IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE GENERATION, STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION, REGULATION, AND UTILIZATION OF ELECTRICITY, AND APPARATUS, METHODS, OR MEANS TO BE USED THEREFOR OR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Stokes Williams, of Riverton, New Jersey,
United States of America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE GENERATION,
STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION, REGULATION, AND UTILIZATION OF ELECTRICITY,
AND APPARATUS, METHODS, OR MEANS TO BE USED THEREFOR OR IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Stokes Williams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1882.
JOSEPH STOKES WILLIAMS, of Riverton, New Jersey, United States of America,
now of 8 Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO THE GENERATION STORAGE DISTRIBUTION REGULATION AND UTILIZATION OF
ELECTRICITY AND APPARATUS, METHODS, OR MEANS TO BE USED THEREFOR OR IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH."
My Invention has for its object the construction of apparatus for conserving or
storing electric energy and apparatus methods and means employed in connection
therewith for generating storing and utilizing electricity.
I preferably employ a primary system, tank, building, or reservoir into which I
conduct the electricity. This tank building or reservoir I preferably form in a
number of parts or provide for dividing the contents thereof or otherwise arrange
for providing the reservoir with terminals or poles. In some cases I fill this tank
with metallic salts or oxides, or spongy lead, or lead in finely divided condition or
employ other means for conserving and storing the electrical energy. I preferably
arrange the connecting wires or terminals with coils of wire placed within the
tank, or otherwise provide for an extended surface within the material which
conserves or stores, the electric energy. Or I may employ a series of wires, strips,
or ribbons extending into this tank or reservoir, which are provided with terminals
extending therefrom. This tank can be made of any size or dimensions and of
any suitable material for instance I can make such tank of iron and line it inside
D

page_text: with insulating material such as porcelain, urc-brick, ure-clay, cement, asbestos or
the like.
In charging such tank I connect the pole or poles thereof to the pole or poles of
the electric generator or generators which I preferably so construct as to generate
electricity with a low electro motive force.
I construct apparatus or employ methods and means to obtain the electro-motive
force desired through the medium of a small apparatus consisting of such number
of metal pairs as will give the electro-motive forco desired. I can employ various
construction and arrangement of apparatus for this purpose.
I preferably employ for this last named purpose a wire or ribbon of two metals
arranged in pairs and wound around an insulating substance, or otherwise supported
or separated so as that the one portion of the piece shall not come in contact with
the other. Or I secure by deposition or otherwise, thin sheets, ribbons, or layers of
metal upon thin sheets or ribbons of asbestos, paper mica, or other suitable
substance or material. These thin layers wires or ribbons of metal are formed or
composed of two metals, and in such number of sections or pieces as will define the
electro-motive force. These strips or pieces are preferably wound or otherwise
arranged so as to occupy a small compass and are provided with two terminals.
Such apparatus is then placed in a vessel, chamber, or box of the size necessary to
admit them. This box is composed of, or lined with insulating material, or the wire
strip or ribbon is so constructed or arranged as to obviate insulation. The box is
filled with acidulated water, suitable gases, or other materials, and preferably sealed,
the terminals extending therefrom.
Such apparatus can be put into a very small compass and is applicable as a
governing device for all kinds of electrical machinery such as lamps, heaters,
electric generators, electric motors or other apparatus that is to say, if I place such
apparatus in the circuit to an incandescent or arc light electric motor or electric
generator, the electro-motive force of the current cannot be increased beyond the
limit provided for in the apparatus, therefore a perfect governor is obtained
applicable to all uses.
I sometimes arrange such apparatus at the base or in connection with the lamp
that is to say in constructing an incandescent lamp I connect the terminals of such
lamp in such a manner with the poles of this electro-motive force-governor that
such governing apparatus forms part of the conductor leading to the portion of the
conductor of the lamp from which light is emitted. The same result will bo
accomplished by application to the arc-lamp electric motor electric generator, or
other apparatus in which the electric energy is to be expended within certain
defined limits. This system of storage and governing apparatus is also applicable
for governing the electricity for the heating of metals by electricity when passing
through rolls or other shaping or forming devices or for governing the temperature
or heat governed by electricity in furnaces retorts or other apparatus for the heating.
or melting of ores or other substances.
