Improvements in and relating to the Employment of Electric Currents, and Apparatus for Regulating or Controlling the same.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Employment of Electric
Currents, and Apparatus for Regulating or Controlling the
same.
[Communicatal from abroad by Nicolas de Kabath, of Paris, France.]
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE EMPLOY-
MENT OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING
THE SAME" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for controlling, according to the amount of
current required and by means of the current itself, the speed of an engine or
motor driving a generator of electricity.
The improved apparatus is especially applicable for use in connection with an
electric railway, but is also applicable in other cases where the amount of current
required varies.
In the accompanying drawing the apparatus is shewn as applied to an electric
railway as illustrative of the invention.
Figure 1 is a diagram shewing the arrangement of the accumulators and other
apparatus.
Figures 2 and 3 are views of details hereinafter described.
According to the said invention I arrange at a central station as shewn in
Figure 1 a steam engine or motor A and a steam generator B. The main shaft C
from which the dynamo-electric machines D are driven, carries a pulley G which
drives a corresponding pulley F mounted upon the shaft of the steain regulator E.
H indicates the steam pipe leading from the boiler to the engine.
II indicate the rails upon which the vehicles J J J run, K K indicate
accumulators and L the principal binding posts with which all the machines are
connected; ab indicate the electrical connections between the said binding posts
and the steam regulator E. The apparatus is operated in the following manner
that is to say, all the communications being established the dynamo machines are
set in motion and produce a strong current of electricity which passes to the

page_text: accumulators K in the direction of the arrow. When these accumulators are
sufficiently charged, they offer to the current coming from the said machines a
contrary electro-motive force and completely stop the current passing in the
direction of the arrow. At this time the steam regulator commences to operate.
This regulator is constructed in such a manner that when the current bas a
sufficient potential, a current passes through the wires a and b which causes
suitable mechanism to act upon the steam regulator E in order to control the
admission of steam and decrease the speed of the machines.
If however a large quantity of electricity is required at J the quantity of
electricity passing through the conductors a and b to the regulating apparatus is
diminished thereby allowing the admission of an increased quantity of steam and
consequently an increase in the speed of the machines producing a corresponding
increase in the electro motive force of the current. If at any moment there is a
requirement for a stronger current than that generated by the dynamo electric
machines the necessary current is supplied by the accumulators which are charged
so as to cause a current to pass in an opposite direction to that shewn by the
arrow at K.
The opening and closing of the stenm valve is effected by means of a belt
passing over the pulleys G and F. The electric current which passes through
the incchanisin in the said valve determines whether the said valve shall open
or close.
This apparatus permits a great saving of fuel, as the engine works at a high
speed only when a powerful current of electricity is required.
It will be understood from the above that the use of the accumulators interposed
between the electric generators and the line permits the supply of electricity to be
regulated in such a manner as to obtain the sinullest possible loss of electricity and
consequently the greatest eflicts relatively to the motive power employed.
There may be a greater or lesser number of motor vehicles on the line and in
systems where electricity is supplied by dynamo-machines alone it is compulsory
to generate electricity for the maximum number of motor vehicles liable to be
placed simultaneously on the line, the result in this system being that each time
the maximum number of vehicles is not on the line there is a loss of electricity
which is most considerable when the number of the said motor vehicles is smallest.
The use of accumulators permits such a loss of electricity to be avoided which
effects a considerable economy in the production of electricity and permits the
number of dynamo electric machines employed, and consequently the motive power
necessary to actua:e the same, to be decreased.
In the steam regulator shewn in Figure 1, and in detail in Figures 2 and 3, the
pulley 1 over which passes the belt 2 from the main shaft of the dynamo electric
imachines, is provided with a connecting rod 3 plazed excentrically upon the surface
of the said pulley. The extremity of the connecting rod 3 is jointed to one arm of
a bent lever 4 oscillating upon a pivot 5; the other arm carries a double pawl
arranged to engage with the ratchet wheels 7 and S. The said pawl may be so
placed as to be out of gear with both wheels as shown in Figure 2.
The said pawl G is connected with an oscillating armature 9 and equilibrated by
means of a spring 10 which can be regulated so that in ordinary travelling the
pawl 6 is maintained between the two wheels 7 and 8 without being engaged with
either. Upon the extended shaft of each of the above ratchet wheels is mounted a
gear-wheel 11 engaging with a pinion 12 keyed upon the shaft of the steam
valve 13 the steam passing from the boiler to the engine through the pipes 14
and 15.
It will be understood that when there is an excess in the production of electricity
the electro-magnet 16 is excited and attracts the armature 9; consequently the
pawl 6 engages then with the ratchet wheel 7 and causes the same to rotate in the
direction of the arrow. This movement is transmitted by the pinion 12 to
to valve 13 which is wholly or partially closed, thus reducing the quantity of
steam passing to the engine. When the quantity of electricity has decreased the

