IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR COUPLING OR CONNECTING THE ARMATURES AND COMMUTATORS OF MAGNETO OR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR COUPLING OR CONNECTING THE ARMATURES
AND COMMUTATORS OF MAGNETO OR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES." A
communication from abroad by James John Wood, of Brooklyn, New York,
United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR COUPLING OR
CONNECTING THE ARMATURES AND COMMUTATORS OF MAGNETO OR DYNAMO
ELECTRIC MACHINES." A communication from abroad by James John Wood of
Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
My Invention relates more especially to the "Gramme" form of armature and
commutator, and it consists in an improved device for connecting or coupling the
ends of the armature coils with the commutator strips or sections as hereinafter set.
forth.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 represents a central section of a "Gramme" armature and commutator
provided with my improvements.
Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the clamps for connecting the
coil wires with the said commutator.
Figure 3 is an end view of the commutator shewing the radial strips extending
from the segments of the said commutator, and terminating in the clamps which
receive the ends of the armature coils, the ends of the wires being represented as.
clamped thereby, but the armature itself being removed.
Figure 4 is an enlarged end view of one of these clamps and
Figure 5 is a similar view of a slight modification of the same.
Figure 6 is a plan or top view of one of the said clamps.
In Figure 1 a indicates the driving shaft, to which the armature and commutator

page_text: are secured; b indicates the wooden hub of the armature, c the iron wire core,
and d the copper coils wound thereon in the usual manner.
indicate the
segments of the commutator which correspond in number and in radial positions
with the generating coils and from each of which projects a radial copper strip e at
the end near the armature, as shewn in Figure 1. Each of these strips is connected
with the armature coils in the usual manner that is to say, the last end of one coil
and the first end of the next coil, are connected with the same strip, as partly seen
in Figures 1, 3, and 6.
:
On the tip of each strip e is affixed my improved clamp or coupling to receive
and hold the ends of the coil wires. This coupling consists of a small metal block f
preferably brass, on the underside of which a slot is milled; in this slot the tip of
the stripe is snugly fitted or socketted, and is then affixed by solder or rivets g 9
or by both (see Figures 1 and 2).
This block has preferably a level top, or is indented with two parallel grooves, as
in Figure 5 and over the top of the block is placed a cap h, which preferably
coincides with the form of the said top of the block so as to be flush with the
same. On its underside the said cap is formed either with two marginal lips i i as
shewn in Figure 4, or with two marginal grooves as in Figure 5 to correspond
with similar grooves in the top of the block.
Through the centre of the cap extends a clamp screw / whose head bears upon
the cap, while its stem screws into a tapped hole in the centre of the block as
illustrated in the several Figures.
When the screw k is loosened the ends of the generating coils are passed between
the cap and the block, and on either side of the screw the last end of one coil
being inserted on one side of the screw and the first end of the next coil on the
other side of the said screw and the screw is then tightened causing the cap to
forcibly approach the block and securely clamp the wires between them, thereby
making a perfect connection between the coils and the commutator-segments in a
simple and neat manner.
The position of the clamp-screw between the wires prevents the said wires from
coming nearer together, and the marginal lips or grooves i i prevent the said wires
from spreading and escaping from beneath the cap, while the tendency is rather to
force the wires laterally against the screw and prevent it from loosening. Hence,
by this form of connection not only is the construction very simple and symmetrical,
and the wires coupled in a very convenient and neat manner, but by reason of the
broad bearing upon the wire (see Figures 2 and 6) the electrical connection is
perfect without tending to cut or injure the wire, yet at the same time, the con-
nection is readily detachable, when required, to permit the removal of any segment
of the commutator or any coil of the armature which is frequently necessary to
corrent a defect or short circuit at some part. This device is hence an obvious
improvement over the old system of soldering the connections, which is inconvenient,
and clumsy and does not permit them to be detachable; it is equally an improve-.
ment over the previous forms of clamp screws, in one of which the ends of the
wires are inserted in an eye, while the mere points of the clamp-screw bears
thereon; this arrangement does not make a good connection, and tends to, and
frequently does, cut off the wires, which, being of soft copper are easily severed. In
the other case the ends of the wires are coiled under the head of the clamp-screw;
this arrangement is both clumsy and inconvenient, and not so certain of making a
perfect connection.
The block fand strip e may be made in one piece, or the commutator segment,
strip, and block. may all be made in one piece, but it is not desirable.
The lips in Figure 4. might be formed on the face of the block f, instead of
upon the cap h if desired.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The combination with an electrical armature coil and commutator segment,
:

page_text: of the clamp block f, the cap h, and the clamp-screw k, arranged and operating
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second The combination with an armature-coil and commutator segment, of the
clamp-head fand cap h connected by a clamp-screw k and having marginal lips i i
on the face of one part, the ends of the armature coils being placed between the
said
cap and block and between the said lips and the side of the screw, substantially
as herein shewn and described.
1
Third. The combination with the segment of a commutator and the strip e pro-
jecting therefrom of the block f the cap h mounted upon the end of the said block
and the clamp screw k passing through the said cap into the block, forming between
them a clamping socket to receive the ends of the armature wires, substantially as
herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Third day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (LS.)