I employ this governing apparatus in telegraph, or telephone, wires and cables
and construct apparatus of suitable size for governing the electro-motive force in the
mains branches and sub-branches employed for the distributing and utilization of
electricity for lighting, heating, motive-power or other purposes in, or on, streets,
highways, houses, workshops, railways, or other placos.
I employ this system of governing lamps with special advantage as I am enabled
to construct the light-emitting portions of electric lamps of materials of low
resistance which will develop light with economy, for instance I may lead the
electricity to the lamp or apparatus where it is to be utilized and convert the
current from high electro-motive force to a low and to any given number of volts,
and such determined electro-motive force will never vary. For instance I can lead
up to the lamp with the highest possible electro-motive force practicable thereby I
am enabled to use the least possible amount of metal for conducting the electricity to
the place for use and after the current passing through these miniature governing
apparatus, I am enabled to heat the conductor for giving light to incandescence or

page_text: to suen degree as will give the greatest possible efficiency, in light-giving
power.
It will be understood that there cannot be any variation in the working of the
light as my apparatus is not dependent on any adjustment. The resistance of
the conductor is known and in accordance with such material as is employed
so will be the set limit provided by the number of the pairs in the governing
apparatus. I sometimes employ two of these apparatus to a lamp or apparatus to
which they are applied especially when I use alternating currents or couple in
multiple-are a series or where other lamps are in the series; by this means I can
provide for necessitating low electro-motive force back again into high electro-motive
force. I preferably employ branches leading to the motors or other apparatus where
clectricity is to be utilized, and govern the electricity in a similar manner. -
I preferably use this system governing devices for controlling or regulating the
electricity employed for exciting or energizing electro magnets of a generating
machines or batteries.
I sometimes employ storage batteries for this purpose and regulate the electro
motive force thereby but I preferably employ the arrangement of apparatus especially
provided for. I sometimes construct the governing apparatus of thin sheets of
metallic oxides or salts supported or separated by insulating material, such as glass
corrugated, ribbed, or provided with rough face or projections or recesses
metal or metallic salts or oxides are supported by same or I may use thin sheets
or layers of paper wood, asbestos, mica, or other substance for this purpose.
; the
I sometimes employ as a storage a reservoir constructed of iron, steel, or copper
and arrange with such tank another electrode, say zinc or other suitable metal and
I fill or nearly fill such tank with a metallic solution I provide a covering for this
apparatus or I construct the apparatus in a somewhat similar manner to an
ordinary gas reservoir or tank that is to say the one electrode forins a covering for
the other. These electrodes are provided with terminals so that the electricity
from the generating machine may be employed for reviving the electric energy.
I lead from such arrangement of storage, conductors, frequently to other storage
systems and electro-motive force governing devices. The electricity is conducted
along streets highways or through buildings workshops other places or uses through
the medium of suitably insulated conductors branches and sub branches to lamps
moters furnaces heaters in fact to any electrical appliance or devices where electric
energy can be utilized from the sewing or clothing machine to the propulsion of
railways and steam ships or the melting of metals or ores. This storage system
and the electro motive force converter or regulator with the circuit making devices
controls the entire system or application.
I provide an automatic cut off to prevent the possibility of the current passing
back into the generator in case the storage systemn shall become fully charged
utilizing the generator or generators to their full capacity.
I sometimes employ salt water instead of a metallic solution in these storage
reservoirs and I employ an electric generator for vivifying the battery when such
is a floating reservoir placed at sea as mentioned referred to in my provisional
specification dated 4th February 1882 No. 560 and 13th February 1882
No. 700.
I sometimes anchor these floating generators and reservoirs at sea and lead an
insulated cable from shore to the poles of the same so as to revivify or maintain the
electric energy.
