Improved Mechanism for Operating or Controlling Electrical Motors at a Distance.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mechanism for Operating or Controlling Electrical
Motors at a Distance.
I, GIULIO MARTINEZ, of Viale Regina Vittoria, Florence, in the Kingdom of Italy,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The arrangement hereinafter described enables any electrical motor to be con-
trolled or operated at a distance by turning a wheel, constructed like an ordinary
steering wheel, and thereby causing the motor to perform movements proportionate
to those of the wheel in magnitude or extent.
The said arrangement mainly comprises a differential commutator or switch and
another controlling switch, in addition to the conductor or electrical line-wire, the
motor to be operated, and a relay; besides other appliances which the given
installation, according to circumstances, may or may not require.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. I is a diagrammatic view of the
differential switch; Fig. II illustrates a detail of construction; Fig. III shows
the two pointers with their dial arranged in a conspicuous position in the top of
the case; Fig. IV represents the switch device complete, drawn on a scale of about
1-10th of its real size; and Fig. V is a diagram of the relay, motor and controlling
switch.
The switch, Fig. I, is contained in a tightly closed cylindrical case, mounted
upon a suitable pillar or stand and carrying the operating or controlling wheel.
In the upper part, which is covered in with a sheet or pane of glass, there is
arranged a graduated dial, whereon are adapted to move two indices or pointers I¹
and I, one of which I serves to record the displacement of the operating wheel,
while the other-as we shall presently sec-indicates the actual position at any
given time occupied by or imparted to the apparatus controlled at a distance.
The motion of the controlling wheel is transferred through the 'medium of a
bevel wheel r to a wheel R, loose upon the vertical shaft a a, upon which are also
mounted two spring barrels T¹ T2, the powerful springs in which are both secured
to the shaft a, but wound or coiled in opposite directions. Each spring barrel is
fitted with an extension F1, F2, which the initial pressure of the springs causes to
press upon the stop P, facing it, and attached to the wheel R. Whenever, there-
fore, this wheel moves, pressure is exercised upon the spring of one of the barrels.
The shaft a a, as will hereinafter be more fully explained, is not at all times free
to move; now, while it remains stationary it is clear that any displacement of
the operating wheel must produce a proportion angular displacement between the
shaft aa and wheel R; and, on the other hand it will be understood that if the
said shaft a a should be released, the spring which had been subjected to pressure
would immediately drive it back to its position of rest in relation to the wheel R.
The shaft aa is fitted with a train of gearing terminating in an escapement
wheel Z, with the teeth of which there engages a hammer H operated by an electro-

page_text: magnet E. Whenever this electro-magnet attracts or releases its armature,
one tooth of the wheel Z escapes, and the shaft aa is thereby allowed to turn for
a certain distance in the direction of its position of rest in relation to the wheel R.
The shaft a a further carries a fork supporting a spindle bb, at right angles
ito a a, whereon is mounted a small wheel d, having a single tooth, which engages
in a notch provided in the wheel R. Whenever this wheel turns in relation to the
shaft a a, however small may be the distance or angle of its displacement, the said
tooth of wheel d instantly leaves the notch which retained it, and the spindle bb
turns for a proportionate, though invariably uniform, distance, whatever rotary
movement may have been imparted to the wheel R.
Now, upon the said spindle bb (and exactly in a line with the shaft a a), there is
arranged an eccentric or equivalent device, the movement of which serves to raise
or depress a small spindle or pivot L carrying an insulating plate or disc. On
the face of this disc there are two metal rings, one or the other of which, as the case
may be, comes into contact with either of the two pairs of springs X' X" or Y¹ Y",
and, by so doing, closes either one or the other of two circuits.
It will thus be seen that the construction of the commutator switch is such, that,
whenever the operating wheel is turned one or the other of two circuits is at once
closed; whereas such circuit is re-opened upon the electro-maguet producing a
number of impulses, proportionate to the are of a circle described by the operating
wheel in turning.
By way of precaution, merely, two additional or "safety" spring switches QQ¹¹,
are arranged in parallel on the contact springs X X and Y Y", respectively, so
as to enable the circuits to be closed in case of a derangement of the main
mechanism.
The electro-magnet E¹ is set in operation by means of the "controlling" switch S,
which simply consists of a toothed wheel, with teeth arranged in convenient
positions. This wheel is set in motion by the electrical motor and its teeth, in
moving past the two metal springs m, n, alternately close and open a circuit in
which the said electro-magnet is included.
The motor C transmits motion, through suitable gearing, either to the helm
direct or to the differential valve of a steam engine. This motor is intended to
operate only as long as the electrical connections, XX" or Y Y", as the case may
be, remain open. The differential switch should preferably be arranged to act
upon the motor through the medium of a double relay K, the particular construc-
tion of which may vary according to requirements. In the special case of the
mechanism being applied to the helm direct, it would be best to keep the motor
constantly turning, though disengaging it from the gearing, with which it might
be thrown into gear in either direction according to requirements by means of
either of two electro-magnetic coupling devices controlled by two relays, one for
the circuit XX" and the other for the circuit Y₁Y"; or the electro-magnet
devised by the applicant, and already protected by British Application for Letters
Patent No. 11594, dated 10th May 1897, would prove very serviceable for this
purpose.
