Improvements in the Conduction, Distribution, and Regulation of Electric Currents, and in Cables and other Apparatus Employed therein.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 6th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th July, 1887.
Improvements in the Conduction, Distribution, and Regulation of
Electric Currents, and in Cables and other Apparatus Employed
therein.
I, FRANK WYNNE, of Carteret Street in the City of Westminster, Middlesex a
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONDUCTION DISTRIBUTION AND REGULATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS AND IN
CABLES AND OTHER APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN to be as follows:-
In carrying out the distribution of electricity for lighting, motive power or other
purposes, from centres or central Station, the cost of the electrical conductors is one
of the most important considerations. In order to transmit electrical energy with
economy of conductors it is advisable to use for a current of a given amount a
high Electromotive force or Potential, but inasmuch as for most local applications
the Electromotive force (often written E.M.F.) required is much less than that which
it is desirable to use in the main Conductors it is found convenient to place several
transforming devices in series with one another, an arrangement of this sort which is
frequently used is one in which several groups of incandescence or glow lamps are
put in series on the circuit of a dynamo e.g. a Brush Dynamo furnishing a con-
tinuous current of a certain amount say 20 amperes at an E.M.F. of a little over
1000 volts will supply 10 groups of glow lamps arranged to work with 100 volts
that is lamps which require a difference of 100 volts between their terminals.
Each group will consist of about 30 lamps of the size mostly made to carry this
current of 20 amperes. Such an arrangement is simple and suitable for cases in
which the number of lamps alight is nearly constant and where a simple automatic
shunting device serves in case of the breakage or extinguishing of a few lamps to
keep an excess of current from being driven through the remainder; but in most
applications the range required is very much wider than is met by such a system, and
part of my invention relates to an arrangement and method by which the range
may be almost indefinitely increased.
In carrying out this part of my invention I insert sets or systems of electro motors
and generators mechanically connected to each other and sometimes made in one,

page_text: hereinafter called Motor System, into the main circuit of a Dynamo or other suitable
source of electrical energy and which I call the main dynamo, and suitably connect
the conductors of a derived circuit as a shunt to the Motor.
When a motor system is at work, part of the current goes through the motor and
part through the derived circuit but the whole goes through the generator and I
arrange that when much current goes through the derived circuit, the generator does
little work and that when much current goes through the motor armature the
generator does proportionately more work.
I. In one method which I employ in carrying out this part of my invention, I
cause the current which passes through the derived circuit to excite the field magnet
of the motor, and the current which passes through the motor armature to excite the
field magnet of the generator.
In connection with the main dynamo I prefer to employ a regulator for auto-
matically changing the E.M.F. of the current supplied by it to meet the requirements
of the circuit.
The action of the above described arrangement is then as follows:- -When little
current is being utilized in a derived circuit, the motor is absorbing much power
and gives it back through the generator in the form of increased E.M.F., and
assuming the other conditions of the main circuit to remain the same causes the
demand for E.M.F. from the main dynamo to be less than when more current is being
utilized in the derived circuit.-A change in the requirements of one derived circuit
does not affect the action of a set or system connected with any other derived circuit
which continues to keep the prescribed difference to potential undisturbed.
II. It is often advisable to have a switch board or other suitable arrangement in
connection with several derived circuits, at what may be conveniently termed a "Sub-
Station" and to be able to supply several derived circuits from one motor set-as for
instance, during times when the demands on the derived circuits are slight say one
tenth of their maximum, one system might serve ten circuits and part of my inven-
tion relates to the methods I employ in order to automatically differentiate such a
combination of circuits and connect them as required to separate motor systems. In
order to affect this I arrange that the increase of current beyond a certain amount
in any combination of derived circuits shall through the action of a suitable electrical
device such as a solenoid detach a circuit, and at the same time connect it on to
another system which is either unloaded or not fully loaded and 1 prefer to refer to
such action as a "transfer " and I find it convenient to have an unloaded system
already running with a minimum of expenditure of energy. One method I employ
is to have as many solenoids as there are derived circuits to connect at the
Sub-station, connected in line into an apparatus which I call a Compound Solenoid
so arranged that the action of a single solenoid acting sufficiently powerfully on that
of the sum of the actions of several weaker solenoids, may affect a mechanism which
transfers the circuit drawing most current to another motor system-and I arrange
to have as many compound solenoids as there are circuits or systems to connect, and
I place them in regular order in a circuit.
