Year: 1888

page_text: A Communication from abroad by GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, Junior, of Pittsburg
County of Alleghany, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, & 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The invention relates to an organization of circuits and apparatus at the central
station of a system of distribution employing alternating, intermittent or pulsatory
electric currents.
The invention consists generally in organizing apparatus in substantially the follow-
ing manner. A suitable number of dynamo-electric generators are employed, say ;
these have their field-magnets supplied by currents from two separate exciters, each
provided with its own driving engine. The field-magnets are connected in multiple
are with their respective exciters and the generators are independently regulated.
The exciters may be of such capacity that either one may serve to supply the currents
necessary for the entire system of alternate-current generators. Suitable switch and
circuit-controlling devices are employed for connecting the exciting generators in
multiple arc with each other, for the purpose of supplanting either one by the other.
The several alternate-current generators are connected with their work-circuits in
multiple-arc or parallel circuit, and each has its own ammeter and volt-meter for

page_text: determining the current. Each alternate-current generator is provided with a switch
whereby it may be thrown into, and out of circuit, and each has a double-pole or two-
way switch for connecting with either of two sets of feeders or main lines. Preferably
also cach generator is provided with a single light connected in the secondary circuit
of a converter, the primary of which is connected across the poles of the generator,
and this light is used as an indicator or pilot-light. The distributing wires leading to
the work-circuits, are connected with the trunk wires through suitable double pole
switches.
In the accompanying drawing there is shown, in figure 1, an organization of circuits
and apparatus adapted to carry out the invention, and in figure 2 a detail of the switch-
board.
Referring to the figures, A¹ and A², represent two continuous-current generators,
driven respectively by engines B' and B' of any suitable character, and each generator
is provided with an adjustable resistance a by means of which the current from the
generator may be regulated. The respective poles of the generator A' are connected,
by conductors 1 and 2, through a switch S with conductors 3 and 4 respectively.
The poles of the generator A2 are connected, by conductors 5 and 6, through a
switch S with the conductors 7 and 8 respectively. The conductors 3 and 7,
and 4 and 8, may be connected with each other by means of a switch S, thus placing
the two generators in circuit with each other, when it is so desired. It will be under-
stood that the poles of the generators are such that like currents will combine in the
conductors.
Four alternate-current electric generators, C1, C2, C3, C4, are shown as applied to
this system. The alternate-current generator C has its field-magnet coils connected
through a switch T, and adjustable resistance or regulator &, by conductors 9 and 10,
with the conductors 3 and 4 respectively. These connections may be interrupted by
moving the switch T. In like manner the field-magnet coils of the alternate-current
electric generator are connected with the conductors 3 and 4, through a switch T
and regulator b. The generators C and C have their field-magnet coils connected
with the conductors 7 and 8, through switches T and T respectively. It will be seen
thus that if the switch S be open and the switch S closed, as also the switches T¹
and T, the field-magnet coils of the generators C¹ and C will be connected in
multiple-arc with the exciter A'. By opening the switch T or T2, the field of the
corresponding generator will be cut out of circuit, and by opening the switch S¹ the
fields of both generators will be disconnected. In like manner the connections
between the exciter A' and generators C and C may be controlled, and in each
instance the strength of current from the exciters may be regulated by the
resistances a, while the electromotive force of each generator may be separately con-
trolled by the regulators ', ³, etc. In case it is desired, either exciter may be
employed for supplying the field-magnet coils of all the generators C, C, C³, CH.
This is accomplished by closing the switch S and then opening the switch S¹ or S
In this manner either exciter which is at any time in operation, will be first connected
in multiple-arc with the other by means of the switch S, and then the original exciter
dropped out of circuit by opening the corresponding switch S¹ or S*, without
interrupting the operation of the system.
11 and 12, with
has its respective
upon the same
have their poles
The generator has its respective poles connected, by conductors
binding posts and f¹, upon a switch-board E. The generator C
poles connected by conductors 13 and 14 with binding posts e and
switch-board; and in like manner the two generators C³ and
connected with binding posts e³, f³, and e, f, upon a switch-board E2. The con-
nections from these several binding-posts are controlled by means of the apparatus
upon the respective switch-boards, presently to be described.
For the purpose of determining the current delivered by the several generators,
each is supplied with a converter C, the primary coil of which is connected between
conductors leading from its respective poles as shown, and the secondary coil includes
in its circuit an indicating device such as a single incandescent electric lamp d. This
serves as a pilot light for indicating the operation of the corresponding machine.

