Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1887
Complete Left, 13th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1888.
1, GEORGE SCARLETT of Moon Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention has for its object an electro motor that will work without field
magnets.
It consists first of a revolving ring or rings of soft iron cut at one or more points,
and the gaps or openings thus formed filled with a connecting piece of non-magnetic
material, such as brass. Each ring is provided on its periphery with a groove or a
flat or rounded surface, suitable either for a gut band or strap. I may however if
preferred use gearing for transmitting the motion. Outside the ring is a pulley or
other device for transmitting motion to any required machinery, such as dental
engines, lathes, etcetera, or to locomotives. The ring itself may be supported and held
in position by flanged rollers or sheaves, which can, if desired, be supported on a
cradle. The rollers may be placed in any convenient position round the ring, or in
such a position only, that when the driving band is put on the ring and pulley, its
tension will cause the ring to be held against the rollers, and thus act as a steadying
agent. Surrounding the ring as close together as they can conveniently be placed,
and preferably at equal distances apart, I provide coils of wire or solenoids. The ends
of these coils are carried to commutators of suitable or special construction as will
hereafter be described, arranged so that as the ring rotates, one or more of the coils
are connected to the actuating battery circuit, and the other coils to the secondary
circuit or circuits. The number of coils connected to the actuating battery circuit, is
determined by the size of the machine and the amount of power it is required to
transmit. It is arranged that the battery current is set up in the coils nearest the
ends of the soft iron portions of the annular bar, and the current will therefore cause
their magnetisation. As these coils are at the ends of the magnet only, the magnet is
propelled forward so as to bring the centre of the magnet into the field of the lines of
force. The moment however, that the magnet goes beyond a coil and enters another,
the battery current is cut off by the commutator, and is admitted to the one the
magnet is just entering. There is therefore a constant struggle on the part of the
magnet to get into equilibrio, and a constant rotary motion is set up for this purpose.
Price Q77

page_text: In the meantime secondary currents have been set up in the remaining coils, especially
the two which are placed immediately following the one in which the battery current
has been set up. When the battery current is cut off the actuating coil, then a
secondary current is set up in it, and so on as the magnet rotates. The secondary
currents are picked up and conveyed away to secondary batteries for storage or for
use, or can be utilised for driving another ring. If not collected, they would possibly
cause the heating and retarding effect known in other machines; one of the
great advantages of my machine is, that I utilise the secondary currents instead of
leaving them to neutralize useful effect.
In my experimental machine, I provide the ring with steadying rollers in the
manner already described, so that it can be made to rotate in fixed solenoids. Every
coil can be connected to the battery circuit or to a secondary circuit. Between each
coil and at each side thereof, 1 provide three small rollers or slides mado of brass or
other non-magnetic material carried in bearings, which are free to slide in sockets,
and are held against the ring by means of spiral or other springs. The ends of each
of the coils are connected to contact springs, three contacts being provided on each
side of the machine. The internal diameter, or preferably the sides of the ring, are
formed with a series of cams or irregular surfaces, against which the rollers or slides
are held. When either of the rollers are pressed back by these cams or irregularities
on the ring, their spindles cause one set of the springs to form contact. The ends of
the spindles which actuate the contact springs, are of course provided with ebonite or
other non-conducting material. The cams or irregularities on the ring are so placed,
that, as one of the magnetic pieces of the ring enters a coil, one of its three rollers on
each side, is moved, thus connecting by means of its springs, the line wire carrying
the primary current. The primary current in this coil will cause the magnetisation
of the magnetic portion of the annular bar, and as it is at this moment entering the
coil, the magnet is drawn forward, so as to bring its centre into the field of the lines
of force. The moment however, the end of the magnet goes beyond the coil, and
enters the next, it is arranged that the cam releases the roller, and the battery current
is cut off. At this moment another cam on the ring causes another pair of rollers in
the same set, to be raised, and sets up by means of its contact springs, a secondary
As the ring
current in the coil which is conveyed away for storage, or for use.
rotates, the cam releases the roller, and the secondary circuit is broken. Now the
third pair of rollers in the set are raised by another cam, causing another secondary
current to be set up in the coil by means of its contact springs, which is also conveyed
away for use. It will thus be seen that each coil is alternately used for the primary
currrent, drawing or propelling the magnet forward, and causing so long as the
battery is in action, a constant rotary motion of the ring, and that then the coils are
utilised for picking up or collecting the secondary currents, and utilising them for
storage or other purposes. The number of coils, and the number of magnetic
segments in the ring must be such, that the magnet cannot get into equilibrio. The
direction of rotation of the magnet can be reversed by re-arranging the position of
the cams on the ring, or by altering the position of the contact springs, which connect
the line wire carrying the battery current.
