IMPROVEMENTS IN Apparatus FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING ELECTRICITY."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Murray Newton, of Barton Grange, nº. Taunton,
in the County of Somerset, Esqre, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Apparatus FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING ELECTRICITY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Murray Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1881.
FRANCIS MURRAY NEWTON, of Barton Grange, nr. Taunton, in the County of
Somerset, Esqre. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING
ELECTRICITY."
This Invention has for object improvements in apparatus for generating and
utilising electricity.
According to my Invention I form the cores of rotating armatures of dynamo
and magneto electric machines of a number of wrought or cast discs fixed or carried
upon a shaft or spindle. These discs I form by preference wider at their circum-
ferential edges than at their other parts, and I so arrange them as to leave a space
between each adjoining pair for the circulation of air, and to prevent as far as
possible the generation of internal currents circulating in closed circuits. Each
disc is pierced with one or more holes, and is provided with wings or blades to
promote the circulation of air through the whole series. Additional inlets for air
may be formed by cutting helical grooves in the shaft or spindle, or in the
interiors of the bosses of the discs, or of both. The air entering by these channels
is thrown out from the periphery of the armature by centrifugal action.
Upon the periphery of each disc I form a number of longitudinal grooves or
notches, by preference sixteen, and in these grooves or notches I wind or lay the
wires which form the conductors of the electric current. The method of winding
is as follows: Calling the groove with which I commence No. 1 I lay the first
wire longitudinally down that groove; I then carry it across the end of the
armature, as a chord of the circle, and back down groove No. 6. Crossing the other
or second end of the armature I carry the wire again down groove No. 1, and
continue the process in the above order until I have laid the desired number of
convolutions in the grooves Nos. 1 and 6.
I then wind in like manner the grooves Nos. 9 and 14, 2 and 13, and 5 and 10.
At this stage of the manufacture eight of the sixteen grooves are filled or partly
filled with wire, and the portions of the coils which appear at each end of the
armature enclose a square space.
I then proceed to wind the remaining eight grooves, commencing with numbers 4
and 15, then filling successively 7 and 12, 11 and 16, and 8 and 3.

page_text: I couple one end of each coil to the appropriate end of the coil that lies in a
parallel plane, and lead the remaining end of each coil to a commutator. It will
be evident that any number of grooves may be employed that can be suitably
divided to form a symmetrical armature.
The commutator I employ consists of rings of copper or other suitable metal,
equal in number to the number of coils on the armature, insulated fro:n each other,
and suitably mounted upon a cylinder of non-conducting material. Each ring is
severed in two places; the cuts are not diametrically opposite, but are separated by
about three eighths of the circumference of the ring.
The rings are not all divided at the same place, the cuts being arranged symme-
trically with regard to the. coils to which the rings are respectively electrically
connected. One end of each coil is connected to one segment of a ring, and the
other end to the other segment. Each ring runs in electrical contact with two
insulated strips of metal, and these strips are so arranged that the positive strip
corresponding to one ring is connected to the negative strip of the next, and so on,
the result being that the coils are coupled in series.
<
Owing however to the difference of lengths of the two segments into which
each ring is divided, each coil is short circuited for an eighth part of revolution
while passing the neutral parts of the magnetic field.
When it is required to vary at will the electro motive force of the current I make
a similar commutator to that herein above described, but put an extra cut in each
ring diametrically opposite one of the other cuts, and insert a copper or metal screw
in such a way beneath this extra cut that I can reconvert the parts severed by
simply twisting it round. The arrangement then becomes suitable for producing
currents of high or low electro motive force.
According to another part of my Invention I form the cores of the rotating
armatures of dynamo or magneto electric machines of a disc, or of a number of
discs upon the same axis, of such proportions that the length of the disc or of each
of the series of discs is small compared with the diameter of the same.
I wind this disc (simple or compound) with two or more coils of insulated wire
lying parallel to one or more diameters of the disc, and I create a powerful magnetic
field in the neighbourhood of such faces by suitably disposed field magnets or polar
extensions of field magnets.
