IMPROVEMENTS IN DYNAMO ELECTRIC, MAGNETO ELECTRIC, AND ELECTRO MAGNETIC MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT, THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER, AND FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES, AND IN ELECTRIC LAMPS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Henley, of Plaistow, in the County of
Essex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DYNAMO ELECTRIC, MAGNETO
ELECTRIC, AND ELECTRO MAGNETIC MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT, THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER, AND FOR
OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES, AND IN ELECTRIC LAMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Henley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December 1880.
"IMPROVE-
WILLIAM THOMAS HENLEY, of Plaistow, in the County of Essex.
MENTS IN DYNAMO ELECTRIC, MAGNETO ELECTRIC, AND ELECTRO MAGNETIC
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT, THE
TRANSMISSION OF POWER, AND FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES, AND IN ELECTRIC
LAMPS."
My improvements refer to improved methods hereafter described of combining
and arranging electro-magnets and electro- and permanent magnets and armatures;
also in improved forms of such magnets and armatures, and in method of winding
the same or other forms, whereby considerably more power is obtained, and much
better results when used for obtaining or transmitting power than heretofore; also
in improved form of electric lamps. The Invention will be best understood by
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Sheet 1 shows one of my improved forms of dynamo machines. Figure 1 is a
longitudinal sectional view of the machine; Figure 2, a transverse section showing
the arrangement of the electro-magnets and revolving wheel carrying the pieces of
iron; Figure shows the revolving wheel with pieces of soft iron attached. The
same letters refer to like parts in each Figure. A, A, are cast iron standards fixed
to base plate B, to which the electro-magnets a, a, a, a, a, a, and b, b, b, b, b, b, are
bolted, which latter may be made of cast iron, but I prefer wrought iron, or, better,
pieces of soft iron tube, which may be of the oval section shown in the Drawing,
Figure 2, having soft iron welded in the ends next the standards for bolting to the

page_text: same;
these tubes are filled with soft iron wire lengthways of the tube forced in
tight. In the Drawing there are six of these tubes shown attached to each
standard, but I do not confine myself to any particular number; these are so fixed
that their poles do not stand opposite each other, but the poles of the electro-
magnets on each standard stand midway between the poles of the magnets on the
other standard. C is the wheel made of brass fixed on the shaft D; c, c, c, c, c, c,
are six pieces of soft iron, which I prefer made of iron plates. These are fixed to
the wheel C, and as they revolve with the wheel they bring the poles of the
electro magnets on one standard alternately in magnetic connection with the poles
of the electro magnets on the other standard. The currents produced are by a
commutator made to flow all in one direction through the coils of the magnets on
one standard, so that the poles always remain of those magnets of one character,
every alternate pole being north, the other south, so that in one revolution of the
wheel with the pieces of iron these pieces are brought into close proximity with
the poles of the electro magnets marked a and b; this by reason of the residual
magnetism in the cast iron standards and electro magnets causes a slight current to
be generated in the coils of wire surrounding the electro magnets. These currents
by a commutator F fixed on the shaft D are made to circulate in one direction
through the coils of the electro-magnets on one standard, say, those marked a, a, a,
a, a, a, so that the poles of this set of magnets remain the same character, being
north and south, as shown in Fig. 2. If the residual magnetism is not sufficient
to generate the current in the coils I propose to do so by means hereafter referred
to. The weak currents at first set in motion re-act on the other set in manner now
well known. As the wheel C revolves the electro-magnets a, a, having their poles
remaining of the same character, the pieces of iron c, c, alternately make magnetic
connection between the poles of the electro-magnets a, a, and b, b, causing the latter
to have their polarity reversed twelve times in each revolution of the wheel C; for
instance, supposing the wheel C, Figure 3, transferred to its place in Figure 2, in
its present position the upper piece of iron e would be opposed to the north pole of
the electro-magnet on the right hand, making that end of the piece of iron a south
pole, the other end a north; this would render the pole of the electro-magnet b on
the left a south pole, but when the wheel had advanced one twelfth of a revolution
to the right the upper piece of iron has left the pole b, and the following piece of
iron has placed it in connection with the south pole of the other electro-magnet a,
thus reversing its polarity, making it a north, and, as before stated, this reversal
takes place twelve times in each electro-magnet on one standard during one
revolution of the wheel C, but the pieces c, c, c, have their polarity reversed only
six times during the same time. The coils of the electro-magnets are connected
with the commutator in any well known way by means of springs or brushes of
metal pressing on the pieces of metal forming the commutator; or it may be a
commutator dipping in a cup of mercury, as hereinafter described. In conveying
the currents from the electro-magnets to the commutator, and from the same, the
wires from the electro magnets a, a, should be attached to binding screws at one
end of the machine, and the wires from the electro magnets b, b, to binding screws
at the other end of the machine; and the current for producing the light or other
effect could be brought from either end of the machine. From one end alternate
currents would be obtained, from the other currents all in one direction, the binding
screws at the end from which the current is not taken being connected by stout
copper wire.
In all cases the electro magnets may be of any section, square,
round, or rectangular, but the oval section shown is a very good shape.
Sheet 2 shows another arrangement. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section ; Figure 5
is a transverse section; Figure 6, shows a wheel made of brass or other non-
magnetic material, carrying in this case pieces of iron, shown separately at Figure 7;
which I prefer made of sheet iron, bent in the shape shown in this plan Figure 7,
these pieces of soft iron are wound with coils of wire, so as to become electro-
magnets. As in Sheet 1, A, A, are the standards; B, the base plate; C, the
wheel; a, a, a, a, a, a, and b, b, b, b, b, b, the electro-magnets; D, the shaft; F, the

page_text: commutator; and E, the driving pulley. The iron pieces c, c, c, c, on the wheel C
are wound with coils of covered wire. The electro magnets a, a, a, and b, b, b, may
be placed on the standards, as in Sheet 1, but I prefer placing the poles of the
electro magnets on each standard opposite each other, as in Sheet 2. I do not
confine myself to any particular way of connecting up the electro-magnets in this
case, but the commutator must be so arranged that the fixed electro magnets must
have similar poles opposite each other continually, as shown in Figure 5, in which
case the revolving electro-magnets would have their polarity reversed eight times
in each revolution; or the currents may alternate in the fixed magnets, and then
brought by means of the commutator to the revolving magnets in such a way as to
make their polarity remain of the same character continually.
Instead of Fig. 6, Sheet 2, a wheel and two semicircular pieces of iron E, E, may
be uesd; these pieces have indentations for the reception of the wire, as shown in
section at Fig. 63; these are wound with wire coils, as shown at Figs. 6ª and 6º.
By this arrangement double the number of electro magnets are made use of on the
wheel, and sixty four separate currents are produced from the electro magnets_on
the revolving wheel at each revolution, instead of thirty two as from Fig 6. The
electro magnets may consist of eight separate pieces of iron on the brass wheel C,
instead of two, but the latter arrangement offers more facility in the manufacture;
this wheel of course is to be used in a similar machine to that shown in Fig. 4.
Sheet 4, Figures 8, 9, and 10, show another plan of revolving electro-magnets
applied to the same arrangement of fixed electro magnets; in this case two wheels
are employed, each carrying four bent pieces of iron e, Fig. 8, and e, e, e, e, Figs. 9
and 10. In these cases three pieces of iron or armatures are shown made of plates,
they are fixed on the wheels C and C¹ firmly fixed to the shaft D; they are wound
with coils of wire, so as to fill up to the dotted lines shown in Fig. 8, so that the
wheels and armatures may revolve in front of the electro-magnets without danger
of the wire coming in contact with the same; by the dotted lines in Fig. 9 the
electro-magnets are represented as circular in section. The standards with the
electro-magnets must be set farther apart in this case, as the two wheels take up
more room than the one Fig. 4, Sheet 2. I propose in some cases the shaft to be
placed in two separate bearings not connected with the standards carrying the
fixed electro magnets, but that these standards should move in slides fitted in the
base plate and adjustable by a screw at each end working in a nut at the bottom
of the standard, or one screw passing both standards with a right handed thread at
one end and a left hand thread at the other working in corresponding nuts in
each standard. This plan would have the advantage of being able to adjust the
electro magnets with the armature, to get the greatest amount of power when
required, or to move them farther away when much power is not required; when a
corresponding less amount of force would be required to drive the machine, the
currents could be applied in a similar manner, as in the last mentioned arrangement
in Figures 8, 9, and 10.
At Figures 11 and 12, Sheet 4, is shown an arrangement of permanent magnets
fixed on a brass wheel to work between the fixed electro-magnets, shown in the
machine in Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 2. This shows eight permanent magnets g, g,
four on each side of the wheel; it will be seen the poles of these steel magnets
are brought very near together as they are fixed on the wheel, but the poles that
are brought near together are similar poles, and the electro-magnets on each side
of the wheel have similar poles opposed to each other, that is to say, the magnets
are wound and connected in such a way that the magnets a, a, a, on one standard
have similar polarity to the magnets b, b, b, on the other standard opposed to them,
so that as the wheel C revolves with the permanent magnets g, g, g, g, the eight
north poles of the latter induce south polarity in four of the electro-magnets
a, a, a, a, on one standard, and the other four the same in the electro-magnets
b, b, b, b, on the other standard, and the eight south poles of the permanent
magnets induce north polarity in the other four electro-magnets a, a, a, a, and the
other four in b, b, b, b, and the polarity of all the electro-magnets are reversed

