IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETS AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1870

page_text: .
ETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for.
Patents, 66,. Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETS
AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER."-A
communication from abroad by Henry Monroe Paine, of Newark,
in the State of New Jersey, and Mahlon Smith Frost, of the City
3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION Icft by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd January 1870.
I, William EdwaRD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETS
AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER," to be as.
follows:-
:
This Invention relates, firstly, to the structure of clectro-magnets;
and, secondly, to the method of treating the electrical currents while

page_text: traversing the magnet or magnets; and, thirdly, to the application of
the magnet for obtaining motive power. So far as regards the two first
of these divisions or classifications of the Invention it is not designed
to confine them. to any particular purpose so far as the use of the
magnet is concerned.
The main or leading object of the peculiar structure of the magnet
may be explained by stating that the first consideration in the con-
struction of an electro-magnet should be the envelopment of the iron
by the current wire under such conditions as will secure as near an
approach as possible of the passing currents to the molecules of the iron.
To this end the first part of the Invention consists in an electro-magnet,
the legs of which are made up of flat plates of sector-like form. The
current wire is wound around the one leg, commencing at a narrow
portion of its structure, and is continued to the required distance up or
along the leg towards its broadest end, when it is passed in continuation
to the broader portion of the adjacent leg, and is wound in a reverse
direction around such second leg towards the narrower end thereof so as
to complete the circuit.
1
€
In combination with magnets of a sector or plate like form there is
an arrangement of a tie bolt and washer or washers for maintaining the
space between the legs and for binding the legs of the magnet together.
By using washers to space the legs the construction of the magnet is
economized and accuracy of workmanship is insured.
Sheets of tinfoil or other like ductile metal are arranged between
the current wire around, the magnet or legs thereof for the purpose of
reversing by electrical induction the order of the currents and thereby
preventing the retardation in their action, which is consequent upon
the attraction to each other of like currents brought in close proximity,
and which detracts from the power of the magnet. To increase the
power of the magnet the current wire may be wound around two legs
in like direction to produce two north poles in a reverse direction
around other two legs, but in a like direction as regards the last-
mentioned legs, to produce two south poles.
The Invention, so far as it relates to the application of the sector-
like magnets for obtaining motive power is concerned, consists in an
arrangement of a series of such magnets in or on a wheel of a rotary
electro-magnetic engine, with their poles constructed or arranged to
describe a true arc around the centre of their rotation, while another

page_text: series of magnets (formed with concave poles. to correspond) are secured"
to the frame in which the wheel revolves, or otherwise secured so as to
remain stationary. In an electro-magnetic engine the system or modè
of operation insures the breaking of the circuit under such conditions.
as compel the reflex currents to aid the power of the engine..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward. Newton in the Great Seal. Patent
Office on the 2nd July 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that T,
the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I; the said William Edward Newton;. my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, usė,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain aud
Ireland, the Channel. Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETS AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME FOR
OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER,” being a communication to me from abroad by
Henry Monroe Paine, of Newark, in the State of New Jersey, and
Mahlon Smith Frost, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said:
William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators,, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is a
to say):
:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to the structure of electro-magnets;
and, secondly, to the method of treating the electrical currents while
traversing the magnet or magnets; and, thirdly, to the application of
'the magnet for obtaining motive power. So far as regards the first
two of these divisions or classifications of the Invention it is not
designed to confine them to any particular purpose so far as the use of
'the magnet is concerned.
The main or leading object of the peculiar structure of the magnet
may be explained by stating that the first consideration in the con-
struction of an electro-magnet should be, the envelopement. of the iron
'by the current. wire, under such conditions as will secure as near an
approach as possible of the passing currents to the molecules of the
iron. To this end the first part of the Invention consists in an
electro-magnet, the legs of which are made up of flat plates of sector-
like form. The current wire is wound around the one leg commencing
at a narrow portion of its structure, and is continued to the required
distance up or along the leg towards its broadest end, when it is passed
in continuation to the broader portion of the adjacent leg and is wound
in a reverse direction around such second leg towards the narrower end
thereof so as to complete the circuit.
In combination with magnets of a sector or plate like form there is
an arrangement of a tie bolt and washer or washers for maintaining
the space between the legs and for binding the legs of the magnets
together. By using washers to space the legs the construction of the
magnet is economised and accuracy of workmanship is insured.
"Sheets of tinfoil or other like ductile metal are arranged between
the current wire around the magnet or legs thereof for the purpose of
reversing by electrical induction the order of the currents, and thereby
preventing the retardation in their action which is consequent upon
the attraction to each other of like currents brought in close proximity,
and which detracts from the power of the magnet. To increase the
power of the magnet the current wire may be wound around two legs

