IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION, COLLECTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRO-MAGNETIC CURRENTS, AND IN "
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rankin Kennedy, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION,
COLLECTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRO-MAGNETIC CURRENTS, AND IN
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rankin Kennedy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1881.
RANKIN KENNEDY, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION, COLLECTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF
ELECTRO MAGNETIC CURRENTS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
The said Invention relates to improvements in the collection and distribution of
electro magnetic currents, and in the apparatus to be employed therein, and has for
its main object to so collect and distribute the said currents that a number of
separate currents may be collected and sent along one main line, and afterwards
distributed in any order or combination to give variable and readily alterable powers
and strengths of currents.
In apparatus for carrying the said Invention into effect, a field magnet is
employed of two semi circular pieces with holes at their opposed ends within which
revolves a shaft carrying an exciting armature, and a number of separate working
or collecting armatures, each of which is of a wheel form, the armature proper being
made of soft iron wire wound tightly together, and around this wheel to form a
hard solid ring or periphery to the wheel. A number of projecting soft iron pieces
are secured at equal distances apart upon this periphery, and fixed thereto
by passing screws through their projecting sides into the projecting sides of
corresponding under pieces, which screws may be passed down into the spokes
of the wheel where the said spokes occur. Between these projecting pieces the
armature wires are wound in helices, the wires between each two adjacent
spaces being connected together, and a wire led from each connection to the
CD

page_text: commutator, which consists of a nonconducting barrel or discs fixed on the shaft
which carries the armature. The said barrel carries a series of rings of curved
metal plates separated from each other, the said series being equal in number
to the number of collecting armatures employed, plus a ring for the exciting
armature to give a separate current for this armature. The number of metal
plates in each ring is equal to the number of projections on each armature, and
each of the wires before mentioned is led from the junction of the wires on
either side of every two adjacent projections of the armatures, one to each
plate of the corresponding ring of the commutator, each ring receiving the wires
from one armature. Collecting plates or springs bear upon the opposite sides of
each ring of plates, the one spring conveying a separate current from each ring by
wires which are hereafter connected and continued in one main line or cable.
From this cable connecting wires may be led from any suitable part thereof to the
place or places where any one or more of the separate currents collected by the
separate armatures and separate rings of the commutator may be required for use.
The number of such currents which pass from the main line or cable will be
decided by the return wire or wires, which are led from this place or places back
to the springs or plates at the return side of the commutator.
For example, suppose that four armatures and four corresponding rings of the
commutator are collecting four currents which are led into one main line or cable,
if four connecting wires be lead off from this main line or cable to any desired
places, return wires from which are connected to each of the four springs on the
return side of the commutator, four currents are obtained from one machine at
four different places.
By connecting the return wire from any one place to more than one spring on
the return side of the commutator, two or more currents may be caused to pass
from the main cable to the said place.
In the series of armatures the projecting pieces of each armature are arranged so
that the corresponding projections of the series are in lines parallel with the
carrying shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Rankin Kennedy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th April
1882.
RANKIN KENNEDY, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION, COLLECTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC CURRENTS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,"
My said Invention relates to improvements in the collection and distribution of
electro-magnetic currents or pulsations of electricity, and in the apparatus to be.
employed therein, and has for its main object to so collect and distribute the said
currents that a number of separate currents or pulsations may be collected and
sent along one main line, and afterwards distributed in any order or combination
to give variable and readily alterable powers and strengths of currents or
pulsations.
In apparatus for carrying the said Invention into effect, a field magnet is
employed of two semi circular pieces (with poles at their opposite ends) within
which revolves a shaft carrying an exciting armature and a number of separate
working or collecting armatures, each of which is of a wheel form, the armature
proper being made of soft iron wire wound tightly together and around this wheel
to form a hard solid ring or periphery to the wheel. A number of projecting soft
iron pieces are secured at equal distances apart upon this periphery and fixed
thereto by passing screws through their projecting sides into the projecting sides
of corresponding under pieces, which screws may be passed down into the spokes
of the wheel where the said spokes occur. Between these projecting pieces the
armature wires are wound in helices, the wires between each two adjacent spaces
being connected together, and a wire led from each connection to the commutator,
which consists of a non conducting barrel or discs fixed on the shaft which carries
the armatures. The said barrel carries a series of rings of curved metal plates
separated from each other; the said series carry plates equal in number to the
toal number of divisions on the armatures employed together with a ring for the
exciting armature to give a separate current for this armature. The number of
metal plates in each ring is equal to the number of projections on each armature,
and each of the wires before mentioned is led from the junction of the wires on
either side of every two adjacent projections of the armatures, one to each plate of
the corresponding ring of the commutator, each ring receiving the wires from one
armature. Collecting plates or springs bear upon the opposite sides of each ring
of plates, the one spring conveying a separate current from each ring by wires
which are hereafter connected and continued in one main line or cable. From the
cable connecting wires may be led from any suitable part thereof to the place or
places where any one or more of the separate currents collected by the separate
armatures and separate rings of the commutator may be required for use; the
number of such currents which pass from the main line or cable will vary according
as one or more return wires are used to conduct the currents back to the springs
or plates at the return side of the commutator. For example, suppose that four
armatures and four corresponding rings of the commutator are collecting four
currents, which are led into one main line or cable, if four connecting wires be led
off from this main line or cable to any desired places, return wires from which are
connected to each of the four springs on the return side of the commutator, four
currents are obtained from one machine at four different places. By connecting
the return wire from any one place to more than one spring on the return side of

