Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating and Commutating Electrical Currents, Applicable for use in Dynamo Electric Machines, Motors, and Meters.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct.,
1890
Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating and Commutating
Electrical Currents, Applicable for use in Dynamo Electric
Machines, Motors, and Meters.
HENRY FRANCIS JOEL, of 44 Lavender Grove, Dalston, London, E., in the County
of Middlesex, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
'
A. coil of wire of parallelogram form is fixed on a stand with its longest sides
vertical, close to this coil is a single wire, also shaped like a parallelogram, and pivotted
in the centre at the top and bottom, and free to turn, with one of its longest sides in
close proximity and parallel to the longest side of the fixed coil. When an electric
current is sent through the fixed coil, and also through the moveable wire in the same
direction, the moveable wire will be attracted, if the currents are, in opposite directions.
the moveable wire will be repelled and move away from the fixed coil.
I have found that when a piece or strip of sheet iron, is placed, in front of the side
of the fixed coil, between that coil and the moveable wire, so as to cover the side of
the coil, that the iron shut off and to a great extent nullifies the action of the currents
one upon the other, so that the moveable wire is no longer repelled or attracted. If I
place the iron strip so as to cover one edge and a part of the coil only, the repelling,
or the attracting action is shut off on that edge or portion only, the other portion and
edge of the coil will act upon the moveable wires as described.
A closed frame of iron, completely encircling the coil, wholly, or on one side, has a
similar and somewhat increased effect.
By making the iron adjustable and by altering its position relatively to the coil. I
can either increase or decrease its nullifying action.
I apply the foregoing described action to produce rotary motion:-I take two coils
and place one inside the other, the inside coil being pivotted and free to turn, and the
outer coil fixed, or rice-tersa, the coils are circular in shape, and are wound either in
series, or in multiple, and the wires are either separated singly, or divided into groups,
by placing the iron strips, or specially shaped screens, or shutters of iron, in proper
position on the fixed; or the moveable coil, one iron strip to each wire, or groups of
wires, the wires, or corresponding groups of wires of the moveable coil will be acted
upon on, one edge, and side only, and if the repellent action is used, the moveable
wires will be repelled by successive impulses; on one side, so as to cause rotation.
To avoid dead centres, I vary the numbers of wires, or groups of wires on the inside
coil relatively to the outside.
.
I have also found that the nullifying action of the iron screen can to some extent he
produced by the currents acting upon each other-I divide a coil of wire into two
parts winding one part in one direction and the other part in the opposite direction.
When an electrical current is sent through the coils the action of the opposite currents
in the central and adjacent parts of the two coils, neutralizes each the other, whilst the
outer parts and edges of the coils are active, the moveable wire, as previously described
will now be attracted by the one coil, its movement will carry it past the neutral
point, and it will then be repelled and continue to move in the same direction. I
combine the iron screen with this double coil arrangement, placing the iron strip or
band to cover the central portion of the two coils, or more of one coil than the other.
I may use continuous, or alternating currents, with either of the foregoing described
actions
To obtain rotation from a number of distinct and separate coils placed inside each
other, as in the preceding described single coils, and to increase the power of the
motor so made, use a special commutator to cause the reversal of the currents in the
+.

page_text: rotating coils at the proper periods, I construct the commutator as follows:---Inside a
short cylinder of glass I place a small quantity of mercury, on the edges of the cylinder,
and sealed into the glass are iron wire contacts, through the centre of the cylinder is
an axis, which may be the main axis of the revolving armature, or the revolving coils,
or may be separately revolved in any convenient manner. Inside the cylinder attached
to the axis, I place a continuous contact or disc of iron dipping into the mercury.
The revolving coils, or the coils of an armature, are connected to the iron contact
points and so arranged that the current is passed through them either singly in
succession or so as to change the direction in each coil, or any number of them.
A double cylinder forms a double set of contacts, and may be made to act in a
similar manner to the brushes of a dynamo electric machine.
I may construct the cylinder of iron and insulate the contacts, or of glass tubes
with insulated ends. I may use platinum; or other suitable metal for the contacts and
cylinder, or I construct the commutator, or collector, of two concentric tubes, with
fitted sides, and, I may coil the wires around the annulas thus made, and so form
a complete armature and commutator combined; made with iron, and a double set of
contacts, and divided into two halves for the mercury and contacts, I can make a
gramme ring armature, apparently without a commutator.
As the coils and commutator revolves the mercury keeps stationary at moderate
speeds, and so makes and breaks, or alters the direction of the currents, any combina-
tion of coils, or any commutation or alteration of the direction of the currents, can be
produced with this revolving commutator, and the mercury and contacts, and I may
make the commutator air tight, or fill it with a non oxidyzing gas, so that the mercury
will always keep clean and make good contact.
I may use any of the foregoing methods of rotation, or combinations with commu-
tators, as meters, to measure the current passing through them by the number of
revolutions, which are shewn on a clock train of wheels, and dials.
