Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1888
Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
, ADDISON G. WATERHOUSE, of the city and county of Hartford, in the State of
Connecticut, United States of America, Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
:-
My invention relates to the regulation of a Dynamo Electric Machine, whereby
the current generated by the machine is preserved constant, irrespective of any changes
occurring within the machine itself or in the external circuit within which the machine
is included.
My invention relates to the combination with a dynamo machine constructed as
described, of a device responding to changes in the main current and mechanism
controlled by such responsive device, whereby the resistance of the field circuit or the
shunt circuit or one relatively to the other, that is to say, the resistance in one
decreased while the resistance of the other is increased--may be automatically varied
and the more perfect regulation of the machine thereby effected.
My invention further relates to the combination with a machine constructed as
described, and with the electro-responsive device, of a supplemental hand resistance
which may be employed with or independently of the electro-responsive device and as
supplemental thereto.
My invention also relates to the combination with a machine constructed as described,
and with an electro-responsive device adapted to operate as described, of a device
responding to changes in the main current whereby a high resistance may be
cut into the shunt circuit or the shunt circuit broken for the purpose hereinafter set
forth.
My invention contemplates, first: a method of regulation in which the current
generating power of a dynamo electric machine is determined wholly by changes
occurring within the machine itself as distinguished from the various forms of
regulating devices heretofore employed, placed in circuit with the machine and acting
thereon but which are in themselves mechanically independent of and not properly a
part of the machine. Second: A method of regulation in which the current generating

page_text: power of the machine is determined by changes occurring within the machine itself
and the variations of the resistance of the several circuits on the machine compensated
for through the instrumentality of an electro-mechanical device independent of
the machine but responding to the changes in the current generated by the machine.
To carry my invention into effect, I locate an auxiliary collecting brush near to
either one of the main collecting brushes, which are in themselves connected to the
ends of the conductor surrounding the field magnets, and which include the external
resistance. I may use two auxiliary brushes, one placed in front or in the rear of each of
the main brushes. The auxiliary brush I connect through a separate conductor to any
part of the circuit within which the machine is included, thus forming a path through
which a portion of the whole generated current of the machine may be shunted around
one or more of the field magnets.
By reason of this arrangement, and when the electro-motive-force of the armature
and the resistance of the shunt and the working circuit are properly balanced to meet
a prescribed condition, which, for instance, may be the maximum work that the
machine is required to perform, I find, in practice, that the machine will regulate itself
and will develop a given current irrespective of any variation of resistance occurring in
the working circuit.
The regulation of the machine may be said to be effected by the conjoint action of
two factors (a) Variation of resistance in the working circuit which produces an
approximately similar variation in the current transmitted through the coils of the
magnet included in the field circuit. (1) Variation of the electro-motive-force of the
current collected from the main positive brush and the auxiliary brush, due to the shifting
of the diameter of commutation of the armature, effected, as is well understood, by
reason of changes of resistance in the working circuit.
In order to compensate for the heat generated within the machine when in
operation and also for various disturbances in the external circuit which act to alter
the relative resistance of the several circuits on the machine and thus destroy the
balance, which is the condition of perfect regulation, thereby necessitating a new
adjustment to meet the changed condition, I provide the electro-mechanical means
described for automatically introducing resistance into one or more of the several circuits
to meet the new adjustments required.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, similar letters of
reference indicate like parts.
Fig. 1, shows a machine in elevation provided with an auxiliary collecting brush a
resting upon the commutator in advance of one of the main brushes and connected to
the field circuit of the machine so as to include all of the magnets in, what I term, the
field circuit.
Fig. 2, is a similar view, showing but three of the magnets included in the field
circuit.
Fig. 3, is a view showing all of the magnets included in the field circuit, which, in
this case, is formed of a conductor independent of that conveying the current of the
working circuit. In other words, the field magnets are in a shunt of the main
circuit.
Fig. 4, is a diagram, which illustrates the shifting of the diameter of commutation 4
under variations of load.
Fig. 5, is a view showing the circuit connection of a machine, as in Fig. 1, and an
electro-responsive device in the main circuit and a variable resistance in the shunt
circuit.
