IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINES, IN THEIR CIRCUITS, AND IN THE METHOD OF OPERATING THEM."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paget Higgs, of the City, County, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINES, IN THEIR CIRCUITS, AND IN THE METHOD
OF OPERATING THEM."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Paget Higgs at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1881.
PAGET HIGGS, a Citizen of Great Britain, of the City, County, and State
of New York, in the United States of America. IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-
ELECTRIC MACHINES, IN THEIR CIRCUITS, AND IN THE METHOD OF OPERATING
THEM."
In the Drawings attached to this Specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of
one form of the machine sufficiently in detail to show the principle of my
Inventions, a portion thereof being removed for the purpose of showing certain
details not otherwise visible; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of one of the
armatures, the commutator and brushes; Figure 3 is a more detailed view of a part
of the armature, partly in perspective and partly in section; Figure 4 is a
perspective view of the magnets showing their general arrangement; Figure 5 is
an elevation of one of the spools or sections of the armature; Figure 6 is an end
view of the spool; Figures 7 and 8 show different views of the commutator;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of the machines; Figure 10 shows the arrangement of
the wires around the magnets for working the machine in different ways, parts of
the devices being merely indicated in a conventional way; Figure 11 shows the
old method of working an entire circuit in machines of this class, the parts being
indicated conventionally; Figure 12 shows in the same manner the arrangement of.
the circuits for transmitting power by means of two machines according to my
improvements; Figure 13 shows a similar arrangement for operating electric
lamps; Figure 14 shows certain details of the arrangements not otherwise indicated.
For the better understanding of my Invention I shall describe one of my machines
in one of its best forms, whereby the possible modifications, applications of'
improvements will be readily comprehended.
"

page_text: As is well known, a magneto electric machine is one in which an electric current
is induced in coils of wires, surrounding an armature which revolves or vibrates in
the polar-field of one or more magnets. The armature being moved by mechanical
power, is alternately magnetized and de-magnetized by its approach to and recession
from the magnetic poles or the center of the 'magnetic field, and thereby currents
of alternate directions are induced in its surrounding coils. These currents are
used for lighting-and plating, purposes; or the circuit being extended to a distant
station, the currents may be re-converted into mechanical power by the converse
use of the same or similar machines. The armatures are constructed in various
forms and shapes, but I prefer to construct the one which I use in the well known
form of a ring revolving about a shaft perpendicular to its plane, and having its
coils wound around it parallel to its axis of revolution; and I have improved the
construction of such ring armatures by making them in removable sections,
whereby the operation of winding the coils is much facilitated and other advantages
are gained. Such a ring armature: is shown in detail in Figures 2, 3, 5, and fi, and
its relation to the rest of the machine appears in Figures 1 and 9. In these
Figures, A is a platform or standard supporting the different parts of the machine;
B, B are two standards which furnish bearings for the shaft C. From the shaft C
for each armature radiate arms D of gun metal, which carry spools E of soft iron,
the ends of the arms being let into slots or sockets in the spools. In Figures 5
and 6 one of these spools, is shown, consisting of a core of iron slightly curved, so
that it will conform to the curvature of the ring, and provided at its ends with
circular discs e, in which are slots or sockets a, in which the ends of the arms are
inserted, the spools being secured on the arms by steel set screws b, b. The
insulated wire in which the current is to be induced is coiled around these spools.
and is connected down the radiating arms to the shaft where the currents may be
collected in various ways, as hereinafter explained. It will be seen that the spools.
so mounted constitute a continuous ring of soft iron covered by a series of coils
separated by the ends e of the spools which project to the outer edge of the covered
ring. This projection of the ends of the spools is an important feature, as it enables
the iron of the armature to be brought near to the poles of the exciting magnets
and prevents the armatures from heating. The solid rings heretofore used. have
been provided with corresponding projections between the sections of the coils for
a similar purpose. It will be found advantageous to insulate the spools from each
other and from the radiating arms, so that no currents can be induced in, the ring
itself. In Figure 3, c shows a slip of mica or other insulating material between the
ends of the spools for this purpose.
