Improvements in Instruments for Controlling Electric Currents.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Instruments for Controlling Electric Currents.
We, OTWAY EDWARD WOODHOUSE, and FREDERICK LAWRENCE RAWSON, both
of N° 11 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Electrical Engineers, and
JOHN HUBERT DAVIES, of 73 Talgarth Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to a combination of mechanical devices, whereby we can
regulate, control, or cut-out, electric circuits, by extremely small variations in the
potential or current of the same or other electric currents.
Our apparatus consists in an electrically operated contact maker, which by its
operation completes either of two electric circuits, and is hereinafter called a
repulsion regulator." It is used in combination with a "cut out," operated
electrically by the primary action of the aforesaid Repulsion Regulator," and
which, in its various equivalent forms, is called hereinafter the "Controlled
Cut Out,"
By this arrangement, the comparatively weak force, and consequently exceedingly
sensitive action of the "Repulsion Regulator," is enabled to do work in the control
and regulation of powerful currents, by means of the currents which flow through
the circuits it completes, and through the subsidiary "controlled cut outs," thereby
operated, that it could not effect directly..
The aforesaid "Repulsion Regulator" consists essentially of one or more solenoids
of wire, within which are one or more pairs of bars of soft iron, their length being
in the same direction as the axis of the solenoid.-One of each pair of bars is fixed,
and the other in each pair is pivoted and capable of moving to or from the first fixed
bar-The axis of the pivots may be in the direction of the length of the soft iron
bars, or transverse to them-If pivotted parallel to their length, the moveable bar
or bars rotate on the said pivot, placed between or at some distance from the.fixed
bar or bars, so that the movable bar or bars swing up to the face of the fixed bar
or bars
If pivoted transversely to their length the fixed bar or bars are slotted out, and
bent, and the movable bar or bars are pivoted by a scissors joint at the centre, so
that both ends of the movable bar approach to, or recede from, the ends of the
fixed bar or bars.
$
The movable bar of each pair is forced towards the other bar by a weight or
spring, and the bars are preferably made flat, so as to lie closely to one another, an
electric circuit being completed, when the apparatus is home, by reason of the
spring or weight, by contact pieces on the movable bar being thereby pressed upon
a stop or stops.
The circuit may be completed through the pivot to one stop, or the contact piecę
.

page_text: When a current passes through the coils of the solenoid, the soft iron fixed and
movable bars become similarly magnetized to a degree which answers very
sensitively to variations in the current passing through the solenoid coils.-The
movable bars are thus repelled and move away from the fixed poles until the
contact piece or pieces attached to the former touches another stop or stops, and
thus completes another electric circuit When the circuit to be controlled is in
a normal condition, the moving magnet bar is caused to stand, by the adjustment
of the weight or spring, mid way between the contact pieces of the before described
alternative circuita.
The controlled cut out, used in combination with the aforesaid "Repulsion
Regulator," consists of an armature, pivotted below its centre of gravity, which
may be placed either vertically between two electro magnets, so as to fall
alternatively towards the pole of one or the other of them, according as one or the
other magnet is excited; or it may equivalently be pivotted on the lower pole of
a single vertical electro-magnet.
The electro magnet or electro magnets in either case are excited by the circuits or
circuit completed by the action of the "Repulsion Regulator."
In the first case the "Repulsion Regulator" closes two alternative circuits at
each extreme point of its action, so as to actuate the electro magnets alternatively
for increase or decrease of potential or current in the circuit. To prevent waste
of current in the electro magnets between the successive periods of action, we add
a contact breaking arrangement, cutting out each electro magnet as it is satisfied
by the movement towards it of the pivotted armature, and putting into circuit the
other electro magnet ready for reverse action. In the second case the contact stops
of the "Repulsion Regulator" are connected to the two alternative contact pieces
on the controlled cut-out, which are fixed on suitable supports, one on either side
of the armature, against one or other of which a spring or contract piece, attached
to the armature and connected to one end of the coil on the magnet, rubs or
presses, when the armature is on either side of the vertical position. Through
these contact pieces the repulsion regulator closes the same electro magnet circuit
at either extreme point of its action, the armature of the controlled cut out being
thereby raised to a vertical position. But as the armature reaches this position,
its contact spring leaves the contact piece connected to that contact stop on the
"repulsion regulator" which caused the action, and thereby the electro magnet
circuit is broken, and the armature is carried over the vertical position by the
momentum it has attained in the first half of its movement; it thus falls to the
opposite side, and its spring touches the other contact in connection with the other
contact stop of the "repulsion regulator," and so is ready for the reverse action to
take place.
