of and Apparatus for Maintaining Uniform Current in Electric Lighting Circuits.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th June. 1890-Accepted, 16th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Process of and Apparatus for Maintaining Uniform Current in
Electric Lighting Circuits.
I. JULIEN MAY BRADFORD, Draftsman, of No. 6 Monroe Place, Portland, in the
County of Cumberland, State of Maine, U.S. of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to methods, and apparatus, for controlling and distributing
currents of electricity, in such a manner that the potential in arc, and incandescent
lighting circuits, may remain constant, or substantially so.
It is the purpose of this invention to provide a method of operation, in which a
motive power is used to supply force necessary to work the regulating apparatus,
said force being utilized to a different extent, within a given time, according to the
amount of regulating energy needed, and said force being caused to act by a weak
local current controlled by a suitable current indicator, operated by variations of the
line current.
It is also the purpose of this invention to provide means by which the action of
several regulating devices may be concentrated upon one shaft, as for the purpose
of moving the commutator brushes of a dynamo electric machine.
A prominent feature of this invention is, that the strength of a variation in the
line current is not a necessary factor in securing energy of regulating action; that
the regulating devices act with an accumulative effect, or in opposition with a
differential effect, according to the duration of a variation of the line current, and
that changes in the line current can be anticipated or prevented, instead of being
reduced after they are developed.
The line current may be regulated by regulating the dynamo electric machine
supplying said current, or by causing each current from a dynamo to pass through
the resistance conductor of a regulator before entering the line circuit.
Of the drawings illustrating this invention, Fig. 1 is front elevation of two
regulating devices in electrical connection with a line current indicator.
Fig. 2, is a diagram of the feed regulators of Fig. 1, showing the manner of
changing the resistance, and consequently the force of a current, by the accumulative
and differential action of the regulating arms 18.
Fig. 3, is a detailed view, in front elevation, showing the lever for moving the
pawls.
Fig. 4, is a detailed view in front elevation, showing the arrangement of the
driving eccentrics.
Fig. 5, is a horizontal section of Fig. 1, on the line x-x.
In carrying my invention into practice, the pulley 5, may be belted to the power
shaft of the dynamo, thereby imparting motion to shaft 2, and the eccentrics 6, which
are enclosed by the open frames 29, of the T shaped levers 28. Pawls 30, pivotally
mounted on the ends of the cross-heads, are drawn by springs 31, out of engagement
with the toothed wheels 16, while the tails 32, of said pawls rising above their
pivoted supports, lie in front of and close to the cover of the electro magnets 15.
When one of the magnets is energized, a pawl is drawn into engagement with a
wheel, and operates the same.
The pawls of the regulating devices are operated by eccentrics arranged on the
driving shaft substantially as shown in Fig. 4. It follows therefore, that the pawls do
not move together, and that the wheels 16, may be moved in opposite directions, or in
the same direction at once.
The current indicator in connection with the above apparatus, contains a helix 43,
which receives a part of the line current by the wires 25.

page_text: If the line current increases, the screw 45, is touched, causing a circuit to be
completed through both of the left hand magnets 15, and unless this increase is of very
short duration, both of the wheels 16, and the arms 18, are moved to the left.
If the variations of the line current are such as to cause screws 45 and 46 to be
touched in quick succession, both the left and right hand magnets are energized for a
sufficient length of time to cause the pawls to catch the wheels 16, and move them
with the arms 18, oppositely at the same time.
If desired a current from a dynamo may be used to actuate the regulating devices,
instead of the small galvanic battery.
The regulating devices may also be actuated in a special order of succession, by
arranging the indicator so that it will close and break separate circuits.
Moving the wheels 16, at the same time in the same direction, illustrates
accumulative action, before mentioned; moving said wheels in opposite directions
at the same time, illustrates differential action, before mentiored.
The line current may be regulated by causing it to pass through the feed regulator
by way of the binding posts 17 and 21, or indirectly regulated by causing the current
feeding the magnetic field of the dynamo to pass through said regulator.