In Figure 2 the spools are shown straight and covered, so that the ring is not
perfectly circular, a form which is however objectionable, as it does not allow the
armature to approach the magnets so closely.
As ring armatures have heretofore been constructed it has been necessary to
wind the coils by hand, passing the end of the wire through the ring at each con-
volution. Besides the obvious advantage in the method of winding secured by
my construction it has others, such as the readiness with which injured sections of
the coils can be replaced, and facility for substituting wires of different character
in the whole or part of the armature, according to the requirements of the machine.
I am aware that in machines having a disc armature the coils have been placed in
spools upon the face of the disc, but for various reasons well known to electricians
the ring armature is preferable, and this part of my improvement consists-specifically
in constructing such armatures in removable sections.
Such an armature inay be used with advantage in machines of either class, that
is, in machines where the current is excited in the coils by either permanent or
electro-magnets, and in the latter case from whatever source the actuating current
of the electro-magnets is derived.
I prefer however to use electro-magnets, and their construction is shown in
Figure 4, and their arrangement with reference to the armatures in Figures 1
and a

page_text: Figure 4 represents two electro-magnets, and parts of two others of the kind,
which call multiple magnets; F, F, are soft iron bars or cores around which the
exciting coils are wound, and may if desired be extended' around the parallel
pieces which connect the cores with the common pole pieces f. These pole pieces
connect two electro-magnets F, d, at their corresponding poles, so that the whole
constitutes one electro-magnet consisting of two cores and belices F, four connecting
pieces d, and two pole pieces f; the two or more sections of which magnets inay
be connected with the other parts of the machine and circuit in different ways, as
hereinafter explained.
At each of the ends of these pole-pieces is a termination of peculiar form
marked. G, so that when four of these are placed together they constitute a hollow
circular tube in which the armatures revolve, as is shown in Figures 1 and 4.
They, and pieces d, are of soft iron, so that the field of magnetic action is extended
entirely around the armatures, not only circumferentially but in the direction
normal to the plane in which the armatures rotate, that is, on the inside as well as
outside of the ring, with the exception of a small groove on the inside for the
passage of the arins, and of course with the halves of the circle forming the positive
and negative pcles not touching each other. In this manner the poles of the
magnets are brought very close to the armatures. It will of course be understood
that more than two of the electro-maguets can be connected with the common pole
pieces if desired. And in machines where a cylindrical armature is used, such as
the well known Siemens' armature, and revolves between the poles of a series of
electro-magnets in a well known way, all of these common poles of the magnets
on each side can be connected by a common pole piece on the principle above
described.
Its advantage is in enabling me to make up the circuit in different ways for
intensity or quantity, thus the coils on one pole piece may be connected together,
in which case the whole will form but one magnet; or the wire may run from a
coil on one pole piece to a coil on the other, and then back to the next coil on the
first pole piece, when the arrangement will constitute a series of magnets having a
common polar field. Or the coils may be connected in couples or in various com-
binations, by which any desired relation of the two qualities of the reduced current
may be secured. I am also enabled by this arrangement to use a, finer wire in
the helices than if a single core was used, thereby securing additional intensity of
magnetic action without loss in quantitative effects. By the employment of two
terminations on each pole I am enabled to make such electro-magnet or multiple
magnet bear on two of the ring armatures, and, as another electro-magnet, of similar
construction can bear on the opposite side of each of these armatures the
arrangement can be extended for machines of any power.
It is by such an extension that I construct my machines in what I consider their
best form, the general principles of which I will now describe.
The multiple feature of the magnets is omitted in Figure 1, for convenience of
illustration, and may in practice be omitted in constructing machines for some
purposes. In the Drawings, Figures 1 and 9, F, F, F, are a series of the electro-
magnets supported by a common bed-plate A and constructed as before described
with pole pieces provided with double tubular terminations.
