Improvements relating to Electric Regulation and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: . Improvements relating to Electric Regulation and to
Apparatus therefor.
I, CARL LUDWIG RUDOLPH ERNEST MENGES, of the Hague, Holland, lo 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:
My invention relates to electric regulation and to apparatus therefor.
A great number of electric regulators are already known, some of which work
moderately well, especially for the regulation under gradually or slowly varying
circumstances. They are deficient, however, to compensate sudden changes in the
external or working circuit, for instance, when a comparatively large number of lamps
are switched into or out of the circuit. My improved method of regulation is more
particularly designed to regulate irregularities resulting from these and like sudden
changes in the external circuit.
Suppose that a dynamo-electric machine d (Figure 1) be used for feeding or
supplying a number of incandescent lamps / worked in parallel or multiple arc. Now
it is requisite that every lamp shall receive its normal current, independently of the
number of lamps in circuit, that is to say, that there shall be a constant difference of
electric tension or potential between the mains bx and d y.
To obtain this result by any-known electric current regulator, it is clear that the
said regulator, must be placed in a shunt to the mains, at R for instance; such a
regulator may act upon the throttle valve a of the steam-engine, and will close or open
it when the current in R is above or below its normal value. The current in R being
maintained nearly constant in this manner, then the difference of electric tension or
potential between the mains bæ and dy will be nearly constant and thus the current
other shunt will also be nearly constant.
in any
It is clear, however, that much better regulation would be obtained if every lamp-
switch were in direct communication with the throttle-valve, so that the act of switching
lamps into or out of the circuit would, at the same time, open or close the throttle-valve
to a greater or less extent and thus regulate the speed of the engine according to the
number of lamps in circuit.

page_text: A direct mechanical connection between each switch and the throttle-valve would,
however, be impracticable. Now the action of my improved regulating devices is
exactly the same as if there were such a direct connection, the movement of each
switch being transmitted by the aid of electricity to the throttle-valve; moreover, this
result is obtained without the use of any extra connections at the lamps or switches, as
will hereinafter appear. When a lamp is switched in between the points and y of
tho mains, for example, then there will immediately be an increase in the main current
to these points. But this increase in the current will exist not only near æ, y, but also
at every other point of the mains between the dynamo-electric machine and a, y.
Therefore, if a wire coil, or solenoid with a movable iron core is placed in the main
circuit at b, it is clear that the attraction between the said coil and core will increase
by a definite amount when a lamp is switched into the circuit at æ, y.
Now, if the attraction on the core is counter-balanced (by a spring, a counterweight,
or by arranging the core to float on a liquid, or by other suitable means) in such a
manner that the core assumes different definite positions according to the strength of
the current, then the closing of the lamp-switch at a will immediately cause a definite
movement of the core at 6. Therefore, by connecting this core with the throttle-
valve a, the result obtained will be exactly the same as if the switch were mechanically
connected with the throttle-valve. If the solenoid, the core, the spring or other
counterbalancing device, the lever-arm of the throttle-valve and other parts are made
of suitable size, the position of the throttle-valve and the amount of steam admitted to
the engine, and consequently the speed of the engine and dynamo-electric machine,
will always correspond with the number of lamps in circuit so as to produce the normal
electric tension or potential in the mains.
Instead of regulating the electric tension or potential by varying the speed of
rotation of the armature, the armature may be kept at a constant speed, and the
dynamo-electric machine governed by other known means, for instance, by resistances
inserted in the field or in the main circuit. For this purpose, it is only necessary to
connect the movable core (Figure 2) with a suitable resistance-governor G¹.
In this case, the arrangement shown in Figure 1 may, if desired, be used to maintain
a constant speed of the motor M and dynamo-electric machine d', as indicated at bin
Figure 2 by the thick lines in connection with the dynamo-electric machine d¹.
When lamps are switched into the circuit in this combined arrangement, then the
throttle-valve a is opened by means of just sufficiently to maintain a constant speed,
while at the same time b' acts on G¹ so as to cut out the exact amount of resistance to
obtain the required electric tension or potential in the mains.
If the dynamo-electric machine is governed by compound winding of the electro-
magnets, then the arrangement shewn in Figure 1' may be used.
By the several examples above explained, it will be clear that the action of the
solenoid is quite different from the action of a common electric regulator, as it will
not move the throttle-valve or resistance-governor in a direction to lessen the varia-
tions of the current in the said solenoid (as would be done by any known electric
regulator), but just in the opposite direction, thus maintaining or even increasing the
variations in the main current due, for example, to the insertion of lamps into the
circuit; in this manner the desired constancy of the electric tension or potential in
the mains is obtained. For instance, assuming that, by the insertion of lamps in
multiple are into the circuit, the main current is increased from 20 to 30 ampères, giving
thus a variation of 10 ampères, then the solenoid will act upon the throttle-valve so as to
maintain or even increase this variation or altered current strength, as may be required.
In some cases, for instance when are lamps are arranged in series in the main
circuit, it is desirable to maintain a constant current in the mains independently of the
number of lamps in circuit. In the method hitherto adopted, this was effected by
inserting a current regulator in the main circuit to regulate the current therein. No
such regulators are used according to my invention, but an apparatus like that
described in the previous case (which I term a "variator") is inserted in a shunt to
the main circuit (see the thin lines at and Figure 2) thereby producing such
variations of the shunt current as are required to maintain the desired constancy of

