AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS AND IN ELECTRO-MOTORS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Camille Alphonse Faure, of Faversham, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN
THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS AND IN ELECTRO-MOTORS."
Sealed the 2nd March 1877, and dated the 19th September 1876.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Camille Alphonse Faure at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1876.
CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE, of Faversham, in the County of Kent, Engineer.
AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS AND IN
ELECTRO-MOTORS."
The improved pile or thermo-electric generator is made by placing or disposing
plates of copper and blocks of the active metals or substances in a line, but in
alternate series or order; thus, firstly, one plate of copper, then a block of positive
metal, nextly copper plate, then negative metal, nextly copper plate, then positive
metal, and so on. All the copper plates, which by the above disposition are odd
numbers in the series, project or extend out of the line of the pile on one side, and
the copper plates with even numbers project or extend on the other side.
The active metals placed between the copper plates are not bars as used
ordinarily in the thermo-piles, but are short wide blocks, and their dimensions in
the direction of the current is thus considerably reduced, while their area is largely
increased, and by this means the resistance of the pile is greatly reduced. The
elements of the pile being thus disposed in a line are pressed together by means of
a strong clamp with screws or bolts. The clamp is essential to insure a thorough
contact between the elements, and prevent them cracking under the effect of
variation of temperature.
The improved thermo-pile is put to work by heating the projections of the copper
plates on one side, while those on the other side are kept cool by the surrounding
atmosphere, or by dipping in water. And in order to give the copper plates large
Burfaces for heating and cooling purposes they are supplied with ribs, feathers, or
side projections cast on or soldered to them; and the ribs may form cylindrical
surfaces within which the hot or cool gases may play respectively. The clamp is
made elastic, or the bolts or screws which secure the pile together may press upon
sbort stiff springs for the purpose of allowing the several metals to expand while

page_text: under pressure, and particularly to take up if necessary the reduction in the length
of the pile consequent upon any possible set arising from the partial fusion of the
elements without allowing the pile to fall to pieces, or the contact to become inter-
rupted or broken between the elements.
The line of the elements or pile is sometimes circular, in which case the clamp is
replaced by a stiff ring, the circumference of which is undulated or corrugated 80
as to allow expansion and take any set, as above stated; or instead of with undu-
lations or corrugations the ring may be made in parts with flanges, and bolted
together with bolts and spring washers.
The active metals which I interpose between the copper plates are galena for
one, and an alloy of about 2 parts of antimony and one of zinc for the other. These
two elements have never been used in conjunction.
In order to insure a perfect electrical contact between the elements the alloy is
tinned on both ends and soldered on to the adjoining copper plates, and the galena
is first electro-plated at both ends with platinum and copper, and then tinned and
soldered on to its adjoining copper plates. When the areas of contact of the
elements are very great there are interposed between them sheets of wire gauze, or a
perforated or corrugated plate to allow for the difference of expansion of the several
metals, and to prevent the brittle elements from breaking.
The improved electro-motor is constructed by fixing or bolting electro-magnets
and revolving spindle to or upon the frames which carry the thermo-pile. The
electro-magnets are supplied with electricity by the thermo-pile. Two are used,
and the contact breaker is arranged so as to allow them to be magnetised alternatively.
The armature is star-like and fixed on the spindle, which is itself parallel to the
axis of the magnets, and runs in two bearings. The ends of the magnets are
furnished with wrought-iron tips in the form of the letter U placed in between
the branches on which the ends of the radii of the armature revolve, the object
being to reduce the longitudinal strain on the spindle, which would occur if the
magnet ends were flat as usual.
The magnets may be compounded into the horse-shoe form, the two poles of one
magnet acting upon the opposite end of the diameter of the armature, or they
may be simple straight magnets, in which case two armatures would be supplied
to the spindle, one at each end. The motive engine thus made is supplied with a
speed regulator or governor of the ordinary construction of centrifugal govenor
supplied to a steam engine or otherwise. The govenor is connected by gearing
with the revolving spindle, and by means of rods or other suitable arrangement it
is made to shut off the supply of gas with which the thermo-pile is heated, or to
close the flue of the hot gases when the pile is heated with coal.
The Invention also includes a thermo-pile for generating electricity for common
purposes where ordinary galvanic batteries are now employed; this pile comprises
an earthenware hollow cylinder perforated with a number of small holes parallel to
the axis. In each of these holes is placed a pile of cylinders of the active metals in
succession and alternately; thus galena, and then antimony alloy, nextly galena,
then antimony alloy, and so OD. These active metals are separated by strips of
copper protruding alternately within and outwards from the earthenware cylinder.
