Improvements in or relating to Electric Circuits and Automatic ong Apparatus
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1887
Specification Accepted, 30th Aug., 1887
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE (Junior), of Pittsburg,
County of Alleghany, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Engineer.]
Improvements in or relating to Electric Circuits and Automatic
ong Apparatus
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E, of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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:
The invention relates to the class of electric circuits employed for supplying currents,
from any convenient source of electricity, to translating devices located at more or
less distant points.
The object of the invention is especially to provide means for supplying the required
currents in such manner that should there be any interruption in the connection of
any given supply conductor, there will be a convenient means at hand for substituting
therefor or interchanging therewith another supply conductor, thus providing a path
for the currents until the original circuits are repaired.
The invention relates especially to the system of electrical distribution in which
alternating electric currents are transmitted over main conductors to points near the
stations at which they are to be utilized, at which stations electric converters are
employed for transforming the currents.
In the accompanying drawing there is shown in diagram, in Figure 1, a system of
circuits involving the features of the invention. Figure 2 illustrates the application
of an automatic circuit-changer.
Referring to Figure 1, A represents an electrical generator of any suitable type
adapted to produce in this instance alternating currents. The currents of one
character are simultaneously transmitted upon a series of, in this instance, three main
D

page_text: '
lines 1, 2, 3, simultaneous currents of the opposite character are transmitted upon
three other lines 14, 15, 16. These lines are adapted to carry currents of say 2,000 volts
each, and they extend near each other to points in the district where it is intended to
use the currents for operating the incandescent lights d, d, d, or other suitable
translating devices. The devices are connected in circuit with two distributing
conductors 1, 2, and these conductors are supplied with other currents from the main
lines through intervening converters (1, C2, C. The primary coil p of the converter C¹
is connected in circuit between main line conductors L' and L* by means of
conductors 1 and 4; the converter C is connected in circuit between the lines L'
and L³ in the same manner, by the conductors 2 and 5, and the primary coil p of the
third converter C³ is connected by the conductor 3 and 6 with the remaining pair L³
and L of the main lines. In this manner each converter is connected with a different
pair of main lines. The secondary coils, 5, 8, 8, of the respective converters are
connected in multiple are with the lines 1. The conductors L' L³ etcetera thus
combine to supply the conductors 112. The conductors 1, 2 and 3, leading from the
lines L', L' and I³, are respectively provided with switches, T1, T2, T3, each provided
with three points t¹ t and (³ respectively connected with the three lines L L and L³.
By this means each conductor 1, 2 and 3 may be connected with either of the three
lines. The conductors 4, 5 and 6 are likewise connected with switches T* To and T
respectively. These switches are provided with contact-points t₁ to and to connected
with the lines LA, Lº, L respectively. Upon the interruption of the connections of
any line L, L, L³ etcetera, the corresponding converter C¹, C or C¹³ connected
therewith could be connected with one of the other of the conductors upon the same
side of the system, and the currents required would therefore be delivered through
that main line to the converter originally connected therewith, as well as to an
additional converter thus connected in circuit, the capacity of the line being such as
to convey the current required more or less perfectly. In this manner if any one
conductor fails, the supply of the lines is kept up by the other lines until the
defective line is restored.
Referring now to Figure 2, A represents a source of alternate, intermittent or
pulsatory currents designed to be employed for operating translating devices d², d', d²,
d, and d³, d. The translating devices d', d', are connected in the circuit of the
secondary coil s¹ of the converter C¹. The primary coil p₁ of this converter is placed
in connection with the opposite poles of the generator A; by means of conductors L³,
and L, respectively derived from said poles.
The converter C has its primary coil p³ connected between the lines L³ and Lo,
likewise derived from the poles of the generator A; and the converter (³ has its
primary coil p³ in like manner connected in circuit between the lines L³ and L*.
The method of securing the connections and interchanging them will be described
in connection with apparatus connected with the converter C. The circuit controlling
device B¹ shown as projected into a plain, and the devices B and B shown as
cylindrical in form, are employed for controlling the normal connections of the primary
coils of the converters. If the line L', for instance, should become broken, it would
be desirable to substitute therefor some other conductor L or L³. For this purpose
the conductor L' is connected, by a conductor 1, with the brush c¹, applied to a
contact-plate 6 upon the cylinder B¹. The line L' is connected by the conductor 2,
with the brush, placed in different longitudinal positions from the brush ("¹ and
bearing against the cylinder B¹. This brush c³ is designed to make contact with a
plate 6 at a certain point in the revolution of the cylinder B¹. A third brush c³
applied to a plate 63, which is located in a different angular position upon the cylinder
from the other two plates, is connected by the conductor 3 with the line L. The
lines L' L' and L³, are all connected together and with one pole of the generator A.
The lines L*L* L³ are derived from the other pole and these latter lines are respectively
connected by the conductors 4, 5, and 6, with the brushes c, c, c. The last named
brushes are provided with the contact-plates, 64, 65, 66 similar to the contact-
plates 61, 63, 63. The plates 61, 62, 63, are electrically connected with a contact ring e¹
and the points 64, 65, 66, are similarly connected with the contact ring e. Two contact-