page_text: Referring now particularly to figure 2, each switch board E' and E2 is constructed
in the following manner: The posts e¹ and f¹ are connected, by conductors 15 and 16,
with dynamo-switches Hand H2 respectively; these are alike and but one need be
described in detail. The conductor 15 leads to an insulating coupling post h¹. This
is connected by a fusible strip with a second coupling-plate. The plates h¹
and are respectively provided with coupling-plates h and 6, in connection with
which they may be placed by suitable switch-plugs. The plates * and * are con-
nected through a fusible strip 7. If, therefore, the circuit is closed through the
strip and plates h³ and h, and this strip be burned out, then the plates and
may be connected and the circuit thus completed through the strip. The plate /
is connected, by the conductor 17, with a switch-plate, applied to a lever 8, which
is adapted to be placed in connection with the plate and at the same time with a
second switch-plate ; this latter is connected, by conductor 18, with trunk-line L'.
By opening the switch-lever these connections are interrupted.
The connections are made in like manner from the conductor 16, through the
dynamo switch H, to the trunk line L. In this switch the conductor 17, however,
includes in its circuit an ammeter I', of convenient construction; this may be cut
out of circuit when desired by a short-circuiting switch i¹.
The binding posts and 2 are, in like manner, connected, by conductors 19
and 20, through dynamo-switches H³ and H, to the trunk lines L³ and I. An
ammeter 1 is applied to the switch H³.
For the purpose of connecting the lines I and I with the lines L' and L', when
it is desired, a switch K is employed. This consists of two levers and k² insulated
from each other and each provided with two contact-plates ³, k*, and k³, ke. The
plate 3 is connected with the line I, and the plate k with the line L. The platos ³
and are respectively connected with the lines L² and I. By closing the switch
levers, therefore, the line L' will be connected with the line L, and the line L² with
the line L.
The connections are made from the lines L', L, L, LA, with the out-going con-
ductors, 1, 1 and 1, by means of double-pole switches N and N2. These switches
are alike and each has two insulated levers n¹ and n², each provided with three
contact plates n³, n², n³, and n³, 7, 8, respectively. When the levers are in one
position, the plate 3 is connected with the plate n, and the plate with the plate 8
when the lever is thrown over, the connections are made from the plates 3 and nº
with the plates * and respectively.
The plates and 2 of the switch N¹ are respectively connected, through fusible
cut-outs M², M², with the lines and P, and the plates n³ and n of the switch N³ con-
nected through fusible cut-outs M³ and M* with the lines and . The plates * and n of
each switch N and N are respectively connected with the conductors L' and L², and the
plates n and n of these switches are respectively connected with the lines L and L*.
When, therefore, the switches are in the position shown, the conductors 15 and 16
are connected with the trunk lines L' and L2, and these trunk-lines are further con-
nected with the lines L³ and L respectively. The conductors 19 and 20 are also
connected with the lines Land L. The lines, 1, and P, , are thus fed by the currents
from both trunk-lines. By opening the switch N¹, the lines 1, 1, will be disconnected.
By opening the switch K the trunk-lines L, L2, will be disconnected from the
lines L and Lt. If then the switch N¹ be closed upon the upper contacts, the
lines 1, 2, will be fed from the lines L' and L2, and likewise the lines and 1 will be
supplied from the lines L and L, alone. By opening the switch N the lines 13 and 1*
will be disconnected; by closing it upon the upper contacts, these latter will be fed
from the trunk lines I and L. In this manner the supply conductors P, P, and P, 1,
may be connected with either dynamo C, C2, alone, or fed, jointly from the two.
The lines and are shown in figure 1 as leading to a converter G¹, the secondary
coil of which is connected through translating devices d', etc. In like manner the
conductors 1, 1, 15, 16, and 1º, 13³, are connected through converters G³, G³, G+,
feeding translating devices d, ³, d. The organization of the outside circuits may
be variously modified.