Opposite to the series F and parallel to it is a similar series, similar poles of the
two series being adjacent to each other, and the polar terminations of each opposing
pair constituting a complete circuit.
The magnets F are parallel to each other as are the connections d, and so
arranged that the pole pieces f are in a line, bringing their terminating pieces G
together in pairs, which tend to form circular or semi circular tubes, also parallel
to each other, and in the form of a series of parallel wheels on a cominon shaft.
C is a shaft mounted on bearings B attached to the same bed-plate A as the inagnets
and rotated by any mechanical power.
This shaft runs through the centers of the tubular rings and carries a series of
projecting arms arranged like the spokes of successive wheels.

page_text: These arms carry the ring armatures before described (or other forms of ring
armatures might be used), and the armatures rotate between the terminations of
the poles of each pair of magnets, room being left for the passage of the arms
between those terminations. H, h, are commutators or current collectors arranged
upon the shaft upon each side of each armature, the principle of which will be
hereinafter explained; only one of them is, however, necessary for each
armature.
:
It being stated that the whole or a portion of the current from the commu-
tators passes through the coils of the electro-magnets, the general principle of the
machine will be readily understood, as it is old and common, power being applied
to the shaft and the. armatures rotated, the natural or residual magnetism of the
'magnets will operate on the armatures to induce alternating currents in the wires
on the spools as they approach and recede from the central points of the polar
fields formed by the terminations of the pole pieces G, G. These currents will be
weak at first, but as they pass from the spools to the commutators and from them
through the coils of the magnets the inagnetic power of the latter is increased.
Consequently it tends to strengthen the current in the spools, which strengthened
current again passing to the magnets the operation is repeated, and in this way
until the magnets are saturated or the motive power is exhausted. As before
intimated, machines constructed on this principle which is known as that of
"mutual accumulation are old and well known.
"
To further describe this machine I proceed to the manner in which the wires
are conducted through its various parts.
As I practically construct them, the armatures are composed of twenty-four of
the before mentioned spools or sections, and the opposite ends of the coils on these
spools may be connected so as to form a continuous circuit around the entire
armature, but in the practical use of such machines it is often desirable to produce
currents of two or more different qualities, as, for example, one which shall be used
for giving a single large light or transmitting mechanical power, and the other for
a series of small lights. To this end a portion of the spools, say twelve, may be
wound with one quality of wire, and the remaining portion with another quality,
the different wires alternating in the circuit. In that case the spools of the same
kind only should be connected, so that in effect there will be two different and
perfectly distinct circuits around the circle of the armature. In the same way
three or more circuits might be formed. Froin the junctions of the wires on the
different spools, that is, conveniently along the radiating arms, a conducting wire
or strip of wire passes to the commutators on the central shaft.
When only one current is desired from the machine one commutator only is
needed for each armature, but when two currents are desired two commutators,.
one on each side of the radiating arms, should be used to collect and deliver the
different currents. And these commutators may be of different characters. From
the well known principle upon which these machines operate it follows that each
of these strips or wires conducting from 'the spools to the commutators delivers a
positive current during half of its revolution, and a negative one during the other
half. In practice the junctions between the different sections of the same wire
might be omitted, but I prefer that all the sections connected with one commutator
should be in circuit.
If now a fixed brush be arranged so as to take the electricity from one of these
wires just before it passes one of the neutral points, or points where the character
of the current changes, it will collect electricity of one kind, and if another brush
be placed in a similar position as to the other neutral point it will collect electricity
of the opposite kind. If the two brushes be then connected by a conducting wire,
a continuous current will pass through the latter, which is the working current.
When two wires are used in the armature coils, as above described, it follows, of
course, that the current should be collected by 'two different pairs of brushes
connected by two different circuits in which the different currents can be used, 'and
these pairs of brushes' I arrange on different sides of the radiating arms, and I lead

page_text: the connections from one set of spools to one side, and the other set to the other
side, so that each set will be brushed by its own pair of brushes.
