IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Siegmund Moore, of Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate
Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES," "
Sealed the 6th October 1865, and dated the 8th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Siegmund Moore at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
April 1865.
I, SIEGMUND MOORE, of Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate Street, in the City
of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
electro-magnetic engines whereby motive power is acquired, applicable to
driving machinery and as a substitute for the steam engine.
The engine consists of four pillars or standards on a foundation or bed
plate supporting a table on which the moving parts are supported' in two
bearings or journals by the driving shaft, a space being formed in the centre
of the table for the working of the fly wheel; the driving shaft extends
beyond the width of the table, and carries at each end a crank set reverse to

page_text: each other. From the cranks connecting rods descend, and are joined to
vertical slide rods, upon which armatures or keepers of a circular or other
form are placed; these armatures are loose on the rods and are kept at a
proper level by means of stops or projections on the rods so as to prevent
their being drawn beyond such level. On stands, where the magnets are
fixed on each side of the bed or foundation of the engine, two pillars are
erected and support second magnet stands, through which the slide rods
pass; these stands each support two electro-magnets on each side of the
engine, two for each of the four armatures. Now it is evident if each arma-
ture is set at a different level, the difference in each case being the same, that
if the electro-magnets be successively brought into action by a current of
electricity the armatures will be in turn attracted and drawn down to the
magnets, and thus the cranks will be turned, giving, motion to the shaft and
fly wheel, and communicating power by means of toothed or other gearing.
The pillars supporting the table are formed hollow, and are insulated from the
table. Just below the level of the table there is fixed to each pillar an arm
extending under the table towards the crank shaft; to the end of each arm a
flat spring is let in and fixed by a screw, and to the end and upper surface of
each spring is rivetted a metal contact piece having a platinum surface; these
four contact pieces should be just under the axle. On the table there are
also four flat curvilinear springs secured by screws; the ends of these springs
also come under the axle and exactly over the lower contact springs, and are
also provided with platinum at the part where they correspond with the under
spring. On the crank shaft and above these four sets of springs are keyed
four projections or depressors set respectively in pairs reverse to each other,
but each pair making two separate contacts following the other in succession;
it will thus be obvious that if the crank shaft revolves each depressor will
force the upper springs into contact with the lower springs, and thus bring
the pillars and table into metallic connection. From a battery or batteries
of any convenient kind positive electricity is conducted to the lower set of
magnets on one side of the engine, and thence by a wire under the foundation
to one of the pillars; the current then travels along the arm and lower spring,
thence to the upper spring and table, when contact is established, and
ultimately to an insulated wire connected by a binding screw to the under
part of the table, down one of the hollow pillars, or outside the pillar if solid,
underneath the table, and to the negative binding screw, and so returning to
the battery. From the positive binding screw the wires entering all the
magnets are soldered together or united so that contact is successively estab

page_text: lished by the rotation of the axle and the contact 'spring. The upper series of
magnets on the same side are next brought in circuit, then the lower on the
opposite side, and lastly, those above them; the rotation of the shaft will now
have brought the first lower series into new contact, and thus the continuous
motion of the engine is effected. Spaces are cut in the table on each side of
the fly wheel for the contact arrangements to work. I have here given an
example of an engine with four series of electro-magnets, but I can easily
increase the pull or leverage on the crank by arranging eight series of magnets
by soldering eight positive wires together and bringing the electricity into
circuit as before successively. In this case there should be four series of
magnets on each side of the engine, two series side by side, two slide rods on
each side actuating the connecting rods and crank. Instead of the extra four
currents passing up the pillars from the magnets they must be conducted to
four extra arms and lower springs insulated from the other arms and by insu-
It is also evident that four more sets of contact arrangements
must be provided.
lated wires.
The above construction is intended for more powerful engines, as by these
means I effect a longer pull of the armatures.
The slide rods are allowed to be drawn down further after the lower arma-
tures are in contact with the magnets, the armatures being loose on the rods,
allowing the rods to move by means of guides coming from the top of the
armatures around the slide rods.
I do not limit myself to any precise number of magnets, the principle of
the Invention being the same in all cases, as it is understood that the more
magnets I use the longer the pull of the armatures must be.
'SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Siegmund Moore in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SIEGMUND
MOORE, of Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Siegmund Moore, Her special licence that I, the said Siegmund Moore, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Siegmund
Moore, 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 maké, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Siegmund Moore, 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 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 Siemund Moore, 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:—
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
electro-magnetic engines, whereby motive power is acquired applicable to
driving machinery and as a substitute for the steam engine.
The engine consists of four pillars or standards on a foundation or bed plate
supporting a table on which the moving parts are supported in two bearings
or journals by the driving shaft, a space being formed in the centre of the
table for the working of the fly wheel. The driving shaft extends beyond the
width of the table and carries at each end a crank set reverse to each other.
From the cranks connecting rods descend and are joined to vertical slide rods
upon which armatures or keepers of a eircular or other form are placed;
these armatures are loose on the rods and are kept at a proper level by means
of stops or projections on the rods so as to prevent their being drawn beyond
such level; on stands where the magnets are fixed on each side of the bed or
foundation of the engine two pillars are erected and support second magnet
stands through which the slide rods pass; these stands each support two
electro-magnets, making four electro-magnets on each side of the engine, two
for each of the four armatures. Now it is evident if each armature is set at
a different level, the difference in each case being the same, that if the electro-
magnets be successively brought into action by a current of electricity, tho