It will be obvious, as with other electro-magnetic machines, it would be possible to
reverse the action, so that instead of giving out power, and absorbing electricity
the machine could be reversed in action, and made to give out electricity at the
expense power.
of

page_text: The nature and details of the invention may be best described by reference to the
accompanying drawings, which represent a model machine constructed in accordance
with my improvements.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on line x, x, Figure 1.
A is a revolving ring of soft iron cut at one or more points preferably at three, and
each of the gaps or openings thus formed filled with a connecting piece B of non-
magnetic material, such as brass. The ring A is provided on its periphery with a
groove a, or a flat or rounded surface, suitable either for a gut band a', or for a strap.
I may, however, if preferred, uso gearing for transmitting the motion. Outside the
ring, and preferably above it, is a pulley C or other device for transmitting motion to
any required machinery, such as dental engines, lathes, etcetera, or to locomotives.
The pulley C is grooved to receive the gut band a', and the shaft C to which it is fixed
is carried in adjustable bearings C², so that the band may be tightened when necessary.
The ring itself is supported and held in position by flanged rollers or sheaves D, D³,
which can, if desired, be supported on a cradle. The rollers may be placed in any
convenient position round the ring, or in such a position only that when the driving
band is put on the ring and pulley its tension will cause the ring to be held against
the rollers and thus act as a steadying agent. The two rollers D nearest the pulley C
are so situated as to serve as guides for leading the gut band on to the pulley.
Surrounding the ring as close together as they can conveniently be placed, and preferably
at equal distances apart, I provide fixed coils of wire or solenoids E. The ends of
these coils are carried to commutators of suitable or special construction as will here-
after be described, arranged so that as the ring rotates, one or more of the coils are
connected to the actuating battery circuit, and some or all of the other coils to the
secondary circuit or circuits. The number of coils connected to the actuating battery
circuit, is determined by the size of the machine, the amount of power it is required
to transmit, and the number of segments in the ring A. In the machine shown in
the drawings, three coils (one for each segment of the ring A) are always connected
to the battery or primary circuit, while six other coils are connected to the secondary
circuits. The arrangements are such that the battery current is set up in the coils
nearest the ends of the soft iron portions A of the ring, and the current will therefore
cause their magnetisation. As these coils are at the ends of the magnet only, the
latter is propelled forward so as to bring its centre into the field of the lines of force.

page_text: The moment, however, that the forward end of the magnet goes beyond one coil and
enters another, the battery or primary current is cut off from the former coil by the
commutator hereinafter described, and is admitted to the coil the magnet is just
entering. There is therefore a constant struggle on the part of the magnet to get
into equilibrio, and a constant rotary motion is, by this means, set up. In the mean-
time secondary currents have been set up in the remaining coils, especially in the six
through which the forward ends of the magnets have just passed, that is in each pair
immediately following those through which the battery current is circulating. When
the battery current is cut off the actuating coils, then a secondary current is set up in
them, and so on, as the magnets rotate. The secondary currents are picked up and
conveyed away to secondary batteries for storage or for use, or can be utilised for
driving another ring. If not collected they would cause the beating and retarding
effect known in other machines. One of the great advantages of my machine is,
that I utilise the secondary currents instead of leaving them to neutralise useful
effect.
Every coil can be connected either to the battery circuit or to a secondary circuit.
The connections are made and broken by means of commutators, which I prefer to
construct as follows:
At one end of each coil E and at each side thereof I provide three small contact
brushes or rollers F, G, H, which are made of brass or other non-magnetic material.
