Electric Lighting System and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 28th May, 1392
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Electric Lighting System and Apparatus therefor.
I, SYLVANUS LAnder Trippe, of Times Buildings New York, in the County
of New York, and State of New York, United States of America, Electrician,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
Heretofore what are known as incandescent electric lights have been produced
by means of either a continuous direct or derived secondary alternating current,
requiring about fifty-five watts of energy for the proper maintenance of each
incandescent lamp having sixteen candle power of illumination. In all the processes
having in view a transfer of energy from one to two or more circuits alternately,
experiment has developed the following among other objections which has so far
prevented any such process from being of commercial value. In the first place,
the break in the current necessary to the transfer from one circuit to another has,
in the use of the powerful currents required in electric lighting, caused the
formation of an arc or sparking at the break to such an extent that the brushes or
contacts are rapidly destroyed and the switch so burned and fused as to become
almost at once unfit for use. The making and breaking of contact in a current is
accomplished with a drop or diminution of the electromotive force in the supply
current which in every instance, with all appliances of which I have any knowledge,
is a total loss of so much of the energy employed. These objections with others,
and a failure to provide any combination of the necessary elements to carry into
practice the theory of transferring energy to two or more working circuits
alternately has so far prevented any practical application of such principle.
In the use of the ordinary incandescent lamp, in what is known as the alternating
system, it is evident that there is a period, however short in duration, at each
alternation, when no current is passing through the lamp, hence it follows that in
order to produce the light it is not necessary the current should be absolutely a
continuous one.
I have found by experiment and test that the period when no
current passes through the amp may be extended much beyond what is usual in
the alternating systems without diminishing the light, as it is the incandescence of
the carbon filament which gives the light, and such carbon requires time to cool
when once heated to incandescence. The period when the current is not passing
through the lamps on one circuit may be utilized by diverting the current to one
or more separate circuits, and made to produce like effects, thus multiplying the
number of lamps now actuated on one current only, without any very material
increase of energy from the dynamo or engine. As has been stated above, the
making and breaking of contact, in a circuit produces a drop or fall of electro-motive
force, and causes two practical difficulties necessary to be overcome before this
process can be satisfactorily applied. If lamps are used of the voltage of the
original supply current, the light is not satisfactory on account of the change in
the electromotive force, and if the lamps of the lower voltage are used the current
is not of sufficient volume to supply the lamps. It is therefore necessary to arrange
means to utilize the induced currents in the working circuits, and to increase the
same by an electro-magnet in the working circuits, transforming at the same time
the supply current by means of a transformer to a current of lower electromotive
force and greater number of amperes.
The object of my invention therefore is to provide means whereby not only a
continuous current of electric energy may be diverted from one to two or more
circuits alternately, having such current supplemented at each break thereof by an
induced current flowing in the same direction through the lamp or working circuits,

page_text: but the sparking and development of heat prevented on the switch and contact
points.
To this end my invention consists, first, in the combination with a dynamo
electric machine or other source of constant electric supply, and a series of electric
circuits for the supply of lamps, of a switch transformer located between such
dynamo or other source of energy and the working circuits, and an electromagnet
interposed between such switch transformer and the lamps; second, in the peculiar
construction of the switch transformer whereby it is self ventilating and adapted
not only to serve as a switch, but to also act as a secondary coil in connection
with the electromagnet; third, in the appliances used in preventing sparking and
the development of heat at the break of the current on the switch transformer, and
fourth, in various other constructions and combinations of parts, all as will
hereinafter more fully appear.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification,
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view shewing four circuits of incandescent lamps, with
a dynamo electric machine, and my invention applied in connection therewith;
Fig. 2, a side elevation of switch transformer shewing the arrangement of brushes
and connections ;
Fig. 3, a transverse section thereof taken in the plane of Fig. 2; and
Fig. 4, an isometric view of the cylinder of the switch transformer with a
modified form of brush applied in connection therewith.
In all the figures, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A indicates a dynamo electric machine or other source of electric energy, which
is or may be of any ordinary or preferred construction, and B B B and B³
electric circuits for supplying the necessary currents to the incandescent lamps
which are shewn at . In the preseut instance, I have shewn four of these
circuits, although it is obvious that a greater or lesser number may be employed;
but whatever the number, they will preferably be all connected with a common
return conductor b¹.