Inasmuch as four wires are necessary in order to connect the operating wheel to
the receiving devices, it will simplify matters if all connections, be centred in the
relay, from which a cable of four strands or wires may be extended to the differ-
ential switch; two wires to the controlling switch; and four to the motor (for
magnetization and induction) or, if desired, to the two magnetic connections;
and lastly, there should be provided two binding screws or posts for the connec-
tion of the main line supplying the electrical energy. Of the four wires that
connect the relay to the differential switch, one serves as a return wire common to
both circuits actuating the relay and to the controlling circuit.
Dated this 14th day of October 1897.

page_text: Improved Mechanism for Operating or Controlling Electrical
Motors at a Distance.
I, GIULIO MARTINEZ, of Viale Regina Vittoria, Florence, in the Kingdom of Italy,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement;―
The arrangement hereinafter described enables any electrical motor to be con-
trolled or operated at a distance by turning a wheel, constructed like an ordinary
steering wheel, and thereby causing the motor to perform movements proportionate
to those of the wheel in magnitude or extent.
The said arrangement mainly comprises a differential commutator or switch and
another controlling switch, in addition to the conductor or electrical line-wire, the
motor to be operated, and a relay; besides other appliances which the given
installation, according to circumstances, may or may not require.
In the sheet of drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, Fig. I is
a diagrammatic view of the differential switch; Fig. II illustrates a detail of con-
struction; Fig. III shows the two pointers with their dial arranged in a
conspicuous position in the top of the case; Fig. IV represents the switch device
complete, drawn on a scale of about 1-10th of its real size; and Fig. V is a dia-
gram of the relay, motor and controlling switch, and Fig. VI on the sheet of
drawings accompanying the present Complete Specification is a diagram showing
the connections of the relay.
The switch, Fig. I, is contained in a tightly closed cylindrical case, mounted
upon a suitable pillar or stand and carrying the operating or controlling wheel.
In the upper part, which is covered in with a sheet or pane of glass, there is
arranged a graduated dial, whereon are adapted to move two indices or pointers I¹
and I, one of which I serves to record the displacement of the operating wheel,
while the other as we shall presently see--indicates the actual position at any
given time occupied by or imparted to the apparatus controlled at a distance.
The motion of the controlling wheel is transferred through the 'medium of a
bevel wheel r to a wheel R, loose upon the vertical shaft a a, upon which are also
mounted two spring barrels T1 T2, the powerful springs in which are both secured
to the shaft a a, but wound or coiled in opposite directions. Each spring barrel is
fitted with an extension F1, F2, which the initial pressure of the springs causes to
press upon the stop P, facing it, and attached to the wheel R. Whenever, there-
fore, this wheel moves, pressure is exercised upon the spring of one of the barrels.
The shaft aa, as will hereinafter be more fully explained, is not at all times free
to move; now, while it remains stationary it is clear that any displacement of
the operating wheel must produce a proportionate angular displacement between the
shaft aa and wheel R; and, on the other hand, it will be understood that if the
said shaft a a should be released, the spring which had been subjected to pressure
would immediately drive it back to its position of rest in relation to the wheel R.
The shaft a a is fitted with a train of gearing terminating in an escapement
wheel Z, with the teeth of which there engages a hammer H operated by an electro-
magnet E. Whenever this electro-magnet attracts or releases its armature,
one tooth of the wheel Z escapes, and the shaft a a is thereby allowed to turn for
a certain distance in the direction of its position of rest in relation to the wheel R.
The shaft a a further carries a fork supporting a spindle bb, at right angles
to a a, whereon is mounted a small wheel d, having a single tooth, which engages
in a notch provided in the wheel R. Whenever this wheel turns in relation to the
shaft a a, however small may be the distance or angle of its displacement, the said

page_text: tooth of wheel instantly leaves the notch which retained it, and the spindle bb
turns for a proportionate, though invariably uniform, distance, whatever rotary
movement may have been imparted to the wheel R.
Now, upon the said spindle 66 (and exactly in a line with the shaft a a), there is
arranged an eccentric or equivalent device, the movement of which serves to raise
or depress a small spindle or pivot L carrying an insulating plate or disc. On
the face of this disc there are two metal rings, one or the other of which, as the case
may be, comes into contact with either of the two pairs of springs X X or Y¹ Yu,
and, by so doing, closes either one or the other of two circuits.
It will thus be seen that the construction of the commutator switch is such, that,
whenever the operating wheel is turned, one or the other of two circuits is at once
closed; whereas such circuit is re-opened upon the electro-magnet producing a
number of impulses, proportionate to the arc of a circle described by the operating
wheel in turning.
