A Mode of and Apparatus for Governing or Regulating by Electro Chemical Action, Applicable to the Regulation of Motors and of the Feed of Arc Lamps and for other Regulating Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
A Mode of and Apparatus for Governing or Regulating by Electro
Chemical Action, Applicable to the Regulation of Motors and of
the Feed of Arc Lamps and for other Regulating Purposes.
We ARTHUR SHIPPEY of 13 and 14 King Street Cheapside in the City of London,
Electrical Engineer and WILLIAM JOHN LAWRENCE HAMILTON of Beltinge in the
Parish of Herne in the County of Kent Electrician do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention we utilize the pressure of gas or gases which aro
generated and set free electrolytically by passing a current of electricity through
acidulated water or other electrolyte so as to decompose it for governing or regulating
purposes generally, the said gas pressure being caused to act upon one or more loaaded
pistons, diaphragins or equivalent mediums of resistance. The current of electricity
inay be generated by a dynamo machine or other generator of electricity. If generated
by a dynamo machine the aforesaid governing appliance is applicable for regulating
the speed of the steam engine, gas engine, petroleum engine, hydraulic motor,
turbine, water wheel or any other motor which drives the dynamo, by acting on the
throttle valve, expansion valve or other part of whatever nature for admitting motive
fluid to the motor. A special small dynamo may be applied to generate the current
required for the governor, or the current may be derived from the current created by
a larger dynamo supplying current to electric lamps or to other purposes.
The governor may also for instance be used to regulate and adjust the feed of the
carbons in an arc lamp in due proportion to the current passing through the lamp,
the current required for the governor being derived from the current passing through
the lamp.

page_text: A Mode of and Apparatus for Governing or Regulating by Electro-
chemical Action, Applicable to the Regulation of Motors and of
the Feed of Arc Lamps and for other Regulating Purposes.
We, ARTHUR SHIPPEY of 13 and 14 King Street Cheapside in the City of London
Electrical Engineer and WILLIAM JOHN LAWRENCE HAMILTON of Beltinge in the
Parish of Here, in the County of Kent Electrician 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:-
According to this invention wo utilize the pressure of gas or gases which are
generated and set free electrolytically by passing a current of electricity through
acidulated water or other electrolyte so as to decompose it for governing or regulating
purposes generally, the said gas pressure being caused to act upon one or more loaded
pistons diaphragms or equivalent mediums of resistance. The current of electricity
may be generated by a dynamo machine or other generator of electricity. If
generated by a dynamo machine the aforesaid governing appliance is applicable for
regulating the speed of the steam engine, gas engine, petroleum engine, hydraulic
motor, turbine, water wheel or any other motor which drives the dynamo by acting on
the throttle valve, expansion valve or other part of whatever nature for admitting
motive fluid to the motor. A special small dynamo may be applied to generate the
current required for the governor, or the current may be derived from the current
created by a larger dynamo supplying current to electric lamps or to other purposes.
The governor may also for instance be used to regulate and adjust the feed of the
carbons in an arc lamp in due proportion to the current passing through the lamp, the
current required for the governor being derived from the current passing through
the lamp.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a part sectional elevation of an apparatus
constructed according to this invention and intended for governing a steam engine or
other motor. Figure 2 is a similar view of a modification.
Referring to Figure 1 A is a vessel of any suitable material such as glass, stone-
ware metal or rubber and partly filled with acidulated water or other electrolyte.
Through the stoppers T of this vessel aro passed two insulated electrodes B and B of
platinum, carbon or other suitable material in the form of a wire rod plate or brush
and by preference horizontally as shewn whereby I obtain a constant resistance
independent of the level of the electrolyte. O is a filling funnel and N is a vessel
which by cocks M and L is connected to the filling funnel and to the vessel A. To
replenish the latter the vessel N is run full while the tap L is closed. The tap M is
then closed and the tap L opened whereby the contents of N are emptied into the
yessel A without loss of gas. S is a hydrometer for measuring and indicating the

page_text: specific gravity of the electrolyte. The pipe D passes out through an air tight stopper
from the vessel A to the bottom of a vessel E containing drying or absorbent material
such for instance as calcic chloride, entering it air-tight through an airtight cover.