When the commutator is used in a motor, or a meter, the mercury also acts as a
regulator of the speed, if the speed becomes too great the mercury is thrown up and
breaks the contact, so that no current can pass, it thus acts as a regulator of the speed,
this action of the mercury can be aided by placing vanes or grooves inside the
cylinder.
The combination of the revolving coils and commutator enables one to increase the
power of the electrical effects by multiplying the number of coils of wires.
I have found that other metals, in the form of closed frames, have a similar though
much less effect than iron, to screen, or nullify the action of the currents one upon the
other, due to the induction of opposite currents in the screens, but I prefer magnetic
metals.
There are many useful purposes to which the foregoing described new means of
regulating, and commutating electric currents may be applied, and I do not limit
myself to any special applications, the construction of a motor, or a meter, without
magnets, as described in my Specification, renders them specially adapted for use with
alternating currents.
Tain) this 1:41 1 at V………………1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating and Commutating
Electrical Currents, Applicable for use in Dynamo Electric
Machines, Motors, and Meters.
HENRY FRANCIS JOEL, of 44 Lavender Grove, Dalston, London, E., in the County
of Middlesex, 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:-
A coil of wire of parallelogram form is fixed on a stand with its longest sides vertical,
close to this coil is a single wire, also shaped like a parallelogram, and pivotted in the

page_text: centre at the top and bottom, & free to turn with one of its longest sides in close
proximity and parallel to the longest side of the fixed coil. When an electric current
is sent through the fixed coil, and also through the moveable wire in the same
direction, the moveable wire will be attracted, if the currents are in opposite directions,
the moveable wire will be repelled & move away from the fixed coil.
I have found that when a piece or strip of sheet iron, is placed in front of the side
of the fixed coil, between that coil and the moveable wire, so as to cover the side of
the coil, that the iron shuts off and to a great extent nullifies the action of the
currents one upon the other, so that the moveable wire is no longer repelled or
attracted. If I place the iron strips so as to cover one edge and a part of the coil
only, the repelling, or the attracting action, is shut off on that edge or portion only,
the other portion and edge of the coil will act upon the moveable wire as described.
A closed frame of iron, completely encircling the coil, wholly, or on one side, bas
a similar and somewhat increased effect.
By making the iron adjustable and by altering its position relatively to the coil, I
can either increase or decrease its nullifying action.
I apply the foregoing described action to produce rotary motion :-
I take two coils, C, and C, Fig. 1, a diagram, and Figure 2, a section of the
apparatus, and place one inside the other, the inside coil C, being pivotted at P, top
and bottom with connecting mercury cups for conveying the current as shewn-and
being free to turn, and the outer coil fixed, or vice-versa, the coils are wound in a
circle, and are either in series, as shewn in Fig. 3, a diagram or in multiple as in
Figs. 1, and 2, and the wires are either separated singly as shewn in Fig. 1, or divided
into groups as shewn in Fig. 4, by placing the iron strips, shewn in black at S, S,
Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, or specially shaped screens, or shutters of iron, in proper position
in proximity to the fixed, or on the moveable coil, 'one iron strip. S. to each wire, C,
or groups of wires, C, the wires C¹, or corresponding groups of wires of the move-
able coil, C, will be acted upon, on one edge, and side only, and if the repellent
action is used, the moveable wires, C, will be repelled by successive impulses, on one
side, as shown by the arrows, so as to cause rotation.
To avoid dead centres, I vary the numbers of wires, C. C', or groups of wires C³,
on the inside coil relatively to the outside, as shewn in Fig. 1. I have also found
that the nullifying action of the iron screen. S. S, can to some extent be produced
by the currents acting upon each other:- divide a coil of wire into two parts, C, C,
Fig. 5, winding one part in one direction and the other part in the opposite direction.
When an electrical current is sent through the coils C, and C, the action of the
opposite currents in the central and adjacent parts of the two coils, C, C, neutralizes.
each the other, whilst the outer parts and edges of the coils are active, the move-
able wire C', as previously described, will now be attracted by the one coil C¹, its
movement will carry it past the neutral point, and it will then be repelled and
continue to move in the same direction as shown by the arrows.
I combine the iron screen, S, see Fig. 5, with this double coil arrangement, placing
the iron strip. S, or band, to cover the central portion of the two coils, or more of
one coil than the other, and to make a difference between the attractive and repulsive
action, I incline the coil, C, C, relatively to the wires, Ct, C¹, as shown in the dotted
lines. I may use continuous, or alternating currents, with either of the foregoing
described actions.