In the same way
with the third circuit I should use a third commutator and pair of brushes.
Even where different kinds of currents are not desired it is often desired to split
the current, one part to be used in one way, and the other another way; and such
an arrangement will be found a convenient way of doing this. In such a case the
wire on the spools would of course be of the same kind, and as many spools as
might be desired could be thrown into either current. In the above arrangement,
however, I prefer to use a special form of commutator, which, however, perforins
exactly the same function, and may be used on one or both sides of the radiating
arms as before. Before describing it, however, I wish to point out further variations
which this portion of the machine is capable of, and which are indicated in the
Drawings. The above arrangement of my commutator will, as above shown,
deliver a current always flowing in one direction, but for many purposes, as, for
example, in a circuit of small lights an alternating current has some advantages,
and for that purpose I deliver the currents from the radiating connections to a
commutator so arranged as to collect the current froin all the spools with which it
is connected continuously, that is, throughout their whole circuit, so that such
commutator will deliver to its outer circuit currents of alternately negative and
positive character. Commutators which would perform this function are common
and need not be described. Both the commutators can be of this description, or
one can deliver a constant current and the other an alternating one, and either
way the wire on the spools can be uniform or of different kinds. By these means
the entire character of the machine and its work can be varied or divided. In the
Drawing, Figure 9, H, h, indicate the positions of the two commutators.
At the point where the brushes take the current from the conductors there is
danger of the passage of sparks, and the action of the current is generally destructive
of the connections. To correct the derangement arising from this fact, I have
devised a special form of commutator, shown in Figures 1 and 2, and in detail in
Figures 7 and 8. In these Figures H is a disc of nonconducting material mounted
on the shaft C at the side of the radiating arms carrying the armatures, as shown
in Figures 1, 2, and 9.
This dise is perforated with holes in number.corresponding to the spools. For
clearness of the Drawing only 12 are shown. In each of these holes is a neatly
fitting copper (or other conducting) bolt 1, one end of which is flush with one of
the faces of the disc, as seen in Figures 2 and 7. The bolts are held in this position
by the binding screws L, and the connecting strips or wires of such of the spools
as it is desired to throw into the current (that is, all that are in one circuit on the
armatures) are connected to their proper screws. Each bolt is therefore electrically
a continuation of its proper strip or wire. Brushes n, n, Figures 1 and 2, are fixed
in such a manner as to brush the faces of the bolt 1 as they arrive at the neutral
points, and receive the current as before. When any bolt or brush becomes so
worn as to injure the connection, the bolt is easily pushed out so as to restore it,
or, if necessary, can be replaced. It is obvious that the improvements in the
commutator might be applied to machines of other kinds, as, for example, in those
with a cylindrical armature. Where several arinatures are used and several
commutators and pairs of brushes, it will be understood that the currents.con-
centrated in the brushes of different commutators may be gathered into one current
by wires leading from all the positive brushes to one connection, and in the same
way with the negative brushes, and then the two connections being joined the
working current will pass over the joining wire. In Figure 1 the brushes are
shown attached to wooden posts N, N, by binding screws, by which the connections
are made.
In the Drawings I have shown in Figures 2, 3, and 8 only 12 spools, with only
one kind of wire connected to one commutator, each end of the wire on each spool
being connected to the opposite end of the wire in the next spool, and wires
running from the junction to the proper screw on the commutator. In Figure 1

page_text: there are 24 spools and two complete circuits on each commutator, only alternate
spools being connected. From the junctions of the wires of one circuit connecting
wires run to the screws of one commutator, and of the other circuit to the other.
In Figure 9 the positions of the two commutators relative to each arinature are
shown, but wires lead to only one commutator for each armature.
Having thus fully described the method of collecting currents from the armatures
I now proceed to describe the method of passing the current through the coils of
the exciting magnets, which method is illustrated conventionally in the Drawings
by Figure 10.