page_text: when the wheel has made one fourth of a revolution, so that the magnetism of the
whole of the electro-magnets is reversed four times in each revolution of the
wheel C, and the coils of one set of magnets are connected with the set on
the other standard, so that the currents from the coils of one set pass through the
coils of the other set, so that they act in such a way as is well known in mutually
adding to the strength of each. The coils may be connected up in such manner
that the currents pass through the whole of the coils of the electro-magnets in
series one after the other, or so that the eight currents from one set of magnets to
the coils on the other eight magnets, according whether the current is required
of quantity or intensity; or they may be connected in any other way, taking care,
as before mentioned, that the coils are so connected that the currents do not
counteract each other. In this arrangement no commutator is required so long
as the working current may be of an alternate character, the wires carrying the
current to the work being connected direct to the coils of the electro-magnets.
If the currents are required all in one direction it will require a simple commutator
connected with the shaft for reversing each alternate current. Figures 13 and 14
show a wheel with six permanent magnets fixed on each side of the wheel in the
same manner as in Figures 11 and 12; but this is intended to work between six
electro-magnets on each standard, so that all the electro-magnets shall have their
polarity reversed six times in each revolution of the wheel. In both wheels the
permanent magnets have soft iron pieces or caps i, i, i, i, i, on each pole, so that
these pieces stand beyond and are brought nearly in contact with the electro-
magnets; but these pieces of iron are not absolutely necessary, as the magnets
themselves may be brought near the electro-magnets.
I propose in some cases to use the wheels with the electro-magnets fixed thereon,
and to send a current from a voltaic battery through these coils, using these thus
excited instead of the permanent steel magnets on the wheel. In this wheel only
six electro-magnets are fixed on each standard.
Sheet 5 shews another modification of my improvements, Figure 15 in longi-
tudinal section, Figure 16 in transverse section. A, A, are cast iron standards to
carry the magnets j, j, j,j, j, j, in this case shown as electro-magnets with the
coils k, k, k, k; these magnets are separated from the cast iron standards by some
non-magnetic material, in this case hard wood is shown; these standards are fixed
to the cast iron base plate B; G, G, are two standards with bearings for the
shaft D. On each end of this shaft is fixed an iron armature for the six magnets,
preferably made of sheet iron rivetted together, having six arms; each arm Mis
wound with a coil of wire N. As the shaft revolves these arms have their polarity
reversed, if permanent magnets are used, by the magnetism of the permanent
magnets, and if electro-magnets, as in the Drawing, the current from the revolving
armature is by a commutator sent through the coils of the fixed magnets, so as to
make them continue of the same polarity arranged alternately north and south,
or the rotating armature may by same means continue of the same polarity instead
of the fixed magnets.
Sheet 6, Figures 17 and 18, shows an arrangement where electro-magnetsj, j, j‚j‚j‚Ì‚
of shape shown, also made by preference of sheet iron, are fixed to two revolving
wheels C, C, and act with the fixed electro-magnets of same shape in place of the star
shaped electro-magnets, as shown on Sheet 4. Permanent magnets may also be
substituted for the movable electro-magnets, the fixed magnets in this case being
electro-magnets. When using iron wire or very soft iron, in which case the residual
magnetism would be very slight, I propose to use in these electro-magnets, either
fixed or rotating, in which by means of a commutator the poles are always of the
same character, a piece or pieces of permanently magnetized steel so as to suffi-
ciently excite the other electro-magnets so as to induce a small current to commence
with; for instance, in the machine shown on Sheets 1 and 2, where the electro-
magnets are tubes filled with longitudinal iron wires, I should insert in the centre
of the mass of wires in the tubes that are to remain of the same polarity a piece
of magnetized steel, and where the electro-magnets are made of plates of soft iron

page_text: I propose to insert a plate or two of magnetized steel, but, as before stated, this
should only be done in those magnets where the currents from the other magnets
are by means of a commutator made to pass through the coils of these magnets all
in one direction to make these magnets of a similar polarity to that of the pieces of
magnetized steel.
Sheet 7 shows an arrangement where straight iron tubes filled with soft iron
wires are made to rotate between fixed electro-magnets formed in the same way,
namely, tubes filled with soft iron wires; these tubes, both revolving and stationary,
may be formed of other material than iron so long as they are filled with iron
wire, but I prefer the tubes of iron. Figure 19 shows a longitudinal section, and
Figure 20 a transverse section of same. A, A, are the two fixed standards carrying
the fixed electro-magnets a, a, a, a, and b, b, b, b; C, C, the two wheels fixed on
the shaft D, to which are firmly attached the electro-magnets c, c, c, c, c, c.
Figure 21 is an end view of one of the wheels. The currents from the coils of the
electro-magnets, both fixed and revolving, are led away to a commutator by which
they are made to pass through the coils of the revolving magnets or the fixed ones
in such a way that either the one or the other of the poles shall remain the same,
so that, say, the revolving electro-magnets alway retain the same polarity. Both
sets of the fixed magnets will have their polarity reversed as many times in each
revolution as there are electro-magnets in a set. The currents can be passed through
all the electro-magnets in series one after the other, or may be grouped together
according as the current is required of greater or less intensity, diminishing in
intensity of course increasing the quantity. The working current can consist of
the whole of the current of the magnets, or the revolving magnets and one set
of fixed ones can be made to excite each other, and the current from the other set
of fixed magnets employed as the working current, which can be arranged either to
have the current alternately or all in one direction. The central series of magnets, in
this case shown revolving, may be fixed, and the two other sets be fixed to a shaft
and made to revolve, in which case their outer ends would be fixed to a ring of
iron revolving with them instead of being fixed to the standards. The tubes in these
arrangements may be of any section so long as they contain soft iron longitudinal
wires; they may be partly filled, the centre of the mass consisting of wood or any
other material which may be driven to compress and keep tight the enclosed iron
wires. Figure 22, on Sheet 8, is an end view, and Fig. 23 a vertical longitudinal section
of wheels with steel permanent magnets fixed to them instead of the electro magnets,
and these permanent magnets may be wound with wire coils, but the currents from the
fixed electro-magnets must be made to pass through these coils in one direction by
a commutator, by which the polarity of these permanent magnets will be continued
and increased.
Sheet 8 also illustrates another form of machine with electro magnets of a new
form of construction and arrangement; Figure 24 is a longitudinal view, and
Figure 25 a half transverse section and half end view.
The electro magnets a, a, a, a, may be of solid iron of the shape shown, or
straight bars with pieces fixed on the end, but I prefer forming them of sheet iron
plates bent in the form shown in the Drawing; they are fixed on the base by the
pieces of brass g, g, or other non magnetic metal, to which they are firmly bolted,
and are connected across at the upper end by cross pieces of iron b, b, b, b, either
solid or made of sheet iron, each electro-magnet on one side being connected to the
opposite one on the other side by a piece of iron which may be either wound with
wire or not; the electro-magnets at the upper end with the cross pieces may be
connected on each side to a strip of brass or other non magnetic metal to keep
them firm in their places, the ends of the pieces of brass being fixed to four iron
columns or supports f, f, f, f, fixed to the base B. Two standards G, G, either cast
on the base or bolted thereto carry the shaft D, on which is a brass bush H, to
which is affixed the pieces of iron c, c, c, c, in this case shown made of thin sheet
iron bent in the form shown in Figures 26 and 27. There is one piece of iron
between the poles of each pair of electro-magnets; these pieces of iron or armatures

