IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR PRODUCING AND UTILIZING ELECTRIC CURRENTS IN SECONDARY CIRCUITS
Year: 1884

page_text: We, LUCIEN GAULARD Engineer and Chemist and JOHN DIXON GIBBS Esquire
both of 18 Warwick Street, Regent Street in the County of Middlesex do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR PRODUCING
AND UTILIZING ELECTRIC CURRENTS IN SECONDARY CIRCUITS "to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a system of generating and distributing electrical
energy by means of specially constructed induction coils and the said Invention has
for its object to produce induced electrical currents in an economical and practical
manner by means of devices hereinafter described for electric lighting or other
purpose.
Our Invention consists of improvements in the art of producing induced currents
from a primary inducing current whereby the said induced current can be dis-
tributed or subdivided without incurring loss by short circuiting the electrical
generator as is generally the case in all known systems.
Heretofore experiments in the utilization of electricity by means of induction
Coils have used the "Ruhmkorff Coil" but the Secondary currents produced could
not be usefully applied.
Secondary currents have also been produced by passing alternating currents
through a primary circuit coiled over a part of an iron core thus magnetising the
iron core in alternating directions and thus indirectly inducing currents in the
circuits surrounding other parts of the core by the alternations of magnetisation in
the core.
We have discovered that in order to produce practical results it is necessary to
keep the quantity or intensity and the vibrations of the current in the primary
circuit constant, and to make the variations in the electrical energy required to
produce the desired result by varying the tension of the current at its source.
It has been contended on the one hand that the greater the number of inter-
ruptions in a primary current the greater the increase in the electro motive force
in the secondary currents obtained, and on the other hand, that the opposite ·
phenomenon is produced.
The numerous experiments we have made enable us to explain this difference.
We have found that in the case of infrequent interruptions we could charge
condenser with a certain quantity of electricity which increased when the

page_text: interruptions increased the intensity of the primary current circulating in the
inductor causing an apparent increase of resistance due to counter electro motive
force if the secondary circuit was doing the minimum work, we say "apparent" for
if the secondary circuit referred to was doing its maximum work in a given time, a
lesser counter electro motive force would be induced. This leads us to conclude t
that the more rapid the interruptions the greater the electro motive force of the
Secondary current.
We say then that in direct induction as hereinafter set forth electro motive force
of the secondary current increases.-1° with the intensity or quantity of the
primary current and 2° with the rapidity of the interruptions or alternations or
the variations of potential of the primary current.
As to the phenomenon of induction itself it is produced under our system by
which induction-that is to say, the work done is maintained constant on account
of the presence in the primary current of sufficient electro-motive force to overcome
the counter electro-motive force produced by the induced current.
We will now describe one of the methods by which our Invention can be
applied We provide a generator of electricity'so constructed and operated that
the intensity or quantity of its currents is preserved constant and the tension is
varied to carry this current through the Conductors against the varying resistance
as well as the varying Counter electro-motive force due to variations in the work
done in the secondary circuits of a number of induction Coils after the following
formula and deductions premising that W indicates work, C. current, E. electro
motive force and R. resistance - WC. E=C' R=
FP
If either of these factors be changed the others must be altered in the same ratio
if uniform effects in 'the 'secondary circuits in use are desired.
If a secondary Circuit be closed in a system comprising one primary and two or
more secondaries a counter electro motive force acting on the primary would at
once lower the current and the work performed in all the closed secondaries if
additional Elector motive force be not furnished at the same time at the source of
the primary Current so that under the new conditions-W=C (E+e) and work
expended on the closed secondary=C (Exe)-0 R Thus having established a
given current through the primary R, the work expended in keeping it is expressed
by C R―Then for any number n of secondaries which may be closed the Electro
motive force,necessary to keep the given current is expressed by E+ne and the
work expended on the secondaries, by C.(E+ne-CR) the total work being
C (Exne). It is known that in starting and stopping a current in the coils sur-
rounding an electro-magnet or in those of a helix the neighbouring convolutions
exert a counter force upon one another, and that the work necessary to overcome
this counterforce is lost so far as useful results are concerned-With currents that
are continually alternating, this loss is a very serious one and detracts very
materially from the efficiency because the inductive action which should be
expended on the secondary circuit is exerted in a great measure locally i,e on the
primary itself. With magneto inductive apparatus this loss is further increased
because the translation, of the inductive action is almost entirely through the
medium of magnetism-In this case the inductive action which is exerted by a
primary on a secondary surrounding the primary is lost.
In order to avoid this loss we provide an induction apparatus constructed with
a primary conductor forming part of an inducing Electrical circuit around which
are are laid insulated conductors forming part of an induced circuit parallel to the
primary or central conductor and these several conductors of the induced circuit
are connected at their terminals in multiple arc with a single wire forming part
of an Electric circuit for light or other purposes.
In order to obtain the most economical results certain proportions must be observed
according to well established electrical laws of resistance and of dynamic and
static induction For example a cable may be formed of a central copper core
4 millimetres in diameter and fifty metres long insulated. by means of a double

