AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC APPARATUS FOR MOTIVE POWER, PART OF WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED SEPARATELY FOR THE GENERATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS."
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eugène Grenet, junior, Civil Engineer, of Paris, in
the French Empire, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
APPARATUS FOR MOTIVE POWER, PART OF WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED SEPARATELY
FOR THE GENERATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eugène Grenet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
September 1855.
I, EUGÈNE GRENET, jan', Civil Engineer, of Paris, in the French Empire,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-
MAGNETIC APPARATUS FOR MOTIVE POWER, PART OF WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED
SEPARATELY FOR THE GENERATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists,-1. In the employment of rectangular strips or
plates of iron, in combination with an arrangement of current breakers for
enabling them to be worked in series.
2. In an improved arrangement of combined conductor for diminishing
tension and allowing of the employment of a single fluid battery.
3. In the arrangement of the different elements of a galvanic battery, and
the method of preparing the positive and negative plates.

page_text: 4. In a method of destroying the spark produced when the electric current
changes from one conductor to another.
5. In a new arrangement of a current changer and current breakers.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation of my apparatus: and Figure 2,
a plan. c is an axis free to rotate in bearings e, e'; a is a cylinder keyed on
this axis, and revolving with it. On the outer surface of this cylinder are series
of plates or strips k, l, m, n, o. f,f, is a cylinder outside the cylinder a, and
mounted on fixed supports i, i, kept apart by stays g,g. On the inner surface
of the cylinder ff, are series of plates or strips ³, l, m, n, o', p', similar to
those on the inner cylinder.
Figure 8 is a view of the revolving cylinder a and its strips or plates; and
Figure 4, a view of the fixed cylinder f. The plates or strips on the outer
cylinder fare placed in a straight line, but those on the inner cylinder are
arranged in gradations stepwise, so that the series of plates k come opposite to
the series of plates k', while the other plates come into the intermediate spaces
(one only of the series of plates on the moveable cylinder comes opposite the
corresponding plates on the other or stationary cylinder). To effect this, the
space between two consecutive plates or strips on the stationary cylinder is
divided into sixths, so that if the series k is opposite the corresponding series k³,
I will be one-sixth behind l', m two-sixths behind m', n three-sixths behind n',
and so on. The electric fluid flowing in succession in each of the series just
about coming in contact, the force of attraction will always be exerted at
small distances, and the motive power can be utilized at the moment when
it is. most active. The electric current will pass in succession into k and l³,
thence to land, thence to m and m³, thence to n and n', and so on.
Figure 5 shews the moveable cylinder, with its current changer and current
breakers. d is a simple current breaker for the stationary part, and is the
only one required when it is not desired to work electro-magnet opposite to
electro-magnet. Six contact makers placed one behind the other at distances
of 1/6th, and insulated from each other, complete the circuit with the six series
whenever any one of them comes against the projecting parts of the disc d.
The projecting parts are so arranged that only one current maker may be in
contact at one time.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the discj; and Figure 7, a front view of the
disc l. The two discs serve a twofold purpose. Each time that the current has s
circulated through the six series, a reversed current is produced, and conse-
quently the two discs act at the same time as current breakers and current
changers. The disc j, Figure 6, shews six concentric circles insulated the one
from the other, upon which six contact makers, which communicate with the

page_text: six contact makers on the break j, are made to bear. The contact makers,
Figure 6, ensure permanent contact, and therefore do not require to be
regulated.
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2, are intended to explain the passage of the electric
current in the apparatus. Figure 2 shews the circulation of the current in the
stationary portion: r is a conducting wire proceeding from the positive pole,
and in contact with the metallic wheel; 8, 8, s", are contact makers, into one
of which the current passes; t, t¹, t", indicate the circuit round the plates of
each of the six series of the fixed cylinder. The wires all communicate at one
end, and join a conductor which leads to the negative pole, while the other end
is in communication with the contact makers 8, s, &". These contact makers
3, 3, 3", are supported by a piece u (which is in contact with the metallic
dise), and are regulated by regulating screws.
Figure 1 represents the arrangement for distributing the electricity in the
moveable portion of my apparatus, and acts as a current breaker as well as a
current changer. The wire r from the positive pole ends in a fork, the arms
of which bear alternately on the insulated and metallic parts, so that the
breaking the circuit in disc 1 corresponds to contact in disc 2, and vice versa.
The same arrangement applies to the wire %, which also ends in a fork. The
two forks are so regulated that only one of them may be in contact with
the same disc; thus there may be contact in vand x, or v³ and ×³. In the
first case, the positive fluid proceeds from the pole o to the disc 1, passes
on to the disc 2, through the intermediate portions, to be hereafter described,
and then passes out of the disc 2. In the second case, the' positive fluid
passes from the pole o to the disc 2, and thence to the disc 1, by the inter-
mediate parts, to be herein-after described, and passes out from the disc 1.
Consequently, an inversion of the current has taken place in all the inter-
mediate parts. As each disc carries 82 metallic parts and 82 insulating
parts, we shall thus have 64 inversions for every complete rotation. Of
course I do not limit myself to this number, which may be increased or
diminished at pleasure. The use of the current breaker may be thus ex-
plained:-Suppose the current enters at the disc 1, it will pass thence into
one of the six contact makers, and thence to one of the six circles y', y²,
y',',y,y; to each of these six circles the wire of one series communicates,
after leaving these six series by a common conductor, the current passes to
circle 2; the conductor A is soldered, on to the circle 2, so as to partake of its
rotary movement; each series of coils placed in an iron ring, as shewn in the
former Figures, is also provided with two copper rings which act as common
conductors to the current; the current enters one of these rings, and then