To obtain rotation from a number of distinct & separate coils, placed inside each
other, see Fig. 11, as in the preceding described single coils, and to increase the
power of the motor so made, I use an ordinary commutator, to cause the reversal of
the currents in the rotating coils. C', at the proper periods, but by preference I
construct a special and novel commutator see Fig. 6, a section. and Figure 7, a front
iew as follows:-
Inside a short cylinder of glass G, G. I place a small quantity of mercury, M, M,
on the edges of the cylinder, G, and sealed into the glass are iron wire contacts, or
crews; I, I, through the centre of the cylinder is an axis, A, which may be, the

page_text: main axis of the revolving armature, or the revolving coils, or may be separately
revolved in any convenient manner. Inside the cylinder, G. attached to the axis, A,
I place a continuous contact or disc of iron. D, dipping into the mercury, M. The
revolving coils, C, C, or the coils of an armature. are connected to the iron contact
points 1.1, and so arranged that the current is passed through them either singly in
succession, as shown in Fig. 7, or so as to change the direction in each coil, as shewn
in Fig. 8, a diagram. In this diagram two ways of connecting the iron contacts, I, I,
to the disc, D, and mercury cups, M, are shewn-one with four contacts, the coils
being in series, the cross connections shewn in full lines, the other with eight
contacts, the coils being in parallel series, and the connections shewn in dotted lines,
or in any other disposition as is easily understood. In the diagrams Figs. 8, and 10.
the discs D, are shewn one above the other, but this is only for clearness, they
would be placed along side each other as in Fig. 9, or if separated would be on the
same axle, say at each end. A double cylinder forms a double set of contacts I, I,
and may be made to act in a similar manner to the brushes of a dynamo electric
machine as shewn in diagram Fig. 10. I may construct the cylinder G, of iron and
insulate the contacts, I, I, or of glass tubes with insulated ends. I may use platinum,
or other suitable metal for the contacts, I, I, and cylinder, G, or I construct the
commutator, or collector, of two concentric tubes, with fitted sides, and, I may coil
the wires around the annulas thus made, and so form a complete armature and com-
mutator combined; made with iron and a double set of contacts, and divided into two
halves for the mercury and contacts, I can make a Gramme ring armature, with
either two poles, or four, or any number of poles, as shewn in diagram Fig. 10,
apparently without a commutator.
As the coils, C, C', and commutator revolves, the mercury M, keeps stationary at
moderate speeds, and so makes and breaks, or alters the direction of the currents, any
combination of coils, C', C, or any commutation or alteration of the direction of the
currents, can be produced with this revolving commutator and the mercury and
contacts, and I may make the commutator air tight, or fill it with a non-oxidyzing
gas, so that the mercury will always keep clean and make good contact, or I may
fill the cylinder above the mercury with an insulating liquid.
I may use any of the foregoing methods of rotation, or combinations with com-
mutators, as meters, to measure the current passing through them by the number of
revolutions, which are shewn, on a clock train of wheels, and dials at the top of Fig. 2.
at T. When the commutator is used in a motor, or a meter, the mercury also acts as
is thrown up
a regulator of the speed, if the speed becomes too great the mercury
and breaks the contact, so that no current can pass, it thus acts as a regulator of the
speed, this action of the mercury can be aided by placing vanes or grooves inside the
cylinder.
The combination of the revolving coils and commutator enables me to increase the
power of the electrical effects as in Fig. 11, by multiplying the number of coils of
wires, and I may use the commutator with the coils as shewn in part Fig. 11, without
the iron screens S, and so arrange that the reversal is made at the exact moment to
produce attraction in the moveable coil, and when the coil has moved into another
position, to produce repulsion, the two actions assisting each other to produce
rotation.
I have found that other metals, in the form of closed frames, have a similar
though much less effect than iron, to screen, or nullify the action of the currents
one upon the other, but I prefer magnetic metals. There are many useful purposes
to which the foregoing described new means of regulating, and commutating electric
currents may be applied and I do not limit myself to any special applications; the
construction of a motor, or a meter, without magnets, as described in my Specification.
renders them specially adapted for use with alternating currents.
In the foregoing Specification and on the drawings like parts are indicated as much
as possible by the same letters, and the drawings are made as much self explanatory
as possible.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
(1) The screen S. as and for the purposes and uses set forth, and substantially as
shewn and described in reference to Figs. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 1.1.
(2) The screen S, in combination with the coils C, C, through which electrical
currents are passed, for producing a continuous or rotating motion without a com-
mutator, substantially as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
(3) The arrangements of screen S, and coils C, C, to form a motor, or a meter,
substantially as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 11.
(4) The construction of commutators, or collectors, with revolving cylinders, fluid
conductors, and connections substantially as shewn and described in reference to
Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9.
(5) The use and application of the commutators, or collectors, substantially as
shewn and described in reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, and for all purposes
relating to dynamos, and electric and magnetic machines, motors and meters.
(6) The combination of any of the arrangements of the screens S, and coils C, C¹
with an ordinary commutator or collector.
(7) A system or arrangement of moveable and fixed coils, without the screens S, S,
in combination with the special commutator to form a motor, or meter, substantially,
as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Dotad this 2nd day of August 1890.
HENRY FRANCIS JOEL.