Fig. 6, is a similar view, showing the variable resistance interposed between the shunt
and field circuits of said machine.
Fig. 7, is a similar view, showing the variable resistance interposed in the field
circuit of said machine.
Fig. 8, is a view, showing the circuit connections as in Fig. 2, an automatically
variable and a hand variable resistance in the field circuit of said machine and a 5
device by which resistance may be automatically cut into the shunt circuit of said
machine.

page_text: In the diagram, A indicates the armature, which may be either of the drum or ring
type and the helices thereon connected to the commutator B, in the well known
manner, to form a closed circuit. To insure sensitive action of the machine, the
commutator B should have as great a number of plates and connections as are
practicable in order to reduce the spark to the minimum and so as to take off the
current from the armature at a point nearest to the diameter of commutation.
C and D, are respectively the plus and minus collecting brushes bearing upon the
points of maximum and minimum current (X, Y, Fig. 4) in the diameter of
commutation of the armature. The brushes C, D are connected together by the
conductor E, which is carried around the magnets F1, F2, F3, F4, connecting them in
series and in series with the external resistance. G, is an auxiliary brush shown in
the diagrams as bearing upon the commutator in advance of the brush C, and
connected to the conductor E at 1, through the medium of the shunt conductor H.
That portion of the circuit from brush C to brush G, inclusive of the coils of the
armature between G and C, and which ends at I, I term, for the purpose of
description, the field circuit and the portion from point I to brush G, the shunt
circuit.
In Figures 1, 5, 6 and 7, all of the magnets are included in the field circuit; in
Figures 3 and 8, three of the magnets in the field circuit. In Fig. 2, the brushes C, D
are shown as connected to the ends of the conductor E, which forms the external or
working circuit, but in this case, the conductor E is not carried around any of the
magnets and the current transmitted therein does not energize the field. The magnet
coils are formed of the conductor H₁, connected to the auxiliary brush G, and ending
at brush C. The magnets are, in other words, in a shunt of the main circuit.
The position of the auxiliary brush G may be varied. I may place it in advance or
behind either one of the main brushes and the distance between it and the main brush
nearest to which it is placed may be increased or diminished as required; or I may
employ two auxiliary brushes, one placed in front or behind each of the main brushes
and the auxiliary brush or brushes may be connected, as I have previously stated, to
the conductor R at any convenient point of the field circuit. In practice, the proper
position for the auxiliary brush in order to obtain a balance and relative to the main
brush nearest to which it is placed, is found, by experiment, to be near the neutral
line of the armature or the position where changes that occur in the neutral line will
be between the main brush Cand auxiliary brush G and when found is fixed and
does not require to be altered within the limit of work for which the machine is
designed.
In designing a machine according to my invention, the electro-motive-force of the
armature, the resistance of the shunt, field and working circuit are calculated for a
given amount of work or capacity with all parts cold. The resistance of the field
circuit comprehends the electrical resistance of the conductor which includes the
field magnets in circuit between the auxiliary brush G, and the main brush C in this
case, nearest to which it is placed.
The resistance of the shunt is the resistance of the conductor H, plus the electro-
motive-force of the current from brush G, which acts in the nature of resistance and
may be so calculated. The electro-motive-force of the armature, the resistance of the
shunt, the field circuit and the working circuit all bear a certain relation to cach other.
When this relation has been determined and a balance obtained, the machine will
be found, as I have hereinbefore stated, to be self regulating within the limits for
which it is designed.
I am unable to state any exact rule by which these factors may be determined. By
experiment, however, I have found that in a given machine in which the electro-
motive-force of the armature equaled X, the resistance of the field circuit was three
ohms and the shunt, one half an ohm. The resistance of the working circuit and the
electro-motive-force of the armature to generate a given current being known, the
required resistance of field and shunt circuits may be calculated from the data given
for any required capacity of machine.
The description thus far relates to the construction of the machine and to the

page_text: method by which the generating power of the current is regulated wholly within
the machine. I will now proceed to describe the apparatus through the instrumentality
of which the changes in the different circuits, due to heat and other disturbing
influences, are corrected or compensated for.