The line current may also be regulated by moving the cominutator brushes of the
dynamo, in which case it would be well to concentrate the action of the wheels 16,
upon one shaft.
Besides the line current indicators above described, one may be used in which a
part of the line current heats a conductor through which it passes, thereby causing
expansion, which with contraction may cause circuits for the regulating devices to
be broken and closed.
Dated this Sound day of Sontember 1880
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process of and Apparatus for Maintaining Uniform Current in
Electric Lighting Circuits.
I JULIEN MAY BRADFORD of 6 Monroe Place Portland, County of Cumberland,
State of Maine, Draughtsman and Mechanician, 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 :-
My invention relates to systems of electrical distribution, and the purpose thereof
is to provide automatic means whereby the current strength upon circuits may be
regulated and maintained at a certain degree, or at a substantially uniform
intensity.
The methods described in the following specification are widely applicable to
different systems of generating and distributing direct and alternating currents,
being especially intended to control the current on incandescent and are light
eircuits, for the purpose of preventing dangerous electrical pressure, securing
uniformity of light and other advantages incident to proper regulation.
Automatic methods for the above purpose heretofore described are characterized by
one or more of the following features:-
Inability to move the regulating mechanism with quickness and precision on the
commencement of a slight variation of the current to be regulated and to control or
cut off said movement with accuracy when sufficiently expended.
Second, inability to maintain the regulating mechanism in a given position
unassisted by the force of the current to be regulated.
It results therefore that automatic regulators based upon said methods act very
slowly if sensitive to slight changes in the current to be regulated and capable of
moving the regulating mechanism with precision through considerable distances.
In the following specification will be described methods differing radically from
the foregoing, in as much as regulating action even of great energy can be produced
by the slightest change in the current to be regulated, and this action can be

page_text: controlled with as great accuracy as that formerly obtained from slow working
methods.
Therefore by such a method material changes in main line currents can be
anticipated or prevented, instead of being reduced after they are developed..
Prominent among the purposes for which this invention provides a method, one
or more of which may be used in practice, are the following described in six para-
graphs as follows:-
First, a method whereby a rheostat or other regulating factor may be caused to act
progressively with a degree of energy that can be increased at will without detracting
from the precision of regulation, said rheostat or regulating factor being operated by
a suitable motive power which may be applied or withheld from action by a
galvanometer or current indicator sensitive to slight changes in electric currents.
Second, a method whereby two or more rheostats or other regulating factors may
be caused to act progressively with a degree of energy that can be increased at will
without detracting from the precision of regulation, the operation being such that
the action obtained thereby may be the sum or the difference of the action of two
or more of said rheostats or factors acting at the same time.
Third, a method whereby progressive regulating action may be obtained as before
stated for the purpose of actuating a rheostat or other regulating factor controlling a
circuit, and of holding stationary said rheostat or factor unaided by the force of the
current or said circuit.
Fourth, a method of operating regulating apparatus, progressively as before stated,
and with a minimum expenditure of motive power, to adapt the apparatus for use
in places remote from the dynamo station.
Fifth, a method whereby a current indicator of such construction is used that
regulating apparatus is actuated by successively closing local circuits, thereby
preventing oxydation of the contact points, and assuring other advantages explained
in the fifth section of the following specification.
Sixth, methods of controlling the generative capacity of dynamo electric machines,
also other methods of arranging compensating circuits and of maintaining the
compensation when secured.
Whilst my invention may be carried out by any of the several systems and modes
of operation herein before referred to, I do not herein claim said systems specifically,
restricting myself in this application to claims for the general mode of operation, and
the several systems are described simply to show that the method may be carried into
effect in various ways.
Of the drawings illustrating this invention
Fig. 1 is a front view of a regulator with a current indicator in electrical connection.
therewith.
Fig. 2 is a front view of a regulating device, and also whee! 16.
Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a front view showing a different mode of arranging magnets 15.
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the construction of a rheostat that may be operated
by a regulator.