page_text: the main current. The action is readily explained in the same manner as that above
described in the case of regulating the electric tension or potential.
The use of my improved method of regulation does not at all prevent or exclude me
from using any other regulators. With my improved method of regulation, there is
no action except when lamps (or other apparatus, such as electric motors, for instance)
are switched into or out of the circuit, but there are many other causes for irregu
larities in the speed of a steam-engine. It is preferable, therefore, to use my method
of regulation in addition to an ordinary steam-engine regulator or governor c as shewn
in Figure 1. The iron core, being free to move in the coil b, does not impede the
action of the said governor.
Instead of a throttle-valve, any other controlling device can be used as may be most
suitable to the engine, which may be a gas-engine, water-motor, or the like.
Instead of a solenoid and iron core as indicated, it may be preferable to use an
electro-magnet with a movable armature; or the movable iron core may be replaced
by a magnetized or unmagnetised steel core or a movable solenoid. It is obvious,
moreover, that if the attraction of the solenoid or electro-magnet is too strong, it may
be lessened by branching off a part of the current through a suitable resistance con-
nected to the terminals of the said solenoid or electro-magnet.
If one engine has to drive several dynamo-electric machines each with its own
independent external circuit, then it is obvious that, if my method of regulation is to
be used for keeping the engine at a constant speed, this may be done by using for
every dynamo-electric machine an arrangement such as that hereinbefore described,
and connecting all the movable cores with the engine-governor. I prefer, however, to
simplify the arrangement by using only one core and one wire coil wound with as
many separate wires as there are dynamo-electric machines. This arrangement is
indicated in Figure 2. The engine M drives, by means of belts, two dynamo-electric
machines and, there are therefore two separate conductors wound on b. The
dynamo-electric machine d' is supposed to be used for incandescent lamps worked in
parallel or multiple are, and the dynamo-electric machine d² for are lamps worked in
series, the two conductors on are arranged differently therefor one being in the
mains, the other in a shunt to the mains, cach conductor being connected with one
dynamo-electric machine in the manner above indicated for the corresponding use of
a single dynamo-electric machine.
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 :-
First. The above described improved method of electric regulation when lamps or
other apparatus are worked in parallel or multiple are, consisting in utilizing the
variations in the strength of the main current due to changes in the amount of current
used in the said lamps or other apparatus to operate a device or devices for controlling
the speed of the engine or motor which drives the electric generator, or for actuating
a suitable governor of the electric generator.
Second. The above described improved method of electric regulation when lamps
or other apparatus are worked in series, consisting in utilizing the variations in the
strength of the current in a shunt to the mains due to variations in the mains or in
the apparatus therein to operate a device or devices for controlling the speed of the
engine or motor which drives the electric generator, or for actuating a suitable
governor of the electric generator.
نا
Third. The combination, with a motor M Figure 1, an electric generator d driven
by the said motor, and apparatus or devices to be worked by electricity inserted in
shunts between the mains, of a solenoid or electro-magnet & included in the main
circuit or in a part of it and arranged to act upon a movable core or armature connected
with the motor governor a in such a manner as to maintain or increase the variations
of the main current in the said solenoid or electro-magnet whereby the speed of the
motor and the difference of electric tension or potential between the mains is regulated,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with an electric generator d' Figure 2, and apparatus or

page_text: devices to be worked by electricity inserted in shunts between the mains, of a solenoid
or electro-magnet included in the main circuit or in a part of it and arranged to
act upon a movable core or armature connected with the governor G' of the electric
generator in such a manner as to increase the variations of the main current in the
said solenoid or electro-magnet whereby the difference of electric tension or potential
between the mains is regulated, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination, with a motor M Figure 2, an electric generator d driven
by the said motor, and apparatus or devices to be worked by electricity inserted in
the mains, of a solenoid or electro-magnet inserted in a shunt between the mains and
arranged to act upon a movable core or armature connected with the motor-governor a
in such a manner as to maintain or increase the variations of the shunt current in the
said solenoid or electro-magnet, whereby the speed of the motor and the strength of
the main current is regulated, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination, with an electric generator Figure 2, and apparatus or
devices to be worked by electricity inserted in the mains, of a solenoid or electro-
magnet ³ inserted in a shunt between the mains and arranged to act upon a movable
core or armature connected with the governor G2 of the electric generator d² in such
a manner as to increase the variations of the shunt current in the said solenoid or
electro-magnet, whereby the strength of the main current is regulated, substantially
as set forth.
Seventh. The combination of two or more solenoids or electro-magnets arranged
according to the third, fourth, fifth or sixth claiming clause, inserted in one and the
same circuit and each arranged to act upon a different governor, substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawing for the purposes specified.
Eighth. The combination of two or more solenoids or electro-magnets arranged
according to the third or fifth claiming clause inserted in different circuits but arranged
to act together on one and the same engine-governor, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing for the purposes specified.
Ninth. The combination of one or more solenoids or electro-magnets arranged
according to the third, fifth or eighth claiming clause, with the speed-regulator of a
steam, gas or other engine, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
C. L. R. E. MENGES.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C
Agents for the Applicant.