IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF POWER INTO ELECTRICITY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Grieve Lorrain, of the City of Edinburgh,
"
Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING
MOTIVE POWER, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
THE TRANSFORMATION OF POWER INTO ELECTRICITY." A communication from
abroad by Gustave Trouvé, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Grieve Lorrain at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd October 1880.
JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of the City of Edinburgh, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF POWER INTO ELECTRICITY."
A communication from abroad by Gustave Trouvé, of Paris, in the Republic of.
France, Engineer.
This Invention relates to electric motors, and it consists in employing a
modification of a Siemens or other similar coil in combination with an electro magnet,
constructed and arranged in the manner hereinafter described.
The Siemens coils as heretofore employed revolve concentrically to the excitor in
such a manner that on starting the motor there exists a dead point or an angle of
indifference of motion of nearly twenty five degrees, and corresponding to the
distance traversed by the cylindrical polar surfaces of the coil, during which any
part of the said surfaces is opposite the poles of the magnet. During this portion of
a revolution the two magnetic surfaces which are intended to react upon each
other remain at the same distance apart, so that for a time the coil has no
inducement to rotate.
According to one modification of this Invention this defect is obviated by
constructing the coil with a core presenting polar surfaces, which are eccentric to
the axis of revolution; and according to another modification the surfaces of the
core are concentric with the axis of revolution, whilst the excitor presents curved
surfaces, which are eccentric to the said axis; the surfaces of the core remain
concentric. By means of this arrangement the space between the said surfaces is

page_text: gradually contracted until the moment when repulsion commences, the speed being
thus accelerated up to the point which is magnetically the nearest.
In carrying out this Invention, when a Siemens coil with eccentrically arranged
poles is employed a suitable electro magnet is fixed to a support by means of set
screws or otherwise, so as to be capable of adjustment, and a Siemens coil,
constructed as hereinafter described, is arranged upon suitable bearings, so as to
revolve between the straight poles of the said magnet. The extremities of the core
of this coil are so formed as to present surfaces which are eccentric to the axis
upon which it revolves; this axis is provided with a pinion in gear with a toothed
wheel or other suitable device, from which motion may be imparted to any desired
apparatus, and the motor itself is enclosed in a casing supporting the bearings of
the said axis and other parts of the machine.
In working this motor the polar surfaces of the coil, which, as herein before
described, do not form portions of a cylinder, the axis of which coincides with the
axis of rotation, but are eccentric to the latter axis, continue to gradually approach
the polar surfaces of the magnet until their rear edges have passed the magnet, at
which moment the action of repulsion commences, so that the dead point is
practically nil.
In carrying out this Invention according to the second modification the surfaces
of the revolving core are made concentric with the axis of revolution, and are 80
arranged as to revolve within the poles of a stationary excitor presenting concave
surfaces, which form curves eccentric to the axis of revolution of the core, the
concave surfaces being of an oval form, for example, or presenting two curves in
the form of a volute; or again, the core may be provided with eccentric surfaces, as
in the arrangement firstly herein before described, and revolve in the interior of a
stationary circular excitor, presenting a concave surface concentric with the axis of
revolution.
The apparatus, constructed as herein before described, presents the following
advantages:-
1. It occupies a very small space in proportion to its power, and its cost is very
moderate.
2. The electro magnetic effects are utilized under the most favorable conditions,
the inductor being in very close proximity to the revolving core, and in one
arrangement almost entirely surrounding the latter.
3. Dead points are entirely avoided with the employment of only one moveable
electro magnet.
4. The arrangement of two magnets placed on the same circuit, and reacting
directly upon each other, admits of the power being indefinitely increased, as well
as the power of the current employed, the only limit to the power being the strength
of the materials used in the construction of the apparatus.
5. Very high rates of speed may be obtained with this apparatus.
6. No sparks are produced at the commutator, the current never being
interrupted, and only changing its direction in the Siemens coil at each half
revolution.