Fig. 6 is a frent view of a regulator in electrical connection with a current
indicator.
Fig. 7 is a front view of two eccentrics arranged for accumulative and differential
action.
Fig. 8 is a plan of an arrangement for concentrating regulating action..
Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method of operating regulating apparatus with
economy of motive power.
Fig. 10 is a detail of Fig. 11.
Fig. 11 is a front view of a current indicator.
Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrams illustrating applications of the regulating
apparatus described in this specification.
In describing this invention and also modes of applying it to practice the following
specification will be divided into six sections as follows:-
Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a front view showing a different mode of arranging magnets 15.
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the construction of a rheostat that may be operated
by a regulator.
Fig. 6 is a frent view of a regulator in electrical connection with a current
indicator.
Fig. 7 is a front view of two eccentrics arranged for accumulative and differential
action.
Fig. 8 is a plan of an arrangement for concentrating regulating action..
Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method of operating regulating apparatus with
economy of motive power.
Fig. 10 is a detail of Fig. 11.
Fig. 11 is a front view of a current indicator.
Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrams illustrating applications of the regulating
apparatus described in this specification.
In describing this invention and also modes of applying it to practice the following
specification will be divided into six sections as follows:-

page_text: First, regulator A Fig. 1 should be placed in any suitable place relatively to the
work to be performed. The pulley 5 may be belted to any suitable source of power
such as the power shaft driving a dynamo. To pulley 5 is fixed shaft 2 which carries
eccentrics 6 fixed on said shaft at an angle one to the other as shown in Fig. 7.
This
The eccentrics operate regulating devices one of which is shown in Fig. 2.
device consists of a T shaped lever 28 with open frame at 29, pawls 30, springs 31
and electro magnets 15.
The levers 28 are pivoted on shaft 4 which has regulating-wheels 16 fixed to it.
The regulating-wheels have teeth and a gap or space may be uncovered with teeth, if
desired, as a means of limiting the movement of said wheels.
Shaft 4 may move a rheostat of the construction shown in Fig. 5 as a means of
regulating a circuit, or said shaft may move the commutator brushes of a dynamo
electric machine as a means for that purpose, several modes of applying the regulator
being illustrated by Fig. 12, 13, 14 and 15 and explained in. the sixth section of this
specification. When the rheostat is used as a means of regulating a current it passes
through the arrangement by way of the binding-posts 17 and 21 and consequently is
of maximum force when the contact-arm 18 is at the extreme right, of minimum force
when the arm is at the extreme left and of intermediate force when the arm is in an
intermediate position.
The pawls 30 are drawn away from the wheels 16 by springs 31, but should a
magnet 15 be energized a pawl 30 is drawn into engagement with a wheel 16 and
cause it to move.
Any suitable current indicator may be electrically connected with this regulator,
those capable of noting a gradual change in current by a gradually increasing
deflection being preferred. In the current indicator C the helix 43 receives through
wires 25 a fraction of the current from the circuit to be regulated, thereby causing
lever 42 to be moved or deflected more or less according to changes of current in 'said
circuit.
Above lever 42 is a binding-post 35 which derives a local current of suitable
strength from a dynamo or other source and communicates it to lever 42 by the wire
connected thereto. The binding-post 36 representing the other pole of the local
circuit is in electrical connection with magnets 15 of the regulator.
The indicator lever 42 is so adjusted that it will not touch either of the screws 45
or 46 while the current to be regulated is of the right degree of strength, but should
that current increase, screw 45 is touched completing a local circuit and energizing
the left hand magnet 15 which cause a pawl 30 to engage with a wheel 16 and
move shaft 4 to the left, thereby reducing the current as subsequently explained in
the sixth section of this specification.
The instant the current which is being regulated is reduced to a normal degree of
strength, the lever 42 drops from screw 45 causing the local circuit to be broken
and thereby causing magnet 15 to release pawl 30 which is instantaneously drawn
away from the teeth of a wheel 16 by a spring 31. This causes the shaft 4 to stop
on the instant of the disengagement of pawl 30 by reason of the friction of arm 18
which bears with slight pressure upon the contact-plates of the rheostat. The
contact-spring 19 also bears with slight friction upon arm 18 in order to maintain
an electrical connection between them.