In this Figure C represents an armature of any kind, whose coils lead to a
commutator H of any kind, 0 representing, say, the negative wire, and o the
positive. The negative current will then be collected by brush 1 and the positive
by brush 2 when these brushes are in any manner electrically connected.
3, 4, 5, and 6 represent similar poles of a series of electro-magnets, which are
joined by a cominon pole piece to constitute a multiple magnet when desired;
7, 8, 9, and 10 represent the same poles, say the north poles of a similar series on
the other side of the armature, so that the poles of both series turn to the
armatures, and numbered from 11 to 18, constitute the south poles, that is to say,
these poles will all have these relations when the coils are properly connected, so
that the Figure represents only that portion of the armature which lies in the
south polar field of two sets of magnets; the north poles, represented for con-
venience as turned away from the armatures, will in practice be so bent as to'all
approach it on the other side, and will be connected by a common pole piece for
each series.
As
Each of the cores is wound in the same direction with a coil of relatively fine
wire, and the ends of the coils brought down to binding screws, as in Figures 1, 4,
and 9, by means of which any desired connections can be made; or they may be
lead to a suitable switch-board or peg-commutator for the same purpose.
changes do not have to be often made in the connections it will probably be
sufficient if the ends are simply allowed to project sufficiently to twist together
with desired connecting wires, and they are so shown in Figure 10.
I have devised a method, hereinafter explained, for working these and other
machines, by means of which the helices are placed in peculiar relations to the
armature and working current, but in this place it is sufficient to suppose
the usual inatimer. Froin
the exciting current taken from the brushes in
brush it passes to end 11 of coil 3, through that coil from end 3 to end 12 of
coil 4, and so through all the coils of the cores attached to one pole piece. From
end 6 of that coil to end 18 of coil 10, through coil 10 to end 17 of coil 9, and
finally out at end 7 of that coil, whence to the working line, and back through the
earth or a return circuit to brush 2, the circuit from brush 2 to brush 1 being
completed through the commutator and armature coils.
By my arrangement of connecting the different series of coils to a common pole
piece I am enabled to secure the following variation in the working of the machine
from that just described.
Instead of so connecting the end 3 of that coil with the end 12 of coil 4 it may
be connected as by the dotted lines with end 15 of coil 7, then through that coil
to coil 4, and through the coils in that manner, coming out finally at 10, thence to
the line, &c. Between coils 6 and 10 it would pass in the same way in both
arrangements; in the common arrangement both these plans would produce the
same effect. By my device of the common pole pieces the first-plan presents the
armature in the field of two powerful inagnets with multiple exciting coils;
while in the second plan the armature is exposed to eight different magnets, as
the uniting pole pieces have then no effect, except possibly to make the field more
continuous. It will be seen that the magnets may with this feature be coupled in
different ways to produce a variety of effects; and instead of joining all the cores
on one side the pole pieces might join them in couples, as in Figure 4, or in other
combinations. .

page_text: Omitting the variations introduced by these pole pieces, the foregoing shows the
common method of connecting the currents whereby the entire armature current
is passed through all the exciting coils.
In the same way, the same method is shown in Figure 11, in which a receiving
machine is introduced into the circuit. Here the current from the transmitting
instrument passes through the receiving instrument as follows: From one
brush 2 of the receiver through the commutator and coils of the armature to the
other brush, and thence through the coils of the exciting magnets to earth and
back to the transmitter. The electro-magnets being excited will act on the
armature through which the current is already passing to operate it with more or
less of the power which actuates the transmitter. This plan is liable to grave
objections; for example, if the current be broken at any place by accident,, or in
stopping the receiver, the entire load is taken suddenly off the machine which
works the transmitter, and the machine is liable to injure itself. as well as the
transmitter by "racing."
