An Improved Apparatus for use in Distributing and Regulating Electric Currents.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for use in Distributing and Regulating
Electric Currents.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM SLEEMAN, of 12, Bessborough Street, Pimlico, London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide an electrical instrument for
the transmission of any portion of the whole amount of power or motion the
particular instrument is capable of effecting. For instance suppose the instrument
to have a range of one foot then by this invention I am able to effect a movement
of inch, inch, inch, inch, inch, 1 inch, 3 inches, up to one foot, or
intermediate amounts; in other words I can serve out for any purpose the whole, or
just that portion of the whole range or power that may be required.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the electrical servo-motor.
Fig. 2 is a section of same through X Y.
Fig. 3 is a section through a y.
The servo motor consists of three main parts, the containing metal box, m, m, m,
the ebonite frame G, and the ebonite block F.
The part F and G are enclosed one within the other, in the metal box m, m, m,
but are free to move in, or against the direction of the arrow Fig. 1.
The spaces 4 and 6, 3 and 5, Fig. 1 show the range of F, and G respectively;
these spaces should be shaded to represent the bottom of the box m, m as in
Figs. 2 and 3, but have been left unshaded to show more clearly the action of the
instrument.
G is an ebonite (insulator) frame, with the central spaces zh, 2 h, fitting closely
to the interior sides of the box m, m.
Fis a block of ebonite (insulator) with a tongue screwed or otherwise firmly
connected to the arm A; in F four pieces of metal (conductors) t, s, t, s' are let in,
in the positions shown in Fig. 1, with regard to the spaces 2 h, z h¹. D is an arm
or shaft screwed into the frame G Fig. 1. G is placed in m. m; then F in G ;
then the metal pieces, h, h¹ in G and behind them the springs z, .
These springs are used ensure h and h¹ always pressing against F as it slides to
and fro. N is a screw nut cast with the piece E Figs. 1 and 2; B is a guide plate
for N to travel along.
This nut N forms part of G by means of E and its arms E', E2 which are
screwed to raised parts on G, as shown at p Fig. 3.
M represents an ordinary compound horse shoe magneto machine; C, C is a shaft
forming part of armature of M, a portion of C is screwed and works in the nut N,
Fig. 1; a and b are bearings.
The mode of arranging the magneto machine to work G to and fro may be varied
as required; it is shown in Fig. 1 on the side for clearness; it could readily form
part of m, m, working G centrally. B is a battery; pole c is connected by
wire w to s contact piece of F; pole z by wire w¹ to contact piece t¹ of F.
Pole 1 of M is connected by wire W to contact piece of G ; pole 2 of M
by wire W to contact piece ¹ of G.
The contact pieces t' and t¹, and s and s¹ are respectively connected together.
Suppose a force applied to arm A. so as to cause it to move in direction of arrow
and consequently carrying with it the block F, until t of F overlaps h of G,
say inch and s over ', then the battery (B) circuit will be completed through the
magneto machine M. From c by W to s¹, to h¹ by W¹ to pole 1, through M to pole 2,
by W to h, to t across to t¹ and by w' to z.
The circuit being thus closed the armature of M and shaft C will be caused to

page_text: revolve consequently travelling N along B', and G in metal box m. m in direction
of arrow; the thread of C being cut so as to cause N to travel in the saine
direction as A is moved. G will be carried just as far as to separate the contacts h
and t, hand s', in other words to re-open the M B circuit, when M will cease to
revolve, the current of B no longer flowing through its armature. The frame G
will thus have been moved the same distance and in the same direction as F and A,
and also the arm D of G. Thus by means of the arm D the motion of A and F may
be transmitted to operate some other mechanism, or for any other purpose; by
connecting the other end of D with a lever or system of levers D's movement may
be altered both in amount and direction if required. If A be moved in against the
arrow, then s, and t¹ overlap h, and ¹, causing a current to be sent through
M from B in the reverse direction c to pole 2 of M, instead of e to pole 1 of M ;
this causing M to revolve in reverse direction, and G and D to travel against the
otherwise the action is the same as before described.
A may be moved in
or out its whole range as represented by 6, and 4, or any portion of it, provided
that t, and s, or s and are brought into contact with h, h'. The amount of
separation between hand ¹, and s and t, and stand t¹ respectively measures the
sensitiveness of the servo-motor.
arrow,
This electrical servo-motor may be applied to various purposes.