Figures 5, 6 and 7, illustrate different methods for effecting the compensation, any
one of which may be employed or all or any number may be combined to produce the
desired result for which they are intended.
In all of the figures, an electro-responsive device J, is shown, so situated as to be
affected by the current traversing the external circuit. In all of these figures, there
is also shown a variable resistance R, which comprises the resistance coils R' and the
contact plate N, N¹, Nº. Overlying the contact plate is the rocker O, adapted to be
actuated through the core L, of the magnet J, and the latter is energized through
variation of resistance or other change occurring in the main circuit.
In Fig. 5, the resistance R, is shown connected at N2 to the wire H and the circuit
is from brush & through the plates of the resistance to the plate upon which the
rocker rests and through the core L, spring K, coil of the magnet J, external
resistance 1, to brush D of the machine. It will be understood that the movement
of the coil L within the magnet serves to cut resistance into or out of the shunt
circuit.
In Fig. 6, the arrangement of the parts is the same with the exception that the
resistance R, is interposed between the shunt and the field circuit and hence, the
movement of the rocker serves to cut resistance into one circuit while cutting it out of
the other. circuit.
In Fig. 7, the shut conductor H is connected to the contact plate N2 of the
resistance and the conductor E, to the plate N of the resistance, as in Fig. 6,
but the plate N2 is connected to the wire Y with a spring T, which bears upon the
rocker O thus the movement of the core in the solenoid and the rocker over the
contact plate serves to cut resistance into or out of the field circuit of said machine
but does not alter the resistance of the shunt circuit.
In Fig. 8, the conductor E is connected to the plate N of the resistance R, and
the rocker O is connected through a conductor E2 with a hand resistance W, which
is in turn, connected through the wire E³, to the conductor E at I. Interposed
in the conductor E is an electro-responsive device S, and interposed in the shunt
conductor H is a pivoted armature or similar device V, adapted to be energized
by the electro-responsive device S to raise the armature V against the stop U,
and thus close the circuit through H when any current is flowing in the wire E.
Z is a high resistance interposed in the conductor H¹.
The resistance R in this figure is in the field circuit and the resistance Z in
the shunt circuit.
The operation of my device is as follows-referring first to the regulation of the
machine within itself; The brushes C, D are fixed in the maximum diameter of
commutation of the armature and the current collected by brush C flows out upon
the conductor E, following the path described through the field circuit until
the point I, on the conductor E, is reached. Here the current divides in proportion
to the respective resistances of the two paths open to it, which are (1), That
of the lowest resistance to the external circuit E²; (2) That of the highest resistance
by conductor H, to brush G.
With the machine at full load, the current tending to flow from I to G, is
calculated to be the same as that tending to flow from G to I; hence, the currents
neutralize each other and the current which flows to the working circuit is the whole
generated current less that portion neutralized by the shunt current.
This condition will prevail within limits, so long as there is no change of resistance
in the external circuit. As soon, however, as such a change takes place, as by
cutting out a lamp, there immediately occurs a change in the proportion of the whole
generated current which is transmitted to the field circuit and over the shunt.
The current through the shunt is increased and that through the field circuit
decreased, with the consequent decrease in the intensity of the field and hence a

page_text: lessened capacity of the machine to generate current. The current, however, in the
external circuit is maintained a constant quantity.
In order to supplement the action of the circuits one upon the other, I introduce
a resistance to compensate for changes in the various circuits. In Figure 5, with
any decrease of current in the main circuit, the magnet J will attract its core,
and cut resistance out of the shunt path, thus decreasing the proportion of current
transmitted through the field circuit. As arranged in Figure 6, any increase of
current in the external circuit will cause resistance to be cut out of the shunt
circuit and into the field circuit, thus reducing the current in the field. As arranged
in Figure 7, any increase in current will cause resistance to be cut into the field
circuit, that of the shunt circuit remaining the same, thereby reducing the
magnetism of the field circuit.
As arranged in Figure 8, any increase of current in the external circuit will cause
resistance to be cut into the field circuit; this action may be supplemented by the
land resistance, thus the current in the field circuit will be altered."