My invention also relates to an improved form of electric lighting apparatus. I
employ a reflector which has a series of reflecting faces each at the angle of 45
degrees the light is maintained at a certain fixed point through the medium of an
incandescent conductor or I can employ an adjustable carbon or metallic conductor
or a series of them which are forced by their own weight or through the agency
of a spring or weight against the terminal or plate through which the current is
completed.
I preferably employ some highly refractory metal or alloy such as manganese

page_text: iridium platinum or the like or such like metals alloyed with other metals or
materials or I employ a liquid conductor metallic salts or oxide which are conductors
of electricity enclosed in suitable transparent material.
By this system I obviate greatly if not entirely the difficulties hitherto attending
the generation storage distribution regulation of and utilization of electric energy
for general or private application or use I employ the improvements in apparatus
methods and means herein described for regulating and distributing and utilizing
electricity in conjunction with the various improvements systems applications or
apparatus provided for in the several provisional, specificatious filed by me or on
my behalf and numbered and dated as follows:-No. 5229 November 30 A.D. 1881,
No. 5233 November 30 A.D. 1881, No. 5742 December 31 A.D. 1881-No. 85
January 6th. A.D. 1882-No. 224 January 16th A.D. 1882-No. 560 February 4th
A.D. 1882 and No. 700 February 13 A.D. 1882.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Stokes Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th August 1882.
JOSEPH STOKES WILLIAMS, of Riverton, New Jersey, United States of America,
now of 8 Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO THE GENERATION, STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION, REGULATION AND UTILIZATION OF
ELECTRICITY AND APPARATUS, METHODS, OR MEANS TO BE USED THEREFOR OR
IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
FJ
My invention relates to a system or apparatus for generating, storing, distri-
buting, regulating and utilizing electricity and to devices, methods, or means therefor,
or to be used in connection therewith.
In practising my said Invention I employ one or more electric reservoirs whose
elements are connected with the pole or poles of an electric generator or electric
generators. The said generator or generators is or are usually so constructed as to
generate an electric current in quantity or of low electro-motive force or tension as
more fully set forth in the Provisional Specification dated January 6th A.D. 1882
No 85. When the current produced by the generator or generators is of lower
tension than that desired to be transmitted from the electric reservoir through the
discharging conductor or conductors, or discharging circuit, I employ a switching
device which provides for connecting one part or series of elements of the reservoirs
with the generator or generators and also for connecting some other part or series
of elements of the said reservoir with the aforesaid discharging circuit, as pro-
vided for in the Specification of my former Letters Patent dated February 13th
A.D. 1882 No 700; or instead of increasing the tension of the current through the
modium of the number of elements or parts of the prime reservoir coupled in
series I can provide, in conjunction with the same a regulator or convertor arranged
in combination with the main or principal store of electric energy. The elements
of this regulator or convertor can be charged from the principal reservoir by means
of the aforesaid switching device so that a current of low tension can be trans-
formed into one of higher tension and be transmitted through a discharging
conductor, or a series of such conductors, of light section to distant points, places,
stations, or apparatus. At suchdistant points, places, stations, or apparatus 1 employ
one or more electric reservoirs or regulators, or a combination of the same, to
conserve the electric energy transmitted through the aforesaid discharging con-
ductor or conductors, and to convert the current of high tension emanating from the
generating source and passing to such distant points, places, stations, or apparatus,
into a current of low tension or electro-motive force. The current from the
generating source need not be transmitted directly from or through the medium of
an electric reservoir, accumulator, or convertor to the discharging conductor or con-
ductors, but may be transmitted directly from the electric generating apparatus,
providing such apparatus is so constructed as to produce a current of high tension;
I prefer however to simplify the construction of the generating apparatus and
provide for regulating the tension of the current outside, or independently of the
generator. The current of high or increased tension is transmitted through a
suitably insulated conductor or conductors to an electric reservoir or accumulator
or a series of the same, situated at some distant point station, or place, where tho