For instance to (electrically) automatically control the horizontal running of
a submerged torpedo, suppose A to be connected with a hydrostatic spring valve,
and a pendulum; and D with the yoke of the horizontal rudder of the torpedo,
so that any movement of the valve or pendulum will be transmitted to the rudder.
Thus the rudder would be moved up or down as, and to the same degree as A
is moved up or down as, and to the same degree as A is moved by the action
of the valve or swing of the pendulum. The valve being actuated by the increase
or decrease of the head of water for which it has been set; the pendulum
This electrical
swinging fore or aft as the torpedo is inclined to dive or rise.
servo-motor may also be used for electric transmission of power, the foregoing
application showing how mechanical transmission of power can be effected by its
means.
For electric transmission the arm D is not necessarily required, and for this
purpose I would use a second magneto machine, calling it M2, at the receiving
station, which machine might operate mechanism there, by the revolution of its
armature, or by means of a second electrical servo-motor might act as a relay to
transmit the power to a second distant station.
"
The electric transmission might be utilised for conveying orders, or messages from
the transmitting station to a distant receiving station; for instance as an engine
room telegraph between a ship's bridge and her engine room. On the bridge
would be placed the transmitting apparatus Fig. 1, and in the engine room a second
magneto machine, M2, working a pointer moving over the face of a dial marked in
the ordinary way.
Pole 2 of M Fig. 1 would be connected to one pole of M², the other pole of M²,
and contact piece of G Fig. I put to earth. A pointer or lever moving over a
dial on the bridge and connected to arm A Fig. 1 by a pin on A working in a
slotted link in this lever, would by being mechanically moved to the right or left
cause A and consequently the block F to be moved in or out.
Then suppose this bridge lever to be put over to half speed ahead, represented by
of hand h', carrying and so as to overlap of hand, then the current
through both the machines M and M² would be closed, and both would revolve
until and h were carried clear of t and s' when they would stop; by this action the
pointer of the engine room instrument would be caused to move over its dial to half
speed ahead.
Or the bridge lever could be put over to full speed ahead, or from here to
full speed astern in one movement, the two machines M and M2 working in unison
with the lever.
Only one main wire is required between the transmitting and receiving stations.

page_text: Suppose the electrical servo-motor to be used as a relay, then the machine M² at
the first station would be attached to its arm A so as to move it and its F in or
out, as the A and F of the transmitting station servo motor is moved in or out;
a third magneto machine would be required at the first receiving station to
move the G of its servo-motor, by which to transmit the power on to a second and
more distant receiving station.
I do not confine myself to one set of contacts as h and ', t, t¹, s, s¹ in Figure 1,
but I may use two or more such sets one above or below the other, so that by the
movement of F in or out, I may perform other functions besides putting M in circuit,
such as ringing a bell, operating a second magneto machine at the transmitting
station, or an electro-magnet for the operation of an electro-brake on the shaft of M,
and other such like functions.
It may be that after M has been in action, and the current cut off, the momentum
of its armature will cause its shaft C to still revolve, then this instrument
automatically checks what would otherwise be an erratic movement, in the following
manner.
as to cause t and s' to
Suppose F to be moved in direction of arrow so
completely overlap h, and h', and on h and h¹ separating from contact with and
by the action of M, and this action to still continue after this has occurred by reason
of the momentum generated in the armature of M, then hand would be carried
on into contact with s and t¹, when instantly a current would be sent through M
tending to revolve it in an opposite direction to that which has caused its present
momentum, and before any appreciable momentum of M has been gained in the
opposite direction this current would be cut out as and ¹ break contact with s and t',
and the machine would stop.
This checking of the momentum of M might be still further assisted by an
electro-brake which is in action on the shaft C only when M is out of circuit with B.
Dated thin 10th day of Amil 1800
1
"
i
t
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for use in Distributing and Regulating
Electric Currents.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM SLEEMAN, of 12, Bessborough Street, Pimlico, London,
Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved electric servo motor having for its object to
transmit a portion only of the power which the instrument is capable of receiving or
to subdivide the range of action of the same to any desired extent according to
requirements.
My improved servo motor is applicable for various purposes and may be more
particularly utilized for controlling the propulsion of submerged torpedoes or as
means of transmission of the electric fluid for the purpose of dispatching orders or
messages from one station to another.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a plan of my improved apparatus, the parts represented therein by dot
and dash lines distinctly referring in connection with Fig. 14 which is a diagram-
matic view of additional apparatus to the application of the servo-motor for
transmitting orders for the propulsion of ships.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively sections on lines X Y and cy of Fig. 1.
