IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AUTOMATIC REGULATION AT A DISTANCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS, OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER, GAS OR STEAM AND GENERALLY OF ANY FLUID WHATEVER
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Griffith Brewer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th May 1883. Communicated to him
from abroad by La Societe Anonyme des Ateliers de Construction mecanique
& d'Appareils electriques, of Paris France
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AUTOMATIC REGULATION AT A DISTANCE OF ELECTRIC
CURRENTS, OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER, GAS OR STEAM AND GENERALLY OF
ANY FLUID WHATEVER (A Communication to me from abroad by La Societe
Anonyme des Ateliers de Construction mecanique & d'Appareils electriques of
Paris France)
"
In the distribution of electricity, water, gas and steam it happens that from
some cause or other the apparatus which are at different or varying distances from
the central apparatus which supplies them are provided with excessive or
insufficient quantities.
. According to several systems of distribution for lighting now employed a lamp,
placed in the immediate neighbourhood of the dynamo machine shows by the
variations of the light if the attendant ought to increase or moderate the action of
the current; but it is evident that by this process it can only be very indirectly
ascertained what is taking place in the more distant parts of the circuit, and it is
that which would be the most useful and interesting to know whilst that if the
most distant lamp from the point of production of the current is suitably supplied
there is a great probability that the others are well provided.
In the transmission of motive power it is evidently very useful that from the
receiving machine being often placed a long way off the speed of the motor can be
regulated and it is also better that this regulation should be operated automatically
by the machine itself.
It is the same in a distribution of water or of a gasometer and so forth.
The system about to be described is intended to obtain this result that is to say
of regulating at a distance the delivery or the production of electricity, steam and
other fluids. In all cases it comprises the following parts.
1st An arrangement of two special regulating valves.
2nd A system of electro maguets governing one or other of the two valves
according as the delivery of the current is too strong or too weak. (These two

page_text: groups or organs are situate in the immediate neighbourhood of the central
machine)
3rd A testing apparatus of varying form situated at the end of the circuit from
which it derives a portion of its energy to transform it into an indicated electric
current or of such intensity that it operates by the intervention of a special
conducting wire the electro magnets regulating the valves.
In spite of this taking of the fluid circulating in the principal circuit this latter
remains absolutely independent of the auxiliary circuit.
I will successively describe each of these three groups.
Regulating valves. On the track of. the steam coming from the generator into
the distribution case, are placed two circular discs by the side of one another
divided into the same number of plain sectors as hollowed sectors. The super-
position of the hollow sectors gives the maximum opening for the admission of
steam; the superposition of the hollowed out sectors of one of the discs on the
plain sectors of the other produces the complete closing. Between these two
extreme values it will be understood that the relative movement of one of the
discs in relation to the other causes the admission orifice to take the greatest
possible value.
Each of the discs is mounted on an independent axis carrying a fixed pulley
and a loose pulley; two endless cords are wound round a cylinder parallel to the
axis of the discs and this cylinder has a slow rotary motion imparted to it but
continuous being driven by the machine or by special mechanism. By a process
which will be hereafter described these cords may be brought over alternately and
at will onto their fixed or loose pulleys respectively. In the first case the disc
turns about its axis, in the second it remains immovable. -
That being so supposing that the hollowed out sectors of the two discs coincide
the motion of the apparatus would be too fast and it is necessary to reduce the
superficies of the steam admission orifice; the cord of one disc will be put on the
fixed pulley, this disc will revolve and will reduce as much of the admission
orifice as has been before explained. But when the normal limit has been over-
reached the current becoming too weak, it is necessary to force the steam. Then
the cord of the said disc goes onto the loose pulley and the cord of the other
disc turning in the same direction as before the first disc tends to re-establish
the coincidence between the hollowed sectors and consequently to open again for
the steam, a larger passage.
The novelty of this arrangement especially consists:
1. In that the two discs both revolving successively in the same direction
2. In that the compensated action of the two discs being made in sensible
degrees the superficies of the admission orifice will oscillate not only between zero
and maximum but between two limits as close as desired if the driving of the
discs takes place in the desired time. The two dises may be made either of plane
metal or of metal hollowed internally in order to reduce its weight and also, the
friction and to diminish the power necessary to make it move or to drive it.
Instead of the discs any sort of revolving surfaces may be used for example
cylinders, provided they present an equal number of full parts and hollowed
out parts.
