IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC POWER ENGINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Read, of Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Watch Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC POWER ENGINES."-A communication from abroad
by William Henry Read, of San Francisco, in the State of California,
United States of America.
Sealed the 25th September 1866, and dated the 31st March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Read at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st March 1866.
I, WILLIAM READ, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Watch Manu.
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC POWER ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to that description of electro-magnetic power
engines in which the continuous rotary motion of a spindle or shaft carrying
a number of permanent or electro-magnets is effected by causing a series of
fixed electro-magnets arranged round the moveable ones to attract the latter
in succession, the electric current being made by a current breaker to pass
from one fixed electro-magnet to the next one as the moveable magnets pass
from the one to the other.

page_text: The present Invention consists in an improved construction of such engines,
whereby the fixed electro-magnets are so arranged and actuated by means of
a current breaker and changer of peculiar construction, that after one of the
revolving magnets has been attracted by one of the fixed electro-magnets so as
to pass into close contiguity with it, the electric current is made to pass on to
the next fixed electro-magnet so as to attract the revolving magnet as hereto-
fore, but instead of the current acting upon the first-named fixed magnet
being now entirely intercepted, as was heretofore the case, the direction of
such current is simply reversed, so that such fixed magnet acts with a repel-
ling force upon the rotating magnet at the same time that the next fixed
magnet attracts it, thus effecting a great increase of the motive force obtained
by the arrangements heretofore employed. The engine is for this purpose
arranged in the following manner :- -Upon a vertical revolving spindle is fixed
a horizontal disc carrying four horse-shoe magnets placed upon edge and
arranged radially at equal distances apart with their poles outwards; these
magnets may be either permanent compound magnets or electro-magnets
induced by the same electric current that acts upon the fixed magnets.
Surrounding these rotating magnets are four groups of fixed horse-shoe
electro-magnets, five of such magnets being contained in each group; these
electro-magnets are arranged in radial positions and upon edge, so that the
one pole of a magnet is situated vertically over the other pole, the two poles
being such a distance apart that the poles of the rotating magnets can just
pass between them.
The spindle or shaft carrying the rotating magnets imparts motion by means
of suitable gearing to a second spindle carrying two insulated annular cups
containing mercury, into each of which one of the wire terminals of the battery
is made to dip. Each cup is furthermore put into metallic contact by means
of springs having small rollers and revolving with the cups with the current
breaker and changer; this consists of an annular conducting plate surround-
ing the cups, which plate is divided radially into five compartments (corre-
sponding with the number of electro-magnets in each group) by narrow
strips of an insulating material, and each of these parts is again divided
into two by an annular strip of insulating material. The before-mentioned
springs that bring the cups into metallic contact with the current breaker are
arranged in such positions that they make a contact between the cups and
two contiguous outer divisions of the current breaker, while the two corre-
sponding inner divisions of the latter are put into metallic contact by means
of an insulated spring carried by the cups. The outer and inner division of
each of the five compartments of the current breaker are in metallic contact

page_text: respectively with one of the ends of the coils surrounding one of the electro-
magnets in each of the four groups, so that by means of the before-mentioned
springs rotating with the cups the current from the battery passes first from
one of the cups and springs to one outer division of the current breaker and
through the coil of one magnet in each group, so as to make the upper polo
of the same, say, a south pole; the current then passes from this coil to the
inner division of the same compartment of the current breaker, thence through
the insulated spring to the inner division of the next compartment, thence
through the coil of the next electro-magnet in each group, making the upper
pole a north polo; and, lastly, the current passes from the outer division of
the last-named compartment through the outer contact spring to the second
cup, and thence back to the other pole of the battery. The relative speed of
the spindle carrying the rotating magnets and of the spindle carrying the cups
and springs is so proportioned that the latter is made to perform one revo-
lution while the former performs one-quarter of a revolution, that is to say,
that the springs pass over the whole of the five compartments of the current
breaker, and thus bring into action successively each of the five magnets in
each group, while each of the rotating magnets passes through the spaco
occupied by one of the groups of fixed magnets.
By the before-described arrangement it will be seen that as the contact
springs travel round on the current breaker the coils of each electro-magnet in
each group bas in succession, first, a curront passed through it in one direction,
then the current is reversed so as to reverse the polarity of the magnet, and
lastly the current is intercopted, the next magnet in advance being brought
into action by the first current at the same time that the current acting on
the first named magnet is reversed.
In order to be enabled to reverse the order of succession in which the
magnets are acted upon by the current from the battery, so as to reverse the
direction in which the other magnets rotate, as also in order to intercept the
current entirely from the engine without having to disconnect the terminal wires
of the battery, the following arrangement of current reverser is employed:
-A disc of insulating material, capable of turning upon its centre, has
attached to it, firstly, two screw cups insulated from each other, to which the
terminals of the battery are attached; and, secondly, two metal springs, oach
one in metallic contact at one end with one of the cups, while the other ends
rest a certain distance apart upon another piece of insulating material; this
latter bas let into its surface three metal contact plates placed at equal dis
tances apart, and in such positions that by turning the insulating disc before
mentioned the ends of the springs can either be made to rest upon the insu