page_text: becomes distributed among the various electro-magnets, according to the laws
of induced currents; all the wires are brought to the second ring, which also
acts as a common conductor. Figure 3 shews a portion of one of these rings.
B, B, are notches cut to receive the ends of the wires; one of the coils is
represented at Figure 4. D and F are the ends of the wire.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are views of the battery, which is composed of rect-
angularly-shaped gutta percha cells, with plates of copper (platinized, after
having been immersed in concentrated nitric acid), and grooved plates of zinc.
Gare the cells; II, the platinized copper plates; I, the zinc plates. The two
zinc plates are connected to the copper plate of the succeeding element in the
manner shown in Figure 8. The battery is filled at one operation (any over-
plus of liquid escaping by the passages L, Figure 8), and it is emptied as shewn
at Figure 7. The exciting liquid used is a saturated solution of marine salt, to
which 1/6th part by volume of sulphuric acid is added.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Eugene Grenet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EUGÈNE
GRENCT, junior, Civil Engineer, of Paris, in the French Empire, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign. did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Eugene Grenet, Her special licence that 1, the said Eugene Grenet,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Eugene Grenet, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC APPARATUS FOR MOTIVE POWER, PART OF WHICH MAY BE
EMPLOYED SEPARATELY FOR THE GENERATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Eugene Grenet, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the

page_text: said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Eugene Grenet, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, referenco being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say-
My Invention consists, firstly, in an electro-magnetic engine consisting of
two concentric cylinders placed one within the other, and having formed on
them rings of iron, the outer cylinder being stationary and the inner cylinder
revolving, both cylinders being provided with electro-magnets consisting of
rectangular. soft iron strips or plates fixed to the rings by which the cylinders
are surrounded, the plates of the inner cylinder being on its outer surface
projecting radially outwards, and those of the outer cylinder being on its inner
surface projecting radially inwards, copper conducting wires being coiled round
the plates for the passage of the electric fluid, and the consequent development
of magnetic action.
Tho cylinders are placed at a suitable distance from each other, the outer
cylinder being connected to arms or stays which support the bearings through
which the axis of the inner cylinder passes. By this arrangement of clectro-
magnots on the rings, the excess of the magnetic fluid is in equilibrium around
the axis. The plates or electro-magnets are so arranged, that when the pole
of one on the inner cylinder is opposite to that of one on the outer cylinder, the
two plates or magnets are in a right line. By the peculiar construction and
arrangement of the cylinders the electric fluid is made to act in succession on.
different parts of the apparatus, so that the magnetic force is developed when
the opposite poles are near to each other, whereby the fluid is turned to the
greatest advantage, its attracting force being developed in the parts where its'
action is the most effective.
My Invention also consists in an improved current changer and contact
breaker, which effect the simultaneous magnetization of the fixed and revolving
parts of the apparatus by two different currents; also in an improved arrange-
ment of contact makers and an arrangement of conductors, whereby the
tension of the electric fluid may be diminished by using derived currents, and
which allows of the employment of a single fluid battery.
My Invention also consists in an arrangement for filling and emptying single

