Improved Means for Distributing Electrical Energy.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Distributing Electrical Energy.
I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI of 120 Fellows Road, Hampstead in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me No. 15251 in the year 1885
I described a system in which the primary coils of converters were fed with high
tension currents supplied from a generating station and the current of reduced
tension induced in the secondary coils was used for feeding low tension mains by
which the current was distributed for use and I described automatic mechanism for
ensuring that the number of converters at any time in use for feeding the low
tension main should not exceed what was required for maintaining the current in
that main at the tension required-the converters being switched on and off auto-
matically as required.
In some cases I now in like manner put in condensers on to the mains in parallel.
The object being to raise the potential as the load increases. The condensers will
keep up tension and draw an extra amount of current for this purpose.
In order to improve the means for automatically switching converters on and off
or it might be condensers.
I now use contact or relay mechanism which when the current in the low tension
main is either too high or too low completes a shunt circuit which puts into
operation an electric or other motor to open or close the converter contacts, and
cause the switch for the converter contacts as it tumbles over to break the shunt
circuit whilst at the same time another contact in the relay switch is brought into
position to be acted upon whenever another movement of the main switch becomes
necessary. The same circuit may be used both for opening and closing the main
switch or separate circuits may be used one for opening the converter contacts the
other for closing them.
In order to get a definite contact at the delicate relay points I sometimes use
contacts made in such a manner that the contacts are locked until the main
switch flies over, for instance I may make the contact join up a little subsidiary
electro magnet, which on being energised holds the contact over on to the point
until the main switch is thrown over. The shunt circuit may either be made and
broken at the relay contact or it may be broken by another contact piece
When I use a single circuit
actuated by the tumbling over of the main switch.
for effecting both operations I use for the converter contacts switch mechanism
in which an axis is made to revolve a distance each time that the contacts are to
be closed or opened-the contacts being closed when the axis has completed one
movement and open when the axis has completed the next movement and so on
alternately. Preferably I make the axis to carry a metallic bar each end of
which in one position of the axis is brought between metallic brushes which
bear against its sides and so complete the circuit through the bar and when the
contact is to be opened I cause a quarter turn to be given to the axis so that the
bar is moved away from the brushes and stands at right angles to its former
The axis
position. Another quarter turn will again close the contacts and so on.
carries two bars one for the high tension and the other for the low tension circuit.
For revolving the axis at the times required i use by preference an electric
motor having neither collectors nor brushes such for example as that described in
the Specification of a Patent granted to A. Wright and others No. 1480 in the
In order thane axis may whenever it is turned be moved quickly
year 1889.

page_text: from one position to another I retain the axis in either of the positions in which it
comes to rest by spring stops-preferably I make the axis to carry a disc with
recesses in its circumference into which spring stops are pressed which tend to
retain the axis either in a position to hold the contacts open or closed-and the
motor axis I couple to the switch axis by a flexible spring coupling in such a
manner that when the motor axis revolves it winds up the spring until it has
gradually stored up sufficient power to overcome the friction of the contact brushes
and spring stops-the spring then causes the axis to quickly make a quarter turn
and the spring stops then again arrest the movement of the axis-in this way a
sharp make and break of the contacts is obtained.
The
The motor is put into movement whenever required by the action of the
relay. The relay coil is supplied with current from the low tension main,
when the current in this main exceeds a certain strength a contact arm actuated
by the relay coil is brought against another contact piece and completes a shunt
circuit preferably from the low tension main through the motor and puts the motor
into action until it has caused a quarter turn to be given to the switch axis.
shunt circuit through the motor is then broken by a cam on the switch axis shifting
the contact piece out of the plane of the moving contact arm of the relay.
The
same movement brings a second contact piece into the same plane as the moving
contact arm for this arm to be brought against whenever the strength of the
current in the low tension main gets below a certain strength. When it comes
against this contact the shunt circuit is again completed through the motor and the
motor again causes the switch axis to make a quarter turn and the converter is
thereby again brought into action and at the same time the movement of the motor
is arrested in the same way as before.
The relays to put on or take off converters may be at the central supply station
or distributing stations and the converters and main switches at distant points along
the mains and the relays be worked by indicating wires led from the mains at the
points where the converters are situated. Other forms of electric or other motors
than the one mentioned may be used for working the switches. For example
weights may be used which can be automatically started in motion from the central
or distributing stations.
To prevent sparking at the relay contacts I provide other contacts by which the
stunt circuit is broken during the greater part of the time that the switch axis is
turning from one position to another the advantage of this being that the spark
which occurs on breaking the circuit does take place at the delicate relay contacts
but on the more substantial and less easily put out of order contact plates on the
switch axis.
Instead of an electric motor other forms of motor might be used and be put into
or out of action whenever required by the