page_text: are covered with coils of insulated wire; these armatures are fixed to the brass
bush by screws of some non-magnetic metal, the bush being keyed to the shaft.
Instead of separate pieces of iron on the revolving shaft one piece may extend the
whole length of the electro magnets formed of the shape shown in Figure 26, each
projecting arm being wound with a coil of wire, but I prefer the separate pieces,
and by preference made of sheet iron. A commutator must be employed to render
the currents all in one direction that pass either through the revolving electro-
magnets or one set of the fixed electro-magnets. Instead of the fixed plates on the
upper ends of the electro magnets a second revolving set of armatures may be used,
but I prefer the before mentioned plan with one set of revolving armatures.
In electro-magnets and armatures and coils used in dynamo and magneto
motors and machines for the transmission of power I propose to adopt a different
and improved method of winding the coils. As in most machines of the kind
currents of quantity as well as intensity are required; to obtain quantity currents
they have been using insulated wire of a large size for winding the coils. It is
well known that the nearer the current travels at right angles to the axis of the
core the greater the magnetic effect and the greater the current produced by the
induction of a magnetic core; but the larger the wire employed the farther are the
currents removed from travelling at right angles to the axis of the core. I have
found by experience that instead of winding the coils backwards and forwards from
one end of the bar to the other, one coil on the top of the other, the commencement
of the first layer and the end of the last one only being left out, and using large
wire to obtain quantity currents, it is well to use insulated wire of a small size;
for moderate size machines I prefer it not larger than No. 14 Birmingham wire
gauge, and I wind them in separate layers, all in one direction, one on the top of
the other, and join all the commencements of the coils together at one end and all
the terminations together at the other end, by which means the current is trans-
mitted a much greater number of times round a bar of a given length, and also
much nearer at right angles to the axis of the coil, acting somewhat in the manner
of an insulated ribbon of copper wound edgeways round the core. I am aware it
has been proposed instead of winding the wire backwards and forwards the whole
length of the bar to wind it in separate short coils, one layer on the top of the
other, but this is quite different from my method, and possesses none of its
advantages.
Instead of the ordinary commutator composed of pieces of metal fixed round a
cylinder of ebonite or other insulating material, I propose where the current is of
considerable quantity to employ a commutator of rods of copper or other good
conducting metal dipping in cups of mercury, such rods being moved in a vertical
direction by eccentrics or cams on the shaft. Figure 28 is an end view; Figure 29, a
side view, and Figure 30 a plan of such an arrangement. The cams B on the shaft A
depress the four rods C, C, C, C¹, the two former with their fork ends descending
alternately with the two latter into the mercury cups E, the spiral springs D
raising them again; one longer leg of each fork never leaves the mercury in its
cup, while the other end makes and breaks contact. The dotted lines, Fig. 30,
indicate the way the cups are connected under the base board; each fork is insu-
lated from its rod. The current on one side of the commutator is reversed as many
times in each revolution as the two outer pairs, and the two inner pairs of cups
complete the current by the descent of the forks in the mercury. In conveying
the current from electro-magnets on a revolving shaft I propose to use an insulated
metal disc turned thin at the edge, and revolving in a cup of mercury on a pillar
insulated from the base of the machine.
I also pass the current from a voltaic battery through the four armatures on one
of the wheels, and including the eight stationary electro magnets opposed to them
in the circuit, but the current must be in one direction in the revolving armature,
and by means of a commutator be alternately reversed in the stationary magnets;
or the reverse action may take place, continuing in one direction in the stationary
magnets and reversed in the armature. By these means one half of the machine

page_text: becomes a motive power engine, which is driven by the battery; the other half
becomes a dynamo machine for the production of the current for the light or other
purposes, but a commutator must be provided to cause the poles of either the
revolving armatures or the stationary magnets to continue of the same polarity,
speaking now of the other half of the machine which is not connected with the
battery, but care must be taken to wind the magnets and armature of this part in
such a manner and with such size wire as shall produce intensity currents, and not
of such quantity as shall cause the magnets and armatures to become so powerfully
magnetic as to overcome the motive force of the other half of the machine. The
battery current may be made to circulate through the whole of the stationary
magnets and revolving armatures, either in one direction through the armatures
and alternately reversed in the stationary electro magnets, or vice versa, taking the
combined current of battery and magnets for the working current; in both these
arrangements the battery current should be reversed by the commutator at the
proper time when the centre of the revolving armatures arrive a little beyond the
centres of the stationary electro magnets, so as to utilize the repulsion that takes
place by the change of polarity. The machine shown in Sheet 7 with the straight
electro magnets revolving between the fixed magnets, may be made use of with
the battery when the current is sent through all the magnets, keeping the
polarity of the same character in one set as before explained, and I propose to make
use of these improvements of applying a voltaic battery current to any dynamo or
magneto electric machine where the same can be made applicable.
I do not limit myself to any particular construction or arrangement of commu-
tator, but for simply reversing the current either of the battery or the induced
current I use the form shown in Figures 31 and 32, where a is the shaft, b a brass
brush, fixed on by set screws, a slot at each end of the brass bush allowing of
adjustment. d and e are two copper rings with projecting pieces, the whole fixed
on ebonite or other insulating material to insulate them from the brass bush; these
projecting pieces are fixed with spaces between. The current may be conveyed to
the copper rings by springs pressing on them, but I prefer in some cases that the
current should be conveyed by mercury cups in which the sharp edges of the rings
revolve, as shown at Fig. 31, the metallic connection being so much better. The
current being thus conveyed to one of the rings, it alternately passes by the
two springs and g, one conveying it through the circuit, the other in its turn
bringing it back to the other ring and mercury cup; thus any magnets in circuit
connected direct to the rings will have the current in one direction, any in circuit
between the two springs will have the current reversed as many times in one
revolution of the commutator; of course the number of separate pieces on the
commutator must correspond with the number of fixed and rotary magnets.
I propose in some cases, instead of using springs for the commutator, to use a
mercurial commutator, as shown in Figures 33 and 34. a and a¹ are two metal
double discs, insulated from the brass bush and shaft; each of these are connected
with two other discs with part of the circumference removed, as at Fig. 33. The
two complete discs rotate in the mercury cups b¹, 61, and the others alternately pass
through the mercury in the cups c, d, e, f; the cups c and f are connected together
and d and e. When a projection connected with a disc a dips into c, one of the pro-
jections connected with 6' dips into e, but when the shaft makes part of a revolution
the projection of a dips into d and projection of a³ into f, and thus reverses the
connections.
I also propose instead of this in some cases to have cams on the shaft, which, by
means of levers, are depressing metallic rods into mercury cups to make contact
instead of the revolving pieces passing through mercury; the rods are lifted out
of the mercury by springs acting under the bent levers pressing them up to the
cams.
My improvements in electric lamps are shown in Sheets 11, 12, and 13, where,
as regards Sheet 11, two discs of carbon or other suitable material A, A, are mounted
on spindles inclined to each other and fitted in jointed levers F; B, Fig. 35, is a

page_text: disc of insulating material of such a nature that it will melt away or burn away
in an equal manner with the discs A, A; it is fixed on a horizontal axis which
carries a crown wheel C, this with the disc B is caused to rotate slowly by the
pinion working into the crown wheel, which is driven by a train of clock-work D.
The springs a, a, keep the discs A, A, in close contact with the disc B, which by
these means are caused also to rotate slowly, and continually present a fresh surface
to the action of the current, and as the discs A, A, burn away and become smaller,
the disc B does the same, and the former, partly by gravity but chiefly from the
pressure of the springs a, a, keeps in contact with B until the three discs are
reduced to, say, less than half their diameter, when they must be removed and
fresh ones put on. Cone pulleys or other suitable means may be provided for
compensating for decreased speed of the disc peripheries. A part of the current,
or the whole, is made to pass through the coils of the electro-magnet E, which,
whilst the current passes, attracts a piece of iron, which, attached to a lever, passes
up the small carriage carrying the axle with the crown wheel and the disc B, and
keeps the discs A, A, separate a sufficient distance to allow the current to pass so
as to produce the arc in a proper manner, the distance being dependent on the
thickness of the disc B, which should be regulated according to the nature of
the electric current employed. If the current through any cause ceases to pass, the
electro-magnet no longer attracts its armature, and the insulating disc drops, and
the discs A, A, come into contact with each other, allowing the current to pass; the
electro-magnet instantaneously attracts its armature, the insulating disc rises to its
former position, and the light is renewed; so, if a number of lamps are in circuit, one
going out does not interfere with the rest except for so short a space of time that
the eye cannot perceive it, and when the current is turned off for the purpose of
extinguishing all the lamps, the discs A, A, in all the lamps are brought into
contact, so that when the current is turned on again they all re-light; also when
the electro-magnet ceases to attract the armature by the shutting off of the current,
a small arm from the keeper stops the fly of the clock-work, so that it is only
in motion during the time it is wanted for the light. The pinion driving the
crown wheel has a great depth, so that the crown wheel can move up and down
without getting out of gear with it. The levers F and supports carrying the
discs A, A, are of course properly insulated from the frame of the clockwork to
which they are attached; and as it is of great importance that there should be as
little resistance as possible in the various connections of the apparatus to the passage
of the current. I propose to use mercury to lessen this where practicable, as shown
in Fig. 36, so that where the discs A, A, revolve on the axis I cause a small disc of
metal on the latter to revolve in a small mercury cup holding a small portion of
mercury, the inside of the cup and the edge of the disc being amalgamated, by
which means an excellent metallic contact is produced. I also cause projections
of the levers carrying the discs to dip into mercury cups, as frequently, where a
a lever or wheel moves on an axis, oil or dirt interferes considerably with the
passage of the current. I propose in all the improvements comprised in this Patent
application to use this improved form of connection where convenient. Another
form of lamp in which discs of carbon or other suitable material for the produc-
tion of the light is made use of is shown in Figure 36. In this improvement
the discs A, A, revolve on axis parallel to each other, the discs being mounted on
axles on the upper part of two levers F pivoted in the bearings b, b, which with
the discs d are dipped in cups containing mercury for forming perfect contact; the
bearings b, with the two terminals c, c, are insulated from the frame-work on which
they are fixed. These discs A move in the same plane, and are caused to revolve
by the wheel B, which is made of some insulating material not affected by heat;
porcelain well annealed will answer the purpose. This wheel B is caused to
revolve very slowly by the train of clockwork shown, which also actuates
the cam e, which causes the wheel B to be elevated in proportion as the two
discs A burn away, and are reduced to the size shown in the dotted lines, the
Drawings in this lamp and the last showing a convenient size for the lamps