The shaft 4 now remains at rest until the current to be regulated declines helow
the normal degree, when screw 46 is touched, causing a local circuit to be completed
through the right hand magnet 15, thereby causing a pawl 30 to move the shaft 4 to
the right and increase the current.
The regulator shown in Fig. 1 contains two regulating devices of the construction
shown in Fig. 2, but three or more of said devices may with advantage be arranged
to work upon shaft 4, especially if it is desired to increase quickness of action.
Each regulating device should be operated by a separate eccentric 6 arranged at an
angle one to the other on shaft 2.
Increased quickness of action of such an arrangement results from the unequal
circumferential velocity of the eccentric disks 6, such being the case the pawls each

page_text: during its moment of
shaft 4.
maximum movement
will lead in moving wheels
10
Therefore increased regulating action may be obtained by the arrangement without
increasing the rate of motion of the driving pulley 5.
Instead of arranging a separate regulating wheel 16 to receive the action of each
regulating device as shown in Fig. 3, each regulating-wheel 16 may receive the
action of two regulating devices by placing the wheel between them, the pawls 30
being suitably arranged to engage with the wheel.
Each magnet 15 is also capable of actuating several pawls, so that the number
of magnets is not necessarily increased when more regulating devices are added.
The regulator last described differs from others used in the art by its capacity
for rapid progressive action combined with precision of regulation which commences
on the inception of the slightest change in the regulated current that can be detected
by the current indicator.
This action is under control. Its quickness is determined by the rate of motion
of pulley 5, by the number of eccentrics and their angular arrangement, also by
their diameter or throw and said action when sufficiently expended is instantaneously
cut off.
Pawls 30 are required to move but a slight distance to make engagement with a
wheel 16, therefore a comparatively weak current from a dynamo will sufficiently
energize magnet 15 to cause a pawl to be thrown into engagement. The pawls
also bear against the teeth of the wheels 16, therefore the movement of said wheels
is positive without slipping. Springs 31 apply sufficient tension near the pivot of
pawls 30 so that said pawls instantaneously spring from wheels 16 on the breaking
of a local circuit. With such provisions there is hardly a possibility of the pawls
acting at the same time on opposite sides of a wheel 16 and thereby straining or
breaking some part of the regulator, still if it is desired to provide for such a
contingency an arrangement for that purpose is shown in Fig. 8 and described in
the latter part of the second section of this specification.
The pawls of the regulator shown in Fig. 1 and 3 act with greater effect and
precision than pawl mechanism with the ordinary forward and return stroke. When
pawls are operated in the latter manner one half of the time is lost in making the
return strokes which cause no movement of the wheel which is being propelled,
therefore the action is intermittent instead of being continuous. Little is gained by
increasing the speed of the pawls, for at any rate of speed one half of the strokes are
ineffective and excessive speed causes vibration and irregularity of action.
It therefore results that ordinary pawl mechanism is incapable of either instantaneous
or continuous action. By operating pawls by eccentrics arranged on the driving
shaft at an angle one to the other a new result is obtained, the pawls move in both
directions at the same time, the arrangement being thereby capacitated for instantaneous
continuous and accurate action in either direction.
The eccentrics may be said to be arranged for accumulative and differential action,
because by this means action may be accumulated by one or more strokes in the same
direction by the regulating devices, or said action may be applied first in one direction
and then in the reverse producing a difference in the effect obtained.
There might be a slight advantage in mounting magnets 15 as shown in Fig. 4,
the advantage being that a magnet and pawl would always remain in the same relative
position to each other and therefore during a long stroke of the latter the magnet
when energized would always be in a favorable position to attract the pawl. Stationary
magnets however have the advantage of each operating a considerable number of
pawls, as has been before explained.