Cores of armatures wound according to this latter method may or may not be
provided with air ways and blades or wings, as hereinabove described.
In an electric lamp, according to my Invention, I cause the upper or positive
carbon or electrode to slide through a guide or bush in which it fits easily, and I
convey the current to the said carbon or electrode by a contact spring or other
suitable contact making device. I connect the guide or bush to the moveable core
of a solenoid wound either with a single coil or wound differentially, and I damp
or modify the motions of the core by means of a dash pot. Within the herein-
above mentioned guide or bush is an inclined or conical slot or gate in which one
or more rollers or spheres is or are carried. The weight of the rollers or spheres
acting in concert with the tendency of the carbon or electrode to slide through the
guide or bush jambs the carbon or electrode into frictional connection with the
guide or bush and holds it in position. Attached to a fixed part of the lamp is
an arm or finger so situated than when the core of the solenoid descends as the
current decreases beyond a given point the roller or sphere is arrested by the arm
or finger and the carbon liberated, whereupon the said carbon slides through the
guide or holder until the length of the arc is readjusted and the roller or sphere
lifted by the increased action of the solenoid out of contact with the arm or
finger.
It will be evident that the form and general arrangements of the lamp may be
modified without departing from the principle of my Invention

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Murray Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
April 1882.
FRANCIS MURRAY NEWTON, of Barton Grange, nr. Taunton, in the County of
Somerset, Esqre. " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING
ELECTRICITY.'
This Invention has for object improvements in apparatus for generating and
utilising electricity.
According to my Invention I form the cores of rotating armatures of machines
for the generation of electric currents (serving also as motors) of a number of
wrought or cast iron discs fixed or carried upon a shaft or spindle. These discs I
form by preference wider at their circumferential edges than at their other parts,
and I so arrange them as to leave a space between each adjoining pair for the
circulation of air, and to prevent as far as possible the generation of internal
currents circulating in closed circuits. Each disc is pierced with one or more holes,
and is provided with wings or blades to promote the circulation of air through the
whole series. Additional inlets for air may be formed by cutting helical grooves
in the shaft or spindle or in the interior of the bosses of the discs, or of both. The
air entering by these channels is thrown out from the periphery of the armature
by centrifugal action.
Upon the periphery of each disc I form a number of longitudinal grooves or
notches, by preference sixteen, and in these grooves or notches I wind or lay the
wires which form the conductors of the electric current. The method of winding
is as follows:-
Calling the groove with which I commence No. 1 I lay the first wire longitudinally
down that groove; I then carry it across the end of the armature, as a chord of
the circle, and back down groove No. 6. Crossing the other or second end of the
armature, I carry the wire again down groove No. 1, and continue the process in
the above order until I have laid the desired number of convolutions in the grooves
Nos. 1 and 6. I then wind in like manner the grooves Nos. 9 and 14, 2 and 13,
and 5 and 10. At this stage of the manufacture eight of the sixteen grooves are
filled or partly filled with wire, and the portions of the coils which appear at each
end of the armature enclose a square space. I then proceed to wind the remaining
eight grooves, commencing with numbers 4 and 15, then filling successively 7 and
12, 11 and 16, and 8 and 3; or I may commence with 11 and 16, and then fill
successively 8 and 3, 4 and 15, and 7 and 12. I couple one end of each coil to
the appropriate end of the coil that lies in a parallel plane, and lead the remaining
end of each coil to a commutator. It will be evident that any number of grooves
may be employed that can be suitably divided to form a symmetrical armature.
The commutator I employ consists of rings of copper or other suitable metal,
equal in number to the number of circuits on the armature, insulated from each
other, and suitably mounted upon a cylinder of non conducting material. Each
ring is severed in two places; the cuts are not diametrically opposite, but are
separated by about three eighths of the circumference of the ring.