To the armatures in these "cut-outa" are attached one, two, or more pairs of
forked conductors, which, as the armature moves over, make electric contact
between a pair or pairs of mercury cups, and breaks contact if desired by the same
movement with a similar pair or pairs of mercury cups on the other side, and vice
тегна,
By this combined device, it is obvious that when the current or electromotive
force is below or above a given value, the main current may be broken, and if
necessary sent through one or other of two or more alternative circuits respectively,
and it is also obvious that the "repulsion regulator" may be used to operate other
governing devices, whereby the electromotive force or current may be maintained
constantly within certain limita

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instruments for Controlling Electric Currents.
We, OTWAY EDWARD WOODHOUSE, and FREDERICK LAWRENCE RAWSON, both
of N° 11 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Electrical Engineers, and
JOHN HUBERT DAVIES, of 73 Talgarth Road, in the County of Middlesex,
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 :—
Our invention relates to a combination of mechanical devices whereby we can
regulate control or cut-out electrical circuits by extremely small variations in the
potential or current of the same or other electric currents.
"
Our apparatus consists in an electrical contact maker which by its operation
completes either of two electric currents and is hereinafter called a "repulsion
regulator It is used in combination with a "cut-out" or similar electro magnetic
controlling apparatus operated electrically by the primary action of the aforesaid
repulsion-regulator" and which in its various equivalent forms is called herein-
after the "controlled cut-out."
By this arrangement, the comparatively weak force, and consequently exceedingly
sensitive action, of the "repulsion regulator," is enabled to do work in the control
and regulation of powerful currents, by means of the currents which flow through
the circuits it completes, and through the subsidiary "controlled cut-outs" thereby
operated, that it could not effect directly.
In order that our invention may be the better understood, we now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts in
one set of the figures, 1, 2, 3 and 4 and also in the set of figures 5 and 6
respectively.
"
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic transverse section of one arrangement of our
repulsion regulator."
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section of an equivalent modification of
the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are an end view and longitudinal section through the
"repulsion regulator" as we preferably construct it.
Figure 5 is an outside view of one form of the "controlled cut-out."
Figure 6 is an outside view of a modified construction of the same.
The aforesaid "repulsion regulator," figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, consists essentially of
one or more solenoids of wire shown diagrammatically by dotted lines G G in
figures 1, 2 and 4. Within this solenoid or solenoids are one or more pairs of bars
of soft iron A A B B, their length being in the same direction as the axis of the
solenoid. One of each pair of bars A A is fixed, and the other in each pair B B is
pivoted and capable of moving to and from the first fixed bar or bars.
The axis of the pivot or pivots p may be in the direction of the length of the
Boft iron bar or bars or transverse to them.
Figure 1 shows the first modification, in which the axis of the pivot p is parallel
to the length of the fixed bars A A. In this case the movable bar or bars B B,

page_text: connected together by a yoke piece Y, rotate on the said pivot p, placed between
or at some distance from the fixed bar or bars A A, so that the movable bar or
bars B B swing up to the face of the fixed bar or bars A A. In this figure the
dotted circle G represents the coil of the solenoid, and the repulsion of B B¹ takes
place in the direction indicated by the arrows. In this arrangement, the axis of
the pivot pis horizontal and the movable bars B B are forced towards the fixed
bars A A by a weight W. Or a spring may be conveniently used if desired for
the same purpose, and would be especially applicable where the pivoting axis p is
vertical.
