IMPROVEMENTS IN, AND RELATING TO, APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY FOR HEATING, LIGHTING, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1882. A com-
munication from abroad by Maurice Levy of Paris France Civil Engineer
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN, AND RELATING TO,
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY FOR
HEATING, LIGHTING, AND OTHER PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by
Maurice Levy of Paris France Civil Engineer.]
My Invention relates to improved electrical apparatus for regulating the trans-
mission of electrical energy but which is also capable of being used as a speed
regulator for machinery of various kinds. In order to make the description of my
Invention more clear I will divide it into twelve sections.
Section 1. Any number of machines for producing either light or heat,
mechanical work or chemical action, or in short any form of energy, being placed in
the same electric circuit or on derivations branched on the said circuit, are made
so that each of them preserves its normal functions whatever may be the number
of machines at work. To effect this regulation the following conditions must be
fulfilled, viz;-
1st That it can be adapted to all machines at present in use for generating
electricity without any alteration in them being required.
2nd That it be obtained by means of an unique regulator as simple and as strong
as the ordinary ball governor or speed regulator which answers the same purpose
for the mechanical transmission of force.
3rd That it may be obtained whether the speed of rotation of the generator of
electricity is required to remain the same whatever number of machines are at
work, or, on the contrary, it is desired that the speed should increase and decrease
automatically in proportion to the number of machines working and that
nevertheless these progressive modifications of speed should not affect the yield.
This condition of automatic variation in the speed of the rings of the generators
is imposed I think for example in every great distribution of force to be made in a
town. In fact, in such a distribution the effective work to be produced is
essentially variable according to the requirements of the day and night; while at
certain times all the machines large and small will be working, at others there
will only be some apparatus such as a sewing machine, for example, to bo
worked.

page_text: A regulation which would require the generators to have the same speed in the
latter case as in the former would be a cause of ruin to the said generators; in
order to obviate the necessity of increasing the size of these machines, it is easy to
allow of a speed, of say 3,000 revolutions when all the machines are working;
but to be obliged to keep up such a speed at times when the work to be done is a
insignificant, is deplorable.
On the contrary, it may happen that in an existing factory, where there is
already a motor driving a mechanical transmission, it is desired to utilize an excess
of force from this machine to actuate an electrical transmission. Then it is clear
that being compelled to keep the motor running at its regular speed, a constancy of
speed in the generators becomes necessary. Thus the problem the solution of
which is the object of this Invention will only be completely solved if it is so in
both these cases.
Furthermore I will show that my apparatus may also be utilized for the regulation
of non-electrical transmission of force.
Section 2. In an ordinary way for any number of machines placed in one circuit
to preserve their normal speed whatever number of them be at work, it is only
necessary that a single quantity should preserve a constant value viz, the
current through the principal circuit, if the machines are in circuit, or the current
of a single derivation if the machines aro in derivations, because the regulation of
a single derivation effects that of all the others when, as is generally the case, the
wires of the principal circuit or of the derivations are large enough for their
resistance to be neglected in face of that of the machines.
Thus in both cases it is necessary to obtain a constant value for a single
quantity and that quantity is an intensity of current. To obtain it I first do away
with all speed regulators on the motors; I act directly upon the valve or other
appliance for the admission of the steam, water, gas, or other motive power by
means of an isochronous current regulator which will be described further on; and
I arrange the excitation of the generators of electricity in such a manner that
notwithstanding the disuse of the speed regulator, the speed of the rings remains
as desired, either constant whatever be the number of machines at work, or on the
contrary, varying automatically in the direction required; that is to say increasing
progressively when fresh machines are set to work and decreasing when a greater
or less number are stopped, without these variations in the regular speed affecting
the yield.
Section 3 Isochronous regulators. The problem of isochronous regulators of
intensity is this; to constituto an apparatus which regulates the admission directly
(that is to say which regulates without the interposition of variable resistances,
making and breaking of contacts, and the like) and which has the double property
of never being in equilibrium as long as the current to be regulated has not
attained its regular intensity and of being, on the contrary, in equilibrium
whatever may be the opening of the orifice of admission as soon as this intensity
is attained.
In practice an apparatus thus constituted would be too sensitive; but when
once it is made, if the passive resistances which cause the movement of the
apparatus do not suffice to deprive it of its excessive sensitiveness, it is easy, as is
done in the case of isochronous speed regulators, to create an artificial passive
resistance which gives it exactly the sensitiveness it requires, such, for example,
that the apparatus only moves when the current deviates a given amount from its
normal intensity.
I will now describe, by way of example, two very simple forms of regulators, it
being intended that all other forms made on the same principles should be considered
as included in my Invention.
Section 4. Differential Isochronous Regulator. On the shaft which works the
adinission valve, are placed two small motors perfectly identical. These motors
can be of any kind whatsoever electro-dynamic or electro-magnetic on the Gramme,
Siemens, Marcel Deprez or other system, it matters little provided, if they are not