By way of precaution, merely, two additional or "safety" spring switches Q¹Q",
are arranged in parallel on the contact springs X X and Y Y", respectively, so
as to enable the circuits to be closed in case of a derangement of the main
mechanism.
The electro-magnet E¹ is set in operation by means of the "controlling" switch S,
which simply consists of a toothed wheel, with teeth arranged in convenient
positions. This wheel is set in motion by the electrical motor and its teeth, in
moving past the two metal springs m, n, alternately close and open a circuit in
which the said electro-magnet is included.
The motor C transmits motion, through suitable gearing, either to the helm
direct or to the differential valve of a steam engine. This motor is intended to
operate only as long as the electrical connections, X¹ X" or Y Y", as the case may
be, remain open. The differential switch should preferably be arranged to act
upon the motor through the medium of a double relay K, the particular construc-
tion of which may vary according to requirements, but a suitable form of which
is shown in Fig. VI of the drawings. In the special case of the
mechanism being applied to the helm direct, it would be best to keep the motor
constantly turning, though disengaging it from the gearing, with which it might
be thrown into gear in either direction according to requirements by means of
either of two electro-magnetic coupling devices controlled, by two relays, one for
the circuit XX" and the other for the circuit Y Y or the electro-magnet
devised by the applicant, and already protected by British Application for Letters
Patent No. 11504, dated 10th May 1897, would prove very serviceable for this
purpose.
Two cases are contemplated in my specification, one being the direct application
of the electric motor to the helm, and the second the connection of such motor
to the ordinary steam engine which actuates the helm.
A suitable relay for the application first named is shown in Fig. VI. Two
electromagnets M³, M", are included in the circuits closed at X X or Y₁ Y by
the differential switch, and act upon a single lever arm DD; when M¹ is excited
a circuit is closed at A¹ B¹; when M is excited a circuit is closed at A" B.
The new circuits include two electromagnetic connections which connect the
axle of a continuously running motor to the left handed working worm W¹ or to
the right handed working worn W, so that the axle 0, which is connected to
the two worms by suitable gears, runs in one or the other direction and only
when the contacts XX" or Y¹Y of the differential switch are closed.
The controlling switch is of course connected in this case with the axle 0, and this
axle revolves proportionately to the movements of the steering wheel.
The axle O can also be used to replace the driving axle of an ordinary steam
engine employed for actuating helms.
The arrangement described is very useful for the purpose. In this second case
above referred to the relay may also consist of an electromagnetic switch as described
in the specification of my prior Patent No. 11594 dated 10th May 1897. In such

page_text: specification it will be seen that an electric motor can be operated from a distance,
by means of an electromagnetic relay or reversing switch, which is put into action
by pushing two buttons. The motor runs so long as one of the buttons is pushed,
or so long as the circuit is closed. Such reversing switch constitutes a suitable
relay for the present case. When the differential switch closes the circuit ad X' Y¹
or XY it is the same as if a button were pushed. The switch acts in one
or the other direction and the motor runs so long as the circuit is closed.
Seeing that in the above mentioned specification a complete description of this
apparatus is given, it will be sufficient for the present purpose to bear in mind the
principle of this reversing electromagnetic switch, which consists simply of a
reversing key operated by two electromagnets from a distance, Fig. 1 of the draw-
ings accompanying the specification of such Patent showing a diagram of this
switch in its simplest form as suited for series motors. Two rheostats are useful
in this case, shunted at the terminals of the armature, for keeping the field excited
when the motor is stopped. Further description on this point may be found in the
Specification of my Patent above referred to and also in that accompanying my
prior Patent No. 11594 of the same date, viz;-10th May 1897.
Although this reversing key operated from a distance by two electromagnets
is very reliable for the present purpose it is not the only arrangement available.
Any arrangement which employs two electromagnets included in the circuits
closed at XX" or Y Y by a reversing key operated by two electromagnets from
a distance might be used.
References to this subject may also be found in the Specification of my prior
Patent No. 11594* above referred to.
Though this reversing key is very reliable for the present purpose, it also is not
the only arrangement available. Any arrangement which employs two electro-
magnets included in the circuits closed at XX" or Y₁Y" for closing the circuit
of an electric motor in one or the other direction may be used.
Inasmuch as four wires are necessary in order to connect the operating wheel to
the receiving devices, it will simplify matters if all connections be centred in the
relay, from which a cable of four strands or wires may be extended to the differ-
ential switch two wires to the controlling switch; and four to the motor (for
magnetization and induction) or, if desired, to the two magnetic connections;
and lastly, there should be provided two binding screws or posts for the connec-
tion of the main line supplying the electrical energy. Of the four wires that
connect the relay to the differential switch, one serves as a return wire common to
both circuits actuating the relay and to the controlling circuit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
-
The improved mechanism for operating or controlling electrical motors at a
distance, substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 12th day of July 1898-
Dated this 12th day of July 1898-
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.