IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINES.”
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Werdermann, of Princes Street, in the
County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINES.”
"
Sealed the 12th March 1875, and dated the 16th September 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Werdermann
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th September 1874.
I, RICHARD WERDERMANN, of Princes Street, in the County of Surrey,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINES," to be as follows:-
1
My Invention relates to apparatus for producing currents of electricity
by mechanical power. The said apparatus differs essentially from other
magneto-electric machines with regard to the electro-magnets and
bobbins, and the mode of induction by which electric currents flowing
in the same direction are obtained.

page_text: In nearly all of the magneto-electric machines heretofore devised
the electric currents are obtained by moving a bobbin or armature
between or before the two poles of a magnet in such a manner
that those halves of the wire convolutions which lie on one side
of the core whereon the wire is coiled pass alternately before polls of 5
opposite polarity. The electric currents so induced flow in opposito
directions, either alternately or continuously.
In my improved apparatus, on the contrary, the electric currents are
induced in such a manner that all those halves of the convolutions of the
wire lying on one side of the core are induced by magnetic poles of the 1
same polarity, and for this reason I call this mode of induction "isopolar
induction."
The principal advantages of this mode of induction are the following,
that is to say :-
First. All the electric currents induced in the bobbin flow in the same ]
direction and in succession.
Secondly. By dividing the wire of the bobbin into a certain number of
sections of equal length, and by connecting the ends of each section with
brass blocks, the resistance of the bobbin and the electro-motive force of
the current can by means of plugs inserted between the brass blocks be 2
regulated, as in a galvanic battery, by joining up the cells in one row, or
side by side.
Thirdly. The electric currents can be collected without contacts, that
is to say, without the use of rollers, springs, or other rubbers.
My improved apparatus is constructed as follows:-On a circular, or
polygonal, or other suitably shaped hollow annular disc of metal or other
suitable material, made either of one solid piece, or of wire, or ribbon, or
of several thin discs or segments of discs joined or welded together, I
radially coil insulated wire, or ribbon, or strips of copper, or of any other
good conducting material. This disc is fixed like a tyre on a wheel, or a
wooden disc fitted on an axle. The boss of the wheel is surrounded with
two rings or hoops of conducting material insulated from each other.
These hoops are each connected with one end of the wire of the bobbin,
and lie in contact with rubbers connected with the terminals of the
apparatus. Instead of using rubbers I may pass the two ends of the
bobbin wire in opposite directions through the axis of the shaft, and

page_text: insert them at the ends of the latter in small cups or basins filled with
quicksilver, in which they revolve.
For the purposes of regulating the resistance of the bobbin the above-
described arrangement may be modified in the following manner:―The
whole of the wire coiled on the disos is divided into a certain number of
equal parts to form a series of small bobbins. At each intersection of
two succeeding coils are screwed or otherwise fixed on the aforesaid,
wooden disc four brass blocks separate from each other, and forming a
square. The two blocks nearest the coils are each connected with one
end of the wire of two succeeding coils. The two blocks nearest the
nave of the wheel or wooden disc are connected each with one of the
two hoops of the boss by means of wire or rods of copper or brass. In
order to protect the connecting wire a second wooden disc is placed
behind the first one, so that the wires lie between these two wooden
disos. By inserting a plug between the two blocks which are connected
with the bobbin connection is made between two succeeding coils, so
that they may be regarded now as one coil. By inserting in the contrary
a plug between each block belonging to one coil, and the corresponding
block belonging to one hoop, connection is made between the bobbins
and the hoops. It will be evident from the above description that by
means of these plugs if the whole bobbin is divided into sixty-four small
bobbins I may form one single circuit, or two, four, eight, sixteen,
thirty-two, or sixty-four circuits joined side by side. One or more of
these currents induced in these circuits may be used to charge the
electro-magnets of the apparatus.
On each side of the above-described bobbin is fixed on a suitable
frame a flat ring of soft iron of the same diameter or breadth as the
bobbin, made either of one solid piece, or of wire, or ribbon, or of several
small rings welded or otherwise united. One of these iron rings forms
the polar extension of one or more permanent or electro-magnets; the
other ring becomes magnetic by the magnetic radiation of the first one,
or forms the polar extension of the other pole. This arrangement may
be readily carried into practice by placing all round the circumference of
the two soft iron rings a series of horse-shoe, or circular, or other shaped
permanent or electro-magnets; it may also be effected in many different
ways.
If a great number of magnets is used, so that the distance between