C indicates the switch transformer, by means of which the current coming from
the dynamo or other source of energy is deflected from one to the other of the
circuits and back again to the first in regular succession and so on, and the current
transformed from a higher to a lower tension.
This switch transformer is preferably made up of a series of copper or brass
tubes or cylinders c, c', c², c³, enclosed within each other and bolted, or otherwise
fastened together with a little space between the several tubes or cylinders so as
to ventilate the same when in motion. As thus constructed it is mounted on an
axle, from which it is insulated, the said axis being journalled in suitable
bearings e³, and capable of rotation therein through power applied to the pulley*
secured thereon; or, if desired, the switch transformer may be mounted on a
prolongation of the dynamo shaft. The outside of the switch transformer, in the
case of the one shewn in the drawing, is divided into five sections, d, d², d², d³, d².
Section d is constructed with a continuous conducting surface throughout, and
communicates any current that may be delivered to it from the source of energy
to the other four sections, all of which are connected electrically thereto; but
sections d', d², d³, d each have their outside surface divided into alternate
conducting and non-conducting spaces or segments e e¹, which are so disposed with
respect to each other that the conducting surfaces of the successive sections shall
follow each other in their own planes of rotation, the rear termination of one
being opposite to the forward end of the other, as shewn.
In the construction of these spaces or segments the non-conducting ones may be
formed by planing away sufficient of the outer surface and filling in the spaces
thus formed with some proper insulation, or these spaces or segments may be
formed of a number of detachable pieces which are fastened to the outer cylinders
by screws or bolts, as shewn.
Resting upon the several sections of the switch transformer are brushes or
contact strips h h¹ h² h³ and h¹ which are supported in place by a proper support

page_text: similar to that in use: in general dynamo machines and placed with their free ends
in line with respect. to the switch transformer. The brush is connected through
the wire d with. the dynamo or other source of energy, and the brushes h¹ h² h³
and are connected with the four working or lamp circuits B, B1, B2, and B³
through wires ii, 3 which pass around the electro-magnet K interposed between
the lamps and the switch transformer C..
In Figs. 1 to 3, the brushes h, h, 2, 3, and 4 are constructed as ordinary
metallic brushes or strips of copper, such as are now in general use for dynamo
machines, while in Fig. 4, the brushes h¹, h2, h3, and h are each constructed of an
upper and an under metallic strip insulated from cach other, as, for instance, by
an insulating strip k, with the upper member thereof extended slightly beyond the
lower. The former of these constructions, however, is the one I prefer in practice;
but whichever is used, they will preferably be connected by shunts m, m', m², m³,
whereby any excess of energy not taken up by their appropriate circuits on the
brush breaking connection therewith, will be transferred to the next circuit in the
order of rotation and be taken up thereby.
With the former construction, these shunts will preferably extend from one to
the other, as shewn in Fig. 2.; but with the construction shewn in Fig. 4, this
connection will be made between the upper plate of one brush and the lower plate
of the other in the order of rotation of the switch transformer, the under plates
to which the
of the brushes in this form of my invention being the ones
wires i,,,, leading to the lamp or working circuits, are connected.
As thus arranged, the free ends of the brushes being in line with one another, it
will be seen that, as the switch transformer is rotated, and one of the brushes in
Fig. 1 to 3 breaks contact with the conducting segments thereon, the next brush,
in the order of rotation of the switch transformer, will be brought in contact with
the conducting segments of the next section, and by properly adjusting the
resistance in their connecting shunt, any excess of energy resulting on the breaking
of connection between the. former brush and segment will be transferred to the
latter; while in Fig. 4, the upper plate of the brush extending slightly beyond
the lower, when the under strip of one of the brushes breaks. contact with the
conducting segment thereon the upper strip of that brush is brought into contact
therewith, taking up the excess energy and passing the same through the shunt. to
the next circuit, then closed by the lower strip of the next brush coming into
contact with a conducting segment of the switch transformer, and continuing so to
pass the current until the conducting surface passes from under the same by the
rotation. of the switch transformer, and so on.