A pipe F passes out airtight through the latter and is connected to a vessel G having a
corrugated clastic diaphragm P. Or instead of this we may use a cylinder with a
loaded ram or piston, a spring acting against such ram or piston. To the diaphragm P
(or the piston or ram as the case may be) is connected a lever H 1 which actuates a
throttle or other steam admission valve on the motor. Qis an outlet pipe from the
vessel A; it has a screw down or other valve or cock U which may be fitted with
index hand and graduated dial for exact regulation of the passage through the valve
or cock and thereby the action of the whole apparatus. It is a rose on the pipe D for
keeping back any spray that may be carried up with the gases in their escape by the
pipe D and dryer E to the drum G with flexible diaphragm (or piston or ram).
Electric current generated by the dynamo-machine which is to be regulated is
conveyed to the binding screws for the electrodes B B. A small portion of the
current produced thereby is rendered available for working my regulating apparatus.
The decomposition produced by the electric current acting on the acidulated water in
the vessel A causes gases to be given off therefrom and in exact proportion to the
quantity of current passing, and any variation in the current strength produces an
immediate equivalent variation in the amount of gas given off, so long as the gases
are given off in sufficiently small quantity to escape by the outlet pipe Q as fast as
generated, the
pressure on both sides of the diaphragm P remains unaltered, and also
in the generating vessel.
If, however, the current increases to such an extent as to generate the gases faster
than they can freely escape, the pressure in the system of vessels and pipes rises until
by the increase of pressure the gas escapes as fast as it is generated through the
cock U. Once this rate of escape is obtained, the internal pressure of the gas will
remain quite constant so long as the current strength does not vary. The increase of
pressure inside the vessel G will alter the position of the diaphragm P or piston
pushing it outwards.
If then a lever such for instance as H or other means of transmitting, and, if
necessary, multiplying this motion be properly connected to the diaphragm P
(or piston or ram), this motion is made to regulate, adjust, govern or in any other way
act on any apparatus with which it is connected such as the expansion valve or throttle
valve for admitting steam or other fluid to a motor (steam engine, turbine, water wheel,
petroleum engine, gas engine or any other motor) for driving the dynamo so as to
vary the speed of the motor and to secure in the circuit either constant potential or
constant current according as the generator is connected in shunt or in series with the
main circuit.
Figure 2 shews another arrangement in which we employ a layer of oil on the top
of the electrolyte in the vessel A for the purpose of preventing a wet spray being
carried over with the gases passing off. The drum G is here shewn with a concave
flexible diaphragm P, made say of rubber. Or I may use a spring loaded piston or
ram instead. The drying vessel and spray arrester are not used in this arrangement.
The water in the acidulated water is replenished in the same manner as already
described.
The vessel A is conveniently made of glass and the proper level of the electrolyte
marked thereon.
The vessel N should not hold more than an ounce or two, as it is well to fill up little
by little so as not to cause any variation of resistance in the electrolyte.
The above described apparatus may also be applied to regulate any motor not
specially used for driving a dynamo. In such case we provide a small special dynamo
for the sole purpose of generating sufficient current for the gas generator A and for
thus governing the speed of the motor thereby.
We shall now describe some modes of applying this invention to the automatic
regulation of electric are lamps and other purposes.

page_text: Figure 19 a vertical section througn an are lamp provided with our means of
regulation.
A is the gas generator and B B' the electrodes therein which are arranged horizon-
tally and connected in series as shewn with the binding screw C C₁ of the lamp so
as to take part of the current, a bye pass being provided. The gas generated in the
generator passes by the pipe 1) to the bellows E which are fixed at top to the framing
which carries the generator, the bellows being free to expand downwards their bottom
being guided on the guide rods FF. To the bottom of the bellows is fixed the
rack K which gears into the pinion L which latter is a sheave N2 for a cord O' to be
fixed thereto and to pass over a pulley S its other end being attached to the holder P
for the upper carbou. The rack K is fixed to the cross bar or holder I for the lower
carlion. On the opposite side there is a similarly connected bar K' without rack teeth.
The current enters at the binding serew C, passes through the wire W and divides
at X. One portion goes from B to B by the terminal Z through the electrolyte.
The other portion goes from X to Y and thence by way of wire V V to the positivo
carbon holder 1, thence through the carbons to the lower carbon holder I and back by
the wire to the negative terminal C. The carbon holders should be insulated from
the framework of the lamp. The more current passes into the generator A the more
gas is evolved, and as the pressure increases the bottom of the bellows E is forced
down whereby the lower carbon is lowered by the rack K connecting its holder to tho
bellows, while the upper carbon is simultaneously raised by the pulley N¹ and cord O¹.