page_text: or section of the bobbin, the soft iron rings may be dispensed with, and
the magnets may be applied without polar extensions. Moreover, the
iron rings may be cut into several equal pieces, and fixed on each pole
separately.
If instead of a flat disc a core of elliptical or circular section is used in
the bobbin, that side of the iron rings opposite the bobbins may be cut
out to embrace the bobbin as closely as possible.
When the aforesaid bobbin is caused to revolve between the two
magnetic iron rings, that is to say, to move through the magnetic sphere
between them, all the halves of the convolutions of the wire on one side
of the core are induced by north poles, and all the other halves of the
convolutions on the other side of the core are south poles, and currents
will be induced in the bobbin in the same direction to the hoops by which
they are collected.
Instead of using one bobbin two bobbins may be mounted on the
same shaft, and a third soft iron ring placed between them under the
influence of the two magnetic rings which form the polar extensions
lying outside the bobbins; this middle ring assumes on that side opposite
the north polar ring south polarity, and on the other side opposite the
south polar ring north polarity, the neutral zone lying in the middle of
the ring which becomes powerfully magnetic because of the existence
of a double induction from both poles. An increase of the magnetic
power of this middle ring is obtained by connecting it with a third pole
of an electro-magnet. The electro-magnets in this case have three
branches, two north poles, and one south pole, or inversely. If more
than two bobbins are applied to the apparatus the same may be as
follows: Let n represent any number of bobbins, then the magnets have
(n + 1) branches. If the core of the bobbins is made of magnetic
material it may be of two equal parts, namely, two discs or two rings
separated from each other by insulating material.
Very powerful electric currents are obtained by the following arrange-
ment of the apparatus :-A hollow soft iron cylinder whose thickness
is about equal to the breadth of the bobbin, and whose diameter is at
least four times as great as its thickness, is coiled with insulated copper
wire, and fixed horizontally on a wooden plate. On a shaft covered by
insulating material which passes through this soft iron cylinder in the
direction of its axis, are fixed two bobbins of the shape above described;

page_text: one bobbin opposite the circular north pole of the cylindrical electro-
magnet, and the other one opposite the circular south pole of the
cylinder. On the outside of each bobbin is placed one of the soft iron
rings above described. One of the bobbins serves as a feeding bobbing
for the magnet, and the other as a working bobbin. A still greater
power may be obtained in replacing the soft iron rings by short hollow
cylinders of the same diameter and thickness as the cylinder between
the two bobbins representing the poles of a horse-shoe electro-magnet,
which embraces between its branches the principal cylinder and the two
bobbins, so that the north pole of the horse-shoe magnet is placed
opposite the south pole of the cylinder, and inversely; or two horse-shoe
magnets may be applied, one for each bobbin, and the larger cylinder
dispensed with.
In another form of the said apparatus I fix on a shaft covered with
insulating material a globe or ellipsoid made of soft iron or iron wire,
forming one solid piece, or hollow like a shell. This globe or ellipsoid
is coiled meridionally or equatorially with insulated copper wire, each
of whose two ends is connected with a hoop fitted on the shaft. This
globe or ellipsoid is enclosed in two halves of an iron shell, so that a
small space is left between it and the shell, allowing it to revolve freely.
The two halves of the said shell form the polar extensions of either
the north poles or the south poles of two or more magnets, between
the other liko poles of which a second globe or ellipsoid may be
placed. When the said globe or ellipsoid is caused to revolve inside
the shell a continuous electric current flows through the wire in one
direction.
Instead of a globe or ellipsoid coiled with wire as above described,
a solid or hollow globe or ellipsoid of copper fitted on an insulated shaft
of iron, or on a shaft of copper or brass may be used. When such a
globe or ellipsoid is caused to revolve inside the two halves of the iron
shell between like magnetic poles (isopoles), a continuous-electric current
flows in the direction of the axis from one end of the axle or shaft
to the other end. The same effect is obtained when the ellipsoid is
kept at rest, and a pole of opposite polarity to that of the two halves
of the shell is caused to revolve inside a hole made in the globe or
ellipsoid.
If a current of very great electro-motive force is required, a hollow
cylinder instead of two halves of a shell is fixed between like poles, say

