A MODE OF INDEFINITELY DIVIDING ELECTRIC CURRENTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Antoine Arnaud, of 176, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E.,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A MODE OF INDEFINITELY
DIVIDING ELECTRIC CURRENTS."
Sealed the 13th December 1878, and dated the 14th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Antoine Arnaud at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th October 1878.
ANTOINE ARNAUD, of 176, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E., in the County of
Middlesex. "A MODE OF INDEFINITELY DIVIDING ELECTRIC CURRENTS."
The numerous difficulties experienced in employing electricity for the purposes of
lighting, electro-metallurgy, and other purposes to which this agent is applied, have
arisen from the fact that the resistance of a circuit increasing in direct proportion
to its length (all other conditions being equal) destroys the equilibrium of such
resistance, and thence causes a variation of the electric power developed in its
transmission to the different sections of the circuit, the current being weakened in
proportion to the increase of such resistance.
According to my Invention I establish an equilibrium or uniformity of resistance
throughout the circuit, of whatever length, by the manner of connecting such circuit
with the clectric source of whatever kind.
It is usual to close the circuit by placing one conductor in communication with
the positive pole of the clectric source, and making the return to the negative pole
either by a second conductor, or through the gas pipes, the earth, or any other
suitable means. The current is thus caused to pass in opposite directions in the
two conductors, and the resistance consequently increases in proportion to the length
of the circuit.

page_text: My method of obviating this disadvantage so as to obtain a uniformity of
resistance in all parts of the circuit (whatever may be its length) consists in causing
the current in the two conductors, between which the work to be operated on is
placed, to pass in the same direction. To accomplish this both conductors are put
in communication with the positive pole, one directly as usual, and the other by the
intermediacy of the work to be executed by each of the sections of the circuit. The
current thus follows a parallel course in the two conductors, passing from the first
to the second by the work to be executed, and thence along the second to the end
of the circuit before returning to the negative pole, either directly by a special con-
ductor, or by the earth, or any other means. It follows that the resistance will be
the same throughout the whole length of the circuit, since the current leaving the
electric source will be compelled to pass through the same length of conductor in
order to arrive at the negative pole of the source, traversing in its passage the work
to be executed, whatever may be the position of the work in the circuit.
In applying my Invention to electric lights I put one of the conductors forming
the circuit in communication with the positive pole of the electric source in the
ordinary manner, and the second conductor in communication with the first by
means of the substance exposed to the action of the current, whether metal, metal
alloys, or their combination with other substances, carbons, or other suitable
material, and the negative pole of the electric source is put in communication with
the extremity of the second conductor, forming the end of the circuit, either
through a third conductor, the earth, or by any other suitable means.
My Invention is applicable,
1st. For obtaining electric light which may henceforth be accomplished by means
of small lights extended over a circuit, by employing either carbons, metals, metal
alloys, or a combination of metals with other substances, the fusion of which need
not be feared, thus practically resolving the problem of lighting by electricity.
2nd. To electro-metallurgy generally, and particularly to the precipitation of
precious metals, so as to regulate the weight of metal deposited by the surface
exposed to the current.
3rd. To chemical decompositions which could be regularly operated at different
distances.
4th. To operate in a uniform manner bobbins of resistance, induction coils,
electro-magnets, whether employed for telegraphic apparatus, telephones, micro-
phones, time keepers, and generally to all apparatus to which electro magnets are
applied.
5th. To magneto-electric machines or dynamo-magneto-electric machines placed
any distances apart.
6th. To electric engraving and all other applications of electricity which require
uniformity of resistance, and consequently a uniformity of the current throughout
the circuit.