This electric servo-motor consists of three principal parts viz. the metallic box or
case m, the ebonite frame G and the ebonite block F. The metallic box m encloses
the frame G within which the block F is arranged, both the ebonite frame and the

page_text: block being free to move to and fro in both directions. The spaces 4 and 6 and 3
and 5 show the extent of the stroke or range of the block F and frame G respectively..
The contact making and breaking frame & is furnished with central recesses z z¹
against the sides of the block F, which is likewise a contact maker and breaker,
and is furnished with a screw threaded shank tightly fixed in the tapped rod A, and
with four conducting metallic pieces or blocks s, si; t, t' arranged symmetrically
about the centre as clearly shown in Fig. 1.
D is another rod passing through the side of the box m and screwed into the
frame G.
The recesses contain small metal blocks h, h, and springs o, o', pressing these
blocks against the large block which slides to and fro between them. N is a nut
formed integrally with the forked piece E, and moving within the guide B', its
arms E E² are rivetted or otherwise screwed to the uprights p which are screwed
at their lower and reduced ends into the frame G as shown in Fig. 3. M is an
ordinary compound magneto-electric machine of the horse shoe type, the arinature M
of which is secured to a shaft carried by the bearing a and screw threaded at its
onter extremity which turns in the nut N and to another shaft C¹ turning on the
bearing (Fig. 1). This magneto-electric machine imparts a to and fro motion to
the contact making and breaking frame G. B is the electric battery the pole of
which is connected by the wire w shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to the block or
contact pieces of the block F, while the pole is connected by the wire w¹ to the
block or contact piece t' of the same block F.
=
The pole 1 of the magneto-electric machine M is connected by the wire W₁ to
the block or contact piece of the frame G, the pole 2 of the machine being joined
by the wire W to the block or contact piece of the same frame. The block or
contact pieces ss and are diagonally connected together by the wires f'.
When power is applied to the rod A so as to cause the same to move in the
direction indicated by the arrow and to carry with it the block F until the contact t
overlaps the block h of the frame G, and the contact overlaps the block h¹ of the
same frame, the battery circuit is completed through the magneto-electric machine,
the current passing from the pole c of the battery along the wire w to the
contact, then through the contact along the wire W' to pole 1 of the
machine whence it proceeds through the pole 2 of the latter and along the wire W
to the contact and to the contact t passing subsequently along the diagonal wire f¹
to the contact t¹ and along the wire w¹ to the other pole of the battery. The circuit
being thus closed the armature of the machine M and the shafts C C are rotated,
the nut N being moved forward in the guide B, and the frame G in the box m
both in the direction indicated by the arrow, the thread of the shaft C being so
formed as to cause the nut N to travel in the same direction as the rod A. The
motion of the armature of the machine has for result to move the frame G until
the contacts and t and ' and ' are separated, thus breaking the circuit which
stops the machine M, there being no current flowing now through its armature.
The frame G and its rod D have thus been moved over the same distance and in
the same direction as the block F and the rod A; the motion of this block and rod
may be used to operate some other mechanism or for any other purpose by connecting
the outer end of the rod D with a suitable arrangement of levers.
When the rod A is moved in an opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow,
the contacts s and will respectively overlap the contacts hand and a current
from the battery B will flow through the machine M in a reverse direction to that
of the former current, that is to say from the pole e to pole 2 instead of pole 1 of
the machine, the latter consequently revolving in a reverse direction, while the
frame G and the rod D travel in the same direction as the rod A which may be
moved in and out the whole or a portion of its range represented by the spaces 6 and 4,
provided that the blocks t and sors and t¹ are brought into contact with the
blocks and . The distance between the blocks h and h¹s and t and s¹ and t'
respectively, measures the sensitiveness of the servo-motor.
I do not intend to be restricted to one set of contacts such as h h¹, t t', s and s¹,

page_text: as I may use two or more similar sets one above or below the other so that the to
and fro motion of the block F may perform other duties besides completing the circuit
such as sounding a gong, operating another magneto-electric machine at the trans-
mitting station, exciting an electro-magnet for the purpose of applying a brake upon
the shafts of the machine or the like.