At the Sub-stations I sometimes find it convenient to have a small set of accumu-
lator cells which supply a current at the same potential as that used in the derived
circuits which I connect temporarily to any circuit which is being transferred.
The hereinbefore described system of Electrical distribution and regulation in its
larger development requires the use of several main dynamos and as many separate
conducting wires or circuits, as otherwise the number of motor systems in series
becomes inconvenient. In the instance given of ten derived circuits at a sub-station,
all the ten may be on separate circuits, these wires it is often convenient to connect up
into one cable and part of my invention relates to a novel method of constructing a
multiple strand cable, in which it is generally convenient to have the individual wires
or groups of wires electrically insulated from one another, for lighting, power, or
signalling purposes.
Some of the cheapest and best materials for insulating electric wires are resin and
bitumens and substances of a similar nature hereinafter spoken of as bitumen, but which

page_text: have the property of slowly and gradually and yet steadily and permanently yielding
to applied pressure, the practical effect of which is that the pressure due to the weight
of the insulated wire in time causes the wire to move from the centre in which it is
originally placed, the bitumen slowly flowing out of its way to the detriment of its
insulation.
In carrying into effect this part of my invention I arrange that a part or the whole
of the weight of the conducting wires or core, is supported independently of the
insulating bituminous covering, this I do by inserting between the wire of which the
conducting core is made up, of strips lengths or twigs of stiff insulating material such
as cane, wood, millboard, animal or vegetable bristles hereinafter referred to as cane
twigs or strips, whose ends protrude in such a way as to hold and support the core
upon and from contact with its supports.
When this arrangement is subsequently covered with bitumen or other suitable
insulating material, besides ensuring the better centralisation of the core during the
process of manufacture and afterwards, it supports the bitumen both from the pressure
of the core and also partly its own weight.
The cane twigs are sometimes previously coated with a suitable substance which
adheres readily both to the cane twigs and to the bitumen-and in some cases the
ends are left long so as to project beyond, and even so as to be twisted round the
outside and made part of the exterior covering of the cable.
Where the rods or wires forming the core are twisted they hold themselves and the
inserted cane twigs together.
In some cases as when using four rods to make up the core it is sometimes con-
venient to make the strips straight, and in that case it is convenient to notch them into
one another at right angles, so as better to support the weight, without slipping.
This is especially the case with cores, the rods of which are not twisted together but
which are held and bound round outside.
A further advantage of these strips is that they act as conductors of heat to carry
away the heat that tends to accumulate in an electric cable, and for this purpose it is
often convenient to continue them beyond the covering of bitumen.
Dated this Fourth day of Santember 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Conduction, Distribution, and Regulation of
Electric Currents, and in Cables and other Apparatus Employed
therein.
FRANK WYNNE of 7 Carteret Street in the City of Westminster Middlesex a Civil
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:-
In carrying out my improvements in the conduction distribution and regulation of
electric currents for lighting motive power and other purposes such as chemical
decomposition, from a central station to series of substations placed on or along the
line of a main circuit from the central station, I employ for economy in conductors
a current of high electro motive force generated at the central station and conduct it
by means of a light conductor or combination of light conductors to the substations
and by means of transforming devices hereinafter more particularly described, at
these substations I control and regulate the electric currents in, and the supply to,
derived circuits at these substations where it is made available for lighting, conversion
into mechanical power and other purposes such as chemical decomposition.
The transforming devices which I principally make use of at the substations consist
of combinations, systems, or sets of electric current motors and electric current
generators or current rectifiers, which I prefer to refer to hereinafter as motor-sets or
systems.
The motors and generators or motors and rectifiers constituting these motor-sets
are so mechanically connected that they revolve absolutely together, and I provide
that the field magnet of the motor shall be excited by the current sent into the derived
circuit by the other part of the motor set.
Description of the Drawings, in which similar figures of reference are used to
denote similar or comparable parts.
In sheet 1, Figure I, of the accompanying drawings the central station generator 2,
at central station 1, is shown diagramatically, the wavy lines 3" 3b 3º 3d representing
each a pair of coils of a "Brush" armature, the alternating currents generated in
which are rectified by a system of split tube commutators (in a well known manner
not indicated in the diagram) so as to form a more or less continuous current of such
high electro-motive force, say 2,000 volts, as to admit of being economically carried
in the main circuit 14 14-6, 6ª are substations along it from which proceed the
derived circuits 7, 7" containing convenient translating devices, 8 is a transforming
device in the form of a motor set, 9 being a very small motor and 10 a very small
current generator, the two provided with collectors or commutators (these are not
specially indicated in the diagram), the whole mechanically mounted on one and the
same shaft so as to revolve as one, 12 is the field magnet of the generator through
which passes the whole or nearly the whole of the current of convenient low E.M.F.