page_text: symmetrical around the axis of rotation, that they be set exactly in the same
manner. In one of these motors for instance, the current will be brought direct from
the works (produced by a Daniell battery or any generating machine of constant
force) and the intensity of which will be the normal intensity of the current which
is to be regulated. Under the influence of this current the valve opens completely;
the shaft can, according to the case, either carry the valve (in which case it must
only describe a quarter of a revolution, being stopped by a notch); or it can, if
experience shows this arrangement to be preferable, be connected to the shaft of the
valve by an endless scrow and toothed pinion, in such a manner that the shaft will
make a number of turns while the valve makes a quarter of a revolution.
it
In the one motor the current to be regulated is brought in such a manner that
passes through the wires in a contrary direction to those of the other machino
by the current type there introduced.
If the current to be regulated has its regular intensity it is clear that the two
motors will be in equilibrium in all their positions, and therefore it is of no con-
sequence what is the opening of the orifice of admission; if the current is too
great the one inotor will carry it away and close the valve; in the contrary caso
the other motor will carry it away and the valve will open.
Section 5. Isochronous regulator with counterweight. If it is desired to avoid
having to produce the current type, it is only necessary to replace one of the motors
by a pulley keyed upon the shaft; tangentially to this pulley is applied a weight
by means of a short piece of belting or chain. Under the influence of this weight
and the stop notch the valve remains open; the weight is fixed in such a manner
as to exactly balance the other little motor when the current which the latter
receives has its normal intensity.
This equilibrium will exist in all positions of the valve, if the motor be a.
"Gramme" machine, for example; but whatever be the motor if the counterweight is
placed on the shaft which carries the valve itself, as this shaft only describes &
quarter of a revolution it is always easy to replace the circular pulley by a quadrant
of such form that the equilibrium will exist in all positions, when the current to be
regulated is at its usual intensity.
When the current is not passing, the valve is opened by the action of the weight.
The steam, if that be the motive power, then enters freely and puts in motion the
electric generators thereby producing a current; as soon as this current goes
beyond its proper value, the weight is raised, the orifice of admission is partially
closed, and the current diminishes so that after some oscillations (the number of
which may be reduced as has been before mentioned by the addition of a passive
resistance according to the degree of sensitiveness that may be desired) the proper
value is reached and maintained. Any disturbance in the motion of the receivers
causes a fresh opening of the valve without being able to produce any change in
the intensity of the current.
Section 6. Solutions with automatic variation in the speed of the electric
generators. I now proceed to a case where the speed is required to vary. The
object is to combine a regulator of intensity with a mode of excitation of the
generating machines, such that these variations of speed will take place in the
direction required and without affecting the yield.
1st Solution. If all the machines that are to be worked are placed on the principal
circuit, the constancy of the current of this circuit will be maintained by means of
the regulator, thus ensuring that each machine will keep at its proper speed
whether the others are at work or not.
I have shewn above that any kind of electric generators may be employed: I
say now that if they are placed in circuit, provided they are excited either in
circuit or by separate exciters the generators will have a speed satisfying the
desired conditions.
Let I be the normal intensity of the current; T m the energy required for
working, the receivers whatever be the number; Tu the work of these machines

page_text: including that spent in overcoming the resistance of their wires. If R is tho
resistance of the generating machines placed in the circuit, then :—
Tm = Tu + RI³ (1)
Tm = Eİ.
But whatever be the generating machines the electro-motive force of each of
them is proportional to tho speed of its ring and therefore to the speed n of the
motor shaft; it is of the form :-
E = n S (I)
The electro-motive force of several machines joined in tension will also be of the
The second member is the yield when all the receivers are working.
Thus if we have, in this case, a yield of 75°/o, and suppose n₁ =3000 revolutions
when all the receivers are working, we shall have for the smallest speed no=750
revolutions, which is evidently better than having it 3000 when there is no
work to be produced or when only some machines (such as sowing machines, for
example) have to be worked.
Tu
the yield being so much the better the larger the number of receivers at work.
It will be seen that this yield for each quantity of work Tu to be transmitted
is determined as soon as R and I are given that is to say it depends neither upon
the nature of the machines nor upon their speed, but only upon their resistance R
and the normal intensity I which is adopted.
Thus as far as the yield is concerned there is no inconvenience in progressively
reducing the speed of the ring in proportion to the work to be transmitted and
there is manifest advantage as regards preservation and duration of the machines.
2nd Solution. Take the case in which the machines are placed on derivations.
Then it is sufficient in order that these machines may keep at their normal speed,
whatever be the number of them working, to maintain by the aid of the regulator,
an invariable intensity of current in only one branch whichever it may be.