page_text: brushes E and E' respectively rest against these rings and at all times make contact
therewith. These brushes are connected through the primary coil p¹ of the
converter (!.
The normal connections of the lines L' and I are therefore as follows:-through
the conductor 1, brush c¹, ring e¹, coil pl, ring e, contact-plate 64, brush and the
conductor 4. If now the conductor L' should become interrupted between the point
at which the conductor I is connected with the line L', and the point where the
several lines unite, then it is desired to connect the brush e in circuit with one of
the other lines L³ or L³, and to thereby complete the connections of the primary coil
of the converter. For this purpose the cylinder B¹ must be revolved and the manner
of releasing it is as follows:-The axis f of the cylinder is provided with a pinion f2
driven slowly by a train of gear for in any suitable manner. Normally, however,
the cylinder is prevented from revolving by reason of a detent g¹ engaging a pin gª,
carried upon a disc g³ which is supported upon the axis f¹. This detent is carried
upon the lever h of an electro-magnet or solenoid H. When the coils of this solenoid
are traversed by a current of electricity, then the core h¹ will be held up, as shown in
the drawing, causing the detent to stand in the path of the pin; if, however, the
current ceases, the core will be dropped and the detent moved from the path of the
pin, thereby allowing the cylinder to revolve in response to the force of the driving
train 3. It is necessary, therefore, that the solenoid H be connected in some circuit
which will be supplied with currents only when the circuit-connections with the
brushes E and E2 are completed. For this purpose a desirable plan is to connect the
terminals of the solenoid between the terminals of the secondary coil s¹ of
the converter, although it might in certain instances be connected between the
terminals of the primary coil. It will be understood therefore, that if the line L¹
is interrupted the cylinder will commence to revolve at a slow regulated speed,
the plate will pass from the end of the brush c¹, and the plate will come in
contact with the brush c², thus connecting the line with the brush E. The circuit
connections are then complete through the coil p' from the line L², to the line L*,
and if both these lines are supplied with currents, then the solenoid will be immediately
vitalized and the detent gl will be thrust into the path of another pin g' and stop the
cylinder with the brush c' in contact with the plate 6. If, however, the line L' were
incomplete, the solenoid would still remain unvitalized, and the plate & would be
carried from beneath the brush c³, while the plate * would be placed in connection
with the brush c³ and thus with the line L³.
It might chance that the lines L' and L' were defective, then the cylinder would be
released by reason of the interruption of the circuit and the cylinder would revolve in
the manner described until the connections of the line L with the several lines L' L³
and L³ had first been tested, and still their circuit would not be completed with the
generator, therefore upon the further revolution of the cylinder, the brush c¹ would be
restored to its place 6, and at that moment the plate 6 would pass from beneath the
brush c, and the brush c would touch against the plate 66; still if the line L' were
interrupted, the circuit would not yet be complete and the cylinder would revolve,
carrying the plate 6 into contact with the brush c and thus connecting it with the
line L. The circuit would then be complete from the line L' through the primary
coil pl, and by way of the brush ce, to the line L.
The devices B and B are similar in construction and operation, but it should be
observed that the normal connections of the devices B' are such that the circuit of the
primary coil p is from the line L' to the line L', while the device B³ normally serves
to connect the coil p³ between the lines L³ and L³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with a source of electricity, of multiple conductors extending
from the respective poles, a series of converters having their primary coils respectively

page_text: connected with different pairs of said conductors and a single pair of distributing
conductors with which the secondary coils are connected in multiple arc.
2. The combination with an alternate current electric generator, of two or more
main lines extending from each pole, translating devices, distributing conductors with
which said devices are connected, and means for supplying currents to said
distributing conductors from the different pairs of main lines.
3. The combination of a source of alternate electric currents, a series of main lines
extending from each pole,thereof, a series of converters, conductors including the
respective primary coils of the same, switches applied to one terminal of each of said
conductors, and contact-points applied to each switch connected with the respective
main lines leading from one pole of the source.
4. The combination of a source of alternate electric currents, a series of main lines
extending from one pole thereof, a series of converters, conductors leading from said
main lines and including the respective primary coils of the same, switches applied to
one terminal of each of said conductors, and contact-points applied to each switch
connected with the respective main lines, and connections from the remaining terminals
of said conductors, with the remaining pole of said source.
5. The combination with a source of electricity and multiple mains leading therefrom,
of a series of converters normally connected between pairs of said mains, and an
automatic circuit-controlling device for interchanging the connections of said
converters.
6. The combination with a source of electricity, and multiple mains leading
therefrom, of automatic circuit controlling devices set in operation by the interruption
of one of the mains connected therewith, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a source of electricity and multiple mains leading from
the respective poles thereof, of a series of converters respectively connected between
different pairs of said mains and a circuit-controlling device through which the
connections of each converter are normally completed, and a retaining device for each
controller operated by currents through the converter, substantially as described.
8. The combination of an electric converter, a pair of supply conductors for
delivering currents thereto, and an automatic circuit controlling device successively
placing the different lines of said pairs in circuit with the primary coil of the
converter.
9. The combination with an electric converter, and a pair of supply conductors for
delivering currents thereto, of an automatic circuit controlling device successively
placing the different lines of said pairs in circuit with the primary coil of the converter,
and a retaining and releasing device causing such controller to operate upon the
interruption of the circuit.