Second, the regulator shown in Fig. 6 differs from that shown in Fig 1 in having
two separate shafts 4 which with the rheostats attached are moved independently of
each other by the regulating devices.
The current to be regulated passes through both rheostats by way of the binding-
posts 17 and 21.
This double rheostat operated by two regulating devices and two eccentrics changes

page_text: the current passing through it with the same quickness as a single rheostat
operated by two regulating devices shown in Fig. 3, but by increasing the number
of regulating devices and eccentrics for operating the independent shafts 4, or by
separately operating three or more rheostats in a series, the arrangement becomes
capable of an increase of action resulting from the combined effect of two or more
contact-arms 18 moving in the same direction at the same time, or the difference of
action of two or more said arms moving at once in opposite directions. Each
regulating device in the above regulator is the same as that shown in Fig. 2.
In practice it probably will be preferred to use springs 31 of sufficient tension to
cause a pawl 30 to disengage from a wheel 16 on the instant of breaking a local
circuit; if this tension is insufficient to cause the pawls to disengage while they are
in operative contact with wheels 16 the stroke will continue for its entire length, but
will be prevented from seriously disturbing the current which is being regulated by
the neutralizing effect of the other arm 18 which is caused to move in the opposite
direction on the instant said current is slightly over compensated and the current
indicator C deflected thereby in the opposite direction.
Fig. 8 shows another way of concentrating action upon one shaft as for the purpose
of moving the commutator brushes of a dynamo electric machine.
The arrangement consists of a shaft 4 having a gear D meshing with gears 48 on
actuating shafts 49 on opposite sides of gear D. The shafts 49 carry the regulating-
wheels 16 which are separately operated in the manner previously described, their
action being concentrated upon the single shaft 4. Each shaft 49 carries its gear or
pinion 48 which is held thereto by springs 47, in order that when one or more of the
regulating devices impart motion to the regulating wheels 16 in a given direction
the gear D may move, but when the regulating devices act oppositely at the same
time the pinions 48 slip on their shafts without imparting motion to the gear D.
But as before explained springs 31 may be of sufficient tension to cause pawls 30
to disengage from wheels 16 on the instant of breaking a local circuit, thereby
preventing opposite action at the same time. The springs 47 cause sufficient friction
to overcome any slight momentum of wheels 16, therefore shaft 4 stops on the instant
that the regulating devices cease to move it.
Third, by all the foregoing arrangements the regulating-wheels 16 move with slight
friction, thereby causing the regulating mechanism attached thereto to remain in
any position to which it may be moved. An incipient variation of the current which
is being regulated is sufficient to cause the motive power to nove contact-arm 18
or other regulating mechanism and this mechanism is held by fretion in the position
to which it is moved.
Therefore a variation of force of the current which is being regulated plays a
secondary part in securing a compensation of said current and no part in maintaining
this compensation when secured.
If a great number of lamps are arranged in multiple are on a main line, it is
evident that the current in ampères fed to the line should be small when but few
lamps are lighted and that the current must be greatly increased when all the lamps
are in use, although the electro motive force of the line current should at all times
remain unchanged. On the other hand if a certain number of lamps are arranged in
series, the current required is the same for a small as for a great number of lamps,
but the electro motive force must be increased if the number of lamps is increased,
and decreased when lamps are switched out of circuit in the usual way, the regulation
of the electro motive force being for the purpose of maintaining a suitable electrical
pressure to cause a current of.a required number of ampères to flow through the
circuit. Besides the changes of resistance on the circuit for which compensation
must be made, there are irregularities of the generative capacity of the dynamo from
change in engine speed.
It results therefore that it is often required to largely increase the current fed to a
circuit while the electro motive force remains practically constant, and in other cases
to increase the electro motive force and maintain a constant current.
The regulators described in this specification are adapted to transiently move the

page_text: regulating mechanism for the purpose of preventing transient irregularities of current,
and also to sustain new adjustinents of said mechanism unaided by the force of the
current which is being controlled, therefore circuits may e regulated for constant
potential or for constant current.