By these means, it will be seen, the closing of any one of the circuits by the
rotation of the switch transformer brings the wire of such circuit and the entire
switch transformer into that circuit, and as at the same instant that this circuit is
formed, the adjoining preceding circuit in the order of formation is broken, leaving
that portion of such, broken circuit beyond or following the switch transformer as
the only portion thereof through which the current ceases to flow, it follows that
this particular portion of the broken circuit alone acts inductively on the closed
circuit as a primary coil, while the latter circuit, with the entire switch transformer,
acts as a secondary coil. As a result of this the average surface or cross-section
of this closed circuit with the included switch transformer; being greater than that
of the broken circuit, the current induced therein will necessarily be of greater
volume and of less electromotive force than that of the primary current, but,
flowing in the same direction as the supply current, it unites therewith in supplying
the lamps, and thus through the operation of the switch transformer the supply
current is not only transformed from a higher to a lower electromotive force, but
also to one of greater volume.
The electro magent may be made of a number of metal strips properly
bound together in the usual well known manner and needs no specific description
herein.

page_text: As thus constructed, the operation of the mechanism is as follows:-
The current proceeding from the dynamo or other source of energy is supplied
to section d of the rotating switch and thence passes to the remaining
sections d¹³, d², d³, and d, with which the section d is electrically connected. The
current being thus continuously supplied to the several sections, and the switch
rotated, the conducting segment on the section d' will be first brought into
contact with its brush, closing the circuit B and allowing the current to flow
through the lamps of that circuit, and thence back along the return conductor b¹
to the source of supply.
The circuit so formed will then permit of the current flowing therethrough until,
in the rotation of the switch, the conducting segment e on the section d¹ passes
from under its brush ', when the brush will engage with the conducting
segmente of the section d2 and the circuit B¹ will be similarly formed, any excess
of energy due to the breaking of contact of the brush with the segment e being
transferred through the shunt m to the brush 2, and so on, and such is the
operation when the construction of brush shewn in Figs. to 3 is employed.
When, however, the several brushes 213 and 14 are made
and an
of an upper
up
under metal plate insulated from each other, as shewn in Fig. 4, with the upper
part thereof projecting slightly beyond the under, the operation is slightly different.
With this construction, the segment e of the section d¹ will first pass out of
engagement with the under plate of the brush ', and at the instant the conducting
segment e of section d' passes from contact with the under plate of the brush h³,
the conducting segment e of section d engages with the under plate of brush h²,
and thereby transfers the current to, and forms, the circuit B¹, breaking at the same
time the circuit B. The upper plate of brush ', projecting beyond the under plate
of such brush as before explained, remains in contact with the conducting segment e
of the section d'; after the under plate has broken contact therewith, and serves
to take up the excess of energy which would otherwise form a spark, and conveys
the same through the resistance to the next circuit in order of rotation. The
circuit B¹ having been formed by the engagement of the conducting segment e of
the section d² with the under plate of brush h², continues until such segment passes
from under said plate, when the under plate or brush h³ will come in contact with
the conducting segment e of section d³; and so on, the passing of the conducting
segments from and into contact with the under plates of the several brushes
serving to successively break and make the circuits in which they are respectively
located, and the upper plates, through their resistance shunts, serving to take up
the excess of current as the circuits are broken and pass it to the next circuit in
the order of rotation.
The currents flowing from the several brushes, however constructed, thence pass
around the electro magnet, and thence to the lamps, the effect of which is to
augment the several currents induced by the successive breaking of the circuits as
the switch is rotated.
The brushes being connected by shunts having resistances greater than that
offered by the lamp or working circuit, the current will naturally pass through the
path of least resistance and will cease to flow through the shunts immediately after
the brush leaves contact with the conducting segment, thereby preventing any
sparking by the break in the current in any of the circuits, when the same is
broken or transferred to the adjoining circuit, as incandescent lamps of proper
voltage will only take the volume required.
The object of interposing an electromagnet around which the wires leading to
the lamp circuits are passed, is to increase the effects of induction in the various
circuits, and, while it may not be absolutely necessary to the working of this
system, it is found by experimental tests that in many cases it will prove of much
advantage, especially where a small volume of high voltage is desired to be
transformed into a current of much less voltage and of greater amperes.