page_text: armatures will be in turn attracted and drawn down to the magnets, and thus
the cranks will be turned, giving motion to the shaft and fly wheel, and com-
municating power by means of toothed or other gearing. The pillars supporting
the table are formed hollow, and are insulated from the table. Just below
the level of the table there is fixed to each pillar an arm extending under the
table towards the crank shaft; to the end of each arm a flat spring is let in
and fixed by a screw, and to the end and upper surface of each spring is rivetted
a metal. contact piece having a platinum surface; these four contact pieces
should be just under the axle. On the table there are also four flat curvilinear
springs secured by screws; the ends of these springs also come under the axle
and exactly over the lower contact springs, and are also provided with plati-
num at the part, where they correspond with the under spring. On the crank
shaft and above these four sets of springs are keyed four projections or
depressors, set respectively in pairs reverse to each other, but each pair. making
two separate contacts following the other in succession; it will thus be obvious
that if the crank shaft revolves each depressor will force the upper springs
into contact with the lower springs, and thus bring the pillars and table into
metallic connection. From a battery or batteries of any convenient kind
positive electricity is conducted to the lower set of magnets on one side of the
engine, and thence by a wire under the foundation to one of the pillars; the
current then travels along the arm and lower spring, thence to the upper
spring and table when contact is established, and ultimately to an insulated
wire connected by a binding screw to the under part of the table, down one of
the hollow pillars, or outside the pillars if solid, underneath the table, and to
the negative binding screw of the battery.. From the positive binding screw
the wires entering all the magnets are soldered together or united, so that
contact is successively established by the rotation of the axle and the contact
springs. The upper series of magnets on the same side are next brought in
circuit, then the lower on the opposite side, and lastly, those above them. The
rotation of the shaft will now have brought the first lower series into new
contact, and thus the continuous motion of the engine is effected. Spaces are
cut in the table on each side of the fly wheel for the contact arrangements to
work. I have here given an example of an engine with four series of electro-
magnets, but I can easily increase the pull or leverage on the crank by
arranging eight series of magnets by soldering eight positive wires together
and bringing the electricity into circuit as before successively. In this case
there should be four series of magnets on each side of the engine, two series
side by side, two slide rods on each side actuating the connecting rods and

page_text: :crank. Instead of the extra four currents passing up the pillars from the
magnets they must be conducted to four extra arms and lower springs
insulated from the other arms and by insulated wires; it is also evident
that four more sets of contact arrangements must be provided.
The above construction is intended for more powerful engines, as by these
means I obtain a longer pull of the armatures.
The slide rods are allowed to be drawn down further after the lower arma-
tures are in contact with the magnets, the armatures being loose on the rods,
allowing the rods to move by means of guides coming from the top of the
armatures around the slide rods.
...From the foregoing description my Invention will be readily understood by
those conversant with the science of: electro-magnetic engines.
I annex a Sheet. of Drawings in order to shew the general arrangement of
parts as described.
.
Fig. 1 represents a front view, Fig. 2 a plan view, shewing a top. plan of
the engine.
*
shews the foundation plate, which is recessed underneath to permit of
'the arrangement of conducting wires to the respective electro-magnets ; b, b,
are the pillars supporting the table of the engine, on which the cranked shaft c
'is set in bearings d, d;e is the fly wheel, and f the driving pulley for conveying
power to machinery; the electro-magnets are denoted by letters g, the
lower set supported by the foundation to which they are bolted, the upper
series being supported by the pillars h; the four sliding rods i are joined to
connecting rods and thus to the cranked shaft. The armatures are set
loose on the slide rods and rest on the flanges; thus, when the lower arma-
tures are drawn down to the magnets they pull the rods with them, but the
rods are thus at liberty to be still further drawn down by the other magnets.
In the plan view the contact springs m and depressors n are shown; the
depressors must be so set on the shaft as to make successive contact with the
springs and electro-magnets in order to ensure a continuous action of the
engine. The minor details of the engine require no explanation, the arrange-
'ment of conducting wires to the respective magnets being a matter with which
the electrician will be conversant.
.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of parts I have
expressed and shewn, as the same may be varied without in any degree
departing from the principles on which the Invention is based; but what I

page_text: claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent are, the general arrangement and combination of parts constituting
Improvements in Electro-magnetic Engines," substantially as herein
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Siegmund Moore, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JOHN GOUGH,
St. Martin's Lane,
Birmingham.
SIEGMUND MOORE. (L.s.)