The rings are not all divided at the same place, the cuts being arranged
symmetrically with regard to the coils to which the rings are respectively
electrically connected. One end of each coil is connected to one segment of a ring,
and the other end to the other segment. Each ring runs in electrical contact with
two insulated strips of metal, and these strips are so arranged that the positive
strip corresponding to one ring is connected to the negative strip of the next, and

page_text: so on, the result being that the coils are coupled in series. Owing however to the
difference of lengths of the two segments into which each ring is divided each
circuit is broken, and the corresponding brushes short circuited for an eighth part
of a revolution while passing the neutral parts of the magnetic field.
Referring to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings,
Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of an armature, according to my
Invention, suitable for a magneto-electric, an electro-magnetic, or a dynamo electric
generator, or for an electric motor; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross
section, and Fig. 4 an end view; Fig. 5 shews in end elevation one form of com-
mutator that I employ.
A, A, are a number of discs of wrought or cast iron threaded upon a central
shaft or spindle B. Each disc is wider at its boss C than at its other parts, and
consequently a space for the circulation of air is left between each pair of adjoining
discs: Non conducting washers may be interposed between the bosses C, C, to
prevent the circulation of currents in them if found desirable. Each disc is pierced
with holes D, and is provided with one or more blades or wings E to cause the
outward circulation of air drawn in through the holes D and through helical
grooves F, F, in the shaft and bosses of the discs. Right and left handed grooves
are provided, so that the air can enter from both ends. Upon the periphery of
each disc is a series of grooves or notches, numbered 1 to 16, and the discs are so
arranged on the shaft that these notches coincide and form sixteen longitudinal
grooves, broken at short intervals by the spaces between the discs through which
constant streams of air are thrown out by centrifugal force. In these grooves
eight coils of insulated wire are wound (as shewn) in the order described above
(in which description the numbers applied to the grooves are the same as in the
Drawing), and the coils constituting each parallel pair are joined together to form
one electrical circuit. Thus the eight coils constitute four circuits. G is the com-
mutator consisting of four metallic rings H, H', H', H³, mounted upon a non-
conducting cylinder I on the shaft. There is one ring for each circuit on the
armature, and each ring is divided into two parts or segments h¹, h³, whereof h¹
constitutes five eighths or thereabouts of the ring, and h³ three eighths or there-
abouts. One end of each circuit is attached to one part or segment of a ring and
the other end to the other part of the same ring, consequently the two parts of a
ring form the two terminals of a circuit. Each ring runs in contact with two
contact strips or brushes J, J, which bear upon it at the opposite ends of a
diameter, and which are so placed with relation to the ring that when the coils are
passing through that part of the magnetic field in which but little or no current
is generated (hereinbefore called the neutral part) both brushes bear upon one part
of the ring, and a short circuit is made between them through that part of the ring
while the end of the coil which is attached to the part 2 of the ring is insulated
and the resistance of the coil is cut out of the general circuit. The divisions
between the parts h¹ and hª of the rings are shewn in the Drawings as parallel to
the axis, but to moderate the sparks which occur as the contact pieces or brushes
cross the divisions between the two parts it is convenient to make these divisions
inclined to the axis, so as to make the changes more gradual. When however the
junction is made very oblique the brushes make contact with the two parts h³, h³,
at the same time, and then both the two ends of the coil and the two brushes are
put in direct connection. When it is required to vary at will the electro motive
force of the current I make a similar commutator to that hereinabove described,
but put an extra cut in each ring diametrically opposite one of the other cuts, and
insert a copper or metal screw in such a way beneath this extra cut that I can
reconnect the parts severed by simply twisting it round. The arrangement then
becomes suitable for producing currents of high or low electro motive force.
Fig. 10 is a transverse section, and Fig. 11 a side elevation of a commutator,
according to this part of my Invention. The part or segment h¹ has an extra cut
in it opposite one of the cuts that separate the parts h¹, h³, and under this cut is
placed a metal screw h³ acting as a switch. When the screw is in contact with the

page_text: two parts above it the commutator acts similarly to the one described above, but
when the screw is depressed the part h* is insulated: Under these conditions, when
each circuit is passing through the part of the magnetic field in which little or no
current is generated, one brush rests upon the part or segment h¹, and one upon the
part or segment h', whence it follows that one brush and one end of the circuit on
the armature are both insulated. This arrangement obtains when the coils are
connected in multiple circuit. Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively transverse section
and side elevation of a modified form of this commutator. In this the part or
segment h¹ has two extra cuts in it diametrically opposite its two ends, and is
thereby divided into the three parts h¹, h, h³, consequently each ring comprises
four parts, two (h', h',) connected to the two ends of the circuit, and the two (h*, h³,)
that are insulated when the screws or switches h³ are depressed. These two
smaller segments are each divided by an oblique cut into two triangles (see Fig. 13).