Where the movable bar or bars B B are pivoted transversely to their length, as
in figure 2, the fixed bar or bars A A are cut away at the centre, and bent, and
the said movable bar or bars B B are also half jointed by a recess at the centre
pivoted by a scissors joint to the said bar or bars A A, so that both ends of the
movable bar approach to and recede from the ends of the fixed bar or bars. The
coil of the solenoid is here shown diagrammatically by a dotted line G, and
the repulsion of the fixed bar or bars takes place in the direction indicated by the
arrows. A counter balance weight. W is here also conveniently used where the
movable bar B B is arranged horizontally, in order to press home the movable
bar against the faces of the fixed bar or bars A. A. The faces of the bars are
preferably made flat, so as to lie closely to one another, an electric circuit being
completed when the apparatus is home or in normal position by reason of the
spring or weight. This is effected by any suitable contact piece on the movable
bar being thereby pressed upon a stop or stops. The circuit may be completed
through the pivot to one stop, above or below the contact arm, or through the
pivot to either of two stops, one above and one below the contact arm; or the
contact piece may connect either of two alternative pairs of stops respectively
above and below the contact arm.
At figures 3 and 4 we show a convenient form in which we preferably construct
the said "repulsion regulator," the lettering of the parts being similar to that in
the before described diagrammatic views; A A being the fixed bar or bars, and
BB the movable bar or bars formed in a pivoted scissors joint at p with the fixed
bar or bars A A; C is the contact arm attached to the movable bar B B; D is an
adjustable top contact stop; D₁ an adjustable bottom contact stop; these last being
F is a
respectively connected through the supporting brackets to terminals E E';
terininal connected through the framework and pivot p to the contact arm C;
G are the coils forming the solenoid; W is the counter-balance weight on the
movable bar B B. It will be seen that the coils on the apparatus are four in
number, this arrangement conveniently allowing a variation in the connections of
the coils, which is particularly useful when they are wound with fine wire for
regulation of difference in electro motive force, and it also tends to keep the wire
cooler than would be the case if it were wound in one long bobbin. When the
apparatus is constructed to operate the subsidiary circuits' with changes in the
strength of the main current of an installation, a bobbin is generally wound with
a thick wire or other conductor and only one long coil is used.
The action of the "repulsion regulator" is as follows:-
When a current passes through the coils of the solenoid G, the soft iron fixed
bars A. A and the movable bars B B become similarly magnetised to a degree which
answers very sensitively to variations in the current passing through the solenoid
coils. The movable bars B are thus repelled, and, with increasing current, move
away from the fixed poles A A until the contact piece or pieces C, attached to the
foruier, touches another stop or stops D¹, and thus completes another circuit.
When the circuit to be controlled is in normal condition, the contact arm C of the
moving magnet bar B B is caused to remain, by the adjustment of the weight or
spring, midway between the contact pieces D D¹ in connection with the before
mentioned alternative circuits; but when the current in the coil is above or below
its normal value, this contact arm C touches one or other of the contact stops D D
respectively.

page_text: The
'controlled cut-out" used in combination with the aforesaid "repulsion
regulator" consists essentially of an armature, pivoted below its centre of gravity,
and placed either vertically between two electro magnets so as to fall alternately
towards the pole or poles of one or other of them, according as one or the other
magnet is excited; or, it may equivalently be pivoted on the body or lower pole of
a single vertical electro magnet.
The electro magnet or electro magnets, in either case, are excited by the circuit
or circuits completed by the action of the "repulsion regulator." In the first case,
the "repulsion regulator" closes two alternative circuits, one at each extreme point
of its action, so as to actuate the electro magnet alternately for increase or decrease
of potential or current in the circuit. In the second case, the "repulsion regulator'
closes the same electro magnet circuit at either extreme point of its action, to
operate the "controlled cut-out."
"
Figures 5 and 6 show the two before mentioned equivalent forms of " controlled
cut-out."
In figure 5, A A¹ are two electro magnets, one in each circuit, closed by the
contact arm of the "repulsion regulator" at either extremity of its travel respec-
tively; B is the armature pivoted at p; C C¹ are two pairs of contact arms on the
armature, one pair of which always dips normally in one or other of the two pairs
of mercury cups D D', the other pair in such case being lifted from the other pair
of mercury cups.
To prevent waste of current in the electro magnets between the successive
periods of action, we affix a contact breaking arrangement in the shape of a
spring F to the armature, which cuts out each electro magnet as it is satisfied, by
the movement towards it of the pivoted armature, and puts into circuit the other
electro magnet ready for reverse action. The action is as follows:-
When the contact arm of the "repulsion regulator" touches one stop, the current
passes say through the magnet A to the pillar E¹, and thence through the contact
spring F to the return wire from the apparatus. B is thus attracted to the electro
magnet A, and carries over the contact arms C C¹, breaking the contact in the
mercury cups D¹, and making the alternative circuit through the mercury cups D.