page_text: north poles, so that the axis of the cylinder forms a right angle with
the axis of the magnets. Inside this cylinder is caused to revolve a
bobbin of the following construction:- A ribbon or rod or cylindrical
bar of soft iron or iron wire is coiled with insulated copper wire, and
bent in the form of a spiral or screw upon a cylinder of insulating
material through which passes the shaft. The core of the spiral may be
made of non-magnetic material, and if so it is bent around a cylinder of
soft iron or iron wire, through whose axis passes the shaft which is com-
pletely insulated. When this screw is caused to revolve inside the
cylinder placed between isapoles a continuous electric current flows
from one end of the screw to the other end. If a great quantity of
electricity is required the spiral itself is made of solid copper, or of a
bundle of wire.
Instead of revolving the screw bobbin and the iron cylinder together
one of them alone may revolve, or the bobbin may revolve in one
direction, and the iron cylinder in the opposite direction. Morcover,
this iron cylinder may be the polar extension of a magnet with three
branches, namely, the south pole of a three branch magnet, the two
north poles of which are connected with the cylinder in which the
bobbin revolves; or the cylinder around which the spiral is bent may
be cut into two or more parts in the direction of the axis, each part
being the polar extension of a horse-shoe magnet whose other pole is
connected with the iron cylinder inside which the spiral revolves.
The soft iron rings and polar extensions, as well as the cores of the
electro-magnets of the apparatus, are made by preference of electro-
deposited iron, and that side of the polar extensions and iron rings which
are opposite the bobbins is roughened or cut like a file, whereby the power
of magnetic radiation is increased.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Richard Werderman, Her special licence
that I, the said Richard Werdermann, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Werdermann, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard Werdermann, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Werdermann, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
-
My Invention relates to apparatus for producing currents of electricity
by mechanical power. The said apparatus differs essentially from other
magneto electric machines with regard to the electro-magnets and
bobbins, and the mode of induction by which electric currents flowing
in the same direction are obtained,
•
In nearly all of the heretofore employed magneto-electric machines
the electric currents are obtained by moving a bobbin or. armature
between or before the two poles of a magnet in such a manner that
those halves of the wire convolutions which lie on one side of the core
whereon the wire is coiled pass alternately before poles of opposite
polarity, the electric currents so induced flowing in opposite directions
either alternately or continuously.

page_text: In my improved apparatus, on the contrary, the electric currents are
induced in such a manner that all those halves of the convolutions of
the wire lying on one side of the core are induced by magnetic poles of
the same polarity, and for this reason I call this mode of induction
" isopolar induction.”
"
The principal advantages of this mode of induction are the following,
that is to say:-
All the electric currents induced in the bobbin flow in the same
direction, and in consequence, by dividing the wire of the bobbin into a
certain number of sections of equal length, and by connecting the ends
of each section with brass blocks, the resistance of the bobbin and the
electro-motive force of the current can by means of plugs inserted
between the brass blocks be regulated as in a galvanic battery by
joining up the cells in one row, or side by side.
The electric currents can be collected without contacts, that is to say,
without the use of rollers, springs, or other rubbers.
My improved apparatus is constructed as follows:-On a circular or
polygonal or other suitable shaped hollow annular plate of metal, or other
suitable material, made either of one solid piece or of wire, or ribbon, or
of several thin discs or segments of discs joined or welded together, I
radially coil insulated wire or ribbon or strips of copper, or of any
other good conducting material. This plate is fixed like a tyre on a
wheel, or wooden disc fitted on a shaft. The boss of the wheel is
surrounded with two rings or hoops of conducting material insulated
from each other. These hoops are each connected with one end of the
wire of the bobbin, and lie in contact with rubbers connected with the
terminals of the apparatus. Instead of using rubbers I may pass the
two ends of the bobbin wire in opposite directions through the axis of
the shaft, and insert them at the ends of the latter in small cups or
basins filled with quicksilver, in which they revolve.
For the purpose of regulating the resistance of the bobbin the above-
described arrangement may be modified in the following manner:-The
whole of the wire coiled on the discs is divided into a certain number of
equal parts to form a series of small bobbins. At each intersection of
two succeeding coils are screwed or otherwise fixed on the aforesaid
wooden disc four brass blocks separate from each other, and forming a

