IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING AND APPLYING ELECTRICITY AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALLAN, of the City of Edinburgh, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the
sixteenth year of Her reigu, did give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Allan, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas Allan, my exors, adñors, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said Thomas Allan, my exors, admors, or
assigns, should at any time agree with and no others, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING
AND APPLYING ELECTRICITY AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," within that
part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, called England,
Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in the
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her said
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, during the term of fourteen years
thence next ensuing; in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso,
requiring that I, the said Thomas Allan, shall particularly describe and ascer
tain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause
the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Thomas Allan, do hereby declare that the nature of my Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed are particularly described and
ascertained in and by this present Specification or instrument in writing,
reference being had to the several Drawings hereunto annexed, in which said
several Drawings similar parts are marked and referred to by similar letters
or figures (that is to say):-
The first part of my Invention consists of improvements in producing
induced electric currents by means of electro-magnets, which currents are
applicable to various useful purposes.
For the purpose of thus producing induced electric currents I compose an
electro-magnet, or combination of electro-magnets, of several straight pieces
of soft iron, so as to form an electro-magnetic circle, and I prefer to form such
magnet or combination of four such pieces, but it may be composed of three
pieces, or of five or more such pieces. I cover these pieces with the primary
coil of insulated wire, and then place the secondary coil (also of insulated
wire) around the primary coil, and the pieces being straight, they may have the
coils wound upon them in a lathe with great facility. The pieces having had
the coils put upon them are then to be connected together at their ends, so as
to form, when electro-magnatized, a complete electro-magnetic circle.
wires of the primary coils are then to be connected together so as to form one
continuous primary coil, the two ends of which may be connected with a battery
in the ordinary manner. The wires of the secondary coils round the pieces of
the magnet or combination are also to be connected, so as to form one con-
tinuous secondary coil, the two ends of which are to be connected with the
line wires of an electric telegraphic apparatus, or with the wires of any
other apparatus to which the same may be intended to be applied.
The
In Figures 1, 2, and 3 I have shewn the mode of constructing an electro-
magnet, or combination of electro-magnets of this description, with 4 straight
pieces of soft iron.
Figure 1 shews a straight piece of iron with the primary coil wound upon it,
the ends projecting a little beyond the coils.
Figure 2 shews the same straight piece of iron with the secondary coal also
wound upon it, and the end of each of the coils are left long and projecting, so
as to be ready to be connected with any other wires.
Figure 3 represents four straight pieces of iron with primary and secondary
coils around them, as already described, and the pieces joined together at their
ends by nuts, screws, or other means at C, D, E, and F, so as to form.
electro-magnet. The primary coils around the pieces are also joined togeth
,

page_text: so as to form one continuous primary coil, the ends A and B of which are
sbewn projecting and ready to be connected with the wires of the galvanic
battery, which may be intended to be used. The secondary coils are also
joined together in like manner so as to form a continuous secondary coil, the
ends G and H of which are shewn projecting and ready to be connected with
the wires of any apparatus to which the induced current of electricity may
be intended to be applied.
The second part of my said Invention consists of improvements in producing
induced electric currents by means of permanent magnets, which currents are
applicable to various useful purposes..
For this purpose I combine a series of permanent horse-shoe magnets,
placing them all in the same plane, and with their points or ends in such
positions as to form or touch an imaginary circle, the circle being divided into
the same number of parts as there are points or ends of magnets, and all tho
distances between the points or ends of the magnets being equal. The poles
of the magnets are so placed that in passing around the imaginary circle just
mentioned an object would come in contact with a north and a south pole
alternately, and I secure the magnets upon the surface of a flat piece of
wood or other convenient material not being iron or steel. In the centre of
the circle just mentioned I place an iron spindle working in suitable bearings,
the spindle being placed at right angles with the sides of the magnets. Upon
this spindle I fix as many radiating arms of iron, and of equal length, as there
are ends or points of borso-shoo magnets, the lengths of the arms being such
that they shall rotate within the imaginary circle just mentioned, and
their ends nearly but not quite touch the ends of the magnets in passing.
I also make all the distances between the points or ends of the arms
equal all round the circle, so that the distances between the ends of
the arms, and the distances between the ends of the magnets shall be
equal; around each of these radiating arms I form a coil of fine insulated
wire, and those coils may either be all connected together continuously
or connected in pairs, according to the description of induced current of
electricity (that is, whether greater in quantity or intensity,) which may bo
desired to be produced; thus, if I required a current of such electricity
produced by the apparatus to possess great intensity, I. would make
the communications between the coils continuously from coil to coil all round;
but, if I desired to obtain a current greater in quantity and of less intensity, I
would connect the coils together in pairs; the ends of the continuous wire, or
of each pair of coils (as the case may be) being properly connected with the
line wires of a telegraph or other apparatus to be operated upon. Two or

