Improvements relating to the Generation, Distribution, and Utilization of Electrical Currents.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Generation, Distribution, and
Utilization of Electrical Currents.
I, FRANCIS JARVIS PATTEN, of No. 47 Barclay Street, New York City, New York
State, United States of America, Electrical Engineer, do 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 :-
This invention consists of the methods of operation and apparatus hereinafter.
described.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a general view of one form of my system showing the method of
generation and distribution.
Figure 2 illustrates the different current phases in the different circuits.
Figure 3 is a novel form of converter or transformer.
The entire system is shown by a diagram of the operative parts and circuits in
figure 1. Dy represents a dynamo for generating electric currents, and is of the
most general form. It is neither a direct current nor strictly speaking an alternating
current machine. The field poles are indicated by N¹, S¹, and their circuits may
have a separate source of excitation and there may be any even number of them;
the armature A' A' may have any number of coils or loops connected in series or
parallel with each other, and the terminals of this armature circuit are taken to two
pairs of sliding ring-contacts, the single armature loop shown may therefore
represent any series armature, the terminals of which are connected in the manner
shown.
The armature coil has two independent pairs of terminals, one pair ending in
the rings, the other pair ending in the rings r², 1. On these rings bear the
four brushes 61, 63, 62, 6 from which two independent circuits, M¹ M² are taken to
any distant point desired. This is, therefore, in general a four-wire system of
distribution. The rings are not continuous conductors, but have their surfaces
broken by insulating segments, as shown in the projections to the right of the machine.
In each ring half of the surface is conducting and the other half non conducting
material, and they are so fixed upon the spindle of the machine that the conducting
parts in one pair of rings correspond exactly in position to the insulated portions of the
other; it will, therefore, be evident that with the four brushes placed on the same
line the two main circuits M' M² will receive current from the machine alternately,
one circuit being dead or an open circuit, while the other is closed, and vice verse;
this recurring in rapid alternation as the machine revolves. In each pair of rings
there are as many insulating segments as there are poles in the machine, from which
it results that all the positive or plus impulses or waves of current will go out on one
of the main circuits, and all the negative impulses or waves will go to the other, and
will thus have in each circuit an intermittent current. Thus referring to Figure 3,
one circuit has the main M¹ will receive all the positive waves of current, as indicated
by the shaded spaces above the line X X in figure. 2, and the other circuit will have
all the intermediate negative waves shown in effect and position by the shaded spaces
below the line X, X in figure 2...
It will thus be seen that the true character of the alternating current has not been
changed, but the connections are so made that all the positive waves go to one circuit and
all the negative waves to the other. Having currents of opposite polarity thus separated,
any desired combination of the two to produce either a direct or true alternating
current may be made at a distance from the dynamo, thus at some out-lying point a
converter, like that shown in Figure 3, and which forms a special feature of this

page_text: invention, may be used to re-assemble the divided current and produce a true alternating
current, or as shown in Figure 1, circuits may be taken from the main themselves
and combined in such a way as to produce in a mass of iron the same effect as would|
a direct current.
Figure 3 represents the special form of converter used. It has a closed magnetic
circuit upon which are wound two primary coils and one secondary; one of these
primary coils indicated by P' is connected to the main conveying minus waves of
current, and the other indicated by P2 is connected with the mains conveying pius
waves of current, and as these waves are periodic and intermittent following cach
other in succession, the resultant effect on the converter of the two primaries is the
same as would be produced by a single primary supplied with a true alternating
current and therefore a true alternating current will flow in the secondary circuit
of this converter precisely as in other forms.
The system of distribution shown in Figure 1 will now be understood. In the
secondary circuit of the transformer we may place lamps or other devices requiring
a low tension alternating current, or the armature of a motor in which constant
armature polarity is produced by an alternating current.
Such a motor, like many other forms, requires a field of constant polarity, and this
may be obtained from the main circuits as follows; a circuit is taken from the main M¹
and wound upon the fields as shown producing by its intermittent positive impulses
the polarity N S² as shown, and from the mains M² a circuit is also wound upon the
field in the opposite direction from the first, so that in this case the negative impulses
produce the same polarity as do the positive impulses, we thus see that by a suitable
combination of circuits taken from the two mains we may prodnce at any distant
point the effects of a direct current, as well as those of an alternating current as
previously shown. There results, therefore, from this system of distribution the
various advantages of both direct and alternating currents.
I will now describe a form of my invention as applicable to a three-wire system,
that already described being applicable to four-wires, as shown on sheets 1 and 2 of
the drawings.
