IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTORS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REGULATING ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTORS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN." A communication from abroad by William Woodnutt Griscom,
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd March 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTORS, AND
IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by
William Woodnutt Griscom, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
This Invention, relating to the regulating of electro-magnetic motors, is applicable
to the driving of many different machines, but an ordinary sewing machine is
selected as a useful example of its application.
The table of the apparatus is supported on the usual end frames, and carries a
sewing machine. On the driving shaft of the machine is the usual pulley over
which passes a belt from the shaft of an electro magnetic motor. This motor may
be of any desired construction, and may be supported on a bracket on the rear
edge of the table; or it may be arranged in any position in relation to the sewing
machine that convenience in transmitting the power may suggest.
The battery from which the motor derives its power is supported on a platform,
preferably at one side of the machine, this battery consisting of a number of cells,
into which dip battery plates; these plates are carried by a horizontal bar or plate,
which is supported by spiral springs on vertical guide rods. To the top of this
plate is pivotted an arm or lever hinged to some fixed part of the frame, and to this
arm is hung a rod connected to a projecting pin on a treadle, which may be similar
to those used on sewing machines, but which has no connection with any fly wheel
or crank, as is usual,
By depressing the treadle the lever will be caused to depress the bar carrying
the battery plates against the action of the springs so as to depress the said plates
into the exciting liquid in the cells, and thus generate an electric current which

page_text: sets the motor in operation. By depressing the plates further into the liquid in the
cells, the strength of the current and consequent speed of the motor will be pro-
portionately increased. In the same manner by removing the pressure from the
treadle, and allowing the springs to raise the plates in the cells, the power of the
current and consequent speed of the motor will be diminished until the plates
are entirely withdrawn from contact with the liquid when the operation of the
motor will cease.
It will be seen that by this method of regulating the motor a great economy in
battery power is obtained, since the plates are only immersed to the exact depth
requisite to give the desired speed.
In order to permit the delicate regulation and quick stoppage of the machine
when desired, a brake lever operated by a spring is arranged to act on the driving
wheel To this lever is pivotted a rod connected to the treadle, so that when the
battery plates are depressed into the cells to start the motor, the brake lever will
at the same time be withdrawn from contact with the wheel; and on the other
hand, as the battery plates are being withdrawn from the cells the brake acted on
by the spring will be applied to the wheel.
It will be evident that the particular construction, position, and arrangement of
devices for dipping the battery plates into and withdrawing them from the cells,
and for operating the brake, may be modified without departing from the Invention.
For instance, the brake lever may be applied under the direct action of the treadle,
while the spring is employed to withdraw it, and in the same manner the devices
for moving the battery plates may be changed.
The battery and its attachments instead of being placed in the position referred
to may be arranged on a shelf beneath the table, or in any other position which
may be found convenient.
It is not essential that the treadle of the sewing machine should be used as a
medium for operating the plates of the battery, for a device separate from the
treadle may be used for the purpose, and provision may be made for connecting the
treadle to the crank shaft or fly wheel of the sewing machine when it is desired to
operate the same in the usual manner instead of by the motor.
The plates of the battery may be fixed and the cells movable, and connected to
operating devices by which the cells may be raised or lowered, and the plates
thereby immersed to a greater or less extent in the exciting fluid; or the plates
and cells may be fixed, and the fluid itself caused to enter and leave the cells at
pleasure by means of a pump or diaphragm under the control of the operator.
It will also be evident that these improvements may be applied to the driving
of many different machines, a sewing machine being referred to in the present
instance as an example of the general applicability of the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
September 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGULATING ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTORS, AND
IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by
William Woodnutt Griscom, of Philadolphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
The said Invention relates to the regulation of the speed of electro-magnetic
motors, the object of the Invention being to obtain a delicate regulation of the
motor without waste of the electric current. This object is attained by combining
with the motor and battery or generator devices controlled by a treadle for regu-
lating the extent of immersion of anodes and cathodes in their liquid.