The construction of the switch transformer from a series of tubes or cylinders

page_text: enclosed one within another necessarily forms a reservoir for energy which, acting
as a stored supply, will modify the effect of any irregularity in the supply current
and tend to regulate and make steady the light in the lamps, when, as in practical
working lamps, any may be turned on or off and the number varied in the different
working circuits.
To the successful working of this system, there must be a transfer of energy from
one to two or more circuits alternately, a transformation of the current from a
higher to a lower electromotive force of greater volume, a union of the currents of
induction with the main supply current, adequate means for preventing the brushes
and switch transformer from destruction by the heat developed thereon by sparking
or the forming of an arc at the break in the current, and an adaptation of the
resistance in the lamp circuits to the current, as modified by its transfer through
the mechanism. All of these features must be so adjusted as to work in harmony,
which is readily effected by the necessary change in the surface of the switch
transformer and by increasing and diminishing the speed of its rotation as the
degree of transformation in the supply current may require; while the construction
of the switch transformer from a series of tubes or cylinders with air spaces between
for ventilation, and the method described for preventing sparking at the break in
the current, prevent the development of heat and enable the mechanism to be
operated without the destruction of contacts and switch transformer provided with
such protection.
Although in the foregoing I have shewn and described the switch transformer as
employing a cylinder upon which the electric conducting and non-conducting
segments are mounted, it is obvious that instead of employing such cylinder, I may
make use of a disc upon the face of which the said segments may be formed or
secured, the disc in this instance being preferably made up from a series of rings
arranged the one within the other with a space between them for ventilation as is
the case with the cylinder when employed.
I am aware that apparatus has been devised for transferring an electric current
from one to two or more circuits alternately, and also for transferring a current
from a high to a low electromotive force of greater volume; this I do not broadly
claim, but
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and one way in which it is or may be carried into effect I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination with an electric generator, and a series of two or more
circuits, of a switch transformer, and an electro-magnet, both interposed between
the generator and the circuits, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a dynamo electric machine or other source of electric
energy, and a plurality of circuits, of a switch transformer for deflecting the
current from one circuit to another, and an electromagnet for co-operation
therewith, substantially as described.
3. A cylinder composed of a series of metal tubes arranged the one within the
other and secured together, with its surface provided with electric conducting and
non-conducting segments, substantially as described.
4. A cylinder composed of a series of electric conducting metal tubes arranged
the one within the other and secured together, with its surface provided with a
plurality of series of electric conducting and non-conducting segments arranged
side by side, the conducting segments of one series being placed behind the
conducting segments of the other or others whereby to follow them in their own
plane or planes of rotation, and an axis upon which the cylinder is mounted and
rotated, substantially as described.
5. A cylinder composed of a series of electric conducting metal tubes arranged
the one within the other and secured together with spaces between them, the
surface cf said cylinder being provided with a plurality of series of electric
conducting and non-conducting segments arranged side by side along the cylinder,

page_text: with the conducting segments of one series placed behind the conducting segments
of the other or others whereby to follow them in their own plane or planes of
rotation, and an axis upon which the cylinder is mounted and rotated, substantially
as described.
6. The combination with a dynamo electric machine or other source of electric
energy, a rotating cylinder having a plurality of series of electric conducting and
non-conducting segments arranged upon its surface side by side whereby the
conducting segments of one series follow the conducting segments of the other or
others in their own plane or planes of rotation, and a plurality of circuits, of a
series of contact pieces or brushes for co-operating with said segments, and
resistance shunts for connecting them substantially as described.
7. The combination with a rotating cylinder having a plurality of series of
electric conducting segments arranged upon its surface in such order that the
conducting segments of one series follow the conducting segments of the other or
others in their own plane or planes of rotation, and a series of circuits, of a series
of contact pieces or bushes composed of an upper and an under part insulated
from each other for co-operating with said segments, the under part of the several
contact pieces or brushes being connected to their appropriate circuit, and the
upper part of said pieces or brushes extending slightly beyond the under part
and connected by a resistance shunt to the next circuit in order, substantially as
described.
Dated this 9th dow of Fahman 1000
BREWER & SON,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for Applicant.