It will be seen that before B quite completes its travel towards the attracting
magnet A, the circuit of A is broken at the pillar E¹, while the circuit of A¹ is
made at E ready for the reverse action from the other stop of the "repulsion-
regulator," which is connected to the electro magnet A¹ and the pillar E.
In the modified form of "controlled cut-out" as shown at figure 6, A is the
single vertical electro magnet with the armature B pivoted at p on a prolongation
of the lower pole of A; CC are two pairs of contact arms, fixed to the armature
and arranged for dipping into two pairs of mercury cups D D' as before. The
contact stops of the "repulsion regulator" may be connected to two contact pieces
on the "controlled cut-out," which are fixed on suitable supports one on either side
of the armature, against one or other of which a spring or contact piece, attached to
the armature and connected to one end of the coil on the magnet, rubs or presses,
when the armature is on either side of the vertical position, as shown in connection
with figure 5. Or, equivalently, as in figure 6, E E¹ are two hinged levers,
respectively connected to the two contact stops of the "repulsion regulator," and
normally pressing, by reason of the insulated spring e, against the pillar F, which
is joined to one end of the magnet coil. An insulated block b on the armature D
presses back one of these hinged levers, and just before the armature reaches the
vertical position breaks the circuit from that contact on the "repulsion regulator'
which has just caused the attraction of the armature to the vertical position, thus
allowing the armature freedom to fall to the opposite side, by reason of the momentum
it has attained in the first half of its movement, and at the same time permits the
circuit from the other contact stop of the "repulsion regulator" to be completed
through the other lever and pillar F, so as to be ready for the reverse action to
take place.
"

page_text: The "repulsion regulator" therefore closes through its contact piece the same
electro magnet circuit at either extreme point of its action.
By this combined device it is obvious that when the current or electro motive
force is above or below a given value, the main current may be broken, or if
necessary sent through one or other of two or more alternative circuits respectively;
and it is also obvious that the "repulsion regulator" may be used to operate other
governing devices, whereby the electro motive force or current may be maintained
constantly within certain limits.
One very obvious adaptation of our device is its application to the control of
electrical governors, for regulating the supply of steam or other motive fluid to
steam engines, gas engines, turbines, water wheels and the like, and thus to produce
in known ways a motion of the valve mechanism of the motor. It will also be
understood that the electrical governor by this valuable action consequent upon
the regulation by our device may be caused to vary resistance in the field magnet
circuit of dynamos, or to produce other circuit changes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st The combination of a "repulsion regulator" in which a pivoted soft iron bar
or bars are repelled, against the reaction of a spring or weight, by like induced
magnetism, from a fixed soft iron bar or bars, the whole within an enclosing
solenoid, with a cut-out apparatus or similar device, controlled by the aforesaid
repulsion regulator" to effect the sensitive regulation and control of electric
"
currents.
"
2nd In such a device the general arrangement of a repulsion regulator" in
which a pivoted soft iron bar or bars are repelled against the reaction of a spring
or weight, by like induced magnetism in a fixed soft iron bar or bars, the whole
within an enclosing solenoid coil or coils, the movable bar or bars making contact
with one stop or with one or other of two or more stops when the current is above
or below its normal value, substantially as described.
3rd The specific construction of the "repulsion regulator" substantially as
described and illustrated with reference to figures 3 and 4 annexed hereto.
4th In such a device the general construction of a cut-out in which an armature
pivoted below its centre of gravity and carrying contact forks, is operated from
side to side by one or two electro magnets put in circuit by the "repulsion
regulator" or similar apparatus, the circuit through the operating electro magnet
being broken automatically by the movement of the said armature, the circuit for
the reverse action being made simultaneously.
5th The specific construction of the "controlled cut-out," substantially as
described and illustrated with reference to the figure 5 annexed hereto.
6th The specific modified construction of the "controlled cut-out," substantially
as described and illustrated with reference to figure 6 annexed hereto.
7th In such a "controlled cut-out," the automatic contact breaking and reversing
arrangement substantially as described and indicated by the letters EEFF in
figures 5 and 6 annexed hereto.