page_text: in like direction to produce two north poles, and in a reverse direction
around other two legs, but in a like direction as regards the last-men-
tioned legs, so as to produce two south poles. .
The Invention, so far as it relates to the application of the sector-
like magnets for obtaining motive power is concerned, consists in an
arrangement of a series of such magnets in or on a wheel of a rotary
electro-magnetic engine with their poles constructed or arranged to.
describe a true arc. around the centre of their rotation, while another
series of magnets (formed with concave poles to correspond) are secured
to the frame in which the wheel revolves or otherwise secured so as
to remain stationary. In an electro-magnetic engine the improved.
system or mode of operation hereafter described insures the breaking of
the circuit under such conditions as compel the reflex currents to aid
the power of the engine.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side view of one
of the sector-shaped legs of the improved magnet with shield plates
for holding the current wire in place thereon; Fig. 2 is a sectional
view of the same taken longitudinally through the leg; Fig. 3 is a
plan or face view of one of the shield plates with a side view and
transverse section of a leg spacing washer, and a longitudinal view of
the tie bolt for binding the magnets together with a spacing washer
(shewn in section) thereon; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through
the two legs of the magnet with shield plates, spacing washer, and tie
bolt in their places; Figures 5 and 6 represent side and edge views of the
magnet with the current wire as wound on the legs thereof; Fig. 7 is
a longitudinal section, and Fig. 8 an edge view from its broadest end
of the magnet complete; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section (before the
current wire is wound upon it) of a magnet in which the legs are com-
pounded to increase its power; and Figures 10 and 11 are edge and end
views of such a magnet with the current wire thereon; Fig. 12 is a
sectional view taken immediately in rear of one of the sides of the
main frame of an electro-magnetic engine constructed according to
the present Invention; Fig. 13 is a front view of such engine; and
Fig. 14 is a mainly central vertical section thereof.
The several Figures from Fig. 1 to Fig. 11 inclusive relate to the
magnet irrespective of the purpose to which it may be applied. Refer-
ring more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (in which
like letters indicate like parts, A, A, are the legs of the magnet formed

page_text: of flat plates of sector like form, which construction allows of the
envelopment of the iron by the current wire under such conditions as
will secure a close approximation of the passing currents to the molecules
of the iron. The spaces between the legs of the magnet are maintained
by a washer B, and the whole is bound together by the bolt C and
nuts D, D. This spacing of the legs and binding of the magnet applies
to any number of legs arranged to form a single structure. The object
of constructing the magnet with washer spaces is to secure economy of
construction and accuracy of work. Thus it is necessary that the sector
plates A, A, should be of uniform thickness (that is), their sides should
be parallel with each other, and if fixed shoulders should be used in the
place of washers then the plates could not conveniently be planed up to
the required size, whereas by using washers a saving of expense in
forging and subsequent fitting of the plates may be effected. The
edges of the plates or sector legs A, A, should be rounded off, as shewn
at fin Fig. 1, so that an easy turn of the current wire can be made when
winding it upon the leg. Shield plates E are secured on the legs to hold
the wire within the required bounds. The current wire is or may be
commenced as at F on the leg N (Figures 5 and 6), and is wound to the
right as indicated by the arrows terminating at H, Fig. 6. Then the
other leg S has the wire wound on it (commencing at I) and run or
wound to the left (terminating at L), where it is connected with H, and
thus the circuit is completed. As the dynamic value of electrical
currents is as the angle they make with the axis of the magnet's leg
the sector form (as here shewn) must necessarily have a greater value
than a cylindrical or rectangular form, inasmuch as the currents are
moving at right angles with the axis and with the greatest sweep in the
vicinity of the poles. As like currents have an attraction one for the
ether and hence a tendency to retard their action when brought in close
proximity as at n, Figures 6 and 8, a sheet of tin foil or other thin
flexible metal is accordingly placed between the legs as more clearly
seen at o, Fig. 7. This plate reverses (by electrical induction) the order
of the currents and thus increases the value of the magnet. The
power of the magnet may be greatly increased by compounding the legs
as shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, in which (as represented by arrows
in Figures 10 and 11) the current wire is wound in the same direction
upon two legs of the magnet forming two north poles N, N. The other
two legs have the wire wound upon them also in a like direction, but in
an opposite direction to the first-mentioned pair of legs to form two south