Moreover when the receiver commences to revolve it has the effect to induce in
the armature a current in the direction contrary to that which, is operating the
machine, and this secondary current must pass through all the line and, therefore
through the electro-magnets which are in the line in this opposing direction ;
much of the power of the operating current is therefore lost. Still further evils
arise from this method of operating from the exaggeration through the principle of
mutual accumulation of any fluctuations which may occur in the operating power,
and which instantly appear largely increased in the current and therefore in the
receiving machine. This evil is of especial importance in lighting or plating by
such currents.
By my method, which is illustrated in Figure 12, these evils are avoided and
other advantages secured.
Instead of plating the current from the brush directly from the exciting coils
it passes directly from one brush 1 of the transmitter to the same brush of the
receiver, and this may be called the line wire. From the other brush of the
transmitter the current passes through the coils 10 and 6 and to earth. The main
current therefore passes from one brush I of the transmitter to the receiver, through
the latter to earth, through earth to coils 6 and 10, the other brush 2, armature
and commutator of the transmitter to the first brush.
But from the line, say, at the point 20, a shunt circuit is taken which is passed
through the other 6 coils and rejoins the main circuit at a point 19 between the
coil 10 and the brush. The 6 coils 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, are therefore not in the main
circuit at all but are in a shunt, which, through its portion of the main circuit,
includes the armature, but which is not broken hy breaking the main circuit,
except when the latter is broken between points 19 and 20.
The receiving instrument is arranged in exactly the same way, except for
ordinary purposes; all of the magnet coils may be in the shunt.
The proportions of the current passing through the shunt may of course be
regulated by the number of coils included in it and by its relative resistance, and
it will of course be understood that the number of these coils relative to that in
the main circuit may be varied according to the working requirements of the
machine by means of the changeable connections which I have before described,
and it is in this adjustability of the shunt circuit that its practicability largely lies.
The counter currents caused by the action of the receiver will still exist,. and in
the line will tend to weaken the inain current, but in the shunt they will coincide
with that portion of the transmitting current which passes through the latter, and
they will therefore assist instead of weakening its action on the shunt coils, thus
avoiding great loss of power.
If now it be desired to stop the receiver for any purpose it can be done by
turning aside, one of the brushes of the commutators which I make movable for
that purpose, as is shown in Figure 1. The current can no longer pass through
the armature but it can pass through the shunt and coils to the place where

page_text: the shunt rejoins the main line, then through the latter to earth and to the
transmitter.
The receiving magnets being therefore excited will operate to hold the armatures
(through which no current can pass) with their whole magnetic force, making
practically a brake for the machine. But as the current is not interrupted in the
line or in the transmitter the moving power is not relieved.
In the same way if the current be broken outside of the machines by accident
or otherwise, the shunt circuit in the transmitter will operate to maintain a
current through the latter, except that, in this latter case, the armature will still
continue in circuit, and the power which may be released by cutting out of the
operated machine or light will be simply taken up in an increased rate of speed in
the transmitter.
In the Drawings, Figures 11, 12, and 13, the full faced arrows show the main
current, and the half faced arrows that induced by the receiver, showing the
coincidence of the currents in the shunts.
Figure 13 shows the same method of operating as applied to supplying a series
of small lights.
These lights 21, 22, and 23, are placed as usual in a series of shunts or tap-
circuits 24, 25, and 26, between two parallel main lines.
I have found that such lights operate to send back an opposing current (pro-
portionated to their resistance), probably on the same principle as the receiving
machines above described, causing as before a great loss of power in the old way of
operating, but by my method of shunting a part of the coils in the transmitter
most of this is saved, because this opposing current is converted in the shunt of the
transmitter to an assisting one as before. This will be seen by an inspection of
the arrows.