In Figure S, the normal path for the current from G is through the conductor H to I,
the current dividing at P, through the high resistance G, and path formed by the
armature V. The path H is adapted to he always closed when the machine is in
motion. The resistance Z is utilized as a safety device and has no particular action
on the balance between the several circuits of the machine; it simply serves the
purpose of preventing short circuiting of the machine, (brush C to G) should the
external circuit be by any means broken.
The method of regulation which I have described would be found practicable
under all conditions and will preserve the adjustment or balance, which is the
condition necessary for regulation.
I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the particular mechanism or
arrangement of electric circuits and mechanism as illustrated and described, as it
will be evident to any one skilled in the art, that many changes may be made therein
without departing from the intent of my invention.
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. A dynamo machine provided with three collecting brushes arranged and adapted
to operate as described.
2. A dynamo machine provided with two main brushes and one or more auxiliary
brushes, the said brushes connected and arranged as described.
3. A dynamo electric machine provided with two main brushes and one or more
auxiliary brushes, said brushes so located and connected to each other and to the
several circuits upon the machine that the current transmitted to the external circuit
shall be uniform in quantity, irrespective of the resistance of the external circuit.
4. A dynamo electric machine so organized and constructed that the regulation of
the current therefrom is effected by shifting of the diameter of commutation of said
machine.
5. A dynamo electric machine so organized and constructed that the current derived
therefrom will vary as the electro-motive-force of an auxiliary brush located upon the
commutator of said machine.
G. In a dynamo electric machine and in combination with an auxiliary collecting
brush, a shunt conductor connecting said brush to the main circuit, a device located
in said main circuit and responding to changes therein, and mechanism consisting of
a variable resistance controlled by said responsive device and located in said main
circuit between the main positive brush and the point of connection of the shunt
conductor thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a dynamo electric machine and in combination with an auxiliary collecting
brush, a shunt conductor connecting said brush to the main circuit, and a variable
resistance adapted to be operated by hand located in said nain circuit between the

page_text: main positive brush and the point of connection of the shunt conductor thereto,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a dynamo electric machine and in combination with an auxiliary collecting
brush, a shunt conductor connecting said brush to the main circuit, a device located
in said main circuit and responding to changes therein, mechanism consisting of a
variable resistance controlled by said responsive device and a variable resistance
adapted to be operated by hand located in said main circuit between the main positive
brush and the point of connection of the shunt conductor thereto, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
9. In a dynamo electric machine and in combination with an auxiliary collecting
brush, a shunt conductor connecting said brush to the main circuit, a device located
in the main circuit and responding to changes therein and a circuit-breaking device
located in the shunt circuit and controlled by said responsive device, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a dynamo electric machine and in combination with an auxiliary collecting
brush, a shunt conductor connecting said brush to the main circuit, a device located
in the main circuit and responding to changes therein, mechanism consisting of a
variable resistance interposed in the main circuit between the main positive brush and
point of connection of the shunt conductor and controlled by such responsive device,
a device located in the main circuit and responding to changes therein and a circuit-
breaking device interposed in the shunt circuit and controlled by such responsive
device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. In a dynamo electric machine and in combination with an auxiliary collecting
brush connected as described, of a device responding to changes in the main current,
and mechanism consisting of a variable resistance controlled by said responsive device,
whereby the resistance of the field and shunt circuits of said machine may be
automatically varied relatively to each other, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
12. The herein described method of regulating the current from a dynamo electric
machine, which consists in collecting the current in two portions, shunting one portion
of said current around one or more of the field magnet coils and in varying the
resistance of the circuit in which said shunted coils are included, substantially as
described.
13. The herein described method of regulating the current from a dynamo electric
machine, which consists in collecting the current in two portions, shunting one portion
of said current around one or more of the field magnet coils, and in varying the
resistance in the shunt circuit, substantially as described.
14. The herein described method of regulating the current from a dynamo electric
machine, which consists in collecting the current in two portions, shunting one portion
of said current around one or more of the field magnet coils, and in varying the
resistance of the circuit in which said shunted coils are included, and that of the
shunt circuit, simultaneously or separately, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of July, 1888
ADDISON G. WATERHOUSE,
Of Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.,
Electrical Engineer.