When the screws are depressed the two brushes, as well as the two ends of the
circuit, are all insulated when the commutator is in the position shewn. When the
screws are raised both the brushes and the ends of the coils are short circuited
when the coils pass the neutral points. The four or other number of circuits that
may be arranged on the armature may be connected together in different ways
according to circumstances. For instance, according to one method, which is
illustrated in Fig. 2, the positive brush of the commutator ring H is attached to
one leading wire, and the negative brush is attached to the positive brush of
ring H¹, the negative brush of H¹ to the positive brush H2, and so on; the
negative brush of H³ being connected to the second leading wire. The field
magnet coil may be included in the external circuit or not, accordingly as the
machine is intended to work dynamically or not. According to another method all
the positive brushes may be connected together and all the negative brushes, by
which means the coils will be coupled parallel to one another. Or one coil may be
arranged to excite the field magnets as a separate circuit and the others be connected
either in series or parallel.
In an electric lamp according to my Invention I cause the upper or positive
carbon or electrode to slide through a guide or bush in which it fits easily, and I
convey the current to the said carbon or electrode by a contact spring or other
suitable contact making device. I connect the guide or bush to the movable core
of a solenoid, wound either with a single coil or wound differentially, and I damp
or modify the motions of the core by means of a dash pot. Within the hereinabove
mentioned guide or bush is an inclined or conical slot or gate in which one or
more rollers or spheres is or are carried. The weight of the roller or sphere, or
rollers or spheres, acting in concert, with the tendency of the carbon or electrode
to slide through the guide or bush jambs the carbon or electrode into frictional
connection with the guide or bush and holds it in position. Attached to a fixed
part of the lamp is an arm or finger, so situated that when the core of the solenoid
descends when the current decreases beyond a given point the roller or sphere is
arrested by the arm or finger and the carbon liberated, whereupon the said carbon
slides through the guide or holder until the length of the arc is readjusted and the
roller or sphere lifted by the increased action of the solenoid out of contact with
the arm or finger. It will be evident that the form and general arrangement of
the lamp may be modified without departure from the principle of my Invention.
Fig. 6 is a vertical central section of an electric lamp according to my Invention,
and Figs. 7, 8, 9 are detail views of some of the parts of the same.
The electrode A fits easily in the guide or bush G which is in electrical connexion
with one pole of the generator, and can when released slide through the said bush.