page_text: poles S, S. As the currents at the junction P, Fig. 10, of the two
north poles N, N, and at P (same Figure) of the two south poles S, S,
move in opposite directions (as represented by the arrows R, Fig. 11)
they accelerate each other and thus add to the magnet's value, but at the
middle junction T (Figures 10 and 11) they move in the same direction
and are therefore separated by the tinfoil or plate, as shewn at n, o, and
described with reference to Figures 6, 7, and 8 for the purpose herein-
move in opposite directions (as represented by the arrows R, Fig. 11)
they accelerate each other and thus add to the magnet's value, but at the
middle junction T (Figures 10 and 11) they move in the same direction
and are therefore separated by the tinfoil or plate, as shewn at n, o, and
described with reference to Figures 6, 7, and 8 for the purpose herein-
before named.
Referring in the next instance to Figures 12, 13, and 14 (in which
the improved magnet is represented as applied to the development of
motive power under a combination of mechanism which constitutes a
rotary electro-magnetic engine), A, A, A, A, A*, A**, represent a
series of magnets consisting of any suitable number of such magnets set
in a wheel B, their poles a, a, a, a, a, a, constructed of convex form
so as to describe a true arc around the centre of their rotation.
Another series of like magnets C, C, C, C*, C**, formed with convex
poles b, b, b, b, b, of corresponding curvature to the first-mentioned
magnets are secured to the frame D in which the wheel B revolves.
These fixed magnets are made adjustable by means of set screws c to
compensate for wear of the wlicels' bearings or to provide for other
causes that might affect their first adjustment. All the negative ends
d, d, d, d, d, of the current wire around the fixed magnets are secured
to one common conductor c, c, e, e, e, which is held by a pole con-
nection E (Figures 12 and 13), secured in an insulated manner within
the frame D. The circuit breakers F have a slot k (to provide for their
adjustment) and terminate in rollers H, H, H, H, H.
These rollers
rest on a current wheel J, the periphery of which is made of some non-
conducting material n, Figures 12 and 14). In the surface of this
periphery and corresponding in number and place with the rotating
magnets metallic segments o, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, are inserted. These segments
are connected with the positive ends p, p, p, p, p, p, of the current wire
around the rotating magnets in the wheel B by links r, r, r, r, r; r,
pivotted at their connection with the positive ends and slotted at their
connection with the segments o, o, o, o, o, o. The negative ends of the
wire are secured to the guide plates s, (Fig. 14,) which are in direct
electrical contact with the frame D, which (in its turn) is in electrical
contact with the pole connection L, Fig. 13. In order to secure perfect
and easy contact of the several circuit breaking rollers H with the

page_text: :
current wheel J the arm m of each circuit breaker is made to act as a
spring and the pressure of the rollers on the current wheel is regulated.
by means of a screw operating through the head of a bar u.
versa.
To secure uniform motion the disposition of the movable and fixed
magnets must be such (both as regards numbers and position) as to have a
a rotary magnet approaching a fixed magnet in advance of the next
rotary magnets leaving a fixed magnet. To accomplish this result the
fixed magnets must be odd in number and the rotary ones even, or vice
This condition is illustrated in Fig. 12, of which A* is an
approaching magnet (the travel being as indicated by arrow), and A**
the magnet which is about to leave. If a connection with the battery
be made at the pole connections E and L a circuit will be made through
the magnets A*, A**, and C*, C**, and the magnet A* will become
magnetized before A** ceases to act. When a circuit is made through
A* and C✶ the rotating magnet A* will move onward till its axis
coincides with that of the fixed magnet C*. If at this juncture the
circuit be broken a reflex current will induce sufficient magnetism in the
magnets A and C* (at the moment of disruption) to seriously retard
the passage of the magnet A* from C*. Accordingly provision is made
to break the circuit under conditions that will not subject the magnet A*
to detention by reflex action. This is accomplished by breaking the
circuit at some point intermediate to the coincidence of the poles, in
which case the reflex current will aid in continuing the motion of the
imagnet after the circuit is broken. Such result is obtained by the
segment 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, being brought earlier or later (with reference to
their position) with the magnets A, A, A, A, A*, A**,) under the rollers
H‚Í‚ H‚ Ð, H, by means of a pin 1 (Figures 12 and 14), working in an
oblique slot 2 in the sleeve 3 of the current wheel, such pin being
actuated by a rod 4 traversing the centre of the shaft 5.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
First. As relates to the structure of the magnet an electro-magnet
the legs of which are sectors or approximately such, as herein set
forth.
Second. In combination with an electro-magnet, the legs of which
are made up of plates as. described I claim the use of the tie bolt C

page_text: and washer or washer's B, as and for the purpose or purposes herein set
forth.
Third. I claim the use of tinfoil or other suitable ductile sheet or
shoets of metal in combination with the current wire around the magnet
as specified.
Fourth. I claim compounding the legs of the magnet as shewn and
described in reference to Figures 9, 10, and 11 of the Drawing.
Fifth. In the application of said electro-magnet or magnets to the
developement of motive power I claim the use of the concave fixed
magnets C, C, C, C*, C**, in combination with the convex rotary magnets
A, A, A, A, A*, A**, as herein set forth.
Sixth. I claim the method of operation as herein described with
reference to Figures 12, 13, and 14 of the Drawings by breaking
the circuit under such conditions as compel the reflex currents to aid
the power of the engine in the manner and for the purpose herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Second day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
W T NUWTON
WE NEWTON
W. E.A TON. (L.S.):