The strips protruding inwards are therein kept hot by a flame, while those pro-
truding outwards are kept cool by the atmosphere, and are for that purpose supplied
with extended surfaces. The pile of active metals thus disposed in each bole of
the earthenware cylinder is pressed longitudinally by a clamp baring on the top
and bottom of the pile, and each separate pile is put into communication with the
next one by copper connections, so as to join all the separate piles in a con-
tinuous circuit.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Camille Alphonse Faure in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
March 1877.
CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE, of Faversham, in the County of Kent, Engineer.
"AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS AND IN
ELECTRO-MOTORS.'
ور
The improved pile or thermo-electric generator is made by placing or disposing
plates of copper and blocks of the active metals or substances in a line, but in alter-
nate series or order; thus, firstly, one plate of copper, then a block of positive metal,
nextly copper plate, then negative metal, nextly copper plate, then positive metal,
and so on; all the copper plates, which by the above disposition are odd numbers
in the series, project or extend out of the line of the pile on one side, and the
copper plates with even numbers project or extend on the other side.
The
The active metals, placed between the copper plates are not bars, as used
ordinarily in the thermo-piles, but are short wide blocks, and their dimensions in
the direction of the current is thus considerably reduced, while their area is largely
increased, and by this means the resistance of the pile is greatly reduced.
elements of the pile being thus disposed in a line are pressed together by means of
a strong clamp with screws or bolts. The clamp is essential to insure a thorough
contact between the elements, and prevents them cracking under the effect of
variation of temperature.
The improved thermo-pile is put to work by heating the projections of the
copper plates on one side, while those on the other side are kept cool by the
surrounding atmosphere, or by dipping in water. And in order to give the copper
plates large surfaces for heating and cooling purposes they are supplied with ribs,
feathers, or side projections cast on or soldered to them. And the ribs may form
cylindrical surfaces, within which the hot or cool gases may play respectively.
The clamp is made elastic, or the bolts or screws, which secure the pile together,
may press upon short stiff springs for the purpose of allowing the several metals to
expand while under pressure, and particularly to take up, if necessary, the reduction
in the length of the pile consequent upon any possible set arising from the partial
fusion of the elements without allowing the pile to fall to pieces, or the contact to
become interrupted or broken between the elements.
The line of the elements or pile is sometimes circular, in which case the clamp is
replaced by a stiff ring, the circumference of which is undulated or corrugated, so as
to allow expansion, and take any set, as above stated, or instead of with undulations
or corrugations the ring may be made in parts with flanges, and bolted together
with bolts and spring washers.
The active metals, which I interpose between the copper plates, are galena for
one, and an alloy of about 2 parts of antimony and one of zinc or antimonide of
zinc for the other. These two elements have never been used in conjunction.
In order to insure a perfect electrical contact between the elements, the alloy is
tinned on both ends and soldered on to the adjoining copper plates, and the galena
is first. electro-plated at both ends with platimum and copper, and then tinned and
soldered on to its adjoining copper plates. When the areas of contact of the elements
are very great there are interposed between them sheets of wire gauze or a perforated
or corrugated plate to allow for the difference of expansion of the several metals
and to prevent the brittle element from breaking.
The improved electro-motor is constructed by fixing or bolting electro-magnets
and revolving spindle to or upon the frames which carry the thermo-pile. The
electro-magnets are supplied with electricity by the thermo-pile. Two are used,
and the contact breaker is arranged so as to allow them to be magnetised alter-
nately. The armature is star-like, and fixed on the spindle, which is itself parallel
to the axis of the magnets, and runs in two bearings. The ends of the magnets are
5 furnished with wrought-iron tips, in the form of the letter U, placed in between the

page_text: branches on which the ends of the radii of the armature revolve, the object being to
reduce the longitudinal strain on the spindle, which would occur if the magnet ends
were flat as usual.
The magnets may be compounded into the horse-shoe form, the two poles of one
magnet acting upon the opposite end of the diameter of the armature, or they may
be simple straight magnets, in which case two armatures would be supplied to the
spindle, one at each end. The motive engine thus made is supplied with a speed
regulator or govenor of the ordinary construction of centrifugal govenor supplied to
a steam engine or otherwise; the govenor is connected by gearing with the revol-
ving spindle, and by means of rods or other suitable arrangement it is made to shut
off the supply of gas with which the thermo-pile is heated, or to close the flue of
the hot gases when the pile is heated with coal.
The Invention also includes a thermo-pile for generating electricity for common
purposes, where ordinary galvanic batteries are now employed. This pile comprises
an earthenware hollow cylinder perforated with a number of small holes parallel to
the axis; in each of these holes is placed a pile of cylinders of the active metals
in succession, and alternately, thus galena, and then antimony alloy, nextly galena,
then antimony alloy, and so on. These active metals are separated by strips of
copper protruding alternately within and outwards from the earthenware cylinder.