electric energy is to be utilized. In order to efficiently provide for the utilization
of the electric energy in a system of distribution it is desirable (if not necessary)
to provide for the transmission through various parts of the system of currents of
different tension; for instance, in order to provide for the economical construction

page_text: of a system or apparatus for distributing electric energy, it is necessary to produce
a current of high tension in order to transmit the electric energy to distant points
or places through a conductor or conductors of light section, and as a current of
high tension is not capable of being used, or is not applicable for certain purposes
and moreover constitutes an element or source of danger when conveyed through
houses or other places where the conductors are liable to become exposed, I employ
one or more electric reservoirs, accumulators or storage batteries, or other conserving
apparatus and converting devices, which are so constructed and connected with the
source and store wherefrom the electric energy with high tension or high electro-
motive force emanates, or either of them, as to provide for such distant apparatus
being charged, vivified, or revivified with electric energy. The conserving and con-
verting devices at such distant point station or place are so constructed and
arranged relatively to the part of the apparatus for generating, or both generating
conserving and regulating the current at the generating or distributing source, that
the current of high tension emanating from such source will be reduced or con-
verted into a current of low tension, that is to say, the number of elements
or pairs coupled in series and connected with the discharging conductor or
conductors at the distant point, place, station or apparatus will govern the
tension of the current transmitted from such part of the apparatus or system
to the different translating devices. Or I employ independent regulating and
converting devices at different parts of the system so as to regulate the supply
and tension of the current transmitted to the different translating devices.
For instance, it is desirable to provide a system or apparatus which will admit of
the employment in it of any desired translating devices, and as currents of
different tension are required to accomplish this object I employ accumulators or
electric reservoirs distributed throughout the system as electro-motive force regu-
lators and convertors. By these means I am enabled to employ electric arc lamps,
incandescent lamps, motors, heaters, and any or all kinds of electric translating
devices in, or in connection with, the same system or apparatus for distributing
electric energy and I am also enabled to materially lessen the cost of the said
system or apparatus for distributing electric energy as the employment of a current
of high tension permits the use of conductors of lighter section than would other-
wise be required.
In constructing electric reservoirs, storage batteries, or accumulators, I sometimes
employ a metallic vessel or chamber composed of iron or steel and line the same
with an insulating material such as cement. This cement will prevent the liquid
solution contained in the reservoir from coming in contact with the iron and can
also be used for insulating and maintaining in position, the elements or plates of
the electric reservoir; for instance the cement may be applied as a lining for the
electric reservoir, the plates or clements being secured in or to the said lining or
supported thereby. The edges of the plates can, moreover, be embedded in the
cement so that the said plates will thereby be insulated from each other, or they
can be separated by strips of wood or other suitable material in order to keep the
elements in their proper relative positions. The reservoir is in some cases built up
of, or lined with, bricks and cement or similar material so as to form a cistern,
building, or tank which will be water tight and proof against the attack of
acidulated water or other liquid employed in the said reservoir. The elements
placed in the said reservoir are arranged in the usual, or any preferred manner,
and are usually made of large dimensions. Pole-pieces terminals, or conductors
extending therefrom provide for conducting the electric energy to the elements of
the said reservoir so as to charge, vivify, or revivify the same, and the same
terminals or other terminals extending from such elements provide for discharging
the electric energy into the discharging conductors which can be connected with
other electric reservoirs, convertors, or translating devices, or any or all of the same.
The electric reservoirs, accumulators, or storage batteries employed in my system or
apparatus are of the ordinary or other suitable construction and I, in some cases,
use as a conservor of electric energy, or both as a conserving and regulating or

page_text: converting and regulating device, a small apparatus composed of thin metallic
plates, pairs, or elements which provide for the conservation of electric energy, or
the conversion of a current of high tension to a current of low tension or quantity.