Fourth, if it is desired to use the regulating apparatus in places other than at the
dynamo station, said apparatus way in such instances be worked by a special motor,
as ordinarily there will he no engine at work in such places from which motive power
can be derived. It will also be well to cause the motor to remain at rest excepting
while the regulating apparatus is being moved, as by this means power will be
economized to the greatest extent. An arrangement for the above purpose is shown
at Fig. 9 in which the electric motor J is attached to pulley 5.
A part of the current from the circuit to be regulated flows through wires 25 to
helix 43. If the current to be regulated increases beyond the required degree the
indicator lever 42 touches screw 45 causing a local current to flow fro:n binding-
post 35 to screw 15, thence through the left hand wire 3 to the left hand magnets 15,
thence through the coils of motor J and back to the other pole of the local circuit
at 36.
The motor starts the regulator by moving pulley 5, magnets 15 at the left are
energized and a compensation is made in the current to be regulated as before
described. As soon as the compensation is completed the indicator lever 42 drops
If the
from screw 45 thereby breaking the local circuit and stopping motor J.
current to be regulated declines below the right degree of intensity, screw 46 is
touched causing the motor to start, the right hand magnets 15 to be energized, the
current to be regulated and the motor to again stop when the indicator lever 42
breaks the circuit through the right hand wire 3.
It is probable, unless motor J is of small power requiring but a weak current to
operate it, that the contact-screws 45 and 46 would soon become oxydized by sparks
escaping at the moment of breaking the local circuits by lever 42.
The liability to this defect and the necessity of frequently scraping and readjusting
the lever 42 and the contact-screws to insure the operation of the apparatus, can be
wholly avoided by causing lever 42 to successively close local circuits and thereby
operate the apparatus, said method being fully explained in the next section of this
specification. It is evident that other motors such as those worked by compressed air,
water, or by a weight, can be substituted for the electric motor as will also be next
explained.
Fifth, a current indicator may successively close local circuits and thereby actuate
regulating apparatus.
Fig. 11 shows an instrument of the above kind which utilizes a slight power during
its moments of action, to supply which pulleys 59 having friction washers 60
attached to them may be loosely supported on shafts 62 and he belted to the
power shaft of the dynamo; but where a power shaft is inaccessible, two winding
drums to which weights are attached (Fig. 10) may take the place of pulleys 59 and
friction washers 60. The friction washers 60 are attached to pulleys 59 and press with
sufficient force upon gears 56 to cause a wheel P to move when an armature lever n is
lifted, thereby allowing a fly t to pass.
A fraction of the current from the circuit to be regulated flows through wires 25
to wire 50) or other suitable conductor, thereby slightly heating it in proportion to the
quantity of current.
The needle 42, screws 53 and 57, contact-springs 55, x, 2, m and m² are insulated
from the metallic bed-plate upon which they are supported.
The needle 42 is adjusted relatively to pin and screws 53 and 57 in such a
nanner that while the circuit to be regulated is carrying a current of normal
strength, needle 42 does not tonch either screw 53 or 57, but rests upon pin f.
If that current increases, wire 50 expands, causing needle 42 to touch screw 53; if
the current declines, wire 50 contracts and screw 57 is touched.
This current indicator may be substituted for indicator C of Figs. 1, 6 and 9, the

page_text: wires 3 and 9 of Fig. 11 being for the purpose of conveying currents to magnets 15
of the regulating devices before described.
The operation is as follows: If screw 53 is touched by needle 42 a current flows
from battery 52 to needle 42, thence to screw 53, thence through the left hand
magnet 54, thence through spring 55 to pin s and thence to the other pole of the
battery 52 which is connected to the metallic bed-plate of the indicator. The left
hand magnet 54 being energized by the current lifts the left hand armature lever n
allowing the fly t to pass.