page_text: say 100 volts, supplied by it to the derived circuit. 12ª is the field magnet of the
motor excited from the same source, and sometimes I find it convenient in this form
of motor-set to make the field magnet common to both parts.
Fig. 2, illustrates diagramatically an arrangement which offers special advantages
when employing a current of constant quantity with variable electrical pressure
or E.M.F. in the main circuit, the field magnet 12ª of the motor 9 being excited in
proportion to the current taken by the derived circuit 7, the greater this is and the
greater the load in 10 to be driven the greater the difference of potential between
9, S brushes to drive it at the constant or approximately constant speed required to
secure the current of suitable constant pressure in the derived circuit. In this
arrangement the variation in electro-motive force in the main circuit is provided for
by the use of a device such as the well known "Brush Automatic Regulator" in
connection with 2.
Fig. 3, illustrates diagramatically on a somewhat larger scale the arrangement in
which the excitation of the generator field magnet is assisted to a very slight extent
by that from the main circuit, and I find this arrangement useful for compounding
the generator.
Figure 4, illustrates diagramatically an arrangement of motor-set and derived
circuit in which a suitable set of accumulated cells is included at will in the derived
circuit, 13 is a switch by which the same may be put in circuit when starting up the
derived circuit, and taken off automatically if needed, when the motor set is stopped.
Figure 5, illustrates diagramatically another arrangement in which the currents
from a Brush armature instead of being rectified into a more or less continuous
current in the main circuit, are taken from their respective pairs of bobbins into
separate leads, 15 15", 16 16ª, 17 17, 18 18ª, forming together a multiple main
circuit-these leads may be combined in any convenient way, and one forui of such
combination forms part of my present invention as hereinafter described, when using
these unrectified currents in the main circuit for operating a motor set 8, 7 excite
the fields of 2 by a separate dynamo electric generator of suitable design and I fix the
number of revolutions of the motor by the numbers of field magnet poles on it.
If for instance I use only one pair as is shown in Figure 5, the motor makes a
complete revolution for each complete alternation or double pulsation positive and
negative of the current in the main circuit.
In the diagram Fig. 5, of a substation, a motor-set 8 is shown consisting of an
electric current motor 9 and an electric current rectifier 10ª, the motor-set is worked
off the leads 15 and 15° from one pair of bobbins (or as hereinafter shown from a
separate generator) of a Central Station generator as shown, the currents from the
other 3 pairs of bobbins of the same generator (a "Brush" generator in this case) are
taken through separate main leads 15 16 17 and 18 and at 6 are commutated into a more
or less continuous current by the motor-set which current is suitable for working the
translating devices of 7 and exciting the fields of 9-the currents in the multiple main
circuits 15 16 17 and 18 being so ordered that while the rate of alternating is the
same in all of them the instant at which the alternation takes place in each is different,
these differences between the times of alternation being connected in any system of
multiple main circuits in an arithmetic series, or in an approximate arithmetic series.
In connection with the above arrangement I have shown the transforming coils 20,
21 and 22 which are of any well known and suitable design of Ruhmkorff Coil or
secondary generator for transforming the alternating currents of high E.M.F. into
such currents of low E.M.F. as are convenient for use in 7 and these I interpose
where required between the main circuit and 8.
I do not confine myself to the use of a central station generator which only delivers
one positive and one negative pulsation at each revolution into a main circuit, nor do
I limit myself to 4 main circuits for it is evident that the greater the number of
circuits in which the pulsations follow each other in arithmetic series, as in the
separate circuits of a Brush dynamo, so long as these currents are suitably rectified
in due sequence by a motor-set rotating in time with the pulsation of the currents
which are rectified, the more continuous and even will be the resulting current in the

page_text: In
derived circuit, and the more suitable for exciting the fields of the motor set.
