IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
AND UTILISING
A. communication
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING
ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
from abroad by Eugène Etève, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING
AND UTILIZING ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING AND OTHER PURPOSES." [A com-
munication from abroad by Eugène Etève, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to that class of magneto electric machines in which a coil
rotates before the poles of a magnet, which has for its object to cause the same by
means of suitable arrangements to be a source of electricity which will, in a small'
space, give a current sufficient to produce light to actuate any suitable apparatus,
or to serve for igniting gases or any kind of essences or volatile bodies, and thus to
form an electric igniting apparatus.
The said Invention also comprises improvements in apparatus for developing.
electric light.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a horse-shoe magnet
composed of a suitable number of plates of tempered and magnetized steel connected
by one or several rivets. The arms of the magnet are surrounded by a suitable
number of layers of perfectly insulated copper wire. These arms carry at their
ends two iron blocks which form open and recessed magnetic poles, between which
a single coil of special form rotates. The latter is mounted on an axis, and is
actuated by a pair of toothed wheels. This coil, which constitutes one of the
essential features of my Invention, is especially characterized by the fact that it
presents only two induction poles, and therefore two points of resistance whatever
the power of the machine may be. For rendering this single coil sufficient I form.
the same of a number of plates, varying according to the power that is to be
developed, said plates being placed one above the other, and' connected. The
current developed in this coil is sent into two friction brushes or devices by means
of a small commutator of ordinary construction. The wires are so placed that the
[P

page_text: current produced by the rotation of the coil between the poles of the magnet
returns into the coils of the said magnet to increase its magnetism. This arrange-
ment admits the use of magnets of lower quantity without risk of their
demagnetization. The current which is produced is gathered in two terminals,
which serve for attaching the conducting wires of the apparatus, lamps, medical
coils, and the like, which are to be actuated by the current.
I arrange
The gearing which sets the coil in motion rotates at the same time and in an
opposite direction a shaft or spindle terminating in a disc or cam of spiral or snail
like form, which serves as one pole of the current; the other pole is formed by a
metallic spring which, during a certain time, exerts friction upon the aforesaid
spiral or snail disc or cam, and then leaves the same suddenly, producing by this
violent action a considerable spark, the caloric effect of which I utilize for igniting
a spirit-lamp or the like. The respective positions of the excentric of the spring
and of the coil for obtaining the best results are to be determined by experiments.
The spark might also be produced by the continuous friction of opposite poles, and
in that case it would itself be continuous; the first arrangement, however, offers
the great advantage of closing the current for a certain time in the coils (the time
which precedes the sudden separation of the spring of the spiral disc), and of
regenerating the magnet without notably increasing resistance to the movement.
The continuous friction of opposite poles has the disadvantage of increasing the
magnetization to a considerable extent, whereby the resistance of the coil to the
gearing is also increased.
For specially adapting my improved apparatus for igniting purposes
the same as follows, that is to say :-
•
To adapt the apparatus above described to medical purposes I place into the
said apparatus itself an induction coil of substantially the ordinary construction,
but without a vibrator; the wire conveying the induced current thereof ends at
two special terminals; the induction-wire of this coil ends at other terminals, which
may receive the current from the machine by means of a conducting wire attached
to one of the special terminals, and ending in a pin or key which is caused to enter
one of the two terminals of the induction wire which are in electric communication.
The rotation of the coil causes breaks in the current, however weak the latter
may be, and will replace advantageously the vibrator generally used in induction
coils, which vibrator would require a current at least strong enough to set it in
motion. The induced current can therefore be graduated by the apparatus itself,
and the coil would for this purpose be rotated at a greater or less speed.
An ordinary graduating device with a column of water may be applied to this
apparatus if desired, and it would be placed in the circuit by means of a conducting
wire terminating in a key or pin, which would be inserted into the upper terminal
of the graduating device."
The various effects above referred to can in many cases be produced simultaneously,
and the apparatus may be used for the most varied purposes.
A lamp designed to be used in connection with this magneto-electric apparatus
is constructed as follows, that is to say:
This lamp consists of a plate of crystal glass or other non-conducting and
transparent material; on this plate are fixed two standards or bearings supporting
two shafts; upon the latter are mounted on one side toothed wheels, and on the
other side ratchet-wheels. The shaft in one of the standards is insulated from
the toothed wheel mounted thereon.
A weight actuates the insulated toothed wheel and also ratchet wheels, which
latter cause the carbons to advance continuously. Small grooved rollers serve to
guide the carbons. Instead of the aforesaid weight a suitable spring may be used
Two of the grooved rollers above referred to are of metal, and good conductors o
heat; they generally accelerate the combustion of the carbons according to the
.temperature imparted to them by this combustion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th July 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING
AND UTILISING ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING AND OTHER PURPOSES." A com-
munication from abroad by Eugène Etève, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to that class of magneto-electric machines or apparatus
in which a coil or bobbin rotates before the poles of a magnet, and is designed to
furnish a source of electricity which will in a small space develope a current
sufficiently strong to produce light to actuate any apparatus, or to serve for
igniting gases, essences, or volatile bodies, and thus to form an electric igniting
apparatus. The said Invention also comprises improvements in apparatus for
déveloping electric light. I have illustrated the construction of electric apparatus
embodying my Invention in the accompanying Drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is an elevation of the principal parts of my apparatus, the outer casing
and parts connected therewith being removed.
Figure 2 is a section of the whole apparatus on a plane at right angles to that
of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of a similar apparatus with some of the exterior parts
removed.
Figure 4 is a plan of the rotating coil, hereinafter described, together with a
current collecting device.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line A, B, Figure 4, of the said current
collecting device.
Figure 6 is a side-view of the same, shewing friction brushes provided thereon.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate in elevation and plan a lamp, which I may employ in
connection with my magneto-electric machines, as will hereinafter appear.
As will be seen by reference to the Drawing, the apparatus consists of a horse-
shoe magnet a, composed of a suitable number of tempered and magnetized steel
plates connected by one or more rivets; the arms of the said magnet are
surrounded by a suitable number of layers of perfectly insulated copper wire.
These arms carry at their ends two blocks or pieces of iron forming open and
recessed magnetic poles, between which a single coil 6 of special form rotates. The
said coil (mounted on an axle c and actuated by a pair of toothed wheels d)
constitutes one of the essential features of my said Invention, and its special
characteristic is that it presents only two induction poles, and therefore only two
points of resistance, whatever the power or size of the machine may be. For the
purpose of rendering this proportionately small coil sufficiently effective I construct
the same of a varying number of plates according to the power that is to be
developed, the said plates being placed one above the other, and so connected as
to form as it were: a whole. The current developed in this coil is sent into two
friction brushes e, f, by means of a small commutator g of ordinary construction.
The wires are so arranged that the current produced by the rotation of the coil in
the field of the magnet returns into the coils of the said magnet to increase its
magnetism. This arrangement admits the use of magnets of inferior quality
without risk of their demagnetization.
The current which is produced is collected in two terminals h and i, which serve
for attaching the conducting wires of apparatus, such as lamps, medical coils, and
the like, which are to be actuated by the said current.
The apparatus which, as an instance, is illustrated in the Drawing is an electric
lighting device; I use for -such purpose the following arrangement:-The gearing