The object of leaving a portion of the magnet coils of the transmitter in the main
circuit is to prevent any injury arising from accidental short circuiting. When
this occurs outside of the shunt, as it is very apt to, for example, by the rupture of
the insulation of the armature or injury to the commutator, or if it occurs in the
outside circuit, if there were no coils left in the main circuit, the resistance of the
shunt coils, that is, in that case, of the whole machine, would send the whole
current or most of it through the short circuit, which offering little or no resistance,
the operating power would be as before suddenly relieved of all duty. In my
arrangement the coil left in the main circuit by their resistance which accumulates,
forces the current into the shunt as before, and the resistance is taken up by mutual
accumulation between the armatures and magnet, coils.
A very great advantage of iny arrangement of the shunt circuit, both in lighting
and mechanical work, lies in the fact that it serves to prevent the fluctuations of
the power from manifesting themselves injuriously in the work done by the
machine, and this is best illustrated by the effect shown in the working of a series
of small lights.
It is well known that in starting an electric current through a conductor it has
the effect to induce for a moment an opposing current which weakens its effect, and
in the same manner at the end of the current a momentary induced current is
produced, but in the same direction as the original current, and therefore tending
to prolong its effect; and analogous effects are produced by the strengthening and
weakening of the original current. These momentary currents are known as extra
currents.
These effects will tend to be produced by any sudden increase in the speed of the
transmitting machine, and together with the opposing current from the receiver o
lights in the usual manner of working the machines; they will tend to promote the
fluctuations of speed in the transmitting machine which re-act in the work done
But by my arrangement for working the coils in the shunt these extra currents
react to throw additional work on the machine before its increased power can be
felt in the outer current, and therefore to retard any increase or decrease in the
rate of the machine and in the outer current. Any change in the power has
12

page_text: resistance to overcome in the machine before it can be felt outside of it, and con-
stancy of the current is therefore secured. In this way my improvement enables
me to secure a perfect, constant, and steady light. And in the same way of
chemical and mechanical effects.
It has been usual in machines using electro-magnets for the purpose of exciting
the current in the armature to wind the magnets with a larger wire than that used
for the armature coils, but for the reason that electro-motive force of relatively
high intensity and low quantity is more economical of the mechanical power
converted into electricity, I prefer to use a comparatively fine wire in the helices
of the magnets, that is to say, a wire smaller than that of the armature, coils.
The latter wire itself can also be reduced in size from that which is usually
employed with advantage. The use of fine wire in the helices of the magnets is
facilitated by my arrangement of multiple magnets before referred to.
.
In working lines with currents of the kind produced by the machines of this
character, the currents are of a much more perfect character than those usually
employed; for example, those produced by the galvanic battery, and as such currents
have great disintegrating and heating effects on the conductors, I have made some
especial provisions to avoid injury to the latter.
The conducting wire I make of an alloy composed of steel (not iron), and
aluminium or steel, aluminium and silver in proportions of at least eighty five
parts of steel to fifteen parts of aluminium. The silver may be added to about
one per-cent. of the whole.
Such an alloy draws into wire form easily, and by reason of its great strength
and conducting powers may be finer and therefore lighter than an iron wire of the
same conducting power.
Dangerous heating of the wire, which is usually local in its character, occurring
for instance at curves, bends, and joints of the conductor, I avoid by placing in
the wire, or thermally connecting with it, copper plates or discs having a large
radiating surface at all places of high resistance where sucli heating effects are to
be feared.
These plates relieve the wire of its heat by radiation.
In making earth connections with ordinary earth plates I find that the large
current is apt to cause polarization at the surface of the earth plates, which,
increasing the resistance and producing counter-currents, causes loss of power.
This I avoid by using plates or wires furnished with discharging, points, the points
being preferably gilded, and the spaces on the plates or wires between the points
being varnished. The earth connection is therefore made through the points only,
which will not readily polarize.
The method of inserting the radiating plates in the line is shown in Figure 14,
where 27 is the main line coming from earth at 28, passing through the bends 29,
and back to earth at 30; 31, 31, are the copper radiating plates, and 32, and 33 are
my improved earth connections in two points.
The points project from a plate, as at 32, or are made of wire coiled around the
coil of line wire in the manner in which barbs are placed on a wire fence.
.