Immediately after fly escapes from lever n, pin s slips off of spring 55 by
reason of the movement of wheel P, thereby breaking the circuit of battery 52,
causing lever n to regain its former position and stop fly t after it has made one half
of a revolution. The movement of wheel P causes a pin s on that wheel to touch
spring m thereby allowing a current to flow from binding-post 35 to the bed-plate of
the indicator, thence through the bed-plate to pin 8, thence by spring m and wire 3 to
magnets 15 of the regulating devices before described.
When needle 42 returns to pin f, a current flows from battery 52 to magnet y,
thence to spring a, thence to pins which touches said spring from the former move-
inent of wheel P, thence through the bed-plate of the indicator to the other pole of
battery 52. Magnet y being momentarily energized by the current causes flyt to
escape, wheel P to make one fourth of a revolution and stop as before.
The circuit through spring m is broken by this movement of wheel P.
If needle 42 touches screw 57, the right hand magnet 54 is momentarily energized
by a current from battery 52 as before described, thereby causing wheel P to make
one fourth of a revolution, pin s to touch spring m² and a current to flow through the
right hand wire 3 to the regulating devices.
When needle 42 returns again to pin f, magnet 72 is momentarily energized as
before described by a current from battery 52, wheel P makes one fourth of a
revolution and stops as before. The circuit through spring m² is broken by this
movement of wheel P.
The advantages of the above described method are that oxydation is prevented at
the contact points of needle 42; that instruments of fine adjustments can be used
and that the effect of a jar that would otherwise cause such an instrument to close and
break the local circuit a great many times in quick succession when needle 42 is very
near the point of contact, is prevented by the circuit being instantly broken by
wheel P after the first contact of needle 42.
The friction of pins s rubbing against springs m and m² is sufficient to insure
electrical contact, therefore a stronger current from the dynamo or other suitable
source can be broken and closed by said means than could be broken and closed by an
instrument of fine adjustment operating without friction of its contact points.
One of the uses of the above method is to operate a combined motor and regulator
with economy of power as described in the fourth section of this specification.
It is evident that needle 42 may be magnetically deflected as in indicator C before
shown, instead of causing deflection by the expansion and contraction of wire 50.
If a motor worked by water or comprested air be substituted for electric motor J
of Fig. 9, the pins 8 on wheels P (Fig. 11) may engage with the valves controlling
the fluid working such motors, thereby opening and closing said valves and operating
the motor intermittently for the purpose before described.
Sixth. Figs. 12 and 13 show methods of controlling the generative capacity of
dynamo electric machines in accordance with the requirements of circuits. Fig. 12
represents a dynamo 85 feeding lamps arranged in series.
The commutator brushes of the dynamo may be attached to shaft 4 of the regulator A
in such manner that said brushes are both equally moved to and from the position
for maximum current. If there are transcient irregularities of speed of the engine
driving the dynamo the brushes are transciently moved to prevent the effect of such
irregularities. If one or more lamps are switched out of circuit the regulator auto-
matically makes a new adjustment of the brushes, thereby reducing the generative
capacity of the dynamo and consequently the pressure of the current on the lamp

page_text: circuit. This adjustment may also be maintained unaided by the force of the current,
as explained in the third section of this specification.
If one or more lamps are added to the circuit the brushes are moved and adjusted
in the opposite direction, increasing the generating capacity of the dynamo, also the
pressure on the lamp circuit. The new adjustment may be maintained as before
stated. By such means the generative capacity of the dynamo is caused to accord
with the requirements of the circuit which it feels.
Fig. 13 represents a shunt wound dynamo 86 feeding a circuit with incandescent
lamps arranged in multiple arc. The current which is shunted around the field
magnets or the dynamo passes through the rheostat of the regulator at A and by
this means the magnetic field is increased or decreased or maintained at a certain
degree of strength, thereby causing the output of the dynamo to accord with the
requirements of the circuit which it feeds.
Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate another method of preventing wide variances of current
strength. In Fig. 14 the small dynamo 92 excites the field of dynamo 93 which
feeds converter 94, at a distance from the dynamo, with an alternating current. Both
of the dynamos are regulated, as shown by the drawing, according to the pressure of
the current feeding converter 94. The converter 94 feeds two lamp circuits.