It may be thought that should the current be cut off, when the armature of
the machine is in motion, the momentum of this armature will cause it to revolve
still; this however is checked by the apparatus itself, in the following manner.
If the block F is supposed to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow,
the contacts t and s' overlapping first the blocks and h' and subsequently separating
therefrom in consequence of the motion of the machine as above described, then if
the rotation of the armature continued by reason of its momentum, this separation
would likewise be prolonged and hence the blocks s and t¹, would come into contact
with the blocks and ', when a current would be sent through the machine M and
reverse the motion of the armature so that before the momentum had carried the
latter forward to an appreciable extent, the first current would be cut off owing
to the blocks h and having left the contacts s¹ and t, and hence the machine
would stop.
My improved servo-motor may be used for automatically controlling the horizontal
propulsion of a submerged torpedo, in which case the rod A aforesaid is connected
with a hydrostatic spring valve or with a pendulum the rod D being joined to the
yoke of the horizontal rudder of the torpedo, so that the motion of this valve or
pendulum may be transmitted to the rudder, the up and down motion of which
corresponds with that of the rod A which is actuated by the said valve or pendulum.
This application illustrates the mode of transmitting power by means of my improved
apparatus, and may be varied according to requirements.
In some cases of this kind, the rod D may be dispensed with, while another
magneto-electric machine may be provided at the receiving station to operate
suitable mechanism or to act as a relay in connection with another electric servo-
motor for the purpose of transmitting power to a third, distant station. This mode
of transmitting the electric fluid, may be utilized for despatching messages sending
orders etc., from a transmitting to a receiving station and as an example of carrying
this transmission into practice we have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 14 an arrangement
in which it is assumed by way of example that the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in full,
dotted and dot and dash lines is placed on the bridge of a ship while the apparatus
shown in Fig. 14 is arranged in the engine room of the same vessel. In the last
figure M2 is a magneto-electric machine similar to the machine M of Fig. 1, the shaft C³
of which actuates by means of suitable gearing g, a pointer P moving on a dial
furnished with suitable divisions. One pole of the machine M', is connected by
the line wire W2 to the pole 2 of the machine M, while the other pole of the
machine M², and the contact piece of the frame G (Fig. 1) are both connected to
earth by the wires w² w° respectively, so that the two machines M and M' act in
unison. The rod A (Fig. 1) is furnished with a pin n moving within one of the
slotted ends of a connecting rod r, while a lever passing through the slot of the
other end of this rod and moving upon a quadrant q is actuated by the captain
of the ship, who as he moves this lever to one side, or to the other, moves at the
same time the block F to or fro, and actuates the servo-motor, so that if for instance
the lever was moved to half speed ahead represented by say half the length of the
blocks h and ³, causing the contact pieces t and s¹ to overlap the latter blocks to
the extent of a half a current would be sent through the machines M and M² and
their armatures would accordingly rotate until the blocks h h³ were clear of the
contacts t and s', when the machines would come to a stand still, the pointer P,
moving upon its dial to half speed ahead. One line wire only, i.e. the wire W³, is
required to connect the transmitting with the receiving station.
The above described servo-motor may also be used as a relay. In this case the
apparatus shown in Fig. 1 would be placed at the transmitting station, while two

page_text: other similar machines and another servo-motor would be arranged at the inter-
mediate station, the power being transmitted to a third and more distant receiving
station provided with a similar apparatus to that shown in Fig. 14, while the stations
would be connected by suitable line wires. One of the two machines of the inter-
mediate station would be used to actuate the rod A. of its servo-motor and the other
to operate the frame G of the same motor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) The improved servo-motor consisting of a magneto-electric machine, the
armature of which operates by means of a nut travelling upon its screw threaded
shaft and of a forked piece, a contact making and breaking frame of a battery
actuated by a contact making and breaking block furnished with a rod to which
power is applied, and of suitable electric connections substantially as herein
described and shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings and for the
purpose set forth.
(2) The application of the apparatus claimed above for transmitting orders from
one station to another substantially as herein described and shown in Figs. 1 and 1^
of the drawings.
(3) The application of the apparatus claimed above for controlling the horizontal
propulsion of submerged torpedoes substantially as herein described and for the
purpose set forth.
(4) The use of the apparatus claimed above as a relay for connecting an
intermediate, with a transmitting and a receiving station, substantially as herciu
described, and for the purpose set forth.
Dated thin 17th dove of Bahru 1901
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.