IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL. INDUCTION APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edmund Edwards at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1883. A communication to
him from abroad by Gabriel Babillot, of Montoir de Bretagne, in the Republic
of France
16
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co:-, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL. INDUCTION APPARATUS" [a commu-
nication to him from abroad by Gabriel Babillot, of Montoir de Bretagne, in the
Republic of France]
This invention relates to a novel method of construction and arrangement of
electrical induction apparatus in which currents of electricity are generated by
induction, the electro magnets by which such currents are generated being excited
automatically by the induced currents.
The apparatus, like ordinary electro magnetic induction machines, consists of
two parts, the induction coils and the device by which the currents are made and
broken; but as the latter only so acts upon the primary currents, effecting the
polar reversals of the inducing electro magnets though regulating the induced
currents, it may be called an exciter and from the particular arrangement of. its
coils the induction apparatus may be called an induction pile.
The two instruments together constitute the novel self exciting Electrical
induction apparatus which forms the subject of the invention.
The induction pile consists of a collection of broad electro magnetic coils one
above the other. Assuming three to be used, the upper and lower ones are similar,
and at right angles to them are arranged on each side two similar coils which may
be considered as prolongations of the first.
These coils are formed of a core of pure soft sheet iron covered with a coat of
lac varnish, round which is wound a thick insulated copper wire of suitable
thickness and length. The coils thus formed are inserted in glass cases on which
is wound a thin wire perfectly insulated with paraffin or bitumen. The length of
this wire is very much greater than that of the thick wire.
The central coil of the three first described has a core similar to those in the
upper and lower ones, but is wound with a long thin insulated wire only.
The whole of the coils are arranged and fixed upon a wooden frame provided
with six terminal binding screws.
The arrangement of the compound pile and the winding of their wires should be
such that each of the upper and lower groups of three coils forms a double electro-

page_text: magnet of two coils, of which the similar poles are opposed to each other in such
manner that if a current of electricity enters at the same time the two lateral
electro-magnets at one side form one terminal, and leaves the two opposite electro-
magnets through a second terminal, it passes through the thick wires in one
direction whilst any currents induced in the thin wires will pass in the opposite
direction.
A powerful induction apparatus, is thus constituted, for the induced currents
passing in opposite directions are reciprocal and strengthen each other. For
instance, when a contact is made, induced currents in the opposite direction to
the inducing one are generated in the fine wires of the six outer coils, and in the
single wire of the central coil the core of which will be inversely polarized.
The currents induced in the fine wires of the Electro-magnets themselves give
rise by induction to a current in the wire of the central coil in a direction deter-
mined by the direction of polarization of its core, and reciprocally this latter gives
rise to induced currents in the fine wires of the electro-magnets in the same
direction as the currents previously induced in them as described, so that the
combined induced currents are of great power and energy. Each of the three
resulting induced currents may be used separately, but they are preferably arranged
so that they can be readily combined for quantity.
As already described, the coils are constructed separately, and are simply
'arranged one above the other.
The wires may be wound in either direction, so long as the proper relations
between the direction of the several coils are observed as described.
The compound inducing pile described may consist of any desired number of
elements, the proportions of the three relative dimensions-length, width, and
height, being observed; and these several elements may be combined for quantity,
intensity, or in series. The size of the coils may be varied as desired, their
relative proportions being maintained, and the thickness of the wires may also be
varied.
The exciter, or apparatus by which the induced currents of electricity are
regulated and utilized consists essentially of four levers serving to effect the
required reversals of the poles, and four other levers regulating the induced
currents.
.
These several levers are mounted in pairs upon two arbors or spindles of ivory
which keep then perfectly insulated, so that the levers are separated as far as
conveniently possible from each other.
The arbors are arranged in line end to end and are provided with steel centres
turning in one central and two end supports, the latter being provided with
adjusting screws and lock-nuts, so that the freedom of movement of the arbors and
their levers can be accurately regulated.
One of the arbors is actuated by means of two vertical double electro-magnets,
one upon each side of the arbors. These electro-magnets actuate two bent arms
connected to one of the centres of one arbor, the action being effected by means of
moveable armatures jointed above the electro magnets and driving connecting arms
or wires of light silver wire. The electro-magnets respectively acting alternately
upon each of the bent arms give to the arbor and to its levers a rapid oscillating
movement backward and forward.
This movement is transmitted to the other arbor and its levers by means of a
projecting arın upon one of the steel centres of the second arbor. This projecting
arm is double and is formed of two straight arins which receive impulses from the
two bent arms already described. The impulses do not take place simultaneously
with the movement of the armatures, but a certain amount of play being allowed
between the driving arm and that which is driven, it follows that the second arbor
and its levers move a very little later than the first arbor and its levers. The
travel of the former may however from its momentum be at least equal to that
of the latter, and stops of flexible plates may be arranged upon the central bearing
to limit and regulate the movement.