"
In the foregoing Specifications I have referred to prevailing theories of the action
of the currents in such machines, and have endeavoured to explain by them the
effect produced by my improvements. It will be understood however that while I
have tested these effects in actual and practical use, and know them to be as stated,
I do not vouch for the correctness of the theoretical explanations, very much of the
theory of electrical action in such cases being as yet hypothetical.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. A ring armature composed of moveable sections, substantially as
described.
Second. The removable sections or spools E with their projecting ends e mounted
on the shaft C, substantially as described.

page_text: Third. A rotating armature having its coils of two or more wires of different
qualities, substantially as described.
Fourth. A ring shaped armature having its coils in removable sections of two
or more wires of the same quality, but connected to separate commutators or
collectors, so arranged as to constitute two or more distinct circuits, substantially as
.' described.
Fifth. The ring shaped armature composed of removable sections, insulated
electrically from each other for the purpose of preventing secondary currents in the
armatures, substantially as described.
Sixth. I claim the arrangement of multiple exciting magnets, that is to say,
magnets having two or more cores and helices provided with a common pole piece
when arranged to be worked wholly or partially by a shunt circuit.
Seventh. I claim the arrangement of the pole pieces at right angles to the cores
or connecting pieces, whereby each pole is brought to bear on two armatures,
substantially as described.
Eighth. In machines having ring armatures I claim the construction of the
inducing semi-tubular pole pieces, so as to surround or nearly surround the
entire circumference of the ring in the direction normal to the plane in which it
rotates:
Ninth, I claim a commutator provided with the adjustable connecting pieces 1, 1,
and set screws L, substantially as described.
Tenth. I claim the arrangement of the two circuits or sections of wire upon one
armature connected with two separate commutators or collectors, one arranged to
deliver a constant current, and the other an alternating current, substantially as
described.
Eleventh. I claim a magneto-electric machine, in which the coils of the series of
magnets are arranged and constructed substantially as described, so as to be
connected up in different ways for intensity or quantity.
Twelfth. I claim the arrangement of parallel multiple exciting magnets, wound
with relatively fine or long wire, substantially as described.
Thirteenth. I claim the coils of the exciting magnets when made of finer wires
than those of the armatures, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. I claim the arrangement of the circuits of a magneto-electric machine
for converting nechanical power into an electric current, whereby a contrary
electric force of the outer circuit is caused to aid in magnetizing the exciting
magnets by the shunt circuit in the manner substantially as described.
Fifteenth. I claim the division of the exciting coils of magneto-electric machine
by placing the coils of part of the magnets in a shunt circuit, and the remainder in
the main circuit, either in the receiving or transmitting machines, substantially as
described.
Sixteenth. I claim the within described means of adjusting the relative electro-
magnetic force of the shunt and main circuits, that is to say, 1st, by arranging the
exciting coils in either the shunt or main circuit so as to be connected up for either
quantity or intensity; 2nd, by varying the relative number of the coils in the
shunt and main circuits; 3rd, by removable sections of the arinatures; and, 4th, by
use of different commutators for different sections of the armature coils, that is to
say, by any or all of these means.
..Seventeenth. I claim the main circuit, the armature coils, combined with a shunt
circuit passing through any or all of the magnet.coils when the relative resistance
of the shunt and main circuit can be adjusted, substantially as described.
Eighteenth. I claim the movable brush or other means of breaking the circuit of
the armatures when combined with the shunt circuit in the magnet coils for the
purpose of an electrical break, substantially as described.
Nineteenth. I claim the conducting wire composed of an alloy of steel and
aluminium, with and without additional silver.

page_text: Twentieth. I claim the heat radiators introduced in the circuit in places of great
resistance, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Twenty first. I claim the earth plates 32 or coils 33, provided with discharging
points, substantially as described.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paget Higgs, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Eleventh day of March, A.D. One thousand eight hundred and
eighty-one.
PAGET HIGGS. (L.S.)