page_text: more sets of apparatus, such as I have just described, may be combined
together, so as to act simultaneously for the production of induced currents of.
electricity of greater quantity or intensity. In such cases I take two or more
sets of permanent horse-shoo magnets, combined together and fixed upon tho
surface of a piece of wood or other material in the manner already described.
I then place these sets of magnets near to each other, with the surfaces upon.
which they are fixed parallel to each other, and with the imaginary circles
formed by the points of the sets of magnets concentric with each other. I
then place a spindle working in suitable bearings, so that it shall pass through
the centre of the circle formed by the ends of each set of magnets; and upon
this spindle I secure as many sets of radiating arms as there may be sets of
magnets, and place upon each arm a coil of insulated wire in manner herein-
before described. I cause the coils of wire of the several sets of radiating.
arms to communicate with each other, so as to produce a simultaneous action.
In Figure 4 I have shewn a plan of a single apparatus for producing induced
In
currents by means of permanent magnets in the manner just described.
this Figure are shewn four magnets (M), the north pole of each magnet being
marked in the usual manner. These magnets are secured firmly to the surface
of a piece of wood, with their ends forming a circle, as already described. S is
the spindle, upon which are fixed eight radiating arms (K) covered with coils
C of fine insulated wire, as above mentioned. Figuro 5 is a side view of a
spindle, shewing the manner of mounting several sets of radiating arms upon
a spindle when I combine several sets of permanent magnets together accord-
ing to this part of my Invention; but only six of the radiating arms are shewn
in the Figure (two of each set of arms), the others being removed to make
the Figure more easily understood. An apparatus with which this spindle
might be used would have three sets of permanent magnets, and three sets of
radiating arms fixed upon the spindle. When it is desired that the current
of induced electricity produced by either of the two descriptions of apparatus
I have described shall, after leaving such apparatus, always pass in the
same direction, instead of passing alternately to and fro, as occasioned by either
of those descriptions of apparatus, I make use of a circular apparatus or pole
changer, such as shewn and described in the Specification inrolled the Sixteenth
day of May, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in pursuance of a
Patent for England granted to me on the Sixteenth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty, by means of which, when the induced current
is reversed by the action of the electro-magnets or permanent magnets (as the
case may be) I am enabled to invert or reverse the direction of such induce:
current so produced, and thus cause every movement of such induced current

page_text: (after leaving the apparatus creating it) to proceed in the same direction.
Any other pole changer capable of producing the same effect may,
however,
be used.
The third part of my snid Invention consists of a mode or modes of applying
electricity for the production of motion or motive power applicable to various
useful purposes. Motion or motive power to be of any substantial, commercial,..
or practical value must be capable of being exerted with facility through some
considerable space. The power which can be obtained or produced by the
action of electricity, forming an electro-magnet capable of attracting iron,
although very considerable, can be exerted through so small a space that the
force with which any single electro-magnet can be made to attract any piece
of iron, has not hitherto, so far as I am aware, been made practically available
for the production of motion or motive power, and although some persons have
endeavored to apply the forces of several electro-magnets for the production of
motion, yet they have not, so far as I know, been able to apply them in such a
way as economically to produce motion or motive power capable of being
exerted through any considerable space. Now this part of my Invention
consists of a mode or modes of applying currents of electricity, so as to form
several electro-magnets in succession, the one after the other, by means of
which several impulses shall be successively given in the same line or direction
to a rod or bar capable of being moved longitudinally to any extent which may
be required. In Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, I
have shewn a mode or modes in which this object may be effected. Figure 6
is a front elevation or side view of an apparatus, by means of which a current
or currents of electricity may be applied so as to form several clectro-magnets
in succession, and by means of such electro-magnets give several successive
impulses to a connecting rod or bar connected with any machine to which
motion is to be given or motive power applied. Figure 7 is a top view of the
four electro-magnets placed upon one of the galleries of the same apparatus;
and in these two Figures similar parts are indicated by similar figures of
reference. In these Figures A, A, is a rod or bar connected with machinery <r
apparatus to which motion is to be communicated; B, B, is a frame through
which the rod passes, and in which are mounted the electro-magnets, by
means of which the impulses are to be given to the rod or bar A, A; within
this frame are placed three galleries G, G, and there are four electro-magnets
M, M, M, M, placed upon each of the three galleries just mentioned, as also
upon the bottom of the frame B, B; upon the rod or bar A, A, are fixed
four shoulders S, S, S, S, against which the keepers or dics of iron
K, K, K, K, are intended to be pressed by their own weight or by springs