page_text: lating material between the plates so as to intercept the current of the
battery, or they may be made respectively to rest upon either one of the
outer metal plates and the middle plate. The two outer plates are both
connected to one and the same wire that dips into one of the before-
mentioned rotating cups, while the middle plate is connected to the other
wire. Thus it will be seen that by turning the springs so that one rests upon
one outer plate and the other upon the middle plate, a current will be passed
from the battery through the machine in one direction, while if the springs
are so turned that the ono which before rested upon the middle plate now
rests upon the other outer plate, while the other spring rests upon the middle
plate, the direction of the current and consequently the action of the engine
will be reversed.
In the before-described arrangement of the revolving cups, in place of
employing mercury to make the contact, annular metal plates may be employed,
upon which the terminals rest by means of small rollers, and in like manner,
in place of making the current breaker and changer of metal plates, the
compartments may contain mercury, into which the springs of the cups dip.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Read in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
READ, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Watch Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Read, Her special licence that I, the said William Read,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Read, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC POWER ENGINES," a communication to me from abroad by

page_text: William Henry Read, of San Francisco, in the State of California, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that me, the said
William Read, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Read, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and
to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has reference to that description of electro-magnetic power
engines in which the continuous rotary motion of a spindle or shaft carrying a
number of permanent or electro-magnets is effected by causing a series of
fixed electro-magnets arranged round the moveable ones to attract the latter
in succession, the electric current being made by a current breaker to pass
from one fixed electro-magnet to the next one as the moveable magnets pass
from the one to the other.
The present Invention consists of an improved arrangement of such electro-
magnetic engines wherein the poles of a series of horse-shoe permanent
magnets fixed on a revolving disc are made to pass between and in close con-
tiguity to the poles of a series of groups of fixed electro-magnets, while the
electric currents passing through the coils of the latter are so acted upon by
a current breaker and changer of peculiar construction that each electro-
magnet is first made to attract one of the revolving magnets, then to repel it
as it passes on to the next electro-magnet, after which the current of the first-
named electro-magnet is entirely intercepted until the next revolving magnet
arrives in close proximity to it.
The construction of this improved electro-magnetic engine is shown on the
accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a plan of the apparatus;
Figure 2 shows a vertical section on the line c, d, Figure 1; Figure 8 shows
a vertical section on line a, b, Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged plan of the
current breaker and changer; and Figure 5 shows an enlarged sectional
elevation of the current breaker and changer and the concentric cups, showing
how the electricity is conducted to the plates of the current breaker, and
from them to the magnets. The same letters of reference indicate the same
parts in each of the Figures.