page_text: the commutator, two or more currents may be caused to pass from the main cable
to the said place.
In the series of armatures the projecting pieces of cach armature are arranged so
that the corresponding projections of the series are in lanes parallel with the
carrying shaft, or such pieces of metal on each armature may be placed radially in
advance of the pieces of metal of the armature next it.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say-
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation, and Figure 2 is an
elevation at right angles to Figure 1 with the field magnet in section of a machine
constructed or arranged for generating electric currents according to my Invention.
The field magnet is or may be of the ordinary kind, consisting of the cast iron
body of the shape shewn clearly in Figure 1, the horizontal members being
wound with coils a' of insulated wire in which the current is induced, which
current magnetizes the body a. In the semicircular parts of the body a the
armatures revolve, they being carried upon a shaft b mounted in bearings 62, the
said shaft also carrying the rings of commutator plates c and the pulley b³ for
driving the said shaft by any suitable motor. The armatures are in number in
accordance with the number of separate currents to be obtained from the machine
plus an armature for furnishing the exciting current for the coils a¹ of the field
magnet.
Each armature is constructed as follows:-Reference being had to Figures 3
and 4, which are respectively a side view at right angles to each other of one of
the said armatures without its coils of copper wires by which the induced current
is received from the field magnet. The wheel d has a number of spokes d³,
preferably of brass, having at their outer ends cross heads or transverse pieces d³
which project at either side of the said spokes, as shewn clearly in Figure 5, which
is a transverse section of the said wheel separately. Upon these pieces d³ is tightly
wound soft iron wire e to constitute the periphery of the armature.
A number of
soft iron pieces f are secured at equal distances apart upon this periphery so that
they are in pairs diametrically opposite each other to constitute poles as the
armature revolves. The said iron pieces f are secured to the wire rings e by
screws g passing through the ends of the said pieces f (which project beyond the
said ring) and screwed into the ends of corresponding under pieces, which likewise
project from the underside of the said ring. These under pieces are for the said
pieces f, which occur between the spokes of the wheel, the projections d³ from the
spokes of the wheels with the alternate pieces f, and then binding screws g serving
to secure the wire periphery e in its place, that is to say, where no spokes occur;
the under pieces consist of bars d₁ corresponding to the pieces f, the screws g
passing through the sides of the pieces f, and into the ends of the under pieces d*
so that the said pieces are by the said screws tightly pinched upon the periphery e.
Upon the wire periphery e and between these iron pieces the insulated copper
wires for receiving the induced current are wound in helices all in the same
direction as shewn in the diagram of an armature in Figure 6 where the said wires
are marked h, the wires between every two projections being connected to a wire h²
led to the plate commutator. The said wires h will of course be wound compactly
upon the said ring after the manner shewn in Figures 1 and 2, they being shewn
in Figure 6, as having but a few coils merely for the sake of clearness of
delineation of the direction of coiling and connection with the plates of the
commutators.
The commutators consist each of a separate series of plates insulated from each
other, all the said series being carried by the shaft b. The said series of plates
constituting commutators are equal in number to the number of armatures