practice a convenient arrangement is to have a row of say 4 dynamos of equal
pulsating period, which may be mounted on one shaft, each set one fourth of the space
between two consecutive armature bobbins in front of the one preceding it in the
arithmetic series, Fig. 6, illustrates diagramatically an arrangement of substation
working from the leads from such an arrangement of 4 dynamos at a central station
as herein before described, in this the motor set is shown driven as a shunt off one of the
circuits. And assuming that in this case cach dynamo in its order delivers 5,000
positive and 5,000 negative pulsations per minute into the circuit, the motor as shown
being a 2 poled one will make 5,000 revolutions per minute and the rectified current
in the derived circuit will be practically a continuous one, which is collected from the
set of split tube commutators 24, 25, 26, 27, into the leads 28 and 29 respectively and
by these and the collecting rings 30 and 31 and the brushes 32 and 33, into the
derived circuit 7 from which the field magnets of 8 are supplied.
way
The arrangement shown in Fig. 7 illustrates diagramatically a convenient of
working derived circuits 6 6ª by motor-sets 8, 8 consisting in this case each of a two
poled motor armature and a continuous current generature armature mounted on the
same shaft & working off a single main circuit 14 fed with suitable currents of
high E.M.F. by a single central station generator such as described as driving one of
the circuits of Fig. 6, making say 5,000 complete alternations per minute. The
motor-sets revolving at a constant speed of 5,000 revolutions per minute, whatever
(within due limits) is the load in them, as the strength of the motor fields is always in
proportion to the work it has to do, being excited by the current from the derived
circuit which is supplied of convenient low E.M.F. by 9. In this arrangement as in
that illustrated in Figure 2, the variable powers absorbed by 10 as the requirements
of 7 vary is met by the difference of potential between its brushes, the variation thus
caused in the electro motive force in the main circuit is met by making the excitation
of the fields of the central station generator 2 increase or diminish in proportion to
the demand for E.M.F. in the main circuit, there are many ways of doing this and a
convenient way is to commutate a portion of the alternating current in the main
circuit into a continuous current and use it to excite either directly or indirectly the
field magnets of 2 in combination with a "Brush Automatic regulator."
To appreciate fully the convenience of such a system of distribution by means of
currents of high E.M.F. transformed and regulated by the motor-sets as herein before
described it is necessary to appreciate the fact that these motor-sets even when
transforming, regulating or rectifying large currents are of very small size and
conveniently handled, because being free from any strain except their weight, and
the pressure of the brushes in their commutators or collecting rings, they can be run
at almost any speed, and the wear on them being practically confined to the aforesaid
brushes, they may be left to run without attention for almost any time. Also on
account of their small size they absorb an amount of power which is quite insignificant
in proportion to the power which they transform or manipulate. Mr. Parsons, in the
dynamo which he drives by steam turbines has shown what can be done in this
direction with very small dynamos revolving at a high speed.
The herein before described system of electrical distribution and regulation in some
of its developments requires the use of several main dynamos and as many separate
conducting wires and circuits. In the instance given of 4 separate main circuits from
one station all the four may be separate cables but it is often more convenient to
combine them into one cable; when using alternating currents, taking the lead and
return of one insulated circuit close along side, and if possible twisted together.
And part of my invention relates to a novel method of constructing a multiple
strand cable, in which it is generally convenient to have the individual wire or groups
of wire electrically insulated from one another, for lighting, power, or signalling
purposes.
Some of the cheapest and best materials for insulating electric wire are resins and
bitumens and substances of a similar nature herein after spoken of as bitumen, but
which have the property of slowly and gradually and yet steadily and permanently

page_text: yielding to applied pressure, the practical effect of this is that the pressure due to the
weight of the insulated wire in time causes the wire to move from the centre in which
it is originally placed, the bitumen slowly flowing out of its way to the detriment of
its insulation. In carrying into effect this part of my invention I arrange that a
part or the whole of the weight of the conducting wires or core is supported
independently of the insulating bitumenous covering, this I do by inserting between
the wire of which the conducting core is made up of strips length or twigs of stiff
insulating material such as cane, wood, mill board, animal or vegetable bristles herein
after referred to as cane twigs or strips, whose ends protrude in such a way as to hold
and support the core upon and from contact with its supports.
When this arrangement is subsequently covered or saturated with bitumen or other
suitable insulating material, besides insuring the better centralization of the core
during the proofs of manufacture and afterwards, it supports the bitumen both from
the pressure of the core and also partly its own weight.
The cane twigs are sometimes previously coated with a suitable substance which
adheres readily both to the cane twigs and the bitumen-and in some cases the ends
are left long so as to project beyond, and even so as to be twisted round the outside
and made part of the exterior covering of the cable.
Where as is usually the case the rods or wire forming the core are twisted they hold
themselves and the inserted cane twigs together.
