated this 28th day of March 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
I, SALOMON BERDITSCHEWSKY called APOSTOLOFF of 23, Leadenhall Street
in the City of London, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved system of establishing electrical connection
or communication between a central station and any one or more of any number
of distant points for the distribution of electric currents for any purpose
whatever.
The invention consists essentially in a mode of grouping by which all necessary
combinations at the central or distributing station, in order to effect the distribution
of current through as many different circuits, may be effected by means of switches
or circuit closers not exceeding in number the square root of the total number of
circuits in connection with the distributing station.
This result is attained by a special system of grouping the terminals of the
electro-receptive devices or the members of the different circuits of the electro-
receptive devices to which current is to be distributed. As the grouping differs
for the two terminals or members of each electro-receptive device or circuit, I will
distinguish the terminals or members as the anode and cathode terminals or
members. The members of the one sign appertaining to the whole number of local
circuits are divided into a number of groups, the number of groups and the number
of members comprised in each group being respectively equal to the square root of
the whole number of circuits to be controlled and the groups of the same sign being
respectively connected each by a conducting wire with a corresponding contact in

page_text: a series of insulated contacts. The members of the other sign appertaining to the
whole number of local circuits are also divided into a number of groups, the groups
of that sign being also respectively connected each to its own contact in another
series of insulated contacts. The number of contacts in each series is therefore
equal to the square root of the whole number of circuits, any two contacts of
opposite sign forming (with the intervening connection) what I term a switch or
circuit closer the contacts being capable of being coupled by a movable connection.
in order to close the corresponding circuit. But the grouping of the anode members
differs from that of the cathode members in such a way that the coupling together
of any one contact of the anode series with any one contact of the cathode series
will complete one particular circuit and no other each possible combination between
the contacts of the two series therefore corresponding to a different circuit. If
the number of the circuits to be controlled be not a square number, it will be
evident that a similar method of grouping may be applied but the numbers of
contacts in the two series will, in that case, be factors whose product is the whole
number.
The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing which is a diagram illustrating such a system of grouping as one example
of the many possible combinations of groupings which might be adopted, it being
supposed, for purposes of explanation, that there are 16 electro-receptive devices or
circuits to be put in connection with the distributing station.
The numbers 1 2 3 4 etc. up to 16 represent 16 different electro-receptive devices
to which it may be required to send the current from the central station A, it being
understood that each electro-receptive device, although apoken of in the singular
number, may include an indefinite number of electro-receptive devices on the same
circuit. The signs and distinguish the anode and cathode members of the
several electro-receptive devices or circuits and it will be seen that the anode
members are grouped together in four groups each comprising four members (164)
the said groups being connected to respectively corresponding contacts a¹ a² a³ a;
whilst the cathode members are grouped also in four groups of four members each,
which groups are connected to the respectively corresponding contacts *b*b*.
But it will be seen that the anode members of each group are taken in consecutive
order of the electro-receptive devices whilst the cathode members are taken in such
other order that the cathode members of electro-receptive devices whose anode
members are connected in the same group, are distributed amongst as many different
groups of cathode members.
CC¹ is a pair of electrically connected pegs which may be inserted in sockets in
the contacts of series a and series & for the purpose of coupling together any contact
of the one series with any contact of the other series in order to send the current
through the circuit of the electro-receptive device corresponding to that combination
In the example illustrated the pegs are supposed to be inserted in the
contacts a and b, the result being that the circuit of battery B or of any other
source of electricity is closed through the electro-receptíve device No. 15.
Similarly the circuit of the battery or other source may be closed through any one
or more of the electro-receptive devices separately or simultaneously, by connecting
according to their appropriate combinations the corresponding pairs of contacts.
If there were 10,000 such circuits or electro-receptive devices divided into groups
of 100, and if the anode terminals or members numbered consecutively be grouped
together in one hundred groups of 100 each and each group be connected to its
corresponding contact, then the cathode terminals or members would be grouped
together also in one hundred groups of 100 each, but, as represented in the diagram,
in such different order that the cathodes of any one of those groups correspond to
as many different groups of anodes and conversely.
It is to be observed that the diagram represents the electro-receptive devices
arranged in a single row, but they might be disposed in any other way, for instance
in a number of parallel rows, the anode and cathode members being coupled in
co-ordinate lines, the anodes according to the abscisse and the cathodes according

page_text: to the ordinates. Or they may be distributed over any area at any distances
apart and at any distance from the central station.
It is also to be observed that the series of contacts a and b may be arranged in
any suitable way other than that illustrated, and may in some cases be placed side
by side and be coupled by a single peg inserted between them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein described system of differently grouping the anode terminals or
members and the cathode terminals or members of a number of electro-receptive
devices or of their circuits through which it is required to distribute electric
currents, and of connecting the groups to respectively corresponding contacts at
a central station so that by coupling a contact corresponding to a group of anode
members or terminals with a contact corresponding to a group of cathode members
or terminals the circuit through the particular electro-receptive device to which
that combination of contacts corresponds will be closed substantially as specified.
Dated this 30th day of December 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.