Improvements in or relating to the Distribution of Electricity.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Distribution of Electricity.
I, William Geipel, of 49, Kidbrook Park Road, Blackheath, in the County
of Surrey, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:-
In the distribution of electricity by transformers it is well known that during
light loads there is lost in heating the transformers a larger percentage of the power
generated than is the case at full load, it is also well known that this loss can be
reduced during light loads by switching a certain number of the transformers out
of circuit. My invention has reference to means for accomplishing this with
greater ease and convenience and with less complication than is possible under
existing practices.
In the Specification of a Patent No. 5988, March 28, 1892, granted to
J. S. Raworth and myself, there is described a system of distributing electricity by
means of a low tension network supplied through transformers by two or more high
tension networks; now, by shutting off one or more of these high tension networks
at the generating station or other convenient point and at the same time shutting
off the corresponding transformers from the secondary circuit I accomplish the
object set forth, and my invention enables this to be done without having a separate
circuit for the purpose of operating switching devices, or without having to send
round an attendant to switch off each transformer from the low tension network,
while on the other hand it obviates relying upon relays operated by small variations
in the potential difference or current such as have previously been used for
actuating the switching gear. In addition to this my improvement avoids the
necessity of having, for the high pressure circuit, local switches actuated by
automatic or magnetic mechanism of one sort or other.
In series circuit with each transformer or set of transformers I insert a magnet
or solenoid which is excited by the primary current passing through the primary of
the transformer; this magnet actuates a switch or switches placed in the low
tension circuit so that as long as the magnet is excited by the primary current the
low tension switches are closed, and so long as the magnet is not excited the
switches are open. The magnets or solenoids here referred to may act as relays
for actuating other magnets or solenoids, or it may actuate a motor, any of which
may be used to operate the low tension switches in various obvious and well known
ways.
It will be seen that as the opening of the low tension switch takes place after the
primary circuit has been opened, that the low tension current during the operation
will be small, this obviates breaking circuit while a large current is passing through
the switch.
This arrangement also ensures the opening of the low tension switch in the event
of the fusing of the high tension fuse in the primary circuit of the transformers.
Dated this 20th day of March 1893

page_text: :
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Distribution of Electricity.
WILLIAM GEIPEL, 49, Kidbrook Park Road, Blackheath, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
In the distribution of electricity by transformers it is well known that during
light loads there is lost in heating the transformers a larger percentage of the
power generated than is the case at full load, it is also well known that this loss
can be reduced during light loads by switching a certain number of the transformers
out of circuit. My invention has reference to means for accomplishing this with
greater ease and convenience and with less complication than is possible under
existing practices.
In the Specification of a Patent No. 5988, March 28th, 1892, granted to
J. S. Raworth and myself there is described a system of distributing electricity by
means of a low tension network supplied through transformers by two or more
high tension networks, now by shutting off one or more of these high tension net-
works at the generating station or other convenient point, and at the same time
shutting off the corresponding transformers from the secondary circuit, I accomplish
the object above set forth, and my invention enables this to be done without having
a separate circuit for the purpose of operating switching devices, or without having
to send round an attendant to switch off each transformer from the low tension
network, while on the other hand it obviates relying upon relays operated by small
variations in the potential difference or current such as have previously been used
for actuating the switching gear. In addition to this my improvement avoids the
necessity of having, for the high pressure circuit, local switches actuated by
automatic or magnetic mechanism of one sort or other.
In series circuit with each transformer or set of transformers I insert a magnet
or solenoid which is excited by the primary current passing through the primary
of the transformer; this magnet actuates a switch or switches placed in the low
tension circuit so that as long as the magnet is excited by the primary current the
low tension switches are closed, and so long as the magnet is not excited the switches
The magnets or solenoids here referred to may act as relays for
actuating other magnets or solenoids, or they may actuate motors, any of which
may be used to operate the low tension switches in various obvious and well
known ways.
are open.
In some cases I may arrange that the number of transformers on the primary
circuits is different so that I may obtain a greater variation in the number switched
off at various periods of the day. For example with but two primary circuits on
one of which are two-thirds of the transformers while on the others are one-third
of them, there may be in use either one-third, two-thirds or the whole of the
transformers.
And of course with more primary circuits still more combinations
are possible.
It will be seen that as the opening of the low tension switch takes place after the
primary circuit has been opened, that the low tension current during the operation
will be small, this obviates breaking circuit while a large current is passing through
the switch.
This arrangement also ensures the opening of the low tension switch in the
event of the fusing of the high tension fuse in the primary circuit of the
transformers.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, A¹ A" A³ A* are the magnets or
solenoids which are connected in series with the primary circuits of the trans-
formers B B B B*, while C₁ C² C³ C' are the switches which are placed in

page_text: the secondary or low tension circuit of the transformers. It will be seen that the
magnets or solenoids A' A² actuate directly the switches C¹ C' in such a way that,
so long as they are excited, the switches are closed; and when not excited the
switches are opened either by a spring For gravity or otherwise: while the
magnets or solenoids and switches A3 and A* act as relays for throwing into and
out of circuit the more powerful magnets or solenoids D³ D', which in their turn
operate the switches C³˚C.
For exciting the magnets or solenoids D³ D' I prefer to use current from the
secondary circuit, but in some cases I may either use the primary current, or current
from an external source such as a battery, and in any case with or without trans-
formation. Or instead of the magnet or solenoid D³ D' I may use a motor which
may be similarly thrown into and out of circuit by the magnet or solenoid
relay A³ A', while for driving the motors I may also use current from either
secondary or primary circuits with or without transformation or from some external
source. The motors may actuate switches in various ways which need not be
fully described here, for example there may be a screw on the end of the motor
spindle for moving the lever of a switch and the relay may be arranged with
double contacts for reversing the motor according as the relay is excited or not;
but I prefer the simpler magnet or solenoid device combined with the relay.
It will be seen that when the primary network or circuit P₁ or P³ is opened by
the switches E' or E2 which may be fixed at the central station or at any other
convenient point, the magnets A¹ etc. being in series with the primary circuits of
the respective transformers cease to be excited and consequently cease to keep the
switches C etc. in contact. This causes the opening of the secondary circuits and
the disconnection from the secondary mains S. of whatever transformers are
connected to the particular primary network or circuit which is opened. For
example if primary main or network P¹ is opened by switch El, then trans-
formers B and B are automatically disconnected from the secondary mains S.
while if E2 is still closed the transformers B2 B continue to feed the secondary
mains S.
I may arrange the switches C' etc. so that they may be operated separately by
hand or otherwise in order that any transformers may be disconnected at will. And
I may use one switch for two, or more transformers in some cases.
Either single-
pole or double-pole switches may be used.
Other advantages pertaining to the use of this improvement are obvious, for
example when it is desired to test the insulation of the primary network or circuits
or to extend or repair or alter or joint or otherwise to do anything to them: by
opening the circuit of the primary, as explained, the mains cease to be charged
with electricity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
In distributing electricity by transformers when using two or more distinct
primary mains or networks or circuits to feed the same low tension secondary circuit,
the combination with the transformers of an improved method of switching them
off from the secondary mains by opening the circuit of the particular primary
mains to which are connected the transformers required to be switched off,
substantially as described and shewn.