The strips protruding inwards are therein kept hot by a flame, while those
protruding outwards are kept cool by the atmosphere, and are for that purpose
supplied with extended surfaces. The pile of active metals, thus disposed in each
hole of the earthenware cylinder, is pressed longitudinally by a clamp bearing on
the top and bottom of the pile, and each separate pile is put into communication
with the next one by copper connections, so as to join all the separate piles in a
continuous circuit.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates the details and general arrangement of
my Invention.
Figure 1 represents a diagram of the general disposition of the parts of my
thermo-pile. a, a, are copper plates kept hot by a current of hot gases; b, b, are
copper plates kept cool by contact with cool gases. c is a steel clamp bearing upon
two insulating blocks d, thereby keeping the pile together. m and n are the active
metals, viz., antimonide of zinc and galena, as before said. The electric current
enters and leaves by the poles p.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the arrangement adopted for elements of large area; b and a
are the cool and hot plates; m is an element made by uniting several small elements
by means of a thin belt /c. This disposition is to allow a free rocking motion
to each elements, thus following the motion of the plates under the effect of the
heat.
Figs. 4 and 5 show the construction of a single element or part of an element.
m is a block of antimonide of zinc; it is capped on both ends with two silver caps
r, r, and the plates a and b are supplied with silver eyelets 8, so that the contact of
m with the plates a and b is perfect without being rigid, thereby allowing in a any
slight motions which may arise from the expansion of the parts.
Figs. 5 and 6 show a complete thermo-pile for general purposes; it may be used
for telegraphic purposes, electro-metallurgy, chemical decomposition, electric light,
motive power, and all other uses of ordinary galvanic batteries.
The same letters refer to the same parts in the foregoing descriptions.
m and n are the active metals or elements, viz., antimonide of zinc and galena
respectively; a and b, the hot and cool plates respectively; c, the steel clamp; d, the
insulating blocks; p, p, the terminal poles. Moreover L is a general cast-iron
frame upon which the pile is built; O is a wooden block serving to hold the plates
b, and also the plates f, which are thin plates of iron placed between the plates b,
and aiding in cooling the plates 6 by receiving by radiation part of the heat;
U represents a draught chimney for urging the air between the plates b, as shown
by the arrows; H is a Bunsen gas burner, the top tube of which is perforated with
a series of holes for heating the plates a. The gas arrives by tube I.

page_text: The above description illustrates the battery I actually prefer, but I have shown
in Fig. 7 and 8 the principal parts of another arrangement which I sometimes use.
The letters refer to the same parts in preceeding description.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section, and Fig. 8 a part plan of the thermo-pile. This is a
circular arrangement of the parts around a central hollow piece of earthenware T,
so that all the plates a are heated by a single burner H.
Fig. 9 shows a diagram of part of another circular arrangement of my battery,
the letters having the same value as above.
The electro-motor forming part of this Invention is illustrated in sectional
elevation in Fig. 10, and in sectional plan by Fig. 11. m and n are compound
elements, as detailed in Fig. 2 above explained. a are the hot plates ribbed and
worked so as to prevent a large heating surface; they are encased in a fire-brick
furnace and heated by the burner H. These plates a are terminated by large
blocks of copper A carrying the heat to the elements m and n. The plates b are
the cooling plates, and receive the heat from the elements through the copper blocks
B, upon which they are soldered. These set of plates b are fixed upon a wooden
frame o, and the pile is pressed together by means of the bolts c passing through
cast-iron standards, and the pressure is regulated by the springs z. As the Figs.
show there are two lines of elements forming a double pile. They are suitably
connected together so as to form a single circuit, and the electric current leaves and
enters by poles P to or from the electro-magnets q. These electro-magnets are
mounted upon a general stand L with the thermo-pile. The free ends of the
magnets are tipped with some V pieces y of wrought iron, in between which the
armature g passes. This armature g is mounted upon a spindle, as shown, and is
free to revolve as the magnets attract it in succession.
The arrangement for making and breaking electric contact is of the ordinary
kind, that is, by means of a toothed wheel, as shown. Motive power is taken from
pulley V, and in plan is shown the arrangement of the speed regulator or centri-
fugal govenor for shutting off the gas when the speed is too high. k is the
govenor put in motion by a set of mitre wheels, as shown; it acts upon the gas
cock & by means of suitable rods.
In conclusion, what I claim as my Invention is,--
1st. The combination of antimonide of zinc and galena with which I form the
active elements of a thermo-pile.
2nd. The disposition of the thermo-electric elements with heating and cooling
plates, substantially as described.
3rd. The elastic arrangement by which the metallic contact of the parts of the
pile is ensured, that is, by means of the elastic clamps or such like, as described.
4th. The general arrangement of the piles, as described.
5th. The thermo-electric motor and govenor, as described.
6th. The capping of the end of the elements, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Camille Alphonse Faure, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
C. A. FAURE. (L.S.)