page_text: coating of paraffined cotton and six cables laid parallel to its axis each composed
of 8 wires about half a millimetre in diameter similarly insulated by means of two
coatings of paraffined cotton.
The central core constitutes the inductor on which circulates the primary current
and the exterior wires the secondary circuit on which are developed the secondary
currents to be utilized at different points on the distributing circuits. A cable
thus formed may be rolled on a cylinder of cardboard or other suitable material of
about 5 centimetres diameter in two layers. A bundle of iron wires may be
placed in the centre of the cylinder enabling by means of magnetic surexcitation
upon the introduction or withdrawal of a cylindrical copper envelope the graduation
of the intensity of the current developed in the secondary wires.
The result of this novel system of induction is that by separating from one
another the spirals of the inductor and surrounding it with a secondary circuit the
reaction of the induction of the spirals of the primary circuit on one another is
avoided. Considerable resistance due to counter Electro motive force on the primary
current is neutralized thus preventing the transformation into heat of a great part
of the transmitted energy. Or the induction coil may be made up of a number of
very fine wires laid parallel and with an insulating strip or thread between each
they being all connected together by a weft or lacing of silk or other insulating
material thus constituting a ribbon which is laid on and firmly secured to an
insulated conductor for the primary current which may be in the form of a
flat ribbon parallel with the secondary wires which are placed on both sides
thereof.
זי
The induction coils or secondary generators may be arranged for operation as
follows:-
་
.
A number of induction coils preferably arranged in groups of four columns
composed of a cable as described are placed near to one another vertically between
two platforms of wood and by means of a commutator placed in the centre of the
apparatus we can cause the current to be connected to the circuit to which it is
attached either in parallel or in series.
.
The tension or quantity is thus obtained according to the nature of the current
as required.
It is evident that a system is thus organized by which .consumers can obtain from
a single primary circuit electrical currents of different quantity or value.
The secondary Generators may be placed consecutively on the same circuit which
circuit is metallically closed with the dynamo machine thereby avoiding the danger
of short circuiting through the secondary circuit whatever the Electro motive force
used or traversing the primary conductor may be because the conductivity of the
conductor of a line of even several miles in length does not offer any difficulty or
danger when our inductive system of high Electro motive force' is used.
'
Dated the 6th day of February 1884.
'IF [