The rollers or brushes are carried by stems F, G, H¹, which are free to slide in
bearings I, and are held against the ring by means of the metallic contact springs J, K, L,
which are in electric connection with each end of their respective coils. The outer
end of each of stems F¹, G, H, which bear against one of the springs J, K, L, is
tipped with insulating material i.
The internal periphery or preferably the sides of the ring are formed with a series
of grooves f, g, h, corresponding in number to the rollers or brushes in each com-
mutator. At certain points within each groove projecting strips or cams f¹, g', h', are
fixed. Each of the rollers or brushes rests normally on the bottom of its groove f, g, h,
but when any of the cams f³, g, h, strike it during the rotation of the ring, it is
pressed back and held in that position until the cam has passed.
When any of the rollers are pressed back by the cams f, g, h, on the ring, their
stems F, G, H, cause the corresponding springs J, K, L, to be raised. These mako
contact with similar springs M, N, O, which form another set of contact springs. The
springs N are in electric connection with the wire N' through which the secondary
current passes. The springs M and O are in connection with the wires M' and 0¹
respectively. These latter are conductors of the primary or of a weaker secondary
current, according to the direction in which the motor is working. When revolving
in the direction of the arrow, the wire M' is the primary wire. When the motor
revolves in this direction, the cams on the ring are so placed, that as one of the
soft iron pieces A enters a coil (No. 1), the rollers F belonging thereto are moved,
thus connecting the ccil by means of their springs J and M with the line wire M¹,
carrying the primary current. The primary current in coil No. 1 will cause the
magnetisation of the said soft iron piece A of the ring, and as it is at this moment
entering the coil, the magnetized piece is drawn forward so as to bring its centre into
the field of the lines of force. The position and length of the cams f₁ are so arranged,
however, that the moment the end of the magnet goes beyond coil No. 1. and enters the
next, (No. 2), the roller F. which was in action, is released, and the battery current
is cut off. At this moment another cam g' on the ring causes the pair of rollers G
belonging to coil No. 1 to be raised, and sets up, by means of its contact springs K
and N a secondary current in the coil, which is conveyed away for storage, or for use.
As the ring rotates further the cam g¹ releases the rollers G and the secondary circuit
is broken. Now the third pair of rollers H belonging to No. 1 coil are raised by a
cam causing another but weaker secondary current to be set up in the coil by
means of its contact springs L and O, which is also conveyed away for use. It will
thus be seen that each coil is successively used for the primary circuit, drawing or
propelling the magnet forward, and causing, so long as the battery is in action, a

page_text: constant rotary motion of the ring, and that then the same coils are utilised for
picking up or collecting the secondary currents, and utilising them for storage or
other purposes. The number of coils, and the number of magnetic segments in the
ring must be such, that the magnet cannot get into equilibrio. The direction of rotation
of the magnet can be instantly reversed by connecting the battery wire with the
wire O', instead of with the wire M', by a switch of any convenient form.
It will be obvious, as with other electro-magnetic machines, it would be possible to
reverse the action, so that instead of giving out power, and absorbing electricity, the
machine could be reversed in action, and made to give out electricity at the expense
of power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an electro-dynamic or dynamo-electric machine, the combination with a series
of fixed coils, of a revolving ring passing through the same, and built up of alter-
nating segments of soft iron and non-magnetic material, and of a series of cams or
projections such as f¹, g¹, h³, carried by the said ring and actuating a corresponding
series of commutators in connection with the said coils, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
2. As a commutator for an electro-dynamic or dynamo-electric machine having a
central revolving ring such as A, B, enclosed by fixed coils, the combination of the
cams f, g, h, carried by said ring, the sliding non-magnetic stems F, G, H,
actuated by said cams, the metallic contact springs J, K, L, elevated by said stems,
and in electric connection with the coils of the machine, and the similar contict
springs M, N, O, in constant electric connection with the primary and secondary
circuits, and in electric contact with the springs J, K, L, each time the latter are
raised by the said stems, substantially as described.
3. As a reversible electric motor, a machine such as is herein described, having a
central revolving ring, which is retained in position by bearing rollers, and transmits
its motion to a pulley or its equivalent on the main shaft, by means of a band or its
equivalent guided by suitable devices, substantially as described.
حد
1
2
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.,