page_text: although of course they may be constructed of any size. The two discs A are
kept in firm contact with the wheel B by the insulated spiral spring a to insure
their revolving by contact with the wheel B; this wheel is mounted on a spindle
which also carries a crown wheel C worked by a pinion from the train of clock-
work; this pinion has a great depth, as in the before mentioned plan, so as not to
get out of gear with the crown wheel, as the latter moves up and down with the
wheel B; a current is sent through an electro-magnet E as in the former case,
which by a lever keeps the wheel B elevated in its proper position during the time
it is being slowly raised by the can c, but if the light becomes extinguished
through the current ceasing to pass through any cause, the electro-magnet ceases to
attract, and the wheel B drops sufficient to allow the two discs to come in contact
with each other, and establish the connection again, as in the former plan; also in
this case the clockwork is stopped by the same action; it is not necessary to show
all the details of the clockwork train; it may be an ordinary train, preferably
containing a fusee to regulate the speed when the spring is getting down. The
wheels and pinions are so arranged that a very slow motion is given to the cam e,
so that half a revolution shall take such a time as will suffice for the discs A, A, to
be reduced by the combustion from the full size to that of about half the diameter,
to regulate the train so as not to run too fast, and consequently feed the wheel B
up too fast, and by that means separate the two discs too much. I propose to use
a coil of wire with a permanent magnet suspended in it; the whole of the current or
a part passes through this coil, and the permanent magnet bas an arm which causes
a break to be eased on a small wheel on one of the pinions if the train runs too
slow, which would have the effect of allowing the discs to come too close together,
the current becoming stronger would draw the permanent magnet farther into the
coil, and easing the break the train would run faster, and thus regulate the distances
of the discs apart.
Figure 37 shows another arrangement in which similar discs A
are used for the production of the electric arc; in this case the discs are made to
revolve at the extremities of two arms F, the motion being transmitted direct to
the discs A, A, from the clockwork train by means of worm wheels and worms, the
worm wheels being on the same axles as the discs, and the worms on spindles
passing along the arms or levers F from the train. The arms with the discs are
drawn towards each other by the spiral spring a, but the discs are prevented from
coming within a certain distance of each other by the cam e, which being caused to
revolve by the clockwork at such a determined rate as shall allow the discs to
approach each other at such a proportionate rate as shall compensate for the decrease
in diameter from the combustion caused by the current. To further regulate the
speed of the train and the distances of the discs apart, I make use of a coil of
wire G and suspended permanent magnet H. If the train runs too fast and the
discs approach too near together, the current becomes stronger, and the magnet
descending in the coil puts a break on one of the pinion axles, and thus diminishes
the speed; the reverse takes place if the current becomes weaker by the discs
getting too far apart; one of the arms has a joint, the arm being kept straight by
the attraction of the electro-magnet E whilst the current is passing, but if this
entirely ceases through the discs becoming too far apart, or from any other causes,
the discs are brought in contact by the spring a, when the action commences again.
The two arms carrying the discs are separated at f and f', and joined together
with pieces of ebonite or other insulating material, and the spindles carrying the
worms are also separated, and the parts coupled together by means of an insulator
socket; the current can be conveyed to the discs either by spirals of wire attached
to the insulated arms, or by mercury cups as in the Drawing. When the discs are
burnt down to the reduced size they are removed by unscrewing the thumb nut,
taking the reduced disc off the spindle and replacing by another, replacing the
cam e in its proper position at the same time. When the two discs come together
through the cessation of the current, an arm from the keeper of the electro-magnet
stops the train, as in the former case.
A modified arrangement of lamp is shown in Figures 38 and 39, where pencils A

page_text: of carbon are used, inclined to each other, and fed forward by rollers driven by a
train of clockwork; the two rollers B are driven by the train, the other outer
ones B' may be driven likewise, or may be pressed against the carbons by the
springs a, as shewn, which will be sufficient to feed the carbons forward; these are
kept the right distance apart by the piece of material I, which, if one piece, must be
an insulator, or may be two rollers of metal insulated from each other; in this case
also I use an electro-magnet E to cause the roller or rollers to drop and allow the
pencils to touch each other on the cessation of the current, and also a coil G and
permanent magnet H suspended to retard the train should the pencils be fed
forward too fast and thus be brought too near together. In this plan and the two
last I propose to use a small inclined piece of metal K to throw off any particles of
carbon that may drop and which would interfere with the action of the apparatus
used in regulating the distances; I also propose with this plan to sometimes use
flexible carbons wound on small drums, and thence fed forward by rollers, as in the
Drawing, by which means carbons of great length can be used lasting a long time
without renewal.
For an incandescent lamp I use a glass blown of the shape shown in Figure 40.
The lower end, which is open, is cemented into a metal collar screwed and with a
flange so as to receive a metal cap also screwed, and with a flange to take an india
rubber washer, so that when screwed on the vessel is air tight; this has a valve and
stop cock to attach to a syringe or air pump for the purpose of exhausting the air
when necessary, and this may be done every night before lighting; the pressure of
the external air will keep the valve tightly closed and maintain a vacuum for some
time. The two brass pillars B pass through ebonite or other insulated material
which is firmly fixed in the metal collar, the inside of the latter being filled with
insulating cement round the passage leading to the valve. The two pillars carry
the metal or other refractory material A to be heated by the current for producing
the light; the two columns have terminals on the outside to receive the wires
conveying the current.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Thomas Henley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th June 1881.
WILLIAM THOMAS HENLEY, of Plaistow, in the County of Essex.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DYNAMO ELECTRIC, MAGNETO ELECTRIC, AND ELECTRO MAGNETIC
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIGHT AND HEAT, THE
TRANSMISSION OF POWER, AND FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES, AND IN ELECTRIC
LAMPS."
My improvements refer to improved methods hereafter described of combining
and arranging electro-magnets and electro and permanent magnets and armatures,
also in improved forms of such magnets and armatures, and in method of winding
the same or other forms, whereby considerably more power is obtained and much
better results when used for obtaining or transmitting power than heretofore. Also
in improved form of electric lamps. The Invention will be best understood by
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1, which is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine, shows one of
my improved forms of dynamo machines; Figure 2 is a transverse section showing
the arrangement of the electro magnets and revolving wheel carrying the pieces of
iron; Figure 3 shows the revolving wheel with pieces of soft iron attached.
A, A, are cast iron standards fixed to base plate B, and to which the electro-
magnets a, a, a, a, a, a, and b, b, b, b, b, b, are bolted; these may be made of cast
iron, but I prefer wrought iron, or, better, pieces of soft iron tube, which may be of
the oval section shown in the Drawing, Figure 2, having soft iron welded in ends
next the standards for bolting to the same; these tubes are filled with soft iron wire
lengthways of the tube forced in tight. In the Drawing there are six of these tubes
shown attached to each standard, but I do not confine myself to any particular
number; these are so fixed that their poles do not stand opposite each other, but
the poles of the electro-magnets on each standard stand midway between the poles
of the magnets on the other standard. C is the wheel made of brass fixed on the
shaft D; C, C, C, C₁. C¹, C', are six pieces of soft iron which I prefer made of iron
plates; these are fixed to the wheel C, and as they revolve with the wheel they bring
the poles of the electro magnets on one standard alternately in magnetic connection
with the poles of the electro magnets on the other standard. The currents produced
are by a commutator made to flow all in one direction through the coils of the
magnets on one standard, so that the poles always remain of those magnets of one
character, every alternate pole being north, the other south, so that in one revo-
lution of the wheel with the pieces of iron these pieces are brought into close
proximity with the poles of the electro magnets marked a and 6; this (by reason
of the residual magnetism in the cast iron standards and electro magnets) causes
a slight current to be. generated in the coils of wire surrounding the electro
magnets; these currents, by a commutator F fixed on the shaft D, are made to
circulate in one direction through the coils of the electro magnets on one standard,
say, those marked a, a, a, a, a, a, so that the poles of this set of magnets remain
the same character, being north and south, as shown in Figure 2. If the residual
magnetism is not sufficient to generate the current in the coils, I propose to do so
by means hereafter referred to after description of Figures 17 and 18, and before
that of Figures 19, 20, and 21. The weak currents at first set in motion re act on
the other set in manner now well known. As the wheel C revolves the electro
magnets a, a, having their poles remaining of the same character, the pieces of iron
C, C¹, alternately make magnetic connection between the poles of the electro-
magnets a, a, and b, b, causing the latter to have their polarity reversed 12