page_text: Each pair of main trunk lines is provided with a volt-meter as shown at O¹ and 02.
These may be of any convenient construction. The volt-meter O¹ may be connected
in circuit at will, across the conductors L' and L2, by means of conductors 21 and 22
including a switch o¹, and the volt-meter 02 may be connected between the
conductors L³ and L, through a switch o².
For the purpose of insuring that the generators connected with the lines L' and L²
and L, L, are in synchronism or unison with each other, when they are to be con-
nected in parallel, a synchronizing device P is employed. This device consists of an
electric converter the secondary coil of which is connected with an incandescent lamp h
while its primary coil is connected between two switch arms pl and p²; the respective
points of these arms p³ and p* are connected with binding plates and 2².
The points and are respectively connected with the line L' and the con-
ductor 20 leading to the binding post f2. The switch arms p'and p² are connected with
the binding posts 73 and respectively. The conductor leading from the arm p²
includes the primary coil of the converter p. The posts and are respectively con-
nected with the line L³ and the conductor 16 leading to the binding post.
When the switch H is closed, the trunk lines I and L³ are connected with
each other, and the conductors 16 and 20 are connected with each other through
the primary coil of the converter p. Thus the lamp will be operated by
the resultant currents derived from the two pairs of conductors, and the variations
in its brilliancy will indicate the relations of the phases of the currents, and the proper
moment for connecting the generators in multiple arc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with two sources of electricity and terminal trunk wires for the
respective sources, of two systems of translating devices, means for placing either
system in circuit with either pair of trunk wires and a switch for connecting said
trunk wires in parallel, substantially as described.
2. The combination with two sources of electricity two sets of terminals therefor,
and means for placing the sources in connection therewith, of two systems of trans-
lating devices, switches for placing the same in connection with either set of terminals
at will, a circuit-interrupting device for each pole of each source, a synchronizing
device for indicating the currents from each source, and means for connecting the
terminals of the respective sources at will.
3. The combination with two sources of electricity and two systems of translating
devices, of switches for placing either system in connection with either or both sources,
a volt-meter, and means for placing the same in circuit between the terminals of the
respective sources, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the terminals L, L, L³ and L, and the con-
ductors 1, 2, 3, and 4, of the coupling switch K for connecting said terminals and
the double-pole switches N¹ and N2 for connecting either pair of conductors at will,
substantially as described.
5. The combination with two sources of electricity and two systems of translating
dovices, of trunk wires connected with the respective sources, switches for making or
breaking such connections, a switch for placing said trunk wires, and thus the said
sources, in parallel circuit, and means for interrupting the circuit-connections of either
system of translating devices.
6. The combination of two driving engines, two electric generators, respectively
driven thereby, two alternate-current generators having their respective field-magnet
coils normally supplied with currents from the respective generators and switches for
placing field-magnet coils of either alternate-current machine in connection with the
first-named generators either singly or in multiple arc, substantially as described.
7. The combination, with two independently driven electric generators, of two or
more alternate-current generators having their field-magnet coils normally supplied
from said generators, respectively, switches for placing the field-magnet coils of the

page_text: alternate-current generators either independently or jointly in connection with either
or both of the first-named generators, and means for regulating the strength of the
current from the latter generators, substantially as described.
8. In an alternate-current system of distribution, the combination of four or more
alternate-current generators, two independent sources of current supplying the field-
magnet coils of the said generators interchangeably, switches for connecting said
generators with said sources, independently or in parallel, at will, systems of trans-
lating devices, and switches for placing said systems of devices in circuit with said
generators independently of each other, substantially as described.
9. The combination of the sources of electricity A¹ and A2, the conductors 3, 4 and
7, 8, and the switch S for uniting the same respectively, the switches S¹ and S
for connecting the last-named conductors with the respective poles of the respective
sources of electricity, the alternate-current machines C1, C2, C3, C, and the
switches T1, T2, T3, T4, for placing the field-magnet coils of the respective machines
in circuit with said conductors 3, 4, and 7, 8, substantially as described.
10. The combination of two alternate-current electric generators, independent
exciters for the same having their circuit connections normally through the field-
magnet coils of the same, each exciter having a generating capacity sufficient to supply
the field-magnets of both alternate-current generators, and switches for connecting
the circuit of either exciter through the field-magnet coils of both alternate current
generators.