page_text: And, lastly, in a new arrangement for increasing the surface subjected to
the action of the battery.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings is a sectional elevation of my improved
electro-magnetic apparatus; Figure 2 is a view of the inner, and Figure 3 a
view of the outer cylinder; Figure 4, section of Fig. 1, through the axis ;
Figure 5, section of the outer cylinder or fixed part, shewing the passage of the
current in the contact breaker. This Figure also represents a portion of the
current changer belonging to the revolving part, and illustrates the distribution
of the electric fluid in the fixed part; it is intended to give a general idea of the
arrangement. Figure 6 represents the inner cylinder or moveable part (with
its plates removed), shewing also the current changer and two contact breakers;
Figure 7 is a view of the current changer, consisting of concentric circles, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, affording permanent contact, so as to convey the current into the
revolving part passing through the current changer; Figure 8, front view of
current changer: Figure 9 shews a portion of the revolving part in section,
and illustrates the circulation of the electric current in the current changer.
This Figure is intended to exhibit the manner in which the electric fluid is
distributed in the revolving part. Figure 10, detached view of current changer;
Fig. 11, detached view of a contact breaker; Figure 12, view of part of the
common conductors; Figure 13, view of a plate or electro-magnet with its
coil, and shewing its connexion with the common conductors; Figure 14,
section of the same.
•
b, Fig. 4, is a cylinder, having formed on it iron rings 6', b', mounted on
an axis d, passing through bearings w, w, supported on arms or stays c, c. a is
a larger cylinder outside the cylinder b, having also formed on it rings of iron
a², a², a³. k, l, m, n, o, p, are plates forming magnets fixed to the inner surface
of the rings formed on the outer cylinder a. k, l, m, n', o', p', aro plates, also
forming magnets, fixed to the outer surface of the rings on the inner cylinder b.
These plates are rectangular, and are provided with coils of copper conducting
wire =,=, for the circulation of the magnetic fluid. e, f, are circular conductors
common to the plates on each ring, and surrounding them entirely; one of these
conductors corresponds to the negative pole of the battery, and the other to
the positive pole. The pole at the end of each plate will be a north or a south
pole according to which end of the coil may be connected to the common con-
ductors. The connections might be so arranged that each pole on the one
cylinder should be placed between the two contrary poles on the other. There
should always be an even number of plates on the two cylinders. There are
similar conductors e',f', on the other side of the apparatus. If the conductors &

page_text: and fare in connection with the positive pole, and f' are in connection with
the negative pole, and vice versa. It should be understood that when the
inner cylinder revolves, the outer edges of the moveable plates are always
parallel to the axis of the machine, and consequently they are also parallel or
opposite to the edges of the fixed plates; if, therefore, the two are magnetized,
two lines or rows of active poles come opposite each other.
The outer or fixed cylinder is represented in Fig. 7 as having 6 rings. The
plates or electro-magnets on the rings of this cylinder are placed in straight
lines, but those on the rings of the inner cylinder (shewn in Figure 2) are
placed one a little behind the other in regular gradation. Then, supposing the
cylinder has six rings or rows of plates, then the plates on the 2nd ring are
about 1/6th of the distance between any two blades on the saine circle behind
the blades on the first ring, those on the third ring 1/6th behind those on the
2d ring, and so on.
In Fig. 4 the plates or magnets are shown without their conducting wires,
for clearness. When the plates p are opposite the plates p', the electric fluid
would be transferred to o and o'; that is to say, on the coils of the plates
situated the nearest together in the direction of the rotary movement to be
produced, when the attractive power developed in the two series will bring
the plate o opposite to the plate o¹; n and n¹ uow become nearest to each
other in the direction of rotation, and the magnetic fluid passing on to them
attracts these two plates opposite each other, when m and m' become the
nearest plates to each other, and so on, to l and l, k and k', until p and p' again
become the nearest adjacent plates, so that on the electric action being exerted
six several times, that is to say, effecting six movements, the revolving or
motive cylinder will have received an angular movement equal to the distance
between any two consecutive plates on the fixed cylinder. Of course, when I
speak of the electric fluid passing into the plates, I mean into the coils sur-
rounding the plates. 1, 11, (Figure 5) are conductors leading from the coils
to the corresponding contact makers 2, 2, 3, 8¹, 4, 41, 5, 5¹, 6, 6¹, and a, ß, y,
8,,, conductors leading from the contact makers to the distributors p, q, r, s, t,
the ends of these different conductors being one a little behind the other; d, d,
conductor leading from the positive pole, and terminating in a fork ef; G, con-
ductor leading from the negative pole, terminating in a fork g, h; X, disc,
with 16 non-conducting or insulating parts, and 16 copper or conducting parts;
Y, cylinder with insulating and conducting parts; L, copper conducting part;
o, n, m, l, k, i, parts through which the conducting wires pass to the coils.
The colored parts are supposed to be copper. The forked ends are so arranged

