Improvements relating to the Transformation and Distribution of Electric Currents.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
COMELLIN SEMIFICATION
Improvements relating to the Transformation and Distribution of
Electric Currents.
I, JAMES FINNEY MCELROY, of 131 Lake Avenue in the City of Albany,
New York, United States of America, Mechanical 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 :-
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in system of electrical
distribution, and the object of the invention is primarily to reduce the cost of
incandescent lighting from a central plant or station.
To this end, my invention embodies the following arrangements :
I place at the central station, a high potential, alternating dynamo or generator,
and at the local station or stations, I place a converter, consisting of a series of
induction plates, separated from each other by a non-conducting substance, and
alternately connected into two sets, one set being connected to one pole of the
dynamo, and the other set being connected to the translating devices at the local
station.
The effect of this arrangement is that the first set of plates is rapidly charged,
discharged and recharged with a high potential static charge, which alternates
rapidly from positive to negative, and thereby induces in the other set of plates,
corresponding charges of a lower potential, which are caused to flow as alternating
current through the translating devices, all as more fully hereinafter described.
1 reduce the potential from high to low by separating the plates of the converter
by a non-conductor, the thickness of which depends upon the fall in potential
desired, and the quantity of current, and hence the number of lamps that can be
run from the converter, I regulate by the size and number of the plates.
In the drawings, which accompany this Specification
Fig. 1 illustrates my invention in diagram form.
Figs. 2 and 3 show different constructions of inductoriums specifically
referred to.
Fig. 4 shows a diagram section of one of the converters enlarged.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the converter illustrating the adjusting devices.
A represents a dynamo, constructed to generate electricity of a high potential,
alternately positive and negative.
B represents a main wire or conductor from one pole of said dynamo to the local
station.
C represents a converter for reducing the high potential into low potential, its
construction is shown in detail in Fig. 5 in which D D' represents a series of
induction plates, alternately connected together and C' represents a non-conducting
substance which separates the plates D D'.
E represents a local service conductor from the main conductor to the plates of
converter.
F represents a local service conductor from the plates D₁ to the lamps.
G represents another local service or return conductor, and H represents the
incandescent lamps (or translating devices) placed in multiple are between the
service conductors F and G.
In operation, the parts being arranged as shown in Fig. 1, the main line wire B,
having a static charge of high potential, rapidly charges and discharges the
plates D of the converter, alternately with an opposite potential, the effect of

page_text: which is to produce an alternating current in plates D', which flows through the
lamps, by grounding the service conductor G.
If the non-conducting substance C¹ is of proper thickness the high potential in
the plates D is reduced to a low potential. For a fall from a very high to a very
low potential, the plates must be separated by a non-conducting substance of
considerable thickness, and by increasing or diminishing the size or number of the
plates, the quantity is increased,or diminished in proportion.
The non-conducting substance between the plates of the converter, I propose to
make of elastic material, so that by employing adjustable clamping devices as
shown in Fig. 5 the distance between the plates may be increased or decreased
within certain limits, to vary the potential of the induced current at will. The
clamping device I have shown comprises the plates P and insulated clamping
bolt Q.
The elastic non-conductors between the plates, should be of high specific
inductive capacity, and may be made porous, corrugated or roughened, so as to be
more easily compressible.
The converter C, may be combined with the generator either as shown in Fig. 2,
or as shown in Fig. 3 in which the inductive field is formed into two sets, one set
being connected to one pole and the other set to the other pole of the dynamo.
In constructing the condenser, the well known principles governing induction
have to be followed, from which it appears that the induced charge is inversely
proportioned to the distance between the plates, and is proportional to the specific
inductive capacity of the dielectric. The quantity of current which in the static
charge of condensing plates is measured in farads, or when changed to current by
rapid charge and discharged is measured in amperes is proportional to the amount
of surface in the two plates i.e. is proportional to the area of one plate multiplied
by the number of plates.
In Fig. 3 the two line wires of the generator are connected in multiple arc to
the condenser. In this case the thickness and specific inductive capacity of the
dielectrics arranged so as to induce in the wires leading to the lamp circuit the
desired difference of potential.
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. The method of transformation and utilization of electrical energy, and
consisting in charging one member of a condenser with electricity of a certain
tension and volume simultaneously therewith, and thereby charging the other
member of said condenser with electricity of different tension and volume, and
then discharging the latter and passing the transformed electricity to one or more
translating devices.
2. The method of transformation and utilization of electrical energy, consisting
in charging one member of a condenser with electricity of high tension and small
volume and simultaneously therewith and thereby charging the other member of
said condenser with electricity of low tension and great volume, and then discharging
the latter and passing the transformed electricity through one or more translating
devices.
3. In a system of distribution and conversion of electrical energy, the combination
of an alternating current generator a main extending from one of the poles thereof
an electrostatic converter, consisting of two members separated by a dielectric, a
connection between the main and one of the members of said converter, and a
consumption circuit connecting the other member with the ground.
4. In a system of electrical distribution and conversion of electrical energy, an
electrostatic converter having its member separated by a dielectric, the thickness
of which causes the fall in potential.
5. In a system of electrical distribution and conversion of electrical energy, an

page_text: electrostatic converter, having its members separated by an elastic compressible
dielectric, the thickness of which causes the fall in potential.
Dated this 11th day of September 1894.
JAMES FINNEY MELROY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.