page_text: times in each revolution of the wheel C. For instance, supposing the wheel C,
Figure 3, transferred to its place in Figure 2 in its present position, the upper
piece of iron C' would be opposed to the north pole of the electro magnet on the
right hand, making that end of the piece of iron a south pole, the other end a
north; this would render the pole of the electro magnet b on the left a south pole,
but when the wheel had advanced one twelfth of a revolution to the right, the
upper piece of iron has left the pole b, and the following piece of iron has placed it
in connection with the south pole of the other electro magnet a, thus reversing its
polarity, making it a north; and, as before stated, this reversal takes place 12 times
in each electro-magnet on one standard during one revolution of the wheel C, but
the pieces C¹, C¹, C, have their polarity reversed only 6 times during the same
time. The coils of the electro-magnets are connected with the commutator in any
well known way by means of springs or brushes of metal pressing on the pieces
of metal forming the commutator; or it may be a commutator dipping in a cup of
mercury, as hereinafter described. In conveying the currents from the electro
magnets to the commutator, and from the same, the wires from the electro magnets
a, a, should be attached to binding screws at one end of the machine, and the wires
from the electro magnets b, b, to binding screws at the other end of the machine,
and the current for producing the light or other effect could be brought from either
end of the machine; from one end alternate currents would be obtained, and from
the other end currents all in one direction would be obtained, the binding screws
at the end from which the current is not taken being connected by stout copper
wire. In all cases the electro magnets may be of any section, square, round, or
rectangular, but the oval section shown is a very good shape.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of another arrangement; Figure 5 is a
transverse section; Figure 6 shows a wheel made of brass or other non-magnetic
material carrying in this case pieces of iron, shown separately at Figure 7, which
I prefer made of sheet iron bent in the shape shown in this plan, Figure 7; these
pieces of soft iron are wound with coils of wire so as to become electro-magnets.
A, A, are the standards; B, the base plate; C, the wheel; a, a, a, a, a, a, and
b, b, b, b, b, b, the electro magnets; D, the shaft; F, the commutator; and E, the
driving pulley. The iron pieces c, c, c, c, on the wheel C are wound with coils of
covered wire. The electro magnets a, a, a, and b, b, b, may be placed on the
standards, as in Figures 1, 3; but I prefer placing the poles of the electro
magnets on each standard opposite each other, as in Figures 5, 6, and 7. I do not
confine myself to any particular way of connecting up the electro magnets in this
case; but the commutator must be so arranged that the fixed electro magnets must
have similar poles opposite each other continually, as shown in Figure 5, in which
case the revolving electro-magnets would have their polarity reversed eight times
in each revolution; or the currents may alternate in the fixed magnets, and then
be brought by means of the commutator to the revolving magnets in such a way
as to make their polarity remain of the same character continually.
Instead of the wheel shown, Figure 6, a wheel and two semicircular pieces of
iron E, E, may be used; these pieces have indentations for the reception of the
wire, as shown in section at Figure 6B; these are wound with wire coils, as shown
at Figures 6 and 60. By this arrangement double the number of electro magnets
are made use of on the wheel, and 64 separate currents are produced from the
electro magnets on the revolving wheel at each revolution instead of 32, as from
Figure 6. The electro magnets may consist of 8 separate pieces of iron on the
brass wheel C instead of two, but the latter arrangement offers more facility in the
manufacture; this wheel of course is to be used in a similar machine to that
shown in Figure 4.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 show another plan of revolving electro-magnets applied to
the same arrangement of fixed electro-magnets; in this case two wheels are
employed, each carrying four bent pieces of iron e, Figure 8, and e, e, e, e, Figures 9
and 10. In these cases three pieces of iron or armatures are shown made of
plates; they are fixed on the wheels C and C¹ firmly fixed to the shaft D; they are

page_text: wound with coils of wire, so as to fill up to the dotted line shown in Figure 8, so
that the wheels and armatures may revolve in front of the electro magnets without
danger of the wire coming in contact with the same by the dotted lines in
Figure 9; the electro magnets are represented as circular in section. The standards
with the electro magnets must be set farther apart in this case as the two wheels
take up more room than the one, Figure 4. I propose in some cases the shaft to be
placed in two separate bearings not connected with the standards carrying the
fixed electro magnets, but that these standards should move in slides fitted in the
base plate and adjustable by a screw at each end working in a nut at the bottom
of the standard, or one screw passing both standards with a right handed thread
at one end and a left hand thread at the other working in corresponding nuts in
each standard. This plan would have the advantage of being able to adjust the
electro magnets with the armature to get the greatest amount of power when
required, or to move them further away when much power is not required; when a
corresponding less amount of force would be required to drive the machine, the
currents could be applied in a similar manner as in the last mentioned arrangement
in Figures 8, 9, and 10.
At Figures 11 and 12 is shown an arrangement of permanent magnets fixed on
a brass wheel to work between the fixed electro-magnets, shown in the machine in
Figures 4 and 5. This shows 8 permanent magnets g, g, four on each side of the
wheel; it will be seen the poles of these steel magnets are brought very near
together as they are fixed on the wheel, but the poles that are brought near
together are similar poles, and the electro magnets on each side of the wheel have
similar poles opposed to each other, that is to say, the magnets are wound and
connected in such a way that the magnets a, a, a, on one standard have similar
polarity to the magnets b, b, b, on the other standard opposed to them, so that as
the wheel C revolves with the permanent magnets g, g, g, g, the 8 north poles of
the latter induce south polarity in four of the electro magnets a, a, a, a, on one
standard, and the other four the same in the electro magnets b, b, b, b, on the other
standard, and the 8 south poles of the permanent magnets induce north polarity in
the other four electro magnets a, a, a, a, and the other four in b, b, b, b, and the
polarity of all the electro magnets are reversed when the wheel has made one
fourth of a revolution, so that the magnetism of the whole of the electro-magnets
is reversed 4 times in each revolution of the wheel C, and the coils of one set of
magnets are connected with the set on the other standard, so that the currents
from the coils of one set pass through the coils of the other set, so that they act in
such a way as is well known in mutually adding to the strength of each. The
coils may be connected up in such manner that the currents pass through the
whole of the coils of the electro-magnets in series one after the other, or so that
the eight currents from one set of magnets to the coils on the other eight magnets,
according to whether the current is required of quantity or intensity; or they
may be connected in any other way, taking care, as before mentioned, that the
coils are so connected that the currents do not counteract each other. In this
arrangement no commutator is required so long as the working current may be
of an alternate character, the wires carrying the current to the work being
connected direct to the coils of the electro magnets. If the currents are required
all in one direction it will require a simple commutator connected with the shaft
for reversing each alternate current. Figures 13 and 14 show a wheel with six
permanent magnets fixed on each side of the wheel in the same manner as in
Figures 11 and 12; but this is intended to work between 6 electro magnets on each
standard, so that all the electro magnets shall have their polarity reversed 6 times
in each revolution of the wheel. In both wheels the permanent magnets have soft
iron pieces or caps i, i, i, i, i, on each pole, so that these pieces stand beyond and
are brought nearly in contact with the electro magnets; but these pieces of iron are
not absolutely necessary, as the magnets themselves may be brought near the
electro-magnets.
I propose in some cases to use the wheels with the electro-magnets fixed

page_text: thereon, and to send a current from a voltaic battery through these coils using
these, thus excited, instead of the permanent steel magnets on the wheel. In this
wheel only 6 electro magnets are fixed on each standard.
Another modification of my improvements is shown at Figure 15, which is a
view partly in longitudinal section, and Figure 16 in transverse section. A, A, are
cast iron standards to carry the magnets J, J, J, J, J, J, in this case shown as
electo-magnets with the coils k, k, k, k; these magnets are separated from the cast
iron standards by some non magnetic material, in this case hard wood is shown;
these standars are fixed to the cast iron base plate B; G, G, are two standards with
bearings for the shaft D. On each end of this shaft is fixed an iron armature for
the six magnets J, which are preferably made of sheet iron rivetted together)
having six arms; each arm M is wound with a coil of wire N. As the shaft revolves
these arms have their polarity reversed (if permanent magnets are used) by the
magnetism of the permanent magnets, and if electro magnets, as in the Drawing,
the current from the revolving armature is by a commutator sent through the
coils of the fixed magnets so as to make them continue of the same polarity,
arranged alternately north and south, or the rotating armature may by same
means continue of the same polarity instead of the fixed magnets.
Figures 17 and 18 show an arrangement where electro magnets J, J, J, J, J, J,
of shape shown, also made by preference of sheet iron, are fixed to two revolving
wheels C, C, and act with the fixed electro-magnets of same shape in place of the
star shaped electro-magnets shown at Figures 15 and 16. Permanent magnets may
also be substituted for the movable electro magnets J, the fixed magnets in this
case being electro-magnets. When using iron wire or very soft iron (in which case
the residual magnetism would be very slight), I propose in the electro-magnets
(either fixed or rotating, and in which, by means of a commutator, the poles are
always of the same character) to use a piece or pieces of permanently magnetized
steel so as to sufficiently excite the other electro magnets so as to induce a small
current to commence with; for instance, in the machine shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7; where the electro magnets are tubes filled with longitudinal iron wires I
should insert in the centre of the mass of wires in the tubes that are to remain of
the same polarity a piece of magnetized steel, and where the electro magnets are
made of plates of soft iron I propose to insert a plate or two of magnetized steel, but,
as before stated, this should only be done in those magnets where the currents from
the other magnets are by means of a commutator made to pass through the coils of
these magnets of a similar polarity all in one direction to make these magnets to
that of the pieces of magnetized steel.
Figures 19, 20, and 21 show an arrangement where straight iron tubes filled
with soft iron wires are made to rotate between fixed electro-magnets formed in the
same way, namely, tubes filled with soft iron wires; these tubes, both revolving and
stationary, may be formed of other material than iron, so long as they are filled
with iron wire, but I prefer the tubes of iron. Figure 19 shows a longitudinal
section, and Figure 20 a transverse section of same. A, A, are the two fixed
standards carrying the fixed electro-magnets a, a, a, a, and b, b, b, b; C, C, the two
wheels fixed on the shaft D, to which are firmly attached the electro-magnets
c, c, c, c, c, c. Figure 21 is an end view of one of the wheels, the currents from the
coils of the electro magnets, both fixed and revolving, are led away to a commu-
tator, by which they are made to pass through the coils of the revolving magnets
or the fixed ones in such a way that either the one or the other of the poles shall
remain the same, so that, say, the revolving electro magnets always retain the same
polarity. Both sets of the fixed magnets will have their polarity reversed as many
times in each revolution as there are electro magnets in a set. The currents can be
passed through all the electro magnets in series one after the other, or may be
grouped together according as the current is required of greater or less intensity,
diminishing in intensity of course increasing the quantity. The working current
can consist of the whole of the current of the magnets, or the revolving magnets,
and one set of fixed ones can be made to excite each other, and the current from