The apparatus may be reversible, that is to say, that instead of serving as a
motor it may be utilized as a dinamo-electric machine or producer of electricity.
Motors constructed according to this Invention are susceptible of a great number
of applications. When employed to drive the propellers of a boat, for example, it
may be mounted on the yoke or tiller, and transmit motion by means of pulleys
and a band or cord or its equivalent to a propeller shaft, located at the lower part
of the rudder, and carrying the propeller, which revolves in a suitable opening
formed in the body of the rudder. The whole apparatus thus arranged turns with
the rudder, which is attached to the stern of the boat in the usual manner, and the
boat may be steered by means of cords, which also serve as conductors, connecting
the motor with a battery carried in the boat; or, if preferred, the battery may be
carried on the rudder. The tiller may be of the usual triangular form, the apex

page_text: of the triangle being at the rear and carrying the motor, whilst the two cords or
tiller ropes are attached at the extremities of the base.
It is evident that in this arrangement all the driving parts are capable of being
readily removed or of being readily adapted to any description of rudder as
ordinarily constructed.
The combination of the rudder and a propeller herein before described forms an
independent apparatus, which is capable of being removed at pleasure, and of being
used in the place of ordinary rudders for boata, yawls, and the like, the rudder
carrying both the propeller and its motor, which latter may be either the improved
motor bereinbefore described, or a motor of any other suitable description.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Grieve Lorrain in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
April 1881.
JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of the City of Edinburgh, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF POWER INTO ELECTRICITY."
A communication from abroad by Gustave Trouvé, of Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer.
The said Invention relates to electro motors, and it consists in employing a
modification of a Siemens or other similar coil or armature in combination with an
electro magnet constructed and arranged in the manner hereinafter described.
The Siemens armatures as heretofore employed revolve concentrically to the
excitor in such a manner that on starting the motor there exists a dead point or an
angle of indifference to motion of nearly twenty five degrees, and corresponding to
the distance traversed by the cylindrical polar surfaces of the armature during
which any part of the said surfaces is opposite the poles of the magnet. During
this fraction of a revolution the two magnetic surfaces which are intended to
react upon each other remain at the same distance apart, so that for a time the
armature has no inducement to rotate.
According to the present Invention this defect is obviated either by constructing
the armature with a core presenting polar surfaces which are excentric to the axis
of revolution, or by making the surfaces of the core concentric with the axis of
revolution, whilst the excitor presents curved surfaces which are excentric to the
said axis. By means of this arrangement the space between the surfaces is
gradually contracted until the moment when repulsion commences, the speed being
thus accelerated up to the point which is magnetically the nearest.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side elevation of a motor
constructed according to the said Invention with an excentric armature and a
magnet having straight poles; and Figures 2 and 2° represent modifications of this
arrangement hereinafter described.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views illustrating two other modifications of the
Invention, in which the surfaces of the armature are made concentric with the
axis, the surfaces of the excitor being excentric to the same.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a further modification, according to which an
armature having excentric surfaces is caused to rotate in the interior of a circular
excitor.
Figure 6 illustrates the application of the motor to the propeller of a boat.
When a Siemens armature with excentrically arranged poles is employed, the
apparatus may be arranged in the manner shewn in Figure 1. A suitable electro
magnet a provided with a coil 6 is fixed to a copper support c by means of set
screws d, so as to be capable of adjustment, and a Siemens armature e, constructed
as hereinafter described, is arranged upon suitable bearings so as to revolve
between the poles of the said magnet. The poles of the magnet a may present
flat surfaces on the sides facing the armature, as shown in Figure 1, or curved
surfaces, as shown in Figures 2 and 2ª. The armature e is provided with a core w
Figures 2 and 2ª, the extremities of which are so formed as to present surfaces f
excentric to the axis upon which the armature revolves. This axis is provided

page_text: with a pinion g, Figure 1, in gear with a toothed wheel h or other suitable device,
from which motion may be imparted to any apparatus to be driven, and the motor
itself is enclosed in a suitable casing supporting the bearings of the said axis and
other parts of the machine.