When the equilibrium is again restored the carbons approach each other. When at
rest the carbons touch each other, but as the electromotive force rises the excess of
current causes the bellows to expand and the carbons to separate. The travel of the
bellows may for 18 inch carbon be some 6 or 7 inches.
It will be noticed that in all the arrangements of the generator an outlet adjustable
by hand as required is provided for the proper and permanent working of the device
so that in general when once thus properly adjusted no more regulation is required.
The special advantage of the outlet for are lamps is that the action of striking the are
is practically instantaneous. In general the continuous escape of gas by the outlet U
offers the advantage of perfect regulation of the motor or other appliance.
Figure 4 illustrates a method of automatically inserting or removing resistance to
prevent excessive variation of potential in thin wires with varying currents. A is the
generator operating as before described. The gas generated therein passes off by
pipe D to the bellows E fixed at bottom to the framing or stand M'. The bellows
support a metallic bar K2 provided with a spring F working against metal guides G
and pressing the bar K2 against the plate H¹ made of insulating material and provided
with the metallic contact pieces I', which are connected with resistances L in parallel
arc. The adjustable spring N2 counteracts the gas pressure in the bellows E. The
binding screw O² brings the current to be regulated in metallic connection with the
bar K by the guides G and spring N³.
The action is as follows:-
The binding screws of the electrodes B B are connected so that the wholo or a part
of the current to be regulated passes through the electrolyte in the vessel A, whilst
the whole of the current to be adjusted enters at O³.
As the current increases in strength the gas generated inflates the bellows E more
or less according to pressure and moves it up against the spring N².
The more
current passes the higher the bellows are pushed and the more contacts 1, 1 are
connected with 02 by way of the guides G¹, spring F and contact block K². As the
blocks 1,1, are connected in parallel by the bar K², so the resistance is reduced as
would be required to maintain constant potential at the end of a small wire with
varying current strength.
If the terminals of the electrodes B B' are connected in series with resistance and
the whole be in parallel with the main current, and the bellows E and spring N2 are so
arranged as to cut out the blocks 1', I' from circuit with increasing current we have a
means of running lamps from accumulators whilst the latter are being charged even

page_text: though the electro-motive force is too high for the lamps, as the higher the electro-
motive force the more resistance will be automatically inserted.
Figure 5 shows a different application of our invention to an are lamp. A is the
gas generator, B, B¹ the electrodes connected in series with the resistance coils L² and
the whole of this circuit is in parallel between the poles C C₁ of the lamp.
The gas, when the pressure rises passes by pipe D into bellows E, which are fixed
at top, and attached to top carbon holder P, which slides freely on the tubular guide
rods H H.
The cords O, are attached to the top holder P and pass over the pulleys H2, down
the tubes H H (which are slotted to allow bottom carbon holder I to slide in the slots)
their lower ends being attached to the bottom carbon holder I and as the latter slides
freely in the slots, any movement of the upper holder P is communicated to the lower
holder 1 by the cords O. The lower holder 1 is heavier than the upper holder P so
as to cause the carbon points to separate when the lamp is at rest.
M2 M2 is a weather-tight cover which should be easily removed for refilling the
generator A and should have a small hole M³ to allow gas to escape. The action is as
follows;
When the current is first started the carbons are apart and so the current flows
through the resistance coils L L and through the electrodes in the generator A
generating much gas in the latter. This gas inflates the bellows E and forces the
carbons together. The are then is formed as the path through the carbons is of low
resistance, therefore nearly all the current passes through it, allowing the gas to escape
from the outlet U quicker than it is formed until a balance is struck when the lamp
feeds well.
Figure 6 illustrates a method of producing motion and afterwards reversing it at a
distance with one pair of wires, by the electrolysis method. A A' are two generators
of gas by electrolysis coupled in series. R is a battery and S₁ S³ two bell pushes
connected in parallel with the circuit, S' having resistance T in circuit whereas S" has
not.
The bell pushes S and S2 with resistance T' are fixed at the point from which the
apparatus connected with the box M is to be controlled.