page_text: square. The two blocks nearest the coils are each connected with one
end of the wire of two succeeding coils. The two blocks nearest the
nave of the wheel or wooden disc are connected each with one of the
two hoops of the boss by means of wire or rods of copper or brass.
In order to protect the connecting wire a second wooden disc is placed
behind the first one, so that the wires lie between these two wooden
discs. By inserting a plug between the two blocks, which are connected
with the bobbin, connection is made between the two succeeding coils,
so that they may be regarded now as one coil. By inserting, on the
contrary, a plug between each block belonging to one coil, and the cor-
responding block belonging to one hoop, connection is made between the
bobbins and the hoops. It will be evident from the above description
that by means of these plugs, if the whole bobbin is divided into sixty-
four small bobbins, I may form one single circuit, or two, four, eight,
sixteen, thirty-two, or sixty-four circuits joined side by side. One or
more of the currents induced in these circuits may be used to charge the
electro-magnets of the apparatus.
On each side of the above-described bobbin is fixed on a suitable frame
a flat ring of soft iron of the same diameter or breadth as the bobbin
made either of one solid piece, or of wire, or ribbon, or of several small
rings welded or rivetted. One of these iron rings forms the polar
extension of one or more permanent or electro-magnets, the other
ring becomes magnetic by the magnetic radiation of the first one, or
forms the polar extension of the other pole. This arrangement may
readily be carried into practice by placing all round the circumference
of the two soft iron rings a series of horse-shoe, or circular, or other
shaped permanent or electro-magnets. It may also be effected in many
different ways.
If a great number of magnets is used, so that the distance between
two succeeding similar poles is not greater than the breadth of one part
or section of the bobbin, the soft iron rings may be dispensed with, and
the magnets may be applied without polar extensions; moreover, the
iron rings may be cut into several equal pieces, and fixed on each pole
separately.
If instead of a flat disc a core of elliptical or circular section is used
in the bobbin, that side of the iron rings opposite the bobbin may be cut

page_text: When the aforesaid bobbin is caused to revolve between the two
magnetic iron rings, that is to say, to move through the magnetic sphere
between them, all the halves of the convolutions of the wire on one side
of the core are induced by north poles, and all the other halves of the
convolutions on the other side of the core by south poles, and currents
will be induced in the bobbin flowing in the same direction to the hoops
by which they are collected.
Instead of using one bobbin two bobbins may be mounted on the
same shaft, and a third soft iron ring placed between them. Under
the influence of the two magnetic rings which form the polar extensions
lying outside the bobbins;B this middle ring assumes on that side
opposite the north polar ring south polarity, and on the other side
opposite the south polar ring north polarity, the neutral zone lying in
the middle of the ring which becomes powerfully magnetic, because of
the existence of a double induction from both poles. An increase of the
magnetic power of this middle ring is obtained by connecting it with a
third pole of an electro-magnet. The electro-magnets in this case have
three branches, two north poles and one south pole, or inversely. If more
than two bobbins are applied to the apparatus the same may be as
follows: Let n represent any number of bobbins, then the magnets
have (n + 1) branches. If the core of the bobbins is made of magnetic
material it may be of two equal parts, namely, two discs or two rings
separated from each other by insulating material.
Very powerful electric currents are obtained by the following arrange-
ment of the apparatus :-A hollow soft iron cylinder whose thickness is
about equal to the breadth of the bobbin, and whose diameter is at least
four times as great as its thickness, is coiled with insulated copper wire
and fixed horizontally on a wooden plate. On a shaft covered by
insulating material, which passes through this soft iron cylinder in the
direction of its axis are fixed two bobbins of the shape above described,
one bobbin opposite the circular north pole of the cylindrical electro-
magnet, and the other one opposite the circular south pole of the
cylinder. On the outside of each bobbin is placed one of the soft iron
rings above described. One of the bobbins serves as a feeding bobbin
for the magnet, and the other as a working bobbin. A still greater
power may be obtained in replacing the soft iron rings by short hollow
cylinders of the same diameter and thickness as the cylinder between the