page_text: which sets the coil in motion rotates at the same time and in an opposite direction
a shaft & terminating in a disc t cut out in the form of a spiral or helix and forming
one pole of the current. The other pole is formed by a metallic spring u, which
during a certain time exerts friction upon the helicoidal plate and leaves the same
suddenly, producing by this violent action a considerable spark, the calori effect
of which I utilize for igniting, say, a spirit-lamp, as shown in Figure 2. The
respective positions of the excentric or helical disc of the spring..and of the coil in
which the best result is obtained have to be ascertained by experiments. For
preventing the helical disc rotating in both directions the shaft & carries a pin or
stud, which in passing strikes a bolt a bevelled on one side, which rises freely and
falls by its own weight. The other face of the bolt not being bevelled prevents the
shaft and consequently the helical disc rotating in the wrong direction.
8
The spark could also be produced by the continuous friction of opposite poles,
and in that case it would also be continuous; however the first arrangement offers
the great advantage of closing the circuit for a certain time in the coils (the time
which precedes the sudden separation of the spring and the helicoidal plate) and
of regenerating the power of the magnet without notably increasing the resistance
to movement. The continuous friction of opposite poles has the disadvantage of
increasing the magnetization to a considerable extent, the resistance of the coil to
the gearing being thereby also increased.
To adapt the apparatus above described for medical purposes I place into the
said apparatus itself an induction coil j, of substantially the ordinary construction
but without a vibrator; the wire which conveys the induced current in the said
coil ends in two special terminals k, l; the induction wire of this coil ends in the
terminals m, n, capable of receiving the current from the machine by means of a
conducting wire o attached to the terminal h, and ending in a pin or key p, which
in electric
is caused to enter one of the two terminals m or n, which are
communication.
The rotation of the coil b causes the current to be intermittent, however weak the
same may be, and consequently will advantageously serve instead of the vibrator
generally used in induction coils, which vibrator would require a current at least
strong enough to set it in motion. The induced current can therefore be graduated
by the apparatus itself, and the coil would for this purpose be rotated at a
greater or less speed.
An ordinary graduating device with a column of water may be applied to this
apparatus at i, if desired, and be placed in the circuit by means of the connecting
wire terminating in a key or pin r, inserted into the upper terminal of the
graduating device when required.
It will be observed that the various above mentioned effects can in many cases be
produced simultaneously, and that the apparatus may be used for the most varied
purposes.
Figures 7 and 8 shew a lamp which can advantageously be used in connection
with my magneto-electric apparatus. This lamp consist of a plate A of crystal-
glass or any other non-conducting and transparent material. Upon this plate are
fixed two standards B, B¹, supporting two shafts upon which are mounted the
toothed wheels E, E, and the ratchet-wheels D, D', as shown in the Drawing.
The shaft in the standard B₁ is insulated from the wheel E. The weight H
actuates the toothed wheels E, E¹, and the ratchet wheels D and D' which cause the
carbons of the lamp to advance continuously. Small grooved rollers C, C₁, and
metallic rollers G, G₁, serve to guide the said carbons. The weight may be replaced
by a suitable spring if desired. The metallic rollers G, G', which are good conductors
of heat, generally accelerate the combustion of the carbons according to the
temperature imparted to them by such combustion.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In my improved magneto electric apparatus, the single coil or bobbin

page_text: constructed and operating substantially as set forth and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing.
Second. In my improved apparatus, the arrangement or combination of
mechanism for effecting the interruption of the current, and consisting of a helical
disc, upon which a spring exerts friction, in the manner and for the purpose set
forth.
Third. The magneto electric apparatus, consisting of the parts combined and
arranged substantially as hereinabove described and shewn in the accompanying
Drawing, and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In the hereinabove described electric lamp, the combination of the
mechanism for causing the advance of the carbons and the regulation of their
combustion, substantially as above set forth and as shewn in the accompanying
Drawing..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)