Referring to Figure 1ª, sheet 3, of the drawings a dynamo generator Dy Dy having
its armature or generating circuit A2, A2 connected as follows: One terminal to the
continuous ring and the other terminal to the broken rings and provided with
insulating spaces equal in number to the field poles of the machine. These rings are
so placed on the spindle with reference to fixed brushes bearing on them that the
insulating segments in one correspond accurately in position to the conducting
segments of the other. Three main leads M' M3 and M are connected to the
armature circuit A2, A2, through the brushes 13 and 2 bearing on the rings and
from these connections it results that the main M2 will receive a true alternating
current as represented by the alternating waves at 2" in figure 2*, and one of the
other circuits as M¹ will receive all the plus or positive waves, and the other M² all
the negative or minus waves. Thus the diagram 1a Figure 2ª pictures the current
in circuit M', and the diagram 3 a picture those flowing in circuit M³. As a true
alternating current circulates in the circuit M² devices requiring such a current as the
primary of a transformer may be connected in this circuit as shown at K, and a low
tension alternating current may be taken from its secondary and devices may be
connected in this circuit that require a low tension alternating current as the lamps
at 1, 1, or the motor armature a, a; other devices requiring a high tension alternating
current as the are light at L, may be connected in the main M².
The currents in the circuits M' and M³ are intermittent currents of a single
direction, one having all positive impulses and the other all the negative impulses
of the complete wave shown at 2ª Figure 2ª.
From this it follows that the effects of a direct current may be obtained by suitably
combining the circuits M¹ and M³. Thus the two circuits M' and M³ may be
wrapped upon the field cores N N, S S, of the motor, and if one is wound in a
reverse sense to the other the intermittent currents in both circuits will maintain a

page_text: field of single or unchanged polarity between the pole pieces N, N, and S, S, we can
therefore maintain by these divided currents a constant or unchanged field, and
with an alternating current in the armature a constant armature polarity can be
maintained. By similar arrangement of the circuits M' and M³ the regulating
mechanism N of the are light L may be controlled, while the high tension alternating
current is taken through the carbons of the arc light L.
Furthermore, we may by similar combinations contrive to store batteries with the
alternating current in this system of distribution. Thus the main M² conveying the
alternating current is taken to a middle point of the battery B B. at m, and
the mains M and M³ conveying alternately one a plus and the other a minus wave
of current are connected to the poles of the battery as shown, and each half receives
in rapid succession a wave of current that charges that particular half. Many other
I do not limit
similar applications of these divided circuits will suggest themselves.
myself to those described.
In the foregoing description I have disclosed a system of generation and distribution
of electric currents on a four-wire and also a three-wire double circuit system, in
which one circuit received all the plus impulses, and the other all the minus impulses
of an alternating current. Thus the current in one circuit would be represented by
the enclosed spaces above the line X X in Figure 5, Sheet 4, and the current in the
other circuit would be represented by the intermediate closed spaces below the
line XX in the same Figure. In such systems of distribution the mains M¹ and M'
convey, one all the plus waves, and the other all the minus waves of an alternating
current, another main M2 serves as a common return for both the others and conveys
a true alternating current. It may, therefore, be connected to the primary P of a
converter K and in its secondary circuit there will be a true alternating current of
low tension.
I will now describe a third part of my invention in the nature of an electrical
motor adapted for use with the systems described.
The motor has separate field and armature circuits, as shown in Figure 4, sheet 4.
The armature may be of any suitable form, and the two terminals of the armature
circuit are brought to two continuous sliding ring-contacts r1, 72, upon which bear
the two brushes 61, 62, and as these brushes are connected to the secondary circuit
of the converter the armature circuit is thus supplied with a low tension alternating
current, and the armature poles n, s, are therefore rapidly reversed.
The field magnets have two exciting circuits independent of each other, one is
taken from the main M₁ conveying the plus impulses and the other is taken from the
inain M², conveying the minus impulses, and both return to the main M³. These
two circuits are wound upon the field in opposite directions as shown, so that the
plus impulses of one circuit produce in the field poles the same polarity as the minus
impulses from the other circuit, we therefore have a field of constant polarity whose
poles are alternately N and S around the circle, and with an alternating armature
polarity, as previously described, the armature will revolve from one pole of the field
to the next at each alternation of current, and we will therefore have a true
alternating current electric motor similar to a direct current machine, but without a
commutator.
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 :-
First. The method of electrical distribution from an alternating generator which
consists in taking two external circuits from the generator and causing all the impulses
of one polarity to traverse one circuit and all those of opposite polarity to traverse
the other circuit and utilizing the currents from both circuits conjointly to produce a
desired result.
