IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING ELEC- TRICAL CIRCUITS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE ELECTRO-DEPOSITION OF METALS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Geminiano Zanni, of Highbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Medical Electrician, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING ELEC-
TRICAL CIRCUITS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE ELECTRO-DEPOSITION OF
METALS"
Sealed the 2nd January 1880, and dated the 10th July 1879.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Geminiano Zanni at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July 1879.
GEMINJANO ZANNI, of Highbury, in the County of Middlesex, Medical Electrician.
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING
AND CLOSING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE ELECTRO-
DEPOSITION OF METALS."
My Invention relates to improvements in and connected with apparatus for
automatically opening and closing an electrical circuit in which a dynamo-electric
machine is employed for generating the electricity, the chief object being to provide
improved means for preventing a reversal of the polarity of the electricity employed
in the process of the electro-deposition of metals. It is well known that in this
process whenever the dynamo-electric machine ceases to work the accumulated
electricity in the bath returns through the conducting wires unless means are
provided for preventing it, and reverses the polarity of the electricity, thus causing
the work in the bath to be injured or spoiled when the machine recommences to
operate.
.
Various apparatus have been designed for the purpose of ensuring the automatic
breaking of the circuit upon the machine ceasing to work, but all the apparatus.
heretofore constructed for this purpose have been more or less uncertain or otherwise
defective in their operation.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I provide upon a base or stand made
of wood or other suitable insulating material an electro-magnet with an armature.
of soft iron, the latter being arranged in front of the poles of this electro-magnet in
such a manner that it is capable of sliding to and fro. A convenient manner of
arranging this armature is as follows, that is to say :-The said armature is provided
on its rear face or side with two or more tubes which fit over corresponding pins or
D

page_text: rods attached firmly to and projecting from an upright piece on the base or stand
in such a manner that the said tubes may slide to and fro on the said pins or rods
-carrying-the-armature-with-them. There is also a spiral spring connected to the
rear face or side of the armature and to the said upright, this spring being so
arranged that by its tension-the-armature will be kept at a slight distance from the
poles-of-the aforesaid electro-magnet whenever there is no current passing around
the latter. I connect this electro-magnet-by means of suitable wires with a small
magneto-electric machine having a rotating armature, and I provide the spindle of
this armature with a wheel around which a band, cord, or gut passes, this band,.
cord, or gut being also passed around a corresponding wheel upon a suitable rotating
part of the dynamo-electric machine employed in the circuit. Or instead of the
band or the like I may use toothed gearing or other means for connecting the two
machines. The effect of this arrangement is that immediately the shaft of the
dynamo-electric machine commences to revolve the armature of the said magneto-
electric machine also commences to revolve and electricity is generated, which,
passing to the electro-magnet, causes the latter to attract the aforesaid sliding
armature to its. poles against the tension of the said spiral spring, and as long as
the armature of the magneto-electric machine revolves the electro-magnet will keep
the sliding armature in connection with its poles. One of the wires leading from
the dynamo-electric machine to the bath is severed, and one end thereof is connected
to the electro-magnet and the other end to the soft-iron sliding armature in such a
manner that the electro-magnet and its armature and the metallic parts connected
therewith form a portion of the main circuit. It will therefore be seen that when-
ever the magneto-electric machine is at rest the electro-magnet will be inoperative,
and, the spiral spring withdrawing the sliding armature from the poles of this
electro-magnet, the main circuit will be broken.
The operation is therefor as follows, that is to say:-Upon the dynamo-electric
machine commencing to work the revolving armature of the magneto-electric
machine is put into action by means of the band or gearing connecting these two
machines; the electricity then generated by the magneto-electric machine passes to
the electro-magnet whose armature is attracted against the tension of the spiral
spring and the main circuit is at once completed; the electricity generated by the
dynamo-electric machine then operates, passing through a galvanometer to the bath
in the usual manner. Upon the stoppage of the dynamo-electric machine the
armature of the magneto-electric machine at once ceases to revolve, and no electricity
being then generated by this machine the electro-magnet ceases to act and the
spiral spring withdrawing the sliding magnet the main circuit is broken, and as the
electricity in the bath cannot then return the reversal of the polarity is rendered
impossible.
In some instances I may employ a battery instead of the said magneto-electric
machine, in which case a switch will be provided so arranged as to close the circuit
between the said battery and the electro-magnet-when-the-dynamo-electric machine
commences to work, and to break the said circuit when the dynamo-electric
machine stops. And in some cases I employ a small dynamo-electric machine in
place of the magneto-electric machine or the battery.
I may in some cases drive the magneto electric machine or the small dynamo-
electric machine, or operate the switch when a battery is used, from the engine or
other motive power employed instead of from the dynamo-electric machine.
All the parts may be fitted upon one stand with the dynamo-electric machine, or
separate stands may be used, as desired.
Although I have described my Invention as specially applicable in the process of
the electro-deposition of metals I wish it to be understood that it may be applied
to any purposes in which it is desirable or advantageous to provide means for
automatically closing and opening an electrical circuit in which a dynamo-electric
machine is employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Geminiano Zanni in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th January
1880.
GEMINIANO ZANNI, of Highbury, in the County of Middlesex, Medical Electrician.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING
AND CLOSING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE ELECTRO-
DEPOSITION OF METALS."
My Invention relates to improvements in and connected with apparatus for
automatically opening and closing an electrical circuit in which a dynamo-electric
machine is employed for generating the electricity, the chief object being to provide
improved means for preventing a reversal of the polarity of the electricity employed
in the process of the electro-deposition of metals. It is well known that in the
process of depositing metals by means of electricity whenever the dynamo-electric
machine ceases to work, the accumulated electricity in the bath returns through the
conducting wires, unless means are provided for preventing its return, and the
polarity of the current is in this manner reversed, thus causing more or less injury
to work in the bath when the machine recommences to operate.
Various forms of apparatus have been designed for the purpose of ensuring the
automatic breaking of the circuit in which the bath is included when the machine
stops, but the various kinds of apparatus heretofore constructed for this purpose
have been more or less uncertain or otherwise defective in their operation.
My Invention provides simple and effective means for preventing the reversal of
polarity.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I construct an apparatus as shewn
in the accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section shewing the said improved appa-
ratus.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of a portion of the said apparatus.
:
Upon a base or stand a made of wood or other suitable insulating material I
place an electro-magnet b with an armature b¹ of soft iron; the latter is arranged
in front of the poles of the said electro-magnet in such a manner that it is capable
of oscillating on the pin or pivot c, or the armature b' may be arranged to slide to
and fro in suitable guides.
A convenient manner of arranging this armature b¹ is shewn in Figure 1; at its
rear or outer side are placed spiral springs d; each of these springs is attached to
a sliding rod d¹, one end of which passes through a standard or upriglit piece e
formed or fixed on the base or stand a. The other end of the said rod is screw
threaded and passes through a sleeve or tube f projecting rearward from the
standard e. The outer end of the said screw rod projecting through the tube f is
provided with a nut g, and by the adjustment of the said nut upon the end of the
rod the pressure of the springs upon the armature may be regulated. A set;
screw h passed through a tapped hole in the standard e serves as an adjustable stop
for the armature b¹. The tension of the springs d keeps the armature b¹ at
slight distance from the poles of the electro-magnet b when no current is passing
around the latter. When employing a sliding instead of an oscillating armature
attach tubes to the rear thereof. I connect the electro-magnet b by means of
suitable wires i with a small magneto-electric machine j having a rotating armature k,
and I provide the shaft or spindle of this armature with a pulley around which a
band or cord passes, this band or cord being also passed around a corresponding
pulley upon the shaft m of a dynamo-electric machine employed in the circuit. Or
instead of driving the said armature k by means of a band, cord, or belt I may use