page_text: We LUCTEN GAULARD Engineer and Chemist and JOHN DIXON GIBBS Esquire
of 18 Warwick Street Regent Street in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR PRODUCING
AND UTILIZING ELECTRIC CURRENTS IN SECONDARY CIRCUITS," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This Invention relates to a system of generating and distributing electric energy
by means of specially constructed induction coils; and the said Invention has for
its object to produce induced electrical currents in an economical and practical
manner (by means of devices hereinafter described) for electric lighting or other
purpose.
It consists of improvements in producing induced currents from a primary
inducing current whereby the said induced current can be distributed or subdivided
as desired without incurring loss by short circuiting the electrical generator as is
generally the case in all known systems.
Heretofore experimenters in the utilizing of electricity by means of induction
coils have used the "Ruhmkorff coil"; but the secondary currents produced by it
could not be usefully applied. Secondary currents have also been produced by
passing alternating currents through a primary circuit coiled over a part of an
iron core, thus magnetizing the iron core in alternating directions and thus indirectly
inducing currents. in the circuits surmounting other parts of the core by the
alternations of magnetisation in the core. We have discovered that in order to
produce practical results it is necessary to keep the quantity or intensity and the
vibrations of the current in the primary circuit constant and to make the variations
in the electrical energy required to produce the desired result by varying the
tension of the current at its source. It has been contended on the one hand that
the greater the number of interruptions in a primary current the greater the increase
in the electro motive force which acts in the secondary circuit and consequently
the greater the increase in the tension of the secondary currents obtained; and on
the other hand that the opposite phenomenon is produced. The numerous experi-
ments we have made enable us to explain this difference of opinion. We have
found that in the case of infrequent interruptions we could charge a condenser
with a certain quantity of electricity which increased when the interruption
increased the intensity of the primary current circulating in the inductor causing
an apparent increase of resistance due to counter electro motive force, if the
secondary current were doing the minimum work. We say "apparent" for if the
secondary circuit were doing its maximum work in a given time a lesser counter
electro motive force, would be induced. This leads us to conclude that the more
rapid the interruption the greater the tension of the secondary current. We say,
then, that in direct induction as hereinafter set forth the tension of the secondary
current increases first with the intensity or quantity of the primary current and
secondly with the rapidity of the interruptions or alternations or the variations of
potential of the primary current. As to the phenomenon of induction itself it is
produced under our system by direct induction that is to say the work done is
maintained constant on account of the presence in the primary circuit of sufficient
electro motive force to overcome the counter electro motive force produced by the
induced currents.
We will now describe with reference to the accompanying diagrams a method
by which our Invention can be applied,

page_text: Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the system for distributing electric energy;
Figure 2 a diagram illustrating more in detail the connection by means of an
induction coil of one of the secondary or consumption circuits through the induction
coil with the primary or generating circuit. Figure 3 is an end view of a cable
which may be used in forming the induction coils; Figure 4 a central longitudinal
section of an induction coil; Figure 5 a cross section of a second and preferred form
of cable for forming the induction coils and Figure 6 a diagram illustrating how a
number of induction coils may be employed to connect the primary and secondary
circuits with each other.
We provide a generator of electricity (indicated at A) so constructed and operated
that the intensity or quantity of its currents is preserved constant and the tension
is varied to carry this current through the primary conductor a against the varying
counter electro motive force due to variations in the work done in the secondary
circuits of a number of induction coils, B, after the following formula and
deductions premising that W indicates work, C current E electro motive force
and R resistance. W = CE = CR=. If either of these factors be changed the
others must be altered in the same ratio, if uniform effects in the secondary circuits
in use be desired.
If a secondary circuit be closed in a system comprising one primary and two or
more secondaries a counter electro motive force acting on the primary would at
once lower the current and the work performed in all the closed secondaries if
additional equivalent electromotive force be not furnished at the same time at the
source of the primary current so that under the new conditions W = C (E + e,)
and work expended on the closed secondary C (E + e,) - CR. Thus having
established a given current through the resistance of the primary the work
expended in keeping it is expressed by CR. Then for any number n of secondaries
which may be closed the electro motive force necessary to keep the given current
is expressed by E + ne, and the work expended on the secondaries by C (E + n e)
- CR; the total work being C (E + ne.) It is known that in starting and
stopping a current in the coils surrounding an electro magnet or in those of a helix
the neighbouring convolutions exert a counter force upon one another and that the
work necessary to overcome this counter force is lost so far as useful results are
concerned. With currents that are continually alternating this loss is a very
serious one and detracts very materially from the efficiency of the system because
the inductive action which should be expended on the secondary circuit is exerted
in a great measure locally on the primary itself. With magneto inductive apparatus
this loss is increased because the translation of the inductive action is almost
entirely through the medium of magnetism. In this case the inductive action
which is exerted by a primary on a secondary surrounding the primary is lost.
In order to avoid this loss we provide an induction apparatus (illustrated by the
diagram Figure 2) constructed with a primary conductor c forming part of an
inducing electrical circuit around which are laid insulated conductors d d forming
part of an induced circuit parallel to the primary or central conductor c and these
several conductors d of the induced circuit are connected at their terminals (as
indicated at d) in multiple arc with a single wire d³, forming part of an electric
circuit for light or other purposes.
In order to obtain the most economical results certain proportions must be
observed according to established electrical laws of resistance and of dynamic and
static induction. For example a cable may be formed of a central copper core,
(see c Figure 3,) 4 millimeters in diameter, and fifty meters long, insulated by
means of a double coating c³ of paraffined cotton and of six cables d laid parallel
to its axis each composed of eight wires about half a millimeter in diameter
similarly insulated by means of two coatings of paraffined cotton. The central
core constitutes the inductor on which circulates the primary current and the
exterior wires the secondary circuit on which are developed the secondary currents
to be utilized at different points on the distributing circuits. A cable thus formed