page_text: R, R, is a wheel or dise mounted upon a vertical shaft or spindle running
in bearings at its upper and lower ends, which wheel or disc carries four per-
manent compound magnets S, T, U, V, fixed thereto in radial positions at
equal distances apart with the poles outwards; 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are electro-
magnets fixed to the foundation W at equal distances apart, and arranged so
that their poles e, f, command one-quartor of the circle surrounding the
rotating magnets, the poles g, h, of which pass between the poles of the
electro-magnets in close proximity therewith, and which in being successively
attracted and repelled by the latter in the following manner are caused to
perform a revolution. When the wheel is in the relative position to the
electro-magnets shown in Figure 1 the electric current passes round the
electro-magnets 8 and 0 in such a manner that 9 repels the magnet T and 8
attracts it, which continues until T occupies the same position with regard to
8 as it now does to 9; the current is then changed by means of the current
breaker and changer Q, to be hereafter described, so as to pass through 7
and 8 only, the current passing through 8 being the reverse of what it was at
first, so as to cause the electro-magnet to repel the magnet T, whereas 7 is
made to attract it. In the same manner when the magnet T has reached 7
the current is again changed, being cut off in 8, reversed in 7 so as to repel T,
and passing through 6 so as to attract it. In this manner T passes through
all the magnets, and by the time it has arrived at the last one the magnet U
has approached the first one so as to be attracted by it, and afterwards in
Buccession V and S, whereby it will be seen that the revolution is completed.
The arrangement whereby the before-described action of the electro-
magnets is effected will be seen more clearly in Figures 3, 4, and 5, where is
the shaft or spindle of the wheel R. Attached to this shaft is a spur wheel i,
which is in gear with a pinion k fixed to a shaft or spindle m. The diameters
of the wheel and pinion are so proportioned that the shaft m makes one revo-
lution while the shaft makes one-quarter of a revolution, that is, while one
of the magnets on the wheel R passes all five of the electro-magnets. Sur-
rounding the spindle m is the current breaker and changer Q, consisting of an
annular conducting plate divided into five equal segments by narrow radial
strips of insulating material. Each segment is again divided into two parts
by a circular division of non-conducting material. The plate Q is supported
upon a frame of wood having a hole in the centre, the ten compartments of
the plate being by preference inlaid with platinum. Two of the compartments
between each radial division are connected to the coils of each of the five
magnets by means of wires attached thereto, the outside compartment being
connected to the coil of the upper pole marked e, and the inside compartment

page_text: to the lower one marked f. The shaft or spindle in runs in bearings formed
in the frame p and passes through the hole in the plate Q, above which two
concentric insulated cups of mercury K, I, are attached thereto, and which
consequently revolve with the same. Into these cups dip two wires G and H
from the battery, and the current is conducted thence to the plate Q by means
of two brass conducting springs O and N, of which O communicates with the
inner cup I, and N with the outer cup K. The cups furthermore carry a
spring P insulated therefrom by being attached to the solid wood, aud serving
to connect the two inner divisions of the same compartments of the plate Q,
upon which the conductors O, N, rest. To reduce the friction of the springs.
as they aro moved over the plate Q by the rotation of the cups, the ends
thereof are provided with small rollers 20, 21, 22, and 23, by preference made
of platinum, the axes whereof are placed in the direction of radii, and which
are in such relative positions that all four pass simultaneously over the insu-
lating divisions between the compartments. From the before-described
proportional speed of the shafts 2 and m it will be seen that in the same time
that the rotating magnets pass from one electro-magnet to the other tho
springs of the cups pass from one division of the plate Q to another.
1 will now describe the direction of the electric current and the consequent
action of the machine.
In Figures 1 and 2, L and N represent a current reverser, by means of
which the machine may be stopped or made to move either in one direction
or the other; L is a disc of wood capable of turning on a central pivot;
A and B are two brass springs fixed to the disc L and perfectly insulated from
each other; to these are attached the two screw cups C and Z, in which the
wire terminals of the battery are fastened, the positive current passing to C
and the negative current to Z. The springs A, B, press upon the surface of
the piece of wood M, in which three pieces of brass D, E, F, are inlaid, of
which the two outer ones D, F, are both connected to the wire G, while tho
middle one is connected to the wire H. When the disc L is turned so that
the springs A and B are in the position shown in Figure 1, the battery is
disconnected from the machine as the springs rest upon the wood, but by
turning L so that B shall press upon D, and A upon E, the communication
with the battery is established, a complete circuit is formed, and the wheel R
commences to turn from left to right, as will be seen by following the direction
of the current. Through the spring B it passes to D, thence by the wire G
(clearly shown in Figure 2) to the inner cup of mecury I; it then passes
through the conductor O and roller 20 to the plate S, thence by the wire 15
through the coil round the upper or e pole of the magnet 8, making it a south