Second. A dynamo electric generator having two external main circuits and suitable
commutator devices for connecting said circuits to the generating circuit of the
machine whereby all impulses of one polarity are caused to traverse one external

page_text: circuit, and all impulses of opposite polarity are caused to traverse the other external
circuit.
Third. The method of electrical distribution from an alternating current generator
which consists in conducting from the generator all impulses of one polarity through
one external circuit, and all impulses of opposite polarity through another external
circuit, and producing by such currents used conjointly an uninterrupted alternating
current in the secondary circuit of a transformer.
Fourth. The method of electrical distribution which consists in conducting from
an alternating current generator all impulses of one polarity into one external
circuit, and all impulses of opposite polarity into another external circuit, and
producing by such currents as uninterrupted alternating current in the secondary
circuit of a transformer and connecting in said secondary circuit devices requiring
an alternating.current.
Fifth. The improved method of electrical distribution from an alternating current
generator which consists in conducting from the generator all impulses of like
polarity through one circuit and applying such circuits conjointly, but in a reverse
sense to devices requiring current of one direction.
Sixth. An alternating current tranformer having two primary inducing circuits
connected to separate leads that convey respectively the opposite impulses of an
alternating current.
Seventh. An alternating current electric generator provided with an armature
having terminals connected to separate ring-contacts, which contacts have insulating
segments whereby the generating circuit is connected alternately and in succession to
each of the external circuits.
Eighth. The double circuit system of distribution from a source of electric energy
which consists in charging one circuit with impulses of one polarity and the other
circuit with impulses of opposite polarity.
Ninth. The method of electric distribution of alternating currents which consists
in sending from a source of energy all the positive impulses along one lead, and all
the negative impulses along another lead, and both impulses back to the source on a
single return wire.
Tenth. The method of electrical distribution which cosists in causing all positive
impulses of current from a dynamo electric generator to traverse one wire and all
intermediate negative impulses to traverse a separate wire, and the complete alternating
wave to traverse a common return wire, inserting in the latter circuit devices
requiring an alternating current and in the former devices requiring a direct
current.
Eleventh. The method of operating electric devices requiring continuous currents,
which consists in connecting them in two independent circuits, one of which conveys
all the plus impulses, and the other all the minus impulses of an alternating current ;
one such circuit connected to the device in a reverse sense to the other.
Twelfth. The method of operating electric devices requiring an alternating current,
which consists in connecting them to two independent circuits that convey respectively
the positive and negative impulses of an alternating current.
Thirteenth. The method of charging storage batteries by means of an alternating
current, which consists in connecting to a middle point of the battery a lead conveying
a reversed or alternating current, and to opposite terminals of the battery leads that
convey respectively the positive and negative impulses of the same alternating
current.
Fourteenth. The method of generating and distributing alternating currents, which
consists in connecting the armature terminals of a dynamo through ring contacts to
brushes in such a way that the opposite waves or impulses of an alternating current
are taken from the machine by separate leads and returned by a single wire.
Fifteenth. A three wire system of electric distribution in which one lead receives
all the positive and the other all the negative impulses of an alternating current and
a third wire serves as a common return for both.
Sixteenth. The method of magnetizing iron by means of alternating currents which

page_text: consists in wrapping the iron with separate independent windings and sending through
one coil the positive impulses of an alternating current, and through the other the
negative impulses in opposite direction to the former.
Seventeenth. The method of producing a magnetic field of constant polarity by
means of alternating currents which consists in using two solenoids conjointly and in
sending through one the positive and through the other the negative impulses of an
alternating or reversed electric current, the impulses in one solenoid being sent in
opposite direction to those in the other.
Eighteenth. The method of operating electric motors which consists in producing
the constant magnetization of one element by sending through separate windings on
said element the opposite impulses of an alternating current in opposite directions
and in giving to the other element an alternating polarity by sending through its
windings an alternating current.
Nineteenth. The system of operating electric motors which consists in producing
the constant magnetization of one element by separate coils wound oppositively and
which convey the opposite positive and negative impulses of an alternating current
respectively and providing the other magnetic element with coils conveying an
alternating current.
Twentieth. An electric motor provided with two field coils one of which conveys
all the positive and the other all the negative impulses of an alternating current and
an armature circuit supplied with an alternating current.
Twenty-first. An electric motor provided with two armature circuits one of which
conveys all the positive and the other all the negative impulses of an alternating
current and a field circuit supplied with an alternating current.
Twenty-second. The system of constructing and operating electric motors which
consists in providing one magnetic element with two windings and supplying one
such winding with the positive and the other with the negative impulses of an
alternating current and providing the other magnetic element with a single winding
that is supplied with both impulses of the alternating current.
Dated this 2011 1
Naomben 1880
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.