page_text: that either e and h, or g and f, bear against the copper conducting wires. In
the former case the current enters by the right-hand cylinder, and passes out
by the left-hand cylinder; in the 2d case, the current enters by the left-hand
cylinder, and passes out by the right-hand cylinder; consequently the current is
reversed whenever the contact, which took place from h to e, takes place in g
and f, and vice versa. The two forked ends being insulated with respect to each
other, the circuit can only be completed by the interposition of one of the six
parts p, q, &c, and of the wires corresponding to the rows of electro-magnets
on the revolving part of the apparatus; but these circuits are not completed
until the corresponding contact makers come against the right-hand disc; con-
sequently, in the interval of two breakings of contact, these 6 contact makers
act in turn, 6 contact breakers correspond to each change of current, 6 con-
tact makers come in turn against the contact breaker, and complete the circuit.
L, Figure 1, are the coils of the moveable cylinder; K, the coils of the fixed
cylinder; A, frame for supporting the contact makers; C, frame for the fixed
cylinder; D, distributor. r, Figure 11, is a conducting wire leading from the
positive pole, and coming in contact with the metallic wheel. The current
passes into one of the six conductors s', s', s'; t, t,t, represents the circuit
through the coils on the electro-magnets of the fixed cylinder. The wires are
all united at one end, and join a conductor which leads to the negative pole,
while the further extremity joins the contact makers S', S', S', but is insulated
from them. The contact makers are supported by a piece u, in contact with
the metallic disc, and regulated by screws.
Fig. 10 shews the apparatus for distributing the fluid in the moveable part
of my apparatus. It acts as a current breaker as well as a current changer.
The wire o leading from the positive pole ends in a fork, the arms of which bear
on the insulated and conducting parts alternately, so that the breaking of the
circuit in disc 1 corresponds to contact in disc 2, and vice versa. The same
arrangement applies to the wire, which also ends in a fork. These two forks
are so regulated that only one of them is in contact with the same disc; thus
there may be contact in vand x, or v' and '. In the first case, the positive
fluid proceeds from the pole o to disc 1, passes to disc 2, through the inter-
mediate parts to be presently described, and then passes out at that disc. In
the second case, the positive fluid proceeds from pole o to disc 2, thence passes
to disc 1, by the intermediate parts, and passes out at disc 1; consequently a
reversion of the current has taken placo in all the intermediate parts. As cach
disc has 32 metallic conducting parts and 32 insulating parts, there will thus
be 64 reversions for every complete revolution. Each reversion may be divided
into 6 series of breakings of circuit.

page_text: It is evident that I do not limit myself to these numbers, which may be
increased or diminished as desired. The use of the contact breaker may be thus
explained:-Suppose the current enters at disc 1, it will pass thence into one
of the six contact makers, and thence to one of the six rings y', y³, y³, y', y', yº,
to each of which the wire of one series corresponds; after having left these 6
rows by a common conductor, the current passes into ring No. 2, the con-
ductor A being united to this ring so as to partake of its rotary movement.
Each series of coils is placed on an iron ring, as shewn in the former Figures,
and also carries two copper rings acting as common conductors for the current.
The current passes into one of these rings, and then becomes distributed among
the different electro-magnets, according to the laws of derived currents, the
wires are all brought to a second ring, which also serves as a common con-
ductor. Fig: 12 shows a portion of one of these rings. B, B, are recesses
formed to receive the ends of the wires; Fig. 18 represents one of its electro-
magnets, with coil of wire; D and E are the ends of the wire. The battery
shewn in Fig. 15, 16, and 17 is composed of rectangular cells G, made of some
insulating or non-conducting material, such as gutta percha, and of corrugated
copper plates H, which may be platinized, and of grooved zinc plates I. The
two zinc plates are connected to the copper plate of the succeeding element
by the arrangement shewn in Figure 17. The battery may bo filled at one
operation, any excess of fluid escaping through the channel L (Fig. 17), and
may also be emptied at one operation by the contrivance markeds, shewn
in Fig. 16. N is the casing; M is the trough for receiving fluid when
emptied from the cells. The exciting fluid which I use for my battery consists
of a saturated solution of sea salt to which 1/6th (in volume) of sulphuric
acid is added.
it
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as constituting my
said Invention,-
First, the improved electro-magnetic apparatus with plates fixed on rings
formed on two concentric cylinders, one moveable, the other fixed as herein-
before before described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Second, the arrangement of current changer, contact breakers, and contact
maker, as herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Third, the arrangement of conductors common to a series of magnets, as
herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Fourth, the arrangement of emptying and filling a galvanic battery shown
in the Drawing annexed.

page_text: And, fifth, the arrangement for encreasing the surface subjected to the action
of the battery herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eugène Grenet, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, Ing* Civil,
6, Filles du Calvaire, à Paris.
E. GRENET, FILS. (L.S.)