page_text: the other set of fixed magnets employed as the working current, which can be
arranged either to have the current alternately or all in one direction. The central
series of magnets, in this case shewn revolving, may be fixed, and the two other sets be
fixed to a shaft and made to revolve, in which case their outer ends would be fixed
to a ring of iron revolving with them instead of being fixed to the standards. The
tubes in these arrangements may be of any section so long as they contain soft
iron longitudinal wires; they may be partly filled, the centre of the mass consisting
of wood or any other material which may be driven to compress and keep tight
the enclosed iron wires.
Figure 22 is an end view, and Figure 23 a vertical longitudinal section of wheels
with steel permanent magnets fixed to them instead of the electro magnets, and
these permanent magnets may be wound with wire coils, but the currents from the
fixed electro magnets must be made to pass through these coils in one direction by
a commutator, by which the polarity of these permanent magnets will be continued
and increased.
Figure 24 is a longitudinal view, and Figure 25 is a half transverse section and
half end view illustrating another form of machine with electro magnets of a new
form of construction of arrangement.
The electro magnets a, a, a, a, may be of solid iron of the shape shewn, or
straight bars with pieces fixed on the end, but I prefer formning them of sheet iron
plates bent in the form shewn in the Drawing; they are fixed on the base by the
pieces g, g, of brass or other non-magnetic metal, to which they are firmly bolted,
and are connected across at the upper end by cross pieces of iron b, b, b, b, either
solid or made of sheet iron, each electro-magnet on one side being thus connected
to the opposite one on the other side by an iron piece b which may be either wound
with wire or not; the electro-magnets at the upper end with the cross pieces may
be connected on each side to a strip of brass or other non-magnetic metal to keep
them firm in their places, the ends of the pieces of brass being fixed to four iron
columns or supports f, f, f. f, fixed to the base B. Two standards G, G, either
cast on the base or bolted thereto, carry the shaft D, on which is a brass bush H to
which are affixed the pieces of iron c, c, c, c, in this case shown made of thin sheet iron
bent in the form shown in Figures 26 and 27. There is one piece of iron between
the poles of each pair of electro magnets, these pieces of iron or armatures are covered
with coils of insulated wire; these armatures are fixed to the brass bush by screws
of some non magnetic metal, the bush being keyed to the shaft. Instead of
separate pieces of iron on the revolving shaft one piece may extend the whole
length of the electro magnets formed of the shape shewn in Figure 26, each
projecting arm being wound with a coil of wire, but I prefer the separate pieces,
and by preference made of sheet iron. A commutator must be employed to render
the currents all in one direction that pass either through the revolving electro-
magnets or one set of the fixed electro-magnets. Instead of the fixed plates on
the upper ends of the electro-magnets a second revolving set of armatures may
be used, but I prefer the before mentioned plan with one set of revolving
armatures.
In electro-magnets and armatures and coils used in dynamo and magneto motors
and machines for the transmission of power I propose to adopt a different and
improved method of winding the coils. As in most machines of the kind currents
of quantity as well as intensity are required; to obtain quantity currents they
have been using insulated wire of a large size for winding the coils. It is well
known that the nearer the current travels at right angles to the axis of the core
the greater the magnetic effect and the greater the current produced by the
induction of a magnetic core; but the larger the wire employed the farther are the
currents removed from travelling at right angles to the axis of the core. I have
found by experience that instead of winding the coils backwards and forwards
from one end of the bar to the other, one coil on the top of the other, the com-
mencement of the first layer and the end of the last one only being left out, and
using large wire to obtain quantity currents, it is well to use insulated wire of a

page_text: small size; for moderate size machines I prefer it not larger than No. 14
Birmingham wire gauge, and I wind them in separate layers all in one direction
one on the top of the other, and join all the commencements of the coils together at
one end, and all the terminations together at the other end, by which means the
current is transmitted a much greater number of times round a bar of a given
length and also much nearer at right angles to the axis of the coil, acting somewhat
in the manner of an insulated ribbon of copper wound edgeways round the core.
am aware it has been proposed instead of winding the wire backwards and forwards
the whole length of the bar to wind it in separate short coils, one layer on the top
of the other, but this is quite different from my method, and possesses none of its
advantages.
I
Instead of the ordinary commutator composed of pieces of metal fixed round a
cylinder of ebonite or other insulating material, I propose where the current is of
considerable quantity to employ a commutator of rods of copper or other good
conducting metal dipping in cups of mercury, such rods being moved in a
vertical direction by eccentrics or cams on the shaft. Figure 28 is an end view,
Figure 29 is a side view, and Figure 30 a plan of such an arrangement. The
cams B on the shaft A depress the four rods c, c, c¹, c', the two former with their
fork ends descending alternatively with the two latter into the mercury cups E, the
spiral springs D raising them again; one longer leg of each fork never leaves the
mercury in its cup, while the other end makes and breaks contact. The dotted
lines, Figure 30, indicate the way the cups are connected under the base board;
each fork is insulated from its rod. The current on one side of the commutator is
reversed as many times in each revolution as the two outer pairs, and the two
inner pairs of cups complete the current by the descent of the forks in the mercury.
In conveying the current from electro magnets on a revolving shaft I propose to use
an insulated metal disc turned thin at the edge, and revolving in a cup of mercury
on a pillar insulated from the base of the machine.
I also pass the current from a voltaic battery through the four armatures on one
of the wheels, and connect the eight stationary electro magnets affixed to them in
the circuit, but the current must be in one direction in the revolving armature,
and by means of a commutator be alternately reversed in the stationary magnets;
or the reverse action may take place, continuing in one direction in the stationary
magnets, and reversed in the armature. By these means one half of the machine
becomes a motive power engine, which is driven by the battery, the other half
becomes a dynamo machine for the production of the current for the light or other
purposes, but a commutator must be provided to cause the poles of either the
revolving armatures or the stationary magnets to continue of the same polarity;
speaking now of the other half of the machine, which is not connected with the
battery, but care must be taken to wind the magnets and armature of this part in
such a manner, and with such size wire as shall produce intensity currents, and
not of such quantity as shall cause the magnets and armatures to become so power-
fully magnetic as to overcome the motive force of the other half of the machine.
The battery current may be made to circulate through the whole of the stationary
magnets and revolving armatures either in one direction through the armatures,
and alternately reversed in the stationary electro magnets, or vice versa, taking the
combined current of battery and magnets for the working current. In both these
arrangements the battery current should be reversed by the commutator at the
proper time, then the centres of the revolving armatures arrive a little beyond the
centres of the stationary electro magnets, so as to utilize the repulsion that takes
place by the change of polarity. The machine shown at Figures 17 and 18, with
the straight electro magnets revolving between the fixed magnets may be made
use of with the battery when the current is sent through all the magnets, keeping
the polarity of the same character in one set, as before explained, and I propose to
make use of these improvements of applying a voltaic battery current to any
dynamo or magneto electric machine where the same can be made applicable.
I do not limit myself to any particular construction or arrangement of