In order that the said Invention may be perfectly understood, I shall proceed
more particularly to describe the same in its application to an ordinary sewing
machine, and for that purpose shall refer to the two Figures on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in
both the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a front view of the machine with the
improvements applied thereto, and Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same,
the section being taken along the line in 1-2 (Figure 1).
The table A of the machine is supported on the usual end frames B, B', and
carries a sewing machine D, the detailed construction of which it has not been
deemed necessary to illustrate.
On the driving shaft of the machine is the usual pulley E, over which passes
a belt m from the shaft of the electro-magnetic motor M. This motor may be of
any desired construction, and is shewn in the Drawing as supported on a bracket
on the rear edge of the table; but it will be evident that it may be arranged in any
position in relation to the sewing machine that convenience in transmitting the
power inny suggest.
The battery G from which the motor derives its power is supported on a
platform 9, preferably at one side of the machine, as shewn in Figure 1, this
battery consisting of a number of cells into which dip the battery plates a; these
plates are carried by a horizontal bar or plate b which is supported by spiral
springs d on vertical guide rods e. To the top of this plate b is pivoted an arm
or lever hinged at f¹ to some fixed part of the frame, and to this arm is hung
a rod or cord t connected to a projecting pin on the treadle T, which may be
similar to those used on sewing machines, but which in the present instance has no
connection with any fly wheel or crank, as is usual.
By depressing the treadle the lever f will be caused to depress the bar b carrying
the battery plates against the action of the springs d so as to depress the said plates
into the exciting liquid in the cells, and thus generate an electric current which sets
the motor in operation.
By depressing the plates further into the liquid in the cells the strength of
the current and consequently the speed of the motor will be proportionately
increased.
In the same manner by removing the pressure from the treadle, and allowing
the springs & to raise the plates in the cells, the power of the current and con-
sequent speed of the motor will be diminished until the plates are entirely
withdrawn from contact with the liquid, when the operation of the motor will
cease.
It will be seen that by this method of regulating the motor a great economy in

page_text: battery power is obtained, since the plates are only immersed to the exact depth
requisite to give the desired speed.
In order to permit the delicate regulation and quick stoppage of the machine
when desired, a brako lever K operated by a spring is arranged to act on the
driving wheel E. To this lever is pivoted a rod J connected to the treadle T, so
that when the battery plates are depressed into the cells to start the motor, the
brake lever will at the same time be withdrawn from contact with the wheel; and
on the other hand, as the battery plates are withdrawn from the cells the brako
acted on by the spring will be applied to the wheel.
It will be evident that the particular construction, position, and arrangement of
devices for dipping the battery plates into and withdrawing them from the cells,
and for operating the brake, may be modified without departing from the Invention.
For example, the brake lever may be applied under the direct action of the treadle,
while the spring is employed to withdraw it; and in the same manner the devices
for moving the battery plates may be changed.
A countershaft or other device for automatically withdrawing the plates from the
liquid may be substituted for the system of levers shown.
The battery and its attachments instead of being placed in the position shown
may be arranged on a shelf beneath the table, or in any other position which may
be found convenient.
The plates of the battery may be fixed and the cells be movable, and connected
to operating devices controlled by a lever or treadle, by which the cells may bo
raised or lowered, and the plates thereby immersed to a greater or less extent in
the exciting fluid; or the plates and cells may be fixed, and the fluid itself caused
to submerge the plates, or to subside at pleasure by means of a pump or diaphragm
or other device acted on by a lever or treadle under the control of the operator.
It will also be evident that these improvements in regulators for electric motors
may be applied to the driving of many different machines, a sewing machine being
referred to in the present instance as an example of the general applicability of the
Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
eflect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of a cell or group of cells containing the liquid, positive
and negative plates, and a lever connected thereto for regulating their immersion
with devices for automatically removing the plates from the liquid when the said
lever is released, all substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. An electro-magnetic motor, positive and negative plates, devices for
immersing the plates in and for automatically removing them from the liquid, in
combination with braking mechanism constructed to act in conjunction with the
automatic device for raising the plates, substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.