page_text: The apparatus described is carried upon a frame or support consisting of two
wooden tables connected together by columns formed of iron bolts insulated. by
suitable insulating material.
The bolts end below the upper table with flanges, and on the other side with
terminal binding screws the lower parts of which serve as nuts to fix the upper
insulating sheaths.
The outer ends of the levers upon the arbors have eyes through which slide
vertical iron wires which can be fixed at any desired beight by set screws. They
also carry near the arbors on which they are fixed, a jointed iron wire which
always dips into mercury contained in a corresponding number of glass cups
having iron feet or stems communicating by metallic contact with the mercury.
Each such stem is screwed into a brass socket which is let into holes in the upper
table with the intervention of gutta percha or other insulating material.
The brass sockets, the cups and mercury, and consequently the levers are in
constant metallic communication with a corresponding number of terminals also
screwed into insulated brass sockets, the communication being made by means of a
similar number of copper connecting bands fitted in grooves or channels above and
below the table which are filled with guttapercha so as to completely insulate the
bands, which also communicate with projecting metallic insulated studs.
The lower points of the wires fixed to both ends of each of the eight levers as
already described, are arranged so that they can enter the surface of mercury
contained in sixteen other glass cups similar to those already described, and
screwed in the same way into insulated brass sockets.
The thick and thin wires of the two electro-magnets are connected with the
several mercury cups described by means of the binding screws.
Regulating contact makers are provided consisting of ivory fitted with a plate
of brass so that by turning round the ivory, the brass may be brought in contact
with and made to couple together either pair of projecting insulated studs in
connection with which the device is arranged, so as to couple the currents either
for intensity or quantity as may be desired.
The movement of the two arbors and their levers is determined by the arrange-
ment of the points of the wires on two of the reversing or exciting levers so that
they touch the surface of the mercury before those of the levers which regulate the
induced currents; whilst the wires on the other two reversing or exciting levers
touch the mercury after those on the latter levers.. This can be easily effected by
raising or lowering the points of the wires, or the height of the mercury in the
cups. It is preferred that the mercury should be covered with a film of alcohol or
turpentine, or that an amalgam with platinum should be substituted for pure.
mercury. Apparatus constructed as described may be used under various
conditions, either with one or two induction piles, or with one or two primary
currents acting separately or coupled together for quantity or intensity, And the
induced currents may be used either separately or joined for quantity or intensity,
and electricity generated in them may be returned to the electro-magnets from
which the original inducing current was produced, so that in this way they
themselves excite the induction machine in the place of a primary current used
for the same purpose.
.
Assuming that there are two elements of the induction pile described, and two
primary currents, and that one of these currents is, for the sake of clearness, called
green and its electrodes + and -, and that the other is called yellow, its electrodes
also being + and -. Two of the reversing or exciting levers will then be always
polarized by the green current and the other two by the yellow current. The
induction pile excited by the green current may be termed the green pile, and that
by the yellow current the yellow pile. The mercury cups being properly
connected, if the levers be turned to the right the green current at once passes
round one of the electro-magnets, a reverse movement to the left being instantly
caused, whilst an opposite induced current is produced in its fine wire coil, the +
of this being added to the green + from the arrangement of its wire, and the

page_text: '
green current and consequently the magnetization of the inducing cores of the
green induction couple being strengthened by such added induced current.
The green current returns through its terminal, whilst the induced current
returns on itself across the second electro-magnet, any residual magnetism in which.
it destroys. The movement from right to left being completed, the first electro-
magnet ceases to act and the second comes into operation, but directly the green
(current ceases to pass through the former a direct induced current is generated in
its fine wire, which combines with and strengthens the green current which is
passing round the second electro-magnet and thence to the green induction couple.
by the thick wire, thus aiding the reversal and strengthening all the magnetic
actions. The second electro-magnet then acts as the first had previously done, its
reverse induced current strengthening the green current and destroying any residual
magnetism in the first electro-magnet, and its direct induced current being then
added to the current by which the magnetization, of the first electro-magnet is.
increased, as well as the induction cores, but now in the opposite direction. The
levers oscillate rapidly and a corresponding series of polarizations of all parts of
the system results.
If the two primary currents act separately each resulting induced current is in
the same direction, but intermittent. The current is not therefore continuous
although its discontinuity is more apparent than real, since interruption only takes
place between the emersion and the immersion of the points: If, however, the
induced currents are directed through the same exterior circuit, the current through
such circuit will be practically continuous.
If the two primary currents are united for quantity the continuity is still greater,
and may be almost considered perfect. The induced currents are properly com-
. mutated and regulated, and may be used for all possible applications of electricity,
such as lighting, electro-plating, or mechanical work.
If the intensities of the currents are comparable to those obtained by the
movement of magnetic masses, which there is no logical reason to doubt, it should
be possible to multiply electric forces. The primary currents might apparently
then be omitted.
By applying the regulated currents to charge accumulators, it is difficult to see
why a larger quantity of electricity could not be supplied to them than is required
froin the primary generating source, and consequently why any number of such
accumulators should not be capable of charging a still greater number.
For instance, supposing the secondary currents to be a little more than double
the intensity of the primary currents, instead of hundreds of times as in electro-
dynamo machines, with one accumulator two could be charged, then four, then
eight, sixteen, or any number, always doubling the previous number, so that if
stopped at a certain figure-say 200-one half or 100-might be utilized in
doing external work, and the remainder in maintaining the force.
Again if the primary current was obtained from a small dynamo-machine
- actuated by hand, the secondary regulated currents being made to pass through a
series of self exciting induction machines of increasing magnitude, the final current
would be of an intensity so much greater that the work-it could do would be many
times greater than the muscular power consuined.
:
The apparatus herein before described for exciting and regulating induced currents
may be applied to all kinds of electro-magnetic induction apparatus, such for
instance as the Rhumkorff coil.
It may be used in many different forms. For instance, instead of moving the
wire points as described, small columns of mercury may be made to rise and fall
to the wires, or both may be made to move.