page_text: employed, that is to say, there is such a series of plates (marked c in the Drawings)
for each of the collecting armatures for the working currents, and an additional
series constituting a commutator for the armature which gives the exciting current
for the field magnet a. The series of plates c constituting each commutator are
affixed upon a barrel c³ of wood or other insulating material, and each plate c² of
each series is insulated from those on either side of it. The wires h² from each
armature are led to the plates cs of a commutator, one wire to each plate o*.
Collecting plates, springs, or brushes which may be of the ordinary kind, and which
I have for the sake of more clearly shewing the other parts omitted from the
Drawings, are arranged to bear upon such commutator, two such plates, springs, or
brushes, one for the positive and the other for the negative currents being employed
to receive and return the currents of each commutator. A wire is attached to each
of the positive plates, springs, or brushes, the said wires being furnished with
couplings, switches, or the like, so that they may be connected with the wires of
the other or some of the other commutators or led into one main cable as herein-
after described. The negative plates, springs, or brushes also have wires attached
to them, the said wires being also furnished with couplings, switches, or the like for
attachment to the wires of the other or some of the other commutators, or to the
return wires from the working circuits. By these couplings, switches, or analogous
contrivances the currents generated by the machine may be led away from the
machine separately or combined in any desired manner according as to whether
quantity or tension of current are required. Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating
the order of connection where the several currents generated by the separate
armatures are led separately from the respective commutators of such armatures
through one main cable, from which the currents are led by branch wires to the
places where they are to be employed for electric lighting or other purpose. The
commutators of the generating machine are indicated at c, their positive and negative
collecting springs or the like, marked respectively plus and minus signs. From
the positive plate, spring, or brush of each commutator a wire i is led to one main
cable I which is laid along the district where the currents are to be employed.
From this main cable separate branch wires j are led to the particular places
where the currents are to be used for lighting or other purpose, and these branch
wires are led back to the negative springs of their respective commutators, and
joined thereto by the coupling wires k of the said springs. It will be readily seen
that where additional quantity of current is desired at any particular place this
inay readily be obtained by connecting the return wire k from this place to the
coupling wires of two or more of the commutators c, so that two or more currents
will be caused to pass from the main cable I to the said place and thence back to
the two or more commutators c whereby the currents can be readily manipulated
at the station where the machine is situated to supply any quantity of current
to any place or places supplied from the main cable, or to cut off the supply from
any such place or places."
Figure 8 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the connections for supplying
a current of increased tension to any particular place. As here shewn, the wires
are arranged to give from four commutators marked c³, c, c, c, two currents, one
current of ordinary tension from one of the commutators c and one current from
the three commutators c³, c, c, which will be three times the tension of the single
or ordinary currents which would be obtained from each single commutator. The
negative wire of the commutator is led to the positive wire of the next
commutator c, and the negative wire of this second commutator c is led to the
positive wire of the third commutator c. The positive wire of the commutator c
takes the current of increased tension to the place l, where it is to be employed,
from which place it returns to the negative wire of the commutator c: It will
thus be seen that the two systems of connecting the wires, either for quantity of
current, as explained with regard to the diagram, Figure 7, or for tension of
current, as explained with regard to the diagram, Figure 8, and that these two

page_text: systems may be used with one machine to manipulate and regulate the currents
supplied from the said machine for either quantity or tension according to these
systems. In the Drawings I have shewn but four working armatures and their
.corresponding commutators, but this number is only shewn for convenience of
description and illustration. In practice the number of the said armatures and
commutators may be such, as will give the requisite number separate currents, to
be supplied separately or combined, for quantity and tension, the number of such
currents being in accordance with the number of such places and the extent of
variation required. To illustrate this more clearly I have indicated in the diagram,
Figure 9, twelve commutators, the wires of which are connected, so that from the
commutator c² a current of single tension is supplied to the place m. From the
commutators c³, c³, clo, a current of treble tension is led to the place n. From the
commutators c¹¹ and c¹ a current of double quantity is led to the place o.
From
each of the commutators c¹³, c14, c15, a current of single tension is led to the
places p, q, r, respectively, and from the commutators c¹6, 17, c¹8, a current of treble
quantity is led to the place 8. It will be understood that these connections may
be altered to give a current of any desired quantity or tension of which the
generating machine is capable of at any desired place. Although not shewn in the
diagrams, it will be understood that, as, before stated, there is an additional
armature and commutator for giving the exciting current to the coils of the field
magnet.
The means for connecting the positive and negative wires, so that they may be
readily disconnected and re-connected in any desired combination, may be of any
ordinary description which will admit of ready connection and disconnection of
the wires. The field magnet may have more poles than two, which is effected by
slotting it at a part or parts of its semi circular members; for example, at the parts
marked by dotted lines in Figure 1, when additional poles will be formed at the
sides of these slots.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein beforo in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination of parts constituting the machine for generating,
collecting, and distributing electric currents, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, whatever may be the number of
armatures and commutators used on the said machine.
Second. The ring armatures constructed with a soft iron wire periphery and soft
iron projections fixed thereupon or carried thereby, the said soft iron projections
being arranged in any number of pairs with insulated wires wound upon the soft
iron wire periphery between such projections continuously in one direction for
collecting the induced currents from the magnetized field, all substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The use for armatures of machines for generating and collecting electric
currents of iron projecting pieces fastened upon the periphery of the armature by
making the ends of said projections to extend beyond the outside edge of the said
periphery at both sides thereof, and passing screws or their equivalents through
such projecting ends and into the ends of corresponding under pieces similarly
projecting from both sides of the inside edge of the said periphery, whether such
under pieces be formed on the spokes of the armature or be independent pieces,
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings...
Fourth. The combination with machines, constructed substantially as herein-
before described, for generating and collecting a number of electric currents of
connecting wires or switches, which are so arranged in connection with the positive
and negative springs, plates, or brushes of the commutators of such machines as to

page_text: enable the said currents to be readily combined and altered for regulating the
quantity or tension of current or currents supplied to any place or places, as
herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rankin Kennedy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
KANKIN KENNEDY. (L.S.)