Regulators A operate each a rheostat, one being included in each lamp circuit to
prevent either of said circuits from receiving too much or too little current when the
resistance is changed by altering the number of lamps on a circuit.
Storage batteries or converters may be fed with a high pressure current from a
distant dynamo and act at sub stations from which low pressure currents for lamps
are distributed.
:
Fig. 15 illustrates another mode of dividing a high pressure current from
dynamo 95 into two or more lamp circuits. The two lamp circuits at the right of
the figure are separately regulated or compensated by the rheostats of regulators A,
to prevent variances of current in either lamp circuit.
In the above Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 each current indicator C is electrically con-
nected by wires 25 with the circuit to be regulated, and also by wires 3 and 9 to a
regulator A which controls the circuit, all of which has been explained in detail in
the first part of this specification.
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:
די
1. The method of rapidly compensating incipient variations of current in a generator
circuit which consists in causing two or more regulating devices or other compensating
agents to act accumulatively each with a progressively increasing effect the instant the
current varies either by increase or decrease.
2. The method of rapidly counteracting incipient variations of current in a generator
circuit which consists in causing two or more regulating devices or other compensating
agents to act accumulatively or differentially each with a progressively increasing
effect the instant the current varies either by increase or decrease, thereby preserving
uniformity of current.
3. The method of rapidly counteracting incipient variations of current in a generator
circuit which consists in causing a compensating resistance or current varying device
to act progressively, and neutralizing the effect of an excess of progressive action by
causing said compensating device to act differentially by retrogressive action the
instant the compensation overshoots the required limit.
4. The combination, with a dynamo-electric machine, of two regulating devices,
electric circuits for controlling the regulating devices, a line-current indicator and
two regulating-wheels for controlling the dynamo, and two eccentrics arranged on
the driving-shaft for obtaining accumulative and differential action, substantially as
described.
5. The combination of one or more toothed regulating-wheels, each having an
untoothed gap or space, one or more regulating devices to move the regulating-

page_text: wheels to the right or left to an extent that will be limited by their untoothed spaces,
electric circuits, and a line-current indicator, substantially as described.
6. The combination of a driving-shaft carrying eccentrics, levers oscillated by said
shaft, pawls carried by said levers, regulating-wheels and connections for controlling
a dynamo-electric machine, electro magnets and springs to actuate said pawls through
changes in the intensity of the line-current to cut off the motion of the regulating-
wheels at different points, substantially as described.
7. The combination, with a dynamo-electric machine, of two regulating devices,
electric circuits for controlling said regulating devices, a line-current indicator, two
contact-arms, a series of resistance-conductors, and two regulating-wheels for moving.
the contact-arms over the resistance-conductors, and two eccentrics, arranged on the.
driving-shaft for obtaining accumulative and differential action, substantially as set.
forth.
I.
8. The combination, with two or more regulating devices and...a driving-shaft
carrying eccentrics for actuating said regulating devices, of two or more regulating-
wheels for transmitting the action of the regulating devices through intermediate
gearing to a shaft regulating a dynamo-electric machine, substantially as described.
9. The combination, with two or more regulating devices and a driving-shaft
carrying eccentrics for operating said regulating devices, of two or more regulating-
wheels carrying pinions held thereto in such a manner that they may turn with said
wheels when the regulating devices act in concert to concentrate action, accumulating
according to the operation of regulating devices, and slip without turning with
said wheels when the regulating devices act in opposition, substantially as described.
10. In a circuit-regulator arranged to variably increase and decrease the action of
a dynamo-electric machine, and in which a strong increase or decrease of the line-
current is not necessary to produce variable action, the combination of a line-current
indicator, two or more regulating devices, and electric circuits for controlling said
regulating devices, eccentrics for operating the regulating devices, and regulating-
wheels for controlling the dynamo in such a manner that its generative power may
remain stationary or be diminished or increased, substantially as set forth.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of May 1890.
.