page_text: toothed gearing or other means for connecting the two machines and driving the
said armature.
The effect of the above described arrangement is, that immediately the shaft m
of the dynamo-electric-machine-commences-to-revolve;-the-armature_k_of_the_
magneto-electric machine ; also commences to revolve, and electricity is generated
'by this machine 3, which electricity passing to the electro-magnet b causes the latter
to attract the oscillating armature b to its poles against the tension of the spiral
springs d, and while the armature k of the magneto-electric machine revolves the
electro-magnet b will keep the armature b¹ in connection with its poles. One of
the wires leading from the dynamo-electric machine to the bath is severed; one
end thereof is connected to the electro-magnet b and the other end is connected to
the soft iron armature b₁ in such a manner that the electro-magnet b and its
armature 6 and the metallic parts connected therewith are included in the main
circuit. It will therefore be seen that when the magneto-electric machine j is at
rest the electro-magnet b will be inoperative, so that there is no resistance to the
tension of the spiral springs d, which then withdraw the armature b¹ from the poles
'of this electro-magnet b, the main circuit being therefor interrupted or broken.
When the dynamo-electric machine commences to work and the armature 'k of
the magneto-electric machine is caused to revolve by the means above described the
electricity then generated by the magneto-electric machine passes to the electro-
magnet b, whose armature 6' is attracted against the tension of the spiral springs
and the main circuit is at once completed; the electricity generated by the said
dynamo-electric machine then passes through a galvanometer to the bath in the
(usual manner. Upon the stoppage of the dynamo-electric machine the armature k
of the magneto-electric machine at once ceases to revolve, and no electricity being
then generated by this machine the electro-magnet 6 ceases to act, and the spiral
springs d withdrawing the armature 6¹ the main circuit is broken as above described,
and as the electricity in the bath cannot then return the reversal of the polarity is
rendered impossible.
In some instances I may employ a battery in place of the said magneto-electric
machine, in which case I provide a switch so arranged as to close the circuit between
the said battery and the electro-magnet b when the dynamo-electric machine com-
mences to work, and to break or interrupt the said circuit when the dynamo-electric
machine stops; or I may employ a pneumatic apparatus suitably connected with
the dynamo-electric machine to close the circuit when the dynamo-electric machine
commences to work, and to break the circuit when this machine ceases to work.
In some cases I employ a small dynamo-electric machine in place of the aforesaid
magneto-electric machine or battery.
'In some cases instead of driving the magneto-electric machine or the small
dynamo-electric machine, or operating the switch of the aforesaid battery by
connection with the dynamo-electric machine, I may drive or operate the same
directly from the steam engine or other motive-power employed to drive the said
dynamo-electric machine.
All of the parts of the above described apparatus may be fitted upon the same
base or stand as the dynamo-electric machine, or separate stands may be used, as
desired.
Although I have described my Invention as specially applicable in the process of
electro-deposition of metals it is obvious that the same may be applied for any
purpose in which it may be desirable or advantageous to provide means for auto-
matically closing and opening an electrical circuit wherein a dynamo-electric
machine is employed.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
In connection with an electrical circuit wherein the current is generated by a
dynamo-electric machine means for breaking or opening and closing the circuit and
preventing the reversal of the polarity, such as the electro-magnetic apparatus

page_text: shewn in the Drawing, or other suitable apparatus, constructed and arranged in
combination with the magneto-electric machine or a battery or other generator of
electricity (either connected or not connected with the said dynamo-electric
machine) in such a manner that the said circuit will be closed or opened auto-
matically whenever the dynamo-electric machine commences or ceases to work, for
the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Geminiano Zanni, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
G. ZANNI. (L.S.)