page_text: may be rolled on a cylinder e of card board or other suitable material (as shewn in
Figure 4) of about five centimeters diameter in two layers. A bundle of iron
wires f may be placed in the centre of the cylinder, enabling by means of magnetic
surexcitation upon the introduction or withdrawal of a cylindrical copper envelope,
the graduation of the intensity of the current developed in the secondary wires.
The result of this novel system of induction is that by separating from one another
the spirals of the inductor and surrounding it with a secondary circuit the reaction
of the induction of the spirals of the primary circuit on one another is wholly or in
great part avoided. A considerable resistance due to counter electro motive force
on the primary current is neutralized thus preventing the transformation into heat
of a great part of the transmitted energy: or the induction coil may be made up
(as shown in Figure 5) of a number of very fine wires d laid parallel and with an
insulating strip or thread g between each, they being all connected together by a
weft or lacingh of silk or other insulating material, thus constituting a ribbon
which is laid on and firmly secured to an insulating conductor c for the primary
current which may be in the form of a flat ribbon parallel with the secondary
wires which are placed on both sides thereof. Preferably the wires d separating
strips g and lacing h are woven together like the threads of ordinary cloth the
wires d and strips g being arranged as the warp and the lacing ½ taking the place
of the woof or weft.
The induction coils or secondary generators may be arranged for operation as
follows, and as indicated by the diagram Figure 6. A number of induction coils I
preferably arranged in groups of four columns and made with cables as herein-
before described are placed near to one another. The primaries of all the induction
coils are connected together in series being included in the circuit c with the
dynamo or primary generator. The secondaries of as many coils as may be desired
are connected in a consumption circuit which includes the translating devices. As
shown in this and other figures these translating devices are arranged in multiple
arc.
The connection of the secondaries may be seen in series in multiple arc, or in
multiple series as may desired. The secondaries of the two coils at the upper left
hand corner of the figure are shown connected in series. The secondaries of the
Those of the
group at the upper right hand corner are connected in multiple arc.
lower right hand group are connected in series. The two lower coils of the upper
left hand are connected with each other in multiple arc, and in series with the
secondaries of the lower left hand group of induction coils. For readily altering
the connections a switch or switch-board of ordinary construction may be used.
Those skilled in the art will have no difficulty in making and using a suitable
switch or switch board. Tension or quantity is thus obtained according to the
nature of the current required. It is evident that a system is thus organized by
which consumers can obtain from a single primary circuit electrical currents of
different quality or value.
The secondary generators may be placed consecutively on the same circuit which
circuit is metallically closed with the dynamo-machine thereby avoiding the danger
of short circuiting through the secondary circuit, whatever the electro motive force
acting in the primary conductor may be because the conductivity of the conductor
of a line of even several miles in length does not offer any difficulty or danger
when our inductive system of high electro motive force is used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed We declare that what
we claim is
First In apparatus for producing secondary currents the combination with a
single primary of a set of insulated secondary conductors laid parallel thereto and
connected in multiple aro substantially as described.
Second-In a system for distributing electricity by means of induction coils
the combination, with the main or generating circuit including the primaries of the
induction coils in series of the consumption circuits including translating devices

page_text: and the secondaries of said coils each secondary comprising a set of insulated
conductors laid parallel to the primary conductor and connected in multiple arc
substantially as described.
Third: In a system for inducing secondary currents the combination of a
number of sets of insulated conductors laid parallel with the primary the
conductors of each individual set being connected in multiple arc and the several
sets being connected the one with the other either in multiple arc or in series
substantially as herein before described.
Fourth In an induction coil a cable made of a flat conductor for the primary
current surrounded by a number of wires or strips for the secondary currents
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fifth-In an induction coil, a cable made of a conductor for the primary current,
surrounded by a series of smaller wires or strips for the secondary current the said
wires or strips being separated by threads, strips, or layers of insulating material
and the said smaller wires or strips and separating threads, strips or layers being
connected together by insulating threads or material substantially as hereinbefore
described.