A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY BY DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Wright and Frederic Aldridge
Ormiston at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th November
1881.
FRANK WRIGHT, of Warwick Street, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex,
and FREDERIC ALDRIDGE ORMISTON, of Riverside, Twickenham, in the County of
Middlesex. "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING
THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY BY DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES."
When an electrical current produced by a dynamo electric machine is applied to
perform several operations, such as working several electro dynamic machines or sup-
plying several electric lights, it is subject to variation when some of these are brought
into or thrown out of operation, and consequently those that are left in circuit are
subjected to irregularity. Our Invention relates to means of preventing serious
irregularities arising from this or from other causes by applying to the producing
machine a regulating apparatus of the following description:-Between two rollers
caused to revolve in opposite directions we mount a third roller which in its middle
position is clear from both, but which can be moved a little laterally so as to be
pressed against the one or the other, and so to be driven by frictional contact in
the one direction or the other. This lateral movement of the middle roller is
effected by connecting its axis to the core of a solenoid having its coil in a branch
from the circuit that is to be regulated. The axis of the middle roller has on it a
screw thread working a worm wheel or nut to which is attached a rotating or sliding
spring that bears against a surface presenting pieces of conducting metal interspaced
with insulating material. These pieces of metal are connected with electrical
resistances of various magnitudes that are by the contact of the spring brought
into the circuit of the field magnets of the producing machine. The action of the
apparatus is as follows:-If, owing to the throwing out of action or bringing into
action of one or more of the machines or lamps that are connected to the main
circuit, or owing to other causes, the current becomes varied, then the core of the
solenoid is caused by the alteration of the attractive force to move so as to bring
the middle roller into contact with one or other of the two oppositely revolving
rollers. The middle roller being thus caused to revolve, the screw thread upon its
Price 211

page_text: axis causes the spring to move over the surface above mentioned, which presents
contacts for the resistances. A greater or less resistance is thus introduced into
the circuit of the field magnets, and the production of electricity by the machine is
thus decreased or increased as the case may be. By suitably proportioning a
weight or spring arranged to counterpoise the attraction of the solenoid core, and
employing suitably proportioned resistances, variations in the expenditure of
electricity can by the use of the regulating apparatus be so far compensated by
variations in its production, that the machines, lamps, or other objects in the circuit
receive approximately uniform supplies of electricity.