page_text: two bobbins, representing the poles of a horse-shoe electro-magnet which
embraces between its two branches the principal cylinder and the two
bobbins, so that the north pole of the horse-shoe magnet is placed
opposite the south pole of the cylinder, and inversely. Or two horse-
shoe magnets may be applied one for each bobbin, and the larger
cylinder dispensed with.
In another form of the said apparatus I fix on a shaft covered with
insulating material a globe or ellipsoid made of soft iron or iron wire
forming one solid piece or hollow like a shell. This globe or ellipsoid is
coiled meridionally or equatorially with insulated copper wire, each of
whose two ends is connected with a hoop fitted on the shaft. This
globe or ellipsoid is inclosed in two halves of an iron shell, so that a
small space is left between it and the shell allowing it to revolve freely.
The two halves of the said shell form the polar extensions of either the
north poles or the south poles of two or more magnets, between the
other like poles of which a second globe or ellipsoid may be placed.
When the said globe or ellipsoid is caused to revolve inside the shell a
continuous electric current flows through the wire in one direction.
Instead of a globe or ellipsoid coiled with wire as above described a
solid or hollow globe, or ellipsoid of copper fitted on an insulated shaft
of iron or on a shaft of copper or brass may be used. When such globe
or ellipsoid is caused to revolve inside the two halves of the iron shell
between like magnetic poles (isopoles) a continuous electric current
flows in the direction of the axis from one end of the axis or shaft
to the other end. The same effect is obtained when the ellipsoid is kept
at rest, and a pole of opposite polarity to that of the two halves of the
shell is caused to revolve inside a hole made in the globe or ellipsoid.
If a current of very great electro-motive force is required a hollow
cylinder instead of two halves of a shell is fixed between like poles, say
north poles, so that the axis of the cylinder forms a right angle with the
axis of the magnets; inside this cylinder is caused to revolve a bobbin
of the following construction:-A ribbon or rod or cylindrical bar of soft
iron or iron wire is coiled with insulated copper wire, and bent in the
form of a spiral or screw upon a cylinder of insulating material through
which passes the shaft. The cord of the spiral may be made of non-
magnetic material, and if so, it is bent around a cylinder of soft iron or
iron wire through whose axis passes the shaft which is completely

page_text: In order to shew clearly how the electro-motive force and the
resistance of the bobbin can be altered, let us call the different brass
block systems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and let us consider these blook
systems as eight cells of a galvanic battery. If at No. 1, we insert plugs
between the blocks a and a³, and if at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, we make con-
nection between the said blocks a, a, the whole length of wire of the
bobbin is in circuit, that is to say, the eight cells are coupled in one row;
now if I take out the plug at No. 5 between blocks a, a, and if
we insert plugs between the blocks a, a¹, the whole of the circuit is
divided in two equal parts, the currents of which are collected together,
and the resistance of the bobbin is now reduced to one half, that is to
say, the eight cells are now joined side by side in two rows of four cells
each.
If the same alteration is made with the plugs at 3 and 7 I have the
eight cells coupled side by side in four rows of two cells each. If finally
I take out the plugs between the blocks a, a, at Numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8,
and make connection between a and a¹ the eight cells are fitted up side
by side.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of a machine having four bobbins of the
same construction as in Figures 1 and 2, and two electro-magnets with
five branches each. B, B, are the bobbins fitted in the same axis;
M, M, are the electro-magnets, having their north poles in N, and their
south poles in S; c, c, are the collectors or hoops by which the currents
of the four bobbins are collected.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the said electro-magnets.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of another magneto-electric machine
constructed according to my said Invention. In this Figure M is a horse-
shoe electro-magnet, whose polar extensions N, N, and S, 8, are so cut
out as to allow a sphere or ellipsoid to be placed between them. At the
centre of each polar extension a circular hole is cut, through which hole
passes the shaft S of the said spherical or ellipsoidal bobbin. C, 0, 0¹, 01,
is the iron core of the bobbin, on which the insulated copper wire is
coiled in the direction indicated by the two arrows, that is to say, on the
half C; C, of the core in one direction, and on the other half C³, C¹³, in
the opposite direction. These two halves of the coil are separated from
each other by a small ring e of ebonite or other suitable material; r, r,

page_text: and as herein described with reference to each of said Figures of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Werdermann, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
HY. JA'. NOONE.
R. WERDERMANN. (L.S.)