In constructing the said regulating device, the plates or elements are arranged in
close proximity to, but separated from, each other in a similar manner to the
elements of an ordinary electric reservoir. I employ in the said device sheets of
lend-foil or other suitable metal with thin sheets of paper, parchinent, asbestos, or
other separating medium between them. The said sheets are closely packed
together so as to occupy but a small space and are enclosed within a suitable
chamber into which acidulated water or other liquid solution is introduced. These
sheets or elements are provided with terminals or extensions so that they can be
coupled together for tension as is usual in an ordinary accumulator or battery, and
in proportion to the number coupled in series so will be the tension of the current
discharged therefrom. The principal object of such devices is to regulate tho
supply or convert the tension of the current admitted to the translating device or
devices or in other words to convert a current of high tension into a current of low
tension or electro-motive force.
In order to convert a current of high tension into a current of low tension, or
vice versa, I employ switching apparatus as herein referred to and the current is.
conveyed through the discharging conductor to such translating device or devices
as may be placed in circuit therewith. I sometimes construct the said regulating
or governing devices by depositing the metal or metals to be employed, upon the
two sides of and over one end of an insulating support or sheet. The metallic
films or coatings on the sides of the said support or sheet are separated from, or
have no connection with, each other except by the metallic connection at the ends
of the elements or pairs. I arrange between these sheets or plates thin layers of
insulating material as before described, or I can employ thin layers of metallic salts
or oxides arranged in a similar manner so as to constitute elements or pairs. In
all cases the number of the elements coupled in series will regulate or convert the
tension of the current irrespective of the energy transmitted from the gonerating
or storage source. By interposing electric reservoirs storage batteries accumulators
or similar regulating devices herein provided for between the generating and
storage source or either of them, and the translating device or devices, I am enabled
to employ and utilize electric energy in quantity and with high tension, or to
employ currents of different tension at different points or places in the same system
of distribution.
In constructing electric reservoirs or magazines, I sometimes employ iron and
zinc electrodes or elements. The zinc electrodes are sometimes formed by covering
or coating an iron plate or support with zinc. Instead of employing acidulated
water in connection with such electrodes or clements I use salt water, or so place
or arrange the said electrodes or elements that the circuit will be completed
through the medium of such salt water. Such a battery or magazine will act as a
primary battery until sufficient zinc leaves the zinc electrode and is deposited upon
the iron electrode to neutralize or arrest the action; by then sending a current
from the generating machine or source of electric energy through the battery or
clements in a reverse direction, the elements or pairs will be restored to their
normal working condition and will, in turn, give off, or discharge into the dis- .
charging circuit, the energy so conserved. The said battery or magazine can be
placed in any convenient position on board a vessel or at any place where there is
a constant supply of salt water for instance, along the sea coast or along harbours
and by carrying a suitably insulated conductor or conductors from an electric
generator or generators to such battery or magazine the same can be employed for
conserving the electric energy produced by the said generator or generators, and
through a suitable conductor or conductors the energy so conserved can be trans-
mitted or discharged from the said battery or magazine and be utilized for the
production of light heat or motive power.

page_text: Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I Claim :—
First In a system or apparatus for distributing electric energy, the employment
of one or more reservoirs, accumulators, storage batteries, magazines, or regulating
devices for conserving electric energy constructed arranged and interposed or placed
in the circuit between the generator or source of supply of electric energy and the
translating device or devices in such a manner as to reduce and regulate the tension
of the current admitted to one or more of the translating devices placed in the
circuit therewith.
Second: A system or apparatus for distributing electric energy having a sorics
of independent electric reservoirs, accumulators, magazines, or conserving and regu-
lating devices, so constructed and arranged and connected with the generating and
storage source, or either of them as to provide for the transmission and utilization
of electric currents of different tension in or throughout the system.
Third The mode or method herein described of providing distributing or
utilizing electric currents of different tension at or from different points or places
in, or throughout, a system or apparatus for distributing electric energy.
Fourth: The mode or method herein described of providing, distributing, or
utilizing electric currents of different tension at or from one or more different
points or places in the system or apparatus, irrespective of the tension of the
current produced by, or transmitted from, one or more of the generators or stores of
electric energy, or from all or any of the same.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Stokes Williams have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord
One thousand oight hundred and eighty two.