page_text: The total electro-motive force of the machines in circuit 2, whatever be their
nature, will be:-
E₁ = n v. (I,)
The electro-motive force of the dynamo machine placed in circuit 1 but having
its bobbins in circuit 2 is of the same form :-*
T
In order that the speed n may be so, it is necessary that the second member of (c)
should be independent of the only variable that remains in it viz:-I. Strictly
that is impossible. But if we allow that we are far enough from the magnetic
field for the electro-motive force of each dynamo-machine to bo sensibly propor-
tional to the intensity of the current which passes through the bobbins then the
functions S, all take the lineal form, or form of first degree, and as the
second is necessarily cancelled with I, we can place it :—
PS, (I) = A + Aİ
D✓ (I₁) = Bİ₁
Q(1) C+ CI.
Consequently n =
=
R, I
(R, R₂) I,
AI + A。 + C + (A + B + C) T
(c)
In order that may remain constant whatever I may be, it is only necessary
to arrange the constants entering into this equation (which is possible whatever
be the given machines, by simply arranging the speed of the ring of one of them)
so as to satisfy the single condition.
==
(R, + R₂) I,
A。 + C。 + (A + B + C) I,
(c)
The electro-motive force E. between the points A and B will be from
formula (a):
E. = R. I₁
-
n√ (I₁).
And as n remains constant, and I, is kept constant by the current regulator,
E is so, that is to say the regulation is effected.
But as the constancy of n is only approached it would be the same of that
of E
In order that E, may remain strictly constant it is sufficient to
make(): = 0 or C₁ = C =0, that is to say take the machines out of circuit 2
and only leave in that circuit the bobbins of the machine or machines excited in
derivation. This is what it will be expedient to do. Then there will be strict 4
constancy of the difference of potential between the points where the branches are
connected with approximate constancy of speed of the generators.
Section 9 Machines placed in Circuit In this case it is the principal current I

page_text: which will be maintained constant by the aid of the current regulator and it will
be necessary that n be independent of I. This demands the single condition
which can still be fulfilled by arranging the speed of a single generator.
R₁ + R
A+ B+
R, I
===
AT+ A + C
(f)
Section 10. I have desired by what precedes to shew the most general solution
possible, that is why I have supposed three kinds of machines coupled; but, in
practice, one is not obliged to keep to it, and the preceding solution furnishes any
number of combinations from which the most suitable may be chosen in each
application.
Section 11. 2nd solution of the general problem in the case of constant speed,
if it is desired to use it as a speed regulator. The preceding solutions are quite
sufficient; they give a strict regulation with a sensibly constant speed of the
generators, and are characterized by the absence of any speed regulator.
If on the contrary, it is desired to have a strictly constant speed and only an
approximate electrical regulation, it will suffice, in the particular case of constant
speed now under consideration, to replace my current regulator by a speed regulator
(either my current regulator working as a speed regulator as hereinafter explained,
or an ordinary speed regulator). In fact the relation (e) being satisfied in the
case of machines in derivations, or (f) in the case of machines in circuit, and n
being kept constant by the aid of a speed regulator, the formula (d) shows
that in the first case I, is constant and consequently E₁, and in the second I is
constant.
The preceding theory furnishes any number of new solutions from which may
be chosen in each case, that which will be most expedient.
Among the new and endless combinations that can be obtained if a speed
regulator is employed I will point out particularly, on account of its simplicity,
the following applicable to machines to be regulated in derivations. Let us tako
away altogether the circuit 2 and the machines excited in derivation and keep only
the single wire circuit on which is placed between the points where the branches
were connected (the difference of potential between which must remain constant)
machines some of which are excited by themselves in circuit and the remainder of
which are magneto-electric or dynamo-electric and excited by exciters. All these
machines being joined in tension, their total electro-motive force will be
approximately, if it is kept away from the saturation of the magnetic field, a lineal
expression or expression of first degree.

page_text: horizontal shaft is normal. Reciprocally this normal speed will be maintained,
if I, is maintained. Then it will suffice to keep the current I, constant (which
can be done by one of my regulators) in order to maintain the normal speed of
the horizontal shaft.
Thus, my regulators can be used under any circumstances to replace isochronous 5
speed regulators, and avoid the long oscillations of the weights of the latter
restoring the speed to its normal point much more rapidly whenever it is
disturbed.