Whatever other arrangements may be adopted it is the putting in motion and
the arrest of these valves which it is proposed to obtain and as in the applications
that we have especially in view, that is the work effected at a distance which it is
proposed finally to regulate, it is to this work itself that the automatic action of
the testing apparatus should be derived placed at the end of the circuit, an action
which is transmitted by an auxilliary independent wire to electro magnets placed
in the immediate neighbourhood of the machine.
The operation which consists in acting on the endless cords for engaging and
disengaging them is entrusted to these two electro magnets with their polarised
armatures.
The direction of the winding of the wire is the same on the two electro magnets

page_text: but the armatures are magnetized in the contrary direction. That of the first.
electro magnet being terminated (as well as that of the second) by a fork is
retained in opposite direction by a spring; the object of which is to engage and
disengage the cord of one of the valves. A precisely similar arrangement is
adopted for the second electro magnet. If the testing apparatus sends by the
auxiliary wire into the electro magnets currents in a contrary direction according
as it weakens or reinforces the energy in the principal circuit, these currents will
according to their sign energize either the first electro magnet or that of the
second and consequently operate the one closing valve or the other.
One of the two electro magnets can be polarised. In this case the testing
apparatus instead of giving currents of contrary signs would be employed for
operating one or other of the armatures that is of the valves, of the currents in
the same direction but of different intensity. This arrangement is hereafter
described under head N° 3.
Having thus indicated in a complete manner the different arrangements of the
indicating valves and of the electro magnets which by it regulate the movements
the different means will successively be described preferably employed to transmit
to these electro magnets the current which operates these magnets and which is
determined by the variations even of the organs of which it acts to regulate and
maintain in a perfect constant state of production.
14
Solution No 1. More especially applicable to the distribution of light. An
electric lamp supplied by a portion of the principal current obtained by means of
a generator of electricity and which is raised to the extreme points of the lighting
distribution circuit a plate of Selenium is inserted in one of the branches of a
Wheatstone" bridge; on the symmetric branch of this parallelogram is interposed
another plate of Selenium lighted by a Carcel lamp. The two other branches
are formed by two rheostats regulated in such manner that the two lamps
furnishing the quantity of normal light (which is assured by a previous photometric
test) the current derived from a pile has the same potential to the two ends of the
diagonal.
To effect this regulation a sensitive galvanometer is employed momentarily
placed in the diagonal and the rheostats are made to vary until the equilibrium of
the needle is obtained; then the galvanometer is replaced by an electro magnet.
The latter not then having any current passing through it its polarised armature
will remain inert at equal distances from the poles lightly maintained by two
contrary helical springs. But this steadiness of the armature ceases as soon as the
electric energy of the circuit and consequently the luminous intensity of the
electric lamp more or less varies. The electric resistance of the Selenium more or
less brilliant diminishes or increases and a flow of current proceeding from the
pile passes through the electro magnet in one direction or the other. The armature
then approaches either the one or the other of two adjusting screws connected to
two other piles and sends by a wire which returns to the machine from the electro
magnets a positive or a negative current as the case may be, derived from one or
other of the two other piles; these two latter piles being exposed in contrary
directions have their respective poles free with the adjusting screws.
It will be understood that it is not necessary to employ a Carcel lamp and to
place a second plate of Selenium on the branch of the bridge; it would suffice to
insert a rheostat of equal resistance to that of the first Selenium plate when it is
lighted by the electric lamp normally operated, thus the chances of error proceeding
from the variations of the Carcel lamp would be avoided.
The Selenium may be replaced by any other suitable substance such as lamp
black the resistance of which varies according to the degree of lighting or heating.
Solution No 2. The arrangement of the Wheatstone bridge may be replaced by
a differential arrangement in which the electric and Carcel lamps projecting
respectively on the two Selenium plates the quantity of normal light (which cau
also here be ascertained by a previous photometric trial) regulates the two rheostats
so that the armature being attracted in the contrary direction by the two opposing

page_text: springs is nearly at equal distances from the poles; an increase of the electric light
being excited by the main current being borrowed from the generator of electricity
will break the magnetic equilibrium of the soft iron cores and will cause this
armature to abut against one of the stops, a negative current will come by means
of the branch wire to operate the armature of one of the electro magnets and
consequently one of the closing valves.
A decrease in the illuminating power of the electric light would have on the
contrary the effect of bringing the armature in contact with the other stop and so
operate the other electro magnet and admission valve.
As in the preceding case the Carcel lamp and the second plate of Selenium may
be replaced by a single rheostat suitably regulated.
It is to be understood that the form of the differential electro magnet may be
varied but that will not in any way change the principle of the system; it may or
may not be polarised.