page_text: so as to be successively in proper positions for being acted upon by the
electro-magnets. Each of the keepers or discs of iron K, K, K, K, is made
with an orifice in its centre so as to slide casily upon the rod A, A, between its
shoulder S and the gallery or rail of the frame next to it, and so as not
to impede the motion of the rod or bar when it is receiving an impulse from au-
electro-magnet applied to any of the other keepers or discs. The action of this
machine is as follows:-The machine is shewn in a proper position for the rod
or bar A, A, to receive the first impulse from the electro-magnets nearest to
the end a of the rod where it is connected with the machine to which motion
is to be given. The first keeper or disc which is attracted by the electro-
magnets near to it is placed sufficiently near to those magnets to enable them to
exert an available force upon the keeper or disc upon the rod A, A, through
the space or distance between the keeper or disc and the ends of the electro-
magnets. And a current of electricity being applied to those electro-magnets
they will, accordingly, draw the keeper or disc towards them, and move the rod
or bar A, A, longitudinally through the last-mentioned distance or space. The
next keeper or disc in succession will then be brought within the same
distance from its electro-magnets, and the current or currents of electricity
being at the same moment applied to those electro-magnets they will draw
their keeper or disc towards them and move the rod or bar A, A, longitudinally
through an additional space or distance equivalent to the first and the other
electro-magnets, and their keepers or discs will respectively in succession act in
like manner, and thus complete the whole of the longitudinal motion or extent
of the stroke of the rod. This machine or apparatus which has been described
is constructed so as to apply motion or power to a rod or bar longitudinally in
one direction, and such motion may be converted into, or may be made to pro-
duce circular motion by any of the well-known means.
In Figure 8 I have shown an apparatus or machine containing two rods or
bars, to each of which motion is given in a longitudinal direction by means of
currents of electricity and electro-magnets as before described, but made to act
at different times, so that they may alternately apply force, or give motion to
the two different cranks of an axle or shaft to which they may be attached. The
electric current by means of which the various electro-magnets are to be brough
into action may be conveyed to those magnets through the main or crank shaf
(if any) of the engine to which each rod or bar A, A, is attached, and from thence
through certain metallic springs or wires leading to the electro-magnets. And
for the purpose of making the machine self-acting (so far as regards the com
munication of the electric current or currents to the electro-magnets) I plac
upon the shaft a collar carrying a cam or knob, as shewn in Figure 9. In thi

page_text: Figure S is the crank shaft; c, c, is the collar placed upon it, and held in its
proper position by a set screw; and n is the can or knob, which is placed in
such a position that, during the revolution of the shaft, it will come in contact
successively with the four springs or wires W, W, W, W. Those openings are
respectively placed in connection with four series of electro-magnets, (such as
shewn in Figure 6,) and by the contact of the cam n with the ends of the
springs successively the electric current from the battery will be communicated
to each of the four series of electro-magnets in succession, by means of which
those series of electro-magnets will successively be brought in action as above
described. Upon the cam passing from the first of the springs the electric
current will cease to pass to the four electro-magnets connected with that spring
and the action of those electro-magnets will therefore cease. The cam coming in
contact with the next spring will cause the electric current to be transmitted
to the electro-magnets in connection with it, and cause them to be brought into
action ; and their action will cease upon the cam passing from the second
spring. The electro-magnets, in connection with the other springs, will be
brought into and thrown out of action in like manner by the cam coming into
contact with and quitting those springs. If the rod or bar A, A, shall not be
connected with any machine having a revolving shaft, I furnish the machine
with a light shaft of that description, and I connect the crank of it with the
rod or bar, so as to give it rotary motion, and upon the shaft I place a cam
acting upon the ends of springs, for the purpose of communicating the current
or currents of electricity, and bringing the electro-magnets successively into
action, as above described. For the purpose of preventing the injurious
effects of the spark usually produced upon breaking the contact between any
two parts of a current, (usually called breaking contact,) I arrange the springs
so that the cam or knob shall come in contact with the second spring imme-
diately before it quits the first spring, and so with respect to the others.
The fourth part of my said Invention consists of a combination or arrange-
O ment of apparatus forming a break or pole-changer, by means of which the
direction of the current of electricity may be changed at pleasure. Figure 10
is a back elevation of this machine, and Figure 11 is a sido elevation of a part
of the same machine; similar parts of the machine shown in those two Figures
being indicated or referred to by similar letters of reference. R, R, is a
5 wooden standard, behind which the machine or apparatus is placed, a part of
the apparatus being mounted upon a spindle S, which is divided into two
portions, and has one of its bearings in the standard R, R, and the outer end
of the spindle, projecting a little from the front of the standard, has a wooden
handle L attached to it, by means of which the machine is to be worked.