page_text: 8
Spring 10 is able to overcome the attraction of the electro-magnet 16 drawing the
pawl 6 back upon the ratchet wheel 8. This wheel is thus actuated and rotates in
the direction of the arrow and by means of the gear wheel causes the pinion 12 to
rotate in a contrary direction, thus causing the valve 13 to be opened and the
steam to be admitted to the engine. The power of the spring 10 may be regulated
by a screw or any other means.
Dated this 10th day of January 1894
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE EMPLOY-
MENT OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS, AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING OR CONTROLLING
THE SAME and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the employment of electric currents and to apparatus
for controlling according to the amount of current required, and by means of the
current itself, the speed of an engine or motor driving a generator of electricity.
The improved apparatus is especially applicable for use in connection with an
electric railway, but is also applicable in other cases where the amount of current
required varies.
In the accompanying drawing the apparatus is shewn as applied to an electric
railway as illustrative of the invention.
Figure 1 is a diagram shewing the arrangement of the accumulators and other
apparatus.
Figures 2 and 3 are views of the mechanism by means of which the regulating
valve is operated.
A indicates a steam-engine and B a steam-generator arranged at a central station,
as shewn in Figure 1. The main shaft C from which the dynamo-electric machines D
are driven, carries a pulley G which drives a corresponding pulley F mounted upon
the shaft of the steam regulator E. H indicates the steam-pipe leading from the
boiler to the engine.
II indicate the rails upon which the vehicles J J J run, K. K indicate
accumulators, and L L' the principal binding posts with which all the machines are
connected.
a, b indicate the electrical connections between the said binding posts and the
steam regulator E
The apparatus is operated in the following manner, that is to say; all the
communications being established, the dynamo-machines are set in motion and
produce a strong current of electricity which, if it is in excess of the quantity
required for driving the motor or motors, passes to the accumulators K, in the
direction of the arrow.

page_text: When these accumulators are sufficiently charged, they offer to the current
coming from the said machines a contrary electro-motive force, and completely stop
the current passing in the direction of the said arrow. At this time the steam
regulator commences to operate.
This regulator is constructed in such a manner that when the current has a
suflicient potential, a current passes through the wires a and b, which causes
suitable mechanism to act upon the steam-regulator E, in order to control the
admission of steam and decrease the speed of the machines.
If, however, a large quantity of electricity is required at J, the quantity of
electricity passing through the conductors a and b to the regulating apparatus is
diminished, thereby allowing the admission of an increased quantity of steam and
consequently an increase in the speed of the machines, producing a corresponding
increase in the electro-motive force of the current.
If, at any moment, there is a requirement for a stronger current than that
generated by the dynamo-electric machines D, the necessary current is supplied by
the accumulators which are charged so as to cause a current to pass in an opposite
direction to that shown by the arrow at K.
The opening and closing of the steam-valve is effected by means of a belt passing
over the pulleys G and F. The electric current which passes through a magnet in
connection with the said valve, determines whether the latter shall be opened
or closed.
This apparatus permits a great saving of fuel, as the engine works at a high
eed only when a powerful current of electricity is required.
It will be understood from the above that the use of the accumulators interposed
between the electric generators and the line permits the supply of electricity to be
regulated in such a manner as to obtain the smallest possible lo-s of electricity and
consequently the greatest effects relatively to the motive power employed. There
may be a greater or lesser number of vehicles on the line, and in systems where
electricity is supplied by dynamo-machines alone it is compulsory to generate
electricity for the maximum number of motor vehicles liable to be placed
simultaneously on the line, the result in this system being that each time the
maximum number of vehicles is not on the line, there is a loss of electricity which
is most considerable when the number of the said motor vehicles is smallest. The
use of accumulators permits such a loss of electricity to be avoided, which effects a
considerable economy in the production of electricity and permits the number of
dynamo-machines employed, and consequently the motive power necessary to
actuate the same, to be decreased.
In the steam regulator shewn in Figure 1, and in detail in Figures 2 and 3 the
pulley F over which passes the belt 2 from the main shaft of the dynamo electric
machines, is provided with a connecting rod 3 attached to a crank pin upon the
surface of the said pulley. The extremity of the connecting rod 3 is jointed to one
arm of a bell crank lever 4 oscillating upon a pivot 5; the other arm carries a
double pawl 6 arranged to engage with the ratchet-wheels 7, 8.
The pawl 6, which may be so placed as to be out of gear with both wheels as
shewn in Figure 2, is connected with the oscillating armature 9 of an electro-magnet
and equilibrated by means of a spring 10 which can be regulated so that, under
ordinary circumstances, when the machines are producing an average amount of
electricity the pawl 6 is maintained between the two wheels 7 and 8 without
engaging with either. Upon the extended shaft of each of the above ratchet wheels
is mounted a gear-wheel 11 engaging with a pinion 12 keyed upon the shaft of
the steam-valve 13, the steam passing from the boiler to the engine through the
pipes 14 and 15.
When there is an excess in the production of electricity the electro-magnet 10 is
excited and attracts the armature 9; consequently the pawl 6 engages then with
the ratchet wheel 7 and causes the same to rotate in the direction of the arrow.
This movement is transmitted by the pinions 11 and 12 to the valve 13 which is
thereby wholly or partially closed, thus reducing the quantity of steam passing to

page_text: the engine. When the quantity of electricity decreases, the spring overcomes the
attraction of the electro-magnet 16 drawing the pawl 6 back upon the ratchet
wheel S. This wheel is thus actuated and rotates in the direction of the arrow, and,
by means of the gear-wheel 11, causes the pinion 12 to rotate in a contrary
direction, thus causing the valve 13 to be opened and steain to be admitted to
the engine. The power of the spring 10 may be regulated by a screw or any
other means.
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 method herein before described of regulating or controlling electric
currents, the same consisting in arranging, in combination with an electrically
operated steam valve, a secondary battery in such a manner that when sufficiently
charged it will cause a current of electricity to operate the said steain valve.
Second. The combination with a dynamo clectric machine, of an accumulator or
secondary battery and a steam regulator, all arranged and operating substantially
as described with reference to Figure 1 of the drawing.
Third. The combination with a secondary battery arranged as described, of
mechanism, for operating the inlet valve of an engine, constructed and operating
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.