Solution 3. The electric lamp supplied by the current taken from the end of the
conductors supplied by the generator throws its light on a Selenium plate placed
in an independent circuit formed by a pile, the former two electro magnets
governing the regulating valves and the earth circuit.
The variations of the light of the electric lamp will be translated through
corresponding variations but in inverse direction of the resistance of the independent
earth circuit.
Consequently the intensity of the independent current will increase pro-
portionately to that of the principal current. These are the variations which
would serve to operate one or the other of the said two electro magnets that is to
say to operate one or the other of the regulating valves.
Not having here as in the previous case the option of employing to actuate
the two electro magnets currents of contrary polarity a new arrangement of these
electro-magnets is given working automatically on one or on the other by a
single variation of the permanent current which traverses them.
The second electro-magnet is not submitted to the influence of any magnet
and its opposing spring which keeps the armature at a distance from the poles is
stretched in such manner that this pallet only obeys a current superior to that
developed in the auxiliary wire when the electric lamp throws on the Selenium
the quantity of normal light. For this stronger current, the armature being
attracted will push the cord on the fixed pulley and the second closing valve is put
in motion.
The first electro magnet on the contrary only comes into operation if the
intensity of the regulating current which crosses it falls below the normal limit,
that is to say if the electric lamp does not sufficiently light, the Selenium,. This
electro magnet being polarised by a fixed magnet tends to draw towards it its
armature that is to say to make it pass onto the loose pulley but it only varies
the resistance of its spring if the power of the magnet is reinforced by the action
of a current having at least the intensity of the normal current. If this limit is
not attained the armature obeying the spring goes away-from the electro magnet
and pushes the cord on the fixed pulley thus operating the first opening valve.
The second electro magnet only operates. if the main current is too strong, the
first electro magnet only operating if the main current is too weak, the two valves
never turn simultaneously: If the intensity of main current is maintained at
its normal value the valves will act successively at very short and very close
intervals.
1
Solutions 4. In this arrangement the Selenium is replaced by a differential
electro magnet the movable armature of which being polarised by a fixed magnet
is maintained by two contrary helical springs at equal distances from two
abutments. This differential electro magnet is situated at the end of the circuit
proceeding from the generator and the electric work of which can be regulated;
the two bobbins of the differential electro magnet are independent; one is placed
at the derivation on the two wires of the regulating circuit the other is connected

page_text: to the poles of a pilé distanced from it in such manner that it neutralises the
magnetic effect which tends to produce the current coming from the generator.
Two rheostats connected respectively to the generator and pile (both being in
connection with the differential electro magnet) allow this magnetic equilibrium
to be easily obtained: Matters remain in this state while the electric energy
emanating from the generating source remains normal, the pile being supposed to
be constant. (This pile should be of sulphate of copper and large surface the
rheostat connected to the generator will become very resisting so as to preserve
the constancy of the pile).
If the main current becomes too strong the action of, the bobbin in connection
with the generative source predominates and its pole being reinforced attracts to it
the armature which by means of the auxiliary wire then directs the negative
current of a pile the poles of which are connected to two abutment screws on either
side of the armature into the two valve operating electro magnets. If the current
is too weak that is to say less intense than that of the other pile in opposition the
arinature will be attracted by the pole of the bobbin in connection with the first
mentioned pile against the abutment screw of that pole and it is a positive current
that will be sent by the second pile into the two electro magnets These two
contrary currents will produce on the valves respectively the effect already before
pointed out.
This arrangement is equally applicable to a differential electro magnet not
polarised by a fixed magnet.
Solution 5. Founded upon the heating of a fibre traversed by an intense electric
current. A fibre of platinum, of carbon, or of any other body easily heated is
placed in the track of the current to be regulated, it is placed in the interior of a
Bourdon manometric spiral the free end of which is maintained when the main
current remains normal at equal distance from two abutment screws in relation
respectively with two piles held in contrary directions by two opposing springs so
as to maintain the free end or rod in a neutral position. The body of the
barometer is itself united to an auxiliary wire connected to the valve operating
electro magnets.
According as the intensity of the current to be regulated increases or diminishes
the air enclosed in the tube becomes more or less dilated; in the first case the free
end or index just touches the negative abutment and the negative current of the
one pile finding an outlet operates the first electro inagnet and consequently its
closing valve works. In the contrary case it is the other pile the second electro
magnet and its opening valve which comes into play.