page_text: commutator; but for simply reversing the current, either of the battery or the
induced current, I use the form shown in Figures 31 and 32, where a is the shaft ;
b, a brass bush fixed on by set screws, a slot at each end of the brass bush allowing
of adjustment; d and e are two copper rings with projecting pieces, the whole
fixed on ebonite or other insulating material to insulate them from the brass bush;
these projecting pieces are fixed with spaces between; the current may be conveyed
to the copper rings by springs pressing on them, but I prefer in some cases that the
current should be conveyed by mercury cups in which the sharp edges of the rings
revolve, as shewn at Figure 31, the metallic connection being so much better. The
current being thus conveyed to one of the rings, it alternately passes by the two
springs f and g, one conveying it through the circuit, the other in its turn bringing
it back to the other ring and mercury cup; thus any magnets in circuit connected
driect to the rings will have the current in one direction, and any in circuit
between the two springs will have the current reversed as many times in one
revolution of the commutator; of course the number of separate pieces on the
commutator must correspond with the number of fixed and rotary magnets. The
mercury cups should only be used for machines working at a moderate speed.
I propose in some cases, instead of using springs for the commutator, to use a
mercurial commutator, as shown in Figures 33 and 34; a and a¹ are two metal
double discs insulated from the brass bush and shaft, each of these are connected
with two other discs with part of the circumference removed, as at Figure 33; the
two complete discs rotate in the mercury cups b, b', and the others alternately pass
through the mercury in the cups c, d, e, f; the cups e and fare connected together,
and d and e; when a projection connected with a disc a dips into c one of the
projections connected with b' dips into e; but when the shaft makes part of a
revolution, the projection of a dips into d and projection of a¹ into f, and thus
reverses the connections.
I also propose, instead of this, in some cases to have cams on the shaft, which by
means of levers are depressing metallic rods into mercury cups to make contact
instead of the revolving pieces passing through mercury; the rods are lifted
out of the mercury by springs acting under the bent levers pressing them up to
the cams.
Figure 35 is a part sectional elevation, and Figure 36 a horizontal section
illustrating another method of constructing dynamo machines according to these
improvements; as here shown the machine is vertical, and the fixed electro
magnets a and the base A. cast in one piece, the upper or revolving magnets b
are also cast in one piece with the connecting ring B; the latter is keyed on the
shaft D with an intervening brass bush C, so that the upper casing forming the
revolution part with the revolving electro magnets shall not be in magnetic
connection with the lower part, except through the fixed magnets a and the
revolving ones; E is another casting supported on four columns e fixed to the
base A; the vertical shaft D passes through the casting in a suitable bearing and
carries a mitre wheel F, which is driven by another mitre wheel F' on the horizontal
shaft G with its fast and loose pulleys for receiving motion from the driving
engine; the shaft D also carries two commutators H, H', one to make the alternate
currents from the revolving armatures for the working circuit continuous in one
direction if desired, and the other to do the same for two of the revolving coils, the
currents from which pass through the coils of the fixed magnets. Figure 35A is a
plan of one of the commutators; the six revolving electro magnets b, as well as the
fixed magnets a, may be of a cylindrical form, but I prefer them of the shape here
shewn. The two commutators H and H² are each on a separate brass bush, but
insulated therefrom. Each of these commutators are adjustable on the shaft by
set screws passing through slots in the brass bushes, and fixing them to the shafts.
The wires from the revolving magnets are in metallic connection with the pieces of
metal forming the commutators, the wires from two of the coils with one commu-
tator for passing into the fixed magnets, and the wire from the other four revolving
magnets with the other commutator. For the working circuit, if alternate currents

page_text: are used for the working circuit, the second commutator is not wanted, but only
plain rings of metal attached to the wires. In either case, insulated springs S are
attached to the columns e, and press on the commutators or connecting rings, and
insulated wires lead from the springs to the base for conveying the currents.
When the working circuit offers a very small resistance I wind all the revolving
magnets similar to the fixed one, and include all the coils, both fixed and revolving,
in the working circuit. The shaft with the revolving magnets are adjustable by
the screw d, which forms a step with hard steel bearing, so that the revolving
magnets b may be placed at a greater or less distance from the lower or fixed
ones a, a little play being allowed on the upper part of the shaft D below the
bearing, of course the weight as well as the mutual attraction of the magnets
always keeping them as close together as the adjusting screw will allow.
Instead of passing a current from a battery or other source of electricity through
these revolving electro magnets, I pass a current through the fixed magnets, which
may be a weak current to assist in exciting the fixed electro magnets and their
re-action on each other, as when the magnets are made of very soft iron or iron
wire the residual magnetism will be so small in quantity as not to be sufficient to
produce a current when the machine is put in action. I not only use a current
from a battery to excite the fixed electro magnets when first started, but also all the
time it is at work, as the effect is thereby much increased, although a battery of
very moderate power, such as a "Daniel's," is used. When the machine is thus
used I prefer to use the current from the revolving electro magnets for the external
circuit, that is, the current for the light or other purposes, and cause the current
produced from the fixed magnets, combined with the battery current, to only
circulate through the coils of the fixed magnets. It will be necessary in this case
to have a break piece on the revolving shaft to cut out the currents produced in
the fixed magnets when the revolving magnets pass away from the fixed ones, as
a current is then produced in a reverse direction, and counteracting the other.
The current from four of the revolving electro magnets may be use as the
working current, and the currents from the remaining two be made to circulate
round the fixed magnets. In this case I prefer to wind the two latter similar to
the fixed magnets, with stout wire or separate coils superposed as before mentioned,
but the current from these two movable magnets must, by means of a commutator,
be reversed at each juxtiposition of the magnets, so as to always pass in the same
direction through the coils on the fixed magnets, and the wire on the other four
revolving magnets I use smaller, so as to obtain more intensity. In any of the
improved dynamo machines here described, I propose, where found desirable, to
pass the current from some of the revolving magnets or armatures through, the
fixed magnets, using the currents from the other revolving magnets or armatures
for the working circuit only, this play being necessary where there is much
resistance in the external or working circuit.
In this arrangement, if a continuous circuit in one direction is required for the
working circuit, two commutators must be fixed on the shaft, one for sending the
current in one direction only through the fixed magnets from the two revolving
magnets, and one for putting the current from the other revolving magnets into
the working circuit in one direction.
Figure 37 is a section, and Figure 38 an end view of another adaptation of
armatures to the machine, Figures 6º, 6b, 60; instead of two wheels of non-magnetic
material a double wheel is used, and the two compound rings E fastened on, one
on each; each ring is made in two halves, screwed together as shewn in Figure 39,
and wound with eight coils of wires, forming eight distinct electro magnets'd with
their similar poles united when opposed to the corresponding eight fixed electro
magnets; each of these movable electro magnets have their poles reversed eight
times in one revolution of the wheel.
My improvements in electric lamps are shewn in Figures 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, and
45. In Figures 40, 41, and 42, two discs A, of carbon or other suitable material,
are mounted on spindles A¹, which are fitted in jointed levers F. The spindles A³,

page_text: Figure 40, are inclined to each other. B, Figure 40, is a disc of insulating material,
of such a nature that it will melt away or burn away in an equal manner with the
discs A, A; it is fixed on a horizontal axis B', which carries a crown wheel C; this,
with the disc B, is caused to rotate slowly by the pinion 6' working into the crown
wheel, and which is driven by a train of clock work D. The springs a, a, keep the
discs A, A, in close contact with the disc B, which by these means are caused also
to rotate slowly, and continually present a fresh surface to the action of the current;
and as the discs A, A, burn away and become smaller, the disc B does the same,
and the former partly by gravity, but chiefly from the pressure of the springs a, a,
keep in contact with B until the three discs are reduced to, say, less than
half their diameter, when they must be removed and fresh ones put on.
Cone pulleys or other suitable means may be provided for compensating for
decreased speed of the disc peripheries. A part of the current, or the whole is
made to pass through the coils of the electro magnet E, which whilst the current
passes attracts a piece of iron G' which is attached to a lever G, and pushes up the
small carriage g carrying the axle B' with the crown wheel C and the disc B, and
keeps the discs A, A, separate a sufficient distance to allow. the current to pass so
as to produce the arc in a proper manner, the distance being dependent on the
thickness of the disc B, which should be regulated according to the nature of the
electric current employed. If the current through any cause ceases to pass, the
electro magnet no longer attracts its armature G², and the insulating disc B drops,
and the discs A, A, come into contact with each other, allowing the current to pass ;
the electro magnet E instantaneously attracts its armature G¹, the insulating disc B
rises to its former position, and the light is renewed, so if a number of lamps are in
circuit one going out does not interfere with the rest, except for so short a space of
time that the eye cannot perceive it; and when the current is turned off for the
purpose of extinguishing all the lamps the discs A, A, in all the lamps are brought
into contact, so that when the current is turned on again they all re-light; also,
when the electro magnet ceases to attract the armature by the shutting off of the
current, a small arm from the keeper G stops the fly of the clock work, so that it is
only in motion during the time it is wanted for the light. The pinion b' driving
the crown wheel has a great depth, so that the crown wheel can move up and down
without getting out of gear with it. The levers F and the supports carrying the
discs A, A, are of course properly insulated from the frame of the clockwork to
which they are attached, and as it is of great importance that there should be as
little resistance as possible in the various connections of the apparatus to the passage
of the current, I propose to use mercury to lessen this where practicable, as shown
in Figure 41, so that where the discs A, A, revolve on the axis I cause a small disc
of metal on the latter to revolve in a small mercury cup holding a small portion of
mercury, the inside of the cup and the edge of the disc being amalgamated, by
which means an excellent metallic contact is produced. I also cause projections
of the levers carrying the discs to dip into mercury cups, as frequently where
a lever or wheel moves on one axis oil or dirt interferes considerably with the
passage of the current. I propose in all the improvements comprised in the
Specification of this Patent to use this improved form of connection where
convenient. Another form of lamp in which discs of carbon or other suitable
material for the production of the light is made use of is shown at Figure 41.
In this improvement the discs A, A, revolve on axes parallel to each other,
the discs being mounted on axles A¹ on the upper part of two levers F pivoted in
the bearings b, b, which with the discs d are dipped in cups containing mercury for
forming perfect contact; the bearings b with the two terminals c, c, are insulated
from the frame work on which they are fixed; the discs A move in the same
plane and are caused to revolve by the wheel B, which is made of some insulating
inaterial not affected by heat. Porcelain well annealed will answer the purpose.
This wheel B is caused to revolve very slowly by the train of clockwork shown,
which also actuates the cam d' which causes the wheel B to be elevated in

