IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC AND MAGNETO-ELECTRIC ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Cromwell Fleetwood Varley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1882.
CROMWELL FLEETWOOD VARLEY of Bexley Heath in the County of Kent
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC AND MAGNETO-ELECTRIC ENGINES"
My Invention is designed for the production of rotary motion from electric
currents or electric currents from rotary motion, and for getting rid of or greatly
reducing the burning at the places of contact. Where the word magnet is used
in this Specification it is to be understood that any magnetisable metal is meant.
The magnets are sometimes permanent sometimes electro magnets according to
circumstances. The first method of carrying out this Invention consists of placing.
two or more magnet bars end to end free to rotate axially in either direction.
Near to or surrounding each bar is placed the hollow pole of a magnet. Each
alternate bar may be a fixture. On passing a current through the bars rotation is
produced. These rotating bars are connected by gearing or otherwise with the
apparatus to he moved. If the bars are rotated a current of electricity is generated.
The second method of carrying this Invention into operation consists of a long
magnet 'bar having magnet discs upon it. The discs have near them or around
them a magnet ring and the bar in between the discs passes through a hole in a
maguet or a magnet or magnets are brought near to it. If the north poles of the
magnets be presented to the discs the south poles of the magnets are presented to
the bar between the discs. On passing an electric current through the bar from
end to end rotation is produced. The discs may in some cases be insulated from
the iron bar and have spring rubbers connecting the circumference of the disc
with a point near the centre of each disc. When the bar is rotated currents of
electricity flow between the centre and circumference of the disc. For the
convenience of constructing this machine each alternate magnet has a disc screwed
into it. This disc has a hole through which the bar passes; in order to put this
disc over the bar it is made in two halves and pinned together so that when put
together and screwed inside the pole of the fixed magnet it acts as a portion of it.
A third method of carrying out this Invention is as follows: On a revolving
magnet bar is placed a series of magnet discs, each alternate or odd disc is cut
down from the circumference nearly to the centre to divide it practically into two
or more discs. Each other alternate or even disc is made of two pieces hollowed
LP 11

page_text: out in the centre so as to touch only at the circumference where the one is made
to fit or screw into the other. These run inside holes in the stationary magnet
bars; the latter bars may be made in the form of squares so that the holes occupy
the middle of one of the sides of the square.
Fourth method. The magnet bar is made of segments, each of the segments
being insulated from one another. Each of the segments is joined to an insulated
ring at the extreme ends of the bar. These rings run in insulated metal bearings
or springs press against them. These springs are so connected by conductors that
the segments composing the bars can be joined either in one continuous circuit or
otherwise according to the circumstances of the case. By connecting the further
end of segment No 1 to the near end of segment 2 (and so on through all the
segments) a smaller volume or quantity of electricity of greater potential is required
to produce rotation than where the rod is solid. The rods are generally made in
the form of a tube and the discs are perforated perpendicularly to the axis of the
tube. Any convenient arrangement is made for giving motion to or taking motion
from the various parts of the machine such as are used in ordinary machinery
viz, bands or gearing. I generally cover the ends of the magnets or bars with
copper or gun-metal and these bearings or rubbers are lubricated by mercury or
an amalgam of mercury.
In some cases it is advisable to coat the whole of the bars or segments with
nickel or platinum. This I prefer to do by electric deposition. Where the bar is
coated with copper or other conducting metal I prefer to coat it again with nickel
or platinum to prevent the copper from being amalgamated.
The metal mercury is used as a lubricator and contact maker. These moveable
bars when connected with a thermo-electric. pile of but few elements of large
dimensions produce rotation from heat. The fixed magnets may be replaced by
coils of insulated wire surrounding the moveable bars and the apparatus can be.
made self magnetizing as in the Pachinotti Ring machine or Wilde's Magneto-
Electric machine.