page_text: E and F (Figure 10) are portions of the line wires, the end of the wire E
being attached to a metallic spring D at one side of the instrument, and the
end of the wire F being attached to a metallic spring B at the other side of
the instrument; and when the instrument is in a state of rest any current of
electricity passing along the line wires will pass along the two springs B and
D, passing from one of them to the other by the metallic knob K, against
which both of the springs press. The three pieces are also secured in the
position shown in the Figures by two bolts n, n, passing through them, gutta
percha or some other non-conducting material being interposed between the
That part
pieces A, C, H, and also between each of them and the bolts n, n.
of the spindle which passes through the bearing in the standard R, R, is
firmly attached to the other side of the picce A, A, and the other portion of
the spindle S (which has a bearing behind not shewn in the Figures,) is
Neither of the
firmly attached to the outer side of the picce H, H.
parts of spindle S, it will be observed, comes in contact with the centro
piece C, C, which is entirely insulated from the spindle and the other
two pieces. These pieces of metal being thus secured upon the two halves
of the spindle S, they inay be caused to move in either direction by tho
spindle by means of the handle L. The centre piece C has a knob K
fixed upon the top of it, which by turning the handle L may be caused
to press back either of the springs B and D, and two pins P and Q are
placed in such positions that when either of the springs B and D is pressed
back by the knob K the othor spring will be provented from following, and will
then cease to be in contact with the knob K, by means of which the circuit
through the springs B and D will be broken, and the current of electricity
compelled to take some other circuit. Within the spring B is fixed a straight
flat metal spring 6 mounted on the piece V, and a similar spring e mounted on
the piece X is placed within the spring D; and each of the springs b and c is
mado sufficiently long, and is placed in such a position, as to allow of its being
brought into contact with the metallic piece II, II, when that piece is turned
towards it by pressing the handle L in the proper direction for that purpose.
The flat spring d is made in one piece with the spring b, and the flat spring f
in one piece with the spring e, and each of the springs d and f is made of such
length and so placed that it will come in contact with the metallic piece A, A,
when that piece is, by means of the handle L, turned towards the spring. The
pieces A, A, and H, H, are respectively connected with the positive and
negative poles of the battery, in conjunction with which the machine is to be
worked by means of the two wires and t, one end of the wire t being placed
upon or attached to that half spindle. S which is attached to the piece A, A,

page_text: and one end of the wire r being placed upon or attached to that half spindle S.
which is attached to the piece H, H. The action of this machine is as
follows: If the handle L of the apparatus be turned to the left the lower end
of the piece A, A, will be turned in the same direction, and the upper ends of
the pieces C and I will each be turned in the contrary direction; the
knob K will therefore press back the spring D and cease to be in contact with
the spring B, by which the circuit through those springs will be broken; at
the same time that this circuit is broken the piece H will be brought into con-
tact with the spring e, and the piece A, A, will be brought into contact with
the spring b. If the piece A, A, be connected with the positive pole of battery
the current of electricity will pass from that piece along the spring d and the
line wire F, and returning by the line wire E, will pass along the spring e to
the piece II, H, which is in connection with the negative pole of the battery,
and thus the circuit will be completed. If the handle of the machine be now
pressed in the contrary direction the knob K will press back the spring B, and
carried out of contact with the spring D, so as to break the circuit through
those two springs. The pieco A, A, will now be brought into contact with
the spring f, and the piece II, II, into contact with the spring b, by
which the direction of the current of electricity will be reversed, passing from
the picce A, A, along the spring f, and the line wire E, and returning by
the line wire F, and passing along the spring b, to the pièce H, H, and thus
completing the circuit. By turning the handle L of the machine in the
proper direction therefore, the current of electricity may at pleasure bo sent
in either direction along the line wires. And when the instrument is allowed
to be in a state of rest, the action of the two springs B and D, pressing
in contrary directions and balancing each other, will cause the pieces A, A,
and I, II, to be held in such a position as not to touch any of the flat
springs b, d, e, and f, and thero will consequently be no connection between
the battery and the line wires E and F. At the same time, however, that
the circuit in connection with the battery is thus broken the circuit through
the springs B and D is completed by both of those springs coming in
contact with the knob K.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I do not claim
as of my Invention any of the elements of the several combinations con-
stituting the several parts of my. Invention, but what I claim as my.
Invention is,
Firstly, the mode or modes of constructing an electro-magnet, or com-
'bination of electro-magnets, of several pieces of straight soft iron, and

page_text: furnished with insulated coils of wire, in manner and for the purposes
herein-before described.
Secondly, the mode or modes of combining several permanent magnets
with their ends or points in or forming a circle, and radiating iron arms
furnished with insulated coils of wire, and rotating within that circle, in
manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Thirdly, the mode or modes of applying and combining electric currents
and the electro-inagnets thereby produced for the purpose of producing
motion or motive power, in manner herein-before described.
And fourthly, the combination of parts forming the break or pole changer,
lastly herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Allan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.