Solution 6. This solution is based on the same principle as the preceding only
here the transformation. of the heat in motion is effected directly the fibre is
replaced by a metallic belix which expands or contracts according as the current
to be regulated arrives above or below its normal value operates as in the preceding
case a commutator and produces the same effect in the two electro magnets
operating the valves.
'
This helix may be formed of one or several metals, juxtaposed silver, gold,
platinum and so forth as in the "Brequet" thermometer. The fibre may be wound
in a spiral or bent in two branches. The principle reinains always the same.
Solution 7. Employment of two coupled dynamo electric machines. The current
passing through the wires from the generator is employed to drive a first dynamo
electric machine of any desired construction on the same axis is mounted a second
dynamo electric machine which is thus driven at the same speed-as the first. There
is thus produced a current the intensity of which varies with this speed and which
by the auxiliary wire is taken to the valve operating electro-magnets the first of
which only is polarised as in the solution N° 3.
The apparatus is regulated in such manner that for the normal intensity of the
current to be regulated the secondary current regulator circulating in the said
electro-magnets has a medium valve which does not allow either of their two
armatures to operate.

page_text: When the intensity of the current to be regulated reaches above or below its
normal value the speed of the first machine varies and with it the intensity of the
induced regulating current which acts according to circumstances on one or other
of the said electro magnets as has been already explained in solution N° 3
Solution 8. By condenser or accumulator. An inverse commutator having two
branches put in motion by any suitable mechanism provided that its action is
regular, charges and discharges at each oscillation a condenser or accumulator
The charge is taken from the regulating circuit it is effected each time that the
arms of the commutator incline to the left; the discharge is produced when the said
arms are inclined to the right. It is conveyed by the auxiliary conducting wire
into the valve operating electro-magnets arranged as in the solution 3 and produces
the same effects according as the intensity is normal, too strong, or too weak.
It will be understood that in this arrangement as in the preceding the first of
the two said electro-magnets is polarised and the second electro-magnet is not.
Solution 9. This solution is based on the combined employment of electro-
magnets operating by the difference of the intensity of the current (solution N° 3)
and of other electro-magnets only obeying the currents in a determined direction
(solution N° 1).
The electro-magnets obeying the currents in a determined direction are situated
at the end of the main circuit and are both traversed by a derivation of the previous
current whilst the intensity of this current remains normal neither of their
armatures move from where they are, the pallet operates and directs through the
polarised electro-magnets the current from a pile. This latter being negative, the
armature of the one of these said two electro-magnets operates and so also the closing
valve which it works.
If on the contrary the electric energy falls below the average it is the armature
of the other of these said two electro-magnets which operates and drives through
the auxiliary circuit the positive current of another pile and which works the
electro-magnet and the admission valve.
Solution 10. "Edison" pressure relay-an electro magnet operated by derivation
of the main current attracts an armature to which an opposing spring is attached
which compresses a series of carbon plates or of any other material which is a bad
conductor of electricity arranged by preference in multiple arc through which passes
to earth the current of a pile circulating in the auxiliary wire.
The variations of resistance due to the variations of the pressure exercised by the
armature produced by the variations of the regulating current which acts on the
valve operating electro magnets, one only of which is polarised and consequently on
the regulating valves as has been already explained in solution 3.
Solution 11. Employment of an electro dynamometer. This solution includes
the employment of a fixed helix and a smaller helix movable within the larger
helix suspended between two stretched wires and carrying a very light contact
arm. This said smaller helix is in communication on the one hand with the
conductor of the regulating current, and on the other hand with the external larger
helix the other extremity of which larger external helix communicates with the
conductor.
The current of the main circuit going through traverses the two helices of the
said electro dynamometer the movable bobbin of which drives an aluminium arm
thereon which two opposed springs keep at equal distance from two abutment
screws whilst the energy remains normal. If this energy increases the arm being
pushed against the first abutment screw (which is in negative connection with one
pile) directs in the auxiliary wire and in the polarised regulating electro-magnets
the regulating current from the said pile; the armature of the said polarised
regulating electro-magnet then operates the cutting off valve. The contrary takes
place on the second abutment screw (which is in positive connection with another
pile) if the electric energy falls below the average in the main circuit.
Solution 11bis. The current of the main circuit going through traverses instead
'of a simple fixed helix, two electro-magnets between the poles of which it forms an

page_text: intense magnetic field where a movable bobbin is placed also suspended between
two stretched suspension wires this arrangement notably increases the power of
the system. The suspension wires serve also as in the preceding case for the entry
and exit of the current in the bobbin.