The gases are generated by pressing the push S¹ or S2 which completes the circuit
in which the battery or dynamo R' is included. A current is thus sent through the
circuit (SRCA A C²). The gases are produced in equal quantity in the
vessels A and A¹ (as they are arranged, by means of their electrodes in series) but
the orifice in the outlet Q being made smaller than that of the outlet Q', pressure
rises in A whilst A' is unaffected as the resistance T¹ is in circuit (the orifices and
resistance T being arranged accordingly). Consequently the bellows E is inflated,
and presses up the end of lever UU, turning on fulcrum U2. Bellows E' is
consequently compressed and the lever is moved, carrying with it whatever mechanism
it is intended to move.
pressure
If however S2 is pressed, since there is much less resistance in circuit the
in both A and A' rises. The bellows E being connected with the generator A' also
increases in pressure. As however the pressure is greater in E than in E¹ nothing
happens until pressure in E' rises high enough to inflate the small bellows N³ which is
connected with E' by a pipe 03. The bellows N³ rising carries the weighted lever Pi
turning on fulcrum P, and opens the valve R² connected with bellows E by a pipe O*.
The gas in E now escapes freely and the bellows E collapses while the bellows E rises
and carries all that the lever U U is attached to over into the other position.
Consequently by pressing S the end U³ of lever rises, and by pressing S the end Us
rises giving control over the switch, engine lever or other parts, with which the
lever U U is connected.
With any of the before described regulators and instruments, I can conduct the
gases set free, and passing out through the orifice of the cock U to a meter made like
a wet or a dry gas meter, I can thus register and read off the quantity of gas passed
and I have thus a constant register of the current passed through the instrument, If

page_text: First The use and application for regulation of motors and the-feed-of-aro-lamps
and for other regulating purposes of the pressure produced by the continuous evolution
of gases in an electrolytic generator or generators having a connection to a yielding
piston, ram, diaphragm, bellows or equivalent means operated by the pressure of the
gas evolved in the said generator which latter luas also an outlet of definitely adjustable
size, in accordance with the normal evolution of gas and normal speed of the motor-
or normal position of the carbons in the arc lamp the current for the generator being
supplied by a dynamo worked by the motor or in case of the arc lamp by any suitablo
source of electricity substantially as set forth.
Second-The combination of the generator A with adjustable outlet U, the pipe D,
and vessel G with yielding diaphragm P substantially as set forth.
Third-The combination of the generator A with adjustable outlet U, the pipe D,
drying vessel E pipe F and vessel G with yielding diaphragm P substantially as set
-forth.
Fourth-The combination of the generator A with adjustable outlet U, pipe D,
bellows E, rack K connected to lower carbon holder I, pinion L gearing with said
rack, sheave N and cord O¹ attached thereto and passing over sheave S and connected
to upper carbon holder P and the electrical circuit connections substantially as
described with reference to and also as shown in Figure 3.
Fifth-The combination of the generator A with adjustable outlet U, pipe D
bellows E cords O¹ passing over sheaves H2, the upper carbon holder P connected to
-the cords O¹ and to the movable bottom part of bellows, the other ends of the cords O'
being connected to the bottom carbon holder I and the electrical connections as set
forth, substantially as described with reference to and also as shown on Figure 5.
Sixth-The mode substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 for auto-
matically inserting and removing resistance as required by the use of a bellows or
equivalent means actuated by gas evolved in a generator A.
Seventh-The mode substantially as described with reference to Figure 6 for
automatically regulating at a distance potential or current in a lamp circuit by the use
of bellows or equivalent means actuated by gas evolved in generators A A¹.
Eighth-The electrolytical generator A having horizontal electrodes a pipe leading
to the bellows or equivalent means for regulating and an outlet of definitely adjustable
size substantially as described and shown."
Ninth In a system for regulating motors, are lamps and other appliances by
means of gases specially generated electrolytically for the purpose the use and
application with the generator of said gases of an outlet of definitely adjustable size
for the continuous escape of the gases evolved substantially as set forth.

page_text: Tenth-In combination with a generator provided with an outlet of definitely
adjustable size for the continuous escape of the gases evolved the use and application
of a meter for measuring and registering the quantity of gas evolved substantially as
set forth.
Eleventh-In combination with a generator for regulating purposes as described
and provided with an outlet of definitely adjustable size for the continuous escape of
the gas evolved the use and application of one or more drums having flexible
diaphragm or equivalent means and a pipe connection to the generator for the purpose
of indicating on a dial or scale the quantity or pressure of current passing to the
generator substantially as set forth.