In some cases as when using four rods to make up this core it is sometimes
convenient to make the strips straight, and in that case it is convenient to notch them
with one another at right angles so as better to support the weight on them. Such an
arrangement is shown in Figures 8 and 84 in which 34 are the wires, and 35 the strips
of wood which are notched together held by one another.
Fig. 9, is an arrangement of 3 wires with cane loops 36 interlaced at intervals
between the wires, the arrangement of loops shown in Fig. 10 is similar, only here
there are 6 leads shown, with or without a seventh in the centre.
A further advantage of these strips is that they act as conductors of heat to carry
away the heat that tends to accumulate in an electric cable and for this purpose it is
often convenient to continue them beyond the covering of bitumen.
I sometimes insert the combination of electric conductors and cane wood strips
loops or folds into an iron pipe which is filled with mineral or other suitable oil, the
cane strips supporting the conductors from contact with the pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
In a system of electric distribution from a central station by means of currents of
high potential generated at a central station to derived circuits at substations situate
on or along a main circuit or combination of main circuits from the central station.
I. The combination of the transforming regulating and rectifying devices herein
before referred to, as motor-sets or systems working off the main circuit, with a
derived circuit at a substation substantially as described.
II. In a motor set or system the combination of a very small motor armature in
connection with the main circuit, and a very small generator armature in connection
with a derived circuit with armature being fixed on a common shaft and revolving at a
very high rate, in a field force which is in connection with the derived circuit and is
excited by the whole or nearly the whole of the current through it substantially as
described.
III. In a motor-set or system working off an alternating current in the main
circuit, the combination of a very small motor armature making a constant number
of revolutions for a constant rate of alternation of current in the main circuit, with
the armatures of a very small continuous current generator whose field of force is
"compound wind" or otherwise made self regulating so as for a constant rate of
revolution to give a constant or nearly constant difference of potential at the terminals
p and to the derived circuit with which it is in connection, both armatures being fixed
on a common shaft and revolving at a very high rate, the motor armature in a field of

page_text: force whose strength varies in proportion to the current through the derived circuit
substantially as described.
IV. In a motor-set or system working off an alternating current the combination
of a motor armature in connection with one of the circuits of a multiple system of
rectifying devices for the currents in the main circuits in connection with a derived
current, both being fixed on a common shaft and the motor armatures revolving in a
field of force in connection with the derived circuit, substantially as described.
V. The combination of multiple main circuits insulated from each other the
alternating currents in which are so ordered that while the rate of alternation is the
same in all of them, the instant at which the alternation takes place is different these
differences between the times of alternation in any given combination of multiple main
circuit forming an arithmetical series, with a motor-set by means of which the currents
are rectified, and derived circuit substantially as described.
VI. The combination of a Ruhmkorff or other coil transformer or
so called
secondary generator interposed between a main circuit and a motor-set, in connection
with a motor-set and a derived circuit substantially as described.
VII. The combination of a main circuit, a main central station producer of
electricity, motor-sets and derived circuits as illustrated in Fig. 2 with an automatic
regulator of potential in connection with the main producer of electricity substantially
as described.
VIII. The combination of a main circuit, motor-sets and derived circuits as
illustrated in Fig. 6 with an automatic potential regulator of electricity in connection
with the main generator of electricity substantially as described.
IX. The combination of parts for the purposes described substantially as shown
in figure 3.
X. The combination of parts for the purposes described substantially as shown in
figure 4 with or without the secondary battery.
XI. The combination of parts for the purposes described substantially as shown in
figure 6, with or without the secondary battery.
XII. The combination in a twisted cable of separate electric conductors, a soft or
plastic insulating mass such as bitumen, and splints, loops, fibres, of stiff insulating
non-plastic material substantially as described, and the application of the said
combination of parts and conductors in a cable, to carry electric currents for use for
or in any system of distribution of or communicating or signalling by electric
currents.
XIII. The combination in a twisted cable of separate electric conductors, with
splints, loops, or folds of wood, cane or other suitable strong and stiff insulating
material projecting beyond the conductors and so arranged as to support, hold and
carry the electric conductors, with an insulating plastic, semi plastic or fluid insulating
material such as bitumen or mineral or other oil or a soft material such as cement
which insulates when it sets and hardens, substantially as described.
XIV. The combination as described in claim 3, with an iron pipe filled with
mineral or other oil, substantially as described, and its application to carry electric
currents for use for or in any system of distribution of or communicating or signalling
by electric currents.
Dated this 4th day of Jun 1007