Solution 12. Employment of the "Lippmann" capilliary electro motor. In
vases containing mercury and acidulated water wherein are the two dipping masses
of capilliary tubes connected together by a balancing rod, are immersed two wires
starting respectively from positive and negative points of the main circuit; the
amplitude of displacement of these two masses and consequently of an arm in
connection with the said balancing rod which they work is in proportion to the
intensity of the main current. If this intensity is normal the arm being retained.
by two opposed springs remains distanced from two abutment screws and the
valves are put in action. But if the electric energy exceeds the desired limit the
arm touches the one abutment screw which is positively connected to one pile and
the negative current of another pile circulating through the auxiliary wire operates
the closing valve by the intervention of the electro valve operating magnet. The
contrary would take place if the energy falls below the normal average in the
distribution circuit.
Solution 12bis. If the intensity of the main current is sufficient to produce a
troublesome polarisation in the electrometer only one derivation of this current
should be employed varying in this case in. that it has a double commutator and a
condenser or accumulator (same principle as in solution N° 8)
Solution 13. Regulation of the magnetic field by any of the preceding processes.
In certain cases especially when it acts from a dynamo electric current generator
driven by a fall of water for instance it will be more advantageous to act on a
magnetic field of this machine.
The following is how this result is obtained. The regulating. valves before
described are replaced in this case by valve arms one of which add resistances in
the circuit in proportion as it advances whilst the other puts them out of circuit
by turning them in the same direction. These arms are actuated by electro
magnets polarised or not acting on cords or pulleys as are the valves in the
preceding solutions.
The valve operating electro-magnets are regulated by the auxiliary conducting
wire and the conducting wires from bobbins on the electric generator are connected
to the arms of a circular rheostat.
Having thus described a certain number of means that are reserved to be
employed for driving at a distance the electro-magnets which govern the valves of
the motor from the machine for the production of the electricity or which modifies
the power of the current emitted by this generator the different arrangements will
be described which are based on the automatic processes of regulation which makes
the object of the solutions 6 and following, and which are intended to protect the
places which are served by a current of electricity or of distribution of motive
power against fires resulting from an accidental increase of the electric force.
These arrangements that are described as A and B constitute then simply in
this case some special applications of the new solutions just described.
Arrangement A. A metallic conductor arranged as a helix and formed as
described with reference to the solution N° 6 is placed in derivation to the origin
of the derived circuit clearing the local apparatus and which it is intended to
protect. Although the current which traverses it penetrates there and issues at
the end these are free to move and they are distanced more or less according to
the degree of heating produced by the current which goes through the spirals. In
this movement they displace a lever or commutator which when the intensity of
the current is normal does not get to an arrangement of metallic contact blocks
on which the ends of resistance bobbins abut.
Although the heating exceeds this limit an arm engages progressively on the
contact blocks arranged by preference circularly, thus the effect of this arm is

page_text: to keep between the derivation conductors a derivation the resistance of which.
diminishes in proportion as it advances towards the last of the contact blocks.
The effect of this derivation is to deviate a portion of the current furnished by
the electric source and this removal is as much more considerable as the portion of
the interposed rheostat becomes less-resisting.
The movement of the commutators continuing, a time will arrive when there
will only pass into the helices a quantity of insufficient electricity: the heating of
these latter will diminish and the arm will go back; the resistance of the
derivation will increase and with it the intensity of the current circulating
through the helices; the arm returns towards the last contact block and so on.
Finally if the resistance bobbins of the rheostat are sufficiently small the arm
and consequently the intensity of the current passing through the helices will
oscillate between two limits approaching progressively until coming together or
nearly so with the normal limit.
:
Arrangement B. This arrangement varying from the preceding is based as in the
solution 5 on the operation of a Bourdon manometer operated by the dilated air
under the influence of a resisting, conductor of any kind being heated by the
current obtained from the origin of the derived circuit supplying the lamps or
motors established in the place to be protected.
The spiral or better the two spirals of the manometer govern a commutator
which acts as in the arrangement A. on a rheostat The amplitude of the
oscillations of the commutator arms is dependent as in the preceding case on the
yariations of the energy of the current proceeding from the generator.
This protecting and regulating apparatus is by preference as in the preceding
placed at the entrance of the house and being branched to the origin of the derived
circuit.
The arrangements A and B have the advantage that they do not interrupt the
operation of the current to be protected in the case where the current attains a
dangerous tension but dosed so to say as this current is not to allow it to go
into the required places except in the necessary quantity.