page_text: pole, thence through the coil of the lower pole f, making it a north pole; the
current then returns by the wire 14 to the plate t, and through the roller 21,
bar P, and roller 22, across to the plate r, thence to the magnet 9 by the wire 17,
passing first through the lower coil, making fa south pole, and then through
the upper coil, making e north; it then passes through the wire 16 to the
plate q, thence by the roller 23 and spring N to the cup K, and lastly through
the wire H, plate E, spring A, and screw cup Z to the battery. The north
poles g of the permanent magnets S, T, U, V, being all at the top, it will be
seen that, as from the before-described direction of the current the upper pole
of the magnet 8 is south while that of 9 is north, the magnet 8 will attract the
magnet T by both poles, while 9 repels it, T consequently passes on to 8, but
in doing so it moves the cups I, K, and springs O, P, N, the full distance of
one compartment of the plate Q, the latter passing over one of the narrow
insulating partitions, whereby the current is entirely altered. Passing through
the spring O it enters the plate v, is conducted by the wire 18 to the upper
pole of 7, then to the lower pole, and returns by wire 19 to plate u, is
carried over by P to plate t, passes by wire 14 to magnet 8, traversing first
the lower pole, then the upper one, and lastly by wire 15, plate s, spring N,
and cup K to the battery. In the above-described course the current conse-
quently makes the upper pole of 7 south and that of 8 north, causing 8 to
repel and 7 to attract T, the magnet 9 being cut off from the circuit. By
the motion of T from 8 to 7 the cups and springs are moved over another
compartment of Q, whereby the current is again altered so as to cause the
current to be cut off from 8, while 7 is made to repel and 6 to attract T, and
6о on.
For the sake of clearness only five electro-magnets are shown upon the
Drawing, but in practice four such groups of five magnets are arranged all round
the wheel R, so as to act upon all four permanent magnets simultaneously, the
current being made to pass simultaneously through the four corresponding
magnets in the four groups by means of a wire connecting each four together.
By this means the power of the machine may be multiplied to a considerable
extent without requiring any increase in the intensity of the current, as
instead of having only four permanent magnets and groups of electro-magnets,
ten, twenty, or any other number of groups may be brought into the same
circuit, the current passing back to the battery as strong, or nearly so, as it
leaves it, as it merely induces the magnetism in the electro-magnets as it
passes around them.
It will be readily seen that if the disc L be turned so that the spring B
covers the plate E and A covers F, then the machine will move in the opposite

page_text: direction to that above described, as the current will then pass in the opposite
direction, and where it before caused attraction it will now cause repulsion,
and vice versa.
Electro-magnets may be substituted for the permanent magnets S, T, U, V,
in some cases with advantage, the current passing round them before con-
necting with the machine. This may be easily accomplished by placing two
concentric cups containing mercury round the bottom of the shaft l, into which
the ends of the wire coils of the rotating magnets are made to dip. One of
these cups is then connected with one of the plates of the current reverser M,
and the other with the wire that at present leads from such plate to the cups
on the spindle m. In place of using mercury in the cups I, K, two con-
centric insulated rings of platinum may be employed, the ends of the wires
G, H, being in that case provided with platinum rollers resting upon such
plates. Again, in some cases it may be advantageous to use mercury in place
of the platinum plates in the current breaker and changer Q, with amalga-
mated points on the spring N, O, P, in place of rollers.
I prefer to use Buff's battery with the above-described machino on account
of its constancy and economy, although other batteries may be employed with
success.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim
generally the reversing of the currents in the electro-magnets so as to repel
the rotating magnets after attracting the same, as I am aware that this has
been proposed before; but what I claim is,-
First, the herein-before described arrangement of electro-magnetic power
engines in which the poles of a series of rotating, horse-shoe, permanent, or
electro-magnets are made to pass between the poles of one or more groups of
fixed horse-shoe electro-magnets, so combined with and acted upon by the
current breaker and changer as consecutively to attract the rotating magnets
to repel the same, and to be thrown out of the circuit, substantially as
and for the purposes herein-before set forth with reference to the accom-
panying Drawing.
Second, I claim the peculiar arrangement of the current breaker and
changer acting in combination with the revolving cups I, K, and
conductors N, O, P, or equivalent appliances, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described.
Third, I claim in respect of the current reverser L, M, the arrangement
whereby the current from the battery may be intercepted or reversed without
disconnecting the wire terminals from the screw cups, by simply moving the

page_text: disc L so that the springs rest either upon the insulating material M or upon
two of the plates D, E, F, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Read, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
WILLIAM READ. (L.S.)