page_text: proportion as the two discs A burn away and are reduced to the size shown by the
dotted lines, the Drawings in this lamp and the last showing a convenient size
for the lamps, although of course they may be constructed of any size. The
two discs A are kept in firm contact with the wheel B by the insulated spiral
spring a, to ensure their revolving by contact with the wheel B; this wheel is
mounted on a spindle which also carries a crown wheeel C worked by a pinion
from the train of clockwork; this pinion has a great depth, as in the before
mentioned plan, so as not to get out of gear with the crown wheel as the latter
moves up and down with the disc B; a current is, as in the former case, sent through
an electro magnet E, which by a lever armature G keeps the disc B elevated in its
proper position during the time it is being slowly raised by the cam d¹; but if the
light becomes extinguished through the current ceasing to pass through any cause,
the electro magnet ceases to attract, and the disc B drops sufficiently to allow the
two discs A to come in contact with each other, and establish the connection again
as in the former plan; also in this case the clock work is stopped by the same action;
it is not necessary to show all the details of the clockwork train, it may be an
ordinary train preferably containing a fusee to regulate the speed when the spring
is getting down. The wheels and pinions are so arranged that a very slow motion
is given to the cam d', so that half a revolution shall take such a time as will
suffice for the discs A, A, to be reduced by the combustion from the full size to
that of about half the diameter. To regulate the train so as not to run too fast, and
consequently feed the disc B up too fast, and by that means separate the two discs A
too much, I propose to use a coil of wire with a permanent magnet suspended in it;
the whole of the current or a part passes through this coil and the permanent
magnet has an arm which causes a break to be eased on a small wheel on one of
the pinions. If the train runs too slow, which would have the effect of allowing the
discs to come too close together, the current becoming stronger would draw the
permanent magnet further into the coil, and when easing the break the train would
run faster and thus regulate the distances of the discs apart. Figure 42 shows another
arrangement, in which similar discs A are used for the production of the electric
arc; in this case the discs are made to revolve at the extremities of two arms F,
the motion being transmitted direct to the discs A, A, from the clockwork train by
means of worm wheels and worms, the worm wheels C being on the same axles A'
as the discs A, and the worms 6' on spindles passing along the arms or levers F
from the train. The arms with the discs are drawn towards each other by the
spiral spring a, but the discs are prevented from coming within a certain distance
of each other by the cam d', which, being caused to revolve by the clockwork at
such a determined rate as shall allow the discs to approach each other at such a
proportionate rate as shall compensate for the decrease in diameter from the
combustion caused by the current. To further regulate the speed of the train, and
the distances of the discs apart, I make use of a coil of wire G2 and suspended
permanent magnet H. If the train runs too fast, and the discs approach too near
together, the current becomes stronger, and the magnet descending in the coil puts
a break on one of the pinion axles, and this diminishes the speed. The reverse
takes place if the current becomes weaker by the discs getting too far apart. One
of the arms has a joint, the arm being kept straight by the attraction of the
electro-magnet E whilst the current is passing; but if this entirely ceases through
the discs becoming too far apart, or from any other causes, the discs are brought in
contact by the spring a, when the action commences again. The two arms
carrying the discs are separated at f and f¹, and joined together with pieces of
ebonite or other insulating material, and the spindles carrying the worms are also
separated, and the parts coupled together by means of an insulator socket. The
current can be conveyed to the discs either by spirals or wire attached to the
insulated arms, or by mercury cups, as in the Drawing. When the discs are burnt
down to the reduced size they are removed by unscrewing the thumb nut, taking
the reduced disc off the spindle, and replacing by another, replacing the cam d¹ in

page_text: its proper position at the same time. When the two discs come together through
the cessation of the current, an arm from the keeper G of the electro magnet stops
the train, as in the former case.
A modified arrangement of lamp is shewn at Figures 43 and 44, where pencils A
of carbon are used, inclined to each other, and fed forward by rollers driven by a
train of clockwork. The two rollers B are driven by the train; the other outer
ones B' may be driven likewise, or may be pressed against the carbons by the
springs a, as shewn, which will be sufficient to feed the carbons forward. These
are kept the right distance apart by the piece of material I, which if one piece
must be 8. insulator (or may be two rollers of metal insulated from each other).
In this case also I use an electro magnet E to cause the roller or rollers to drop, and
allow the pencils to touch each other on the cessation of the current, and also a
coil G² and permanent magnet H suspended to retard the train should the pencils
be fed forward too fast and thus be brought to near together. In this plan and
the two last I propose to use a small inclined piece of metal K to throw off any
particles of carbon that may drop, and which would interfere with the action of
the apparatus used in regulating the distances. I also propose with this plan to
sometimes use flexible carbons wound on small drums, and thence fed forward by
rollers, as in the Drawing, by which means carbons of great length can be used,
lasting a long time without renewal.
;
For an incandescent lamp I use a glass globe blown of the shape shewn in
Figure 45, the lower open end of which is cemented into a metal collar C which is
formed with a flange and screwed to receive a metal cup D, also screwed, and with
a flange to take an india rubber washer, so that when screwed on, the vessel is air
tight there is a valve E and stop cock F to attach to a syringe or air pump for
the purpose of exhausting the air when necessary, and this may be done every
night before lighting, the pressure of the external air will keep the valve tightly
closed and exclude the outer air for some time. The two brass pillars B pass
through ebonite or other insulating material, which is firmly fixed in the metal
collar, the inside of the latter being filled with insulating cement round the passage
leading to the valve. The two pillars carry cross piece A of the metal or other
refractory material to be heated by the current for producing the light; the two
columns have terminals on the outside to receive the wires conveying the
current.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, and
the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I declare that I
|claim,―
First. The combination of an armature wheel (fitted with a number of soft iron
pieces on its circumference), and revolving between two sets of electro magnets,
the poles of which are not opposite to but intermediate between each other, and
one such set producing alternate currents and the other set producing currents all
going in the same direction, also the special form of wheel and of electro magnet
for the purpose stated, arranged and operating all substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Second. The combination of one or two revolving wheels fitted with a number
of wire coil electro magnets on the circumference and revolving between two sets
of fixed electro magnets, all arranged and operating substantially as described with
reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, 6ª, 6b, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Third. The combination of a wheel fitted with a number of permanent magnets
on its circumference and revolving between two sets of fixed electro magnets,
all arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to Figures 11,
12, 13, and 14.
Fourth. The combination of an exterior circular series of magnets or electro
magnets held in stationary ring frames, and an interior double star shaped armature
and revolving in close proximity to each of the poles of the said magnets, all
arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to Figures 15
and 16.

page_text: Fifth. The combination of electro magnets fixed at each end in a stationary ring
frame and permanent magnets fixed on revolving wheels, or vice versa, the former
permanent magnets and the latter electro magnets, or both electro magnets, all
arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to Figures 17
and 18.
Sixth. The application of electro magnets consisting of tubes filled with longi-
tudinal iron wires in machines for the production of electro force, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, and 21.
Seventh. Two circular series of electro magnets formed as in claim 5, in combi-
'nation with an intermediate series of such electro magnets (or permanent steel
magnets) held between two wheels, the two former series revolving and the latter
one stationary, or vice versa, all arranged and operating substantially as described
with reference to Figures 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23.
Eighth. The combination of one or more double armed wire coiled armatures
revolving between a corresponding number of electro magnets on each side, all
arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to Figures 24, 25,
26, and 27.
Ninth. The mode of winding insulated wires for electro magnets and armatures
and coils used in dynamo and magneto machines and motors, and machines for the
transmission of power, consisting in the employment of comparatively small wire
wound in separate layers, all in one direction on the top of each other, all the
commencements of the coils being connected, and all the terminations of the coils
being connected; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. A commutator consisting of rods, each having a short and a long leg
which dip into mercury cups and actuated for contact make and break and current
reversing, substantially as described with reference to Figures 28, 29, and 30.
Eleventh. The application of a current from a voltaic battery to dynamo and to
magneto electric machines as a substitute for a separate dynamo machine working
as an exciter, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The combination of parts forming the improved commutator, Figures 31
and 32, having circular flanges dipping in mercury cup, and with contact springs f
and g, and the improved commutator, Figures 33 and 34, having cam flanges (or
rods) dipping in mercury cups, substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination of a series of electro magnets revolving round a
vertical axis against a series of fixed electric magnets, all arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to Figures 35 and 36, and constituting a
modification of Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Fourteenth. In electric arc lamps two carbon discs mounted on jointed levers,
said discs receiving slow revolving motion by an intermediate disc of refractory
material, which is actuated by clock work, the arc being regulated by an electro
magnet with or without a coil G² and permanent magnet H, all arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to Figures 40, 41, and 42.
Fifteenth. In electric arc lamps two carbon rods fed by rollers which are actuated
by clockwork, and having the coil G², magnet H, and electro magnet E, all arranged
and operating substantially as set forth.
Sixteenth. The combination of parts forming my improved incandescent lamp,
substantially as described with reference to Figure 45.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Henley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. T. HENLEY. (LS.)