This bush G is attached to the movable core I of a solenoid K in the lamp circuit
and follows its motions. It also carries the piston of a dash pot X by which its
motions are modified. Within the guide Q is a roller or sphere O confined within
a conical or angular slot or gate, against which it presses at one side, whilst its
other side is in contact with the carbon A. The weight of the roller or sphere
tends to force it down the slot or gate and to jamb it against the electrode. It is

page_text: advantageous that the sphere or roller should be of nonconducting material. H is
an arm or finger fixed to the frame of the lamp, and so situated that its end enters
the slot or gate immediately below the sphere or roller to such an extent, that
when the core of the solenoid descends below the point at which it stands under
the influence of a normal current the roller or sphere rests upon the point of the
finger, and is forced up the slot or gate and out of frictional contact with the
electrode. When it is desired that the arc should be kept stationary the upper
and lower carbons can be connected so that the lower one will rise as the upper one
falls, the motive power for raising of the lower carbon being the weight of the
upper one and of its holder, which fall twice as fast as the lower rises, excepting in
the cases of lamps fed with alternate currents. A is a weighted carbon holder
connected by a cord to the differential drum B. A second cord wound round the
smaller diameter of this drum passes over the guide pulleys D, E, and E¹, and down
the hollow pillar or standard R to the lower carbon holder F which slides in a slot
in the same standard. When the upper electrode falls the cord attached to it
rotates the drum B and winds up the cord attached to the lower electrode.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The current enters the lamp at the
post P, passes down the pillar L and through the wire W to the solenoid coil, the
other end of which is led to the dash pot X and through the piston and bush G
to the electrode. After crossing the arc the current passes through the lower
carbon, up the pillar or standard F to the other binding post Q. Supposing the
carbons to be in contact upon the completion of the circuit the core I and bush G
will be raised until the sphere or roller is carried free of the finger H, when it will
wedge or jamb the carbon against the bush, and the further motion of the core
will raise the carbon and establish the arc. As the resistance of the arc increases
the core descends until the sphere or roller rests upon the finger H and is thereby
forced out of contact with the electrode, which descends until the grip of the roller
or sphere is reestablished. When it is intended that two or more lamps shall be
burnt in series the solenoid is wound differentially.
Although I have shewn the upper carbon rod in frictional connexion with the
sphere or roller it is evident that the rod might be fixed in a holder and the sphere
or roller made to bear against such holder. N, N, are wooden discs kept apart by
the tubular distance pieces M, M, and S is a hood or cover. The regulation of the
lamp may be effected by including more or less of the convolutions of the solenoid
in the circuit by means of a movable contact piece, as shewn at W.
In my Provisional Specification I proposed to form the cores of the rotating
armatures of dynamo or magneto electric machines of a disc, or of a number of
discs upon the same axis, of such proportions that the length of the disc or of each
of the series of discs would be small compared with the diameter of the same, and
to wind such disc (simple or compound) with two or more coils of insulated wire
lying parallel to one or more diameters of the disc, and create a powerful magnetic
field in the neighbourhood of such faces by suitably disposed field magnets or polar
extensions of field magnets. But I do not now attach importance to this arrange-
ment and therefore I lay no claim thereto.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
it is to be performed or carried into practical effect, I would have it understood
that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me
under the Letters Patent berein before in part recited in respect of apparatus for
generating and utilizing electricity, is,―
1. In an apparatus for generating electricity (or serving as an electric motor)
the use of an armature the core of which is constructed with a number of discs so
formed and arranged that a space is left between each adjoining pair of discs, in
which space there are blades or wings that rotate with the discs in such a manner
as to cause circulation of air which passes through helical channels in the bosses
of the discs or in the shaft on which the discs are mounted, substantially as
described.
2. In an apparatus for generating electricity (or serving as an electric motor)

page_text: the use of an armature whereof the coils are wound as hereinabove explained and
shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings, each pair of parallel coils being
connected together in series or in multiple are to form one circuit whose terminations
are connected to the commutator, substantially as described.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved armature constructed,
arranged, and operating as described with reference to and shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4 of the Drawings.
4. In an apparatus for generating electricity (or serving as an electric motor)
the use of a commutator wherein a ring provided for each circuit of the armature
is so divided into parts or segments as when the circuit is passing through that
part of the magnetic field in which little or no current is generated to cause the
circuit on the armature to be broken and the brushes or contact pieces to be
directly connected or short circuited, substantially as described.
5. In a commutator wherein a ring made in parts or segments is provided for
each circuit on an armature the use of switches whereby the disposition of the said
segments or parts of the rings may be varied so as to allow the circuits to be
coupled in series or multiple circuit, substantially as described.
6. In an electric lamp, the use for regulating the feed of an electrode of a sphere
or roller in conjunction with an inclined surface in a moving part controlled by a
magnet or solenoid and a fixed arm or finger, the arrangement being such that
when the moving part controlled by the magnet or solenoid moves beyond a
certain point the sphere or roller is forced by the fixed arm or finger out of
contact with the electrode and the electrode is liberated, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Murray Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
FRANCIS MURRAY NEWTON. (L.S.)