In working this motor the polar surfaces f of the armature, which, as hereinbefore
described, do not form portions of a cylinder, the axis of which coincides with the
axis of rotation but are excentric to the latter axis, continue to gradually approach
the polar surfaces of the magnet a until their rear edges have passed the magnet,
at which moment the action of repulsion commences, so that the dead point is
practically nil.
According to other modifications of the said Invention, which are illustrated in
Figures 3 and 4, the surfaces f of the revolving core ware made concentric with
the axis of revolution, but are so arranged as to revolve within the poles of a
stationary excitor k presenting concave surfaces which form curves excentric to the
axis of revolution of the core, the concave surfaces being of an oval form, for
example, as shown in Figure 3, or presenting two curves in the form of a volute,
as shewn in Figure 4.
Or the apparatus may be further modified in the manner illustrated in Figure 5,
the core being provided with excentric surfaces, as in the arrangement firstly
hereinbefore described, and arranged to revolve in the interior of a stationary
circular excitor presenting a concave surface concentric with the axis of revolution.
The apparatus constructed as herein before described possesses the following
advantages:-
1. It occupies a very small space in proportion to its power, and its cost is very
moderate.
2. The electro magnetic effects are utilised under the most favourable conditions,
the inductor being in very close proximity to the revolving core, and almost
entirely surrounding the latter in the arrangements shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5.
3. Dead points are entirely avoided with the employment of only one movable
electro magnet.
4. By arranging two magnets on the same circuit so that they shall react directly
upon each other, the power may be indefinitely increased as well as the power of
the current employed, the only limit to the power being the strength of the
materials used in the construction of the apparatus.
5. Very high rates of speed may be obtained with this apparatus.
6. No sparks are produced at the commutator, the current never being inter-
rupted, and only changing its direction in the Siemens armature at each half
revolution.
7. The apparatus is reversible, that is to say, that instead of serving as a motor
it may be utilized as a dynamo electric machine or producer of electricity.
Motors constructed according to the said Invention may be employed for
driving machinery or apparatus of various descriptions; among other applications
may be mentioned its use for marine propulsion. When employed to drive the
propeller of a boat, for example, it may be arranged as shown in Figure 5, in which
Figure a is the motor mounter on the yoke or tiller b, and transmitting motion by
means of pulleys n and o and a band or cord p or its equivalent to a propeller
shaft q located at the lower part of the rudder, and carrying a propeller which
revolves in a suitable opening formed in the body of the rudder m The whole
apparatus thus arranged turns with the rudder upon a pine and socket t by means
of which the rudder is attached to the stern of the boat in the usual manner, and
the boat may be steered by means of cords u and v, which also serve as conductors
connecting the motor with a battery carried in the boat, or, if preferred, the
battery may be carried on the rudder."
It is evident that in this arrangement all the driving parts are capable of being
removed with facility, or of being readily adapted to any description of rudder as
ordinarily constructed. The important advantage however of the combination of
the rudder with the propeller consists in the security that is afforded for the rudder

page_text: and the propeller acting in the same straight line at whatever angle with the ship
the rudder may be placed.
The combination of the rudder and a propeller hereinbefore described forms
moreover an independent apparatus which is capable of being removed at
pleasure and of being used in the place of ordinary rudders for boats, yawls, and
the like, the rudder carrying both the propeller and its motor, which latter may be
either the improved motor hereinbefore described, or a motor of any other suitable
construction, whether electric, magnetic, or otherwise.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of a coil or armature of the description known as
Siemens' coil or armature and an excitor or magnet, the acting surfaces of the two
being arranged excentrically to each other, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second Mounting a propeller and its motor on the rudder of the vessel to be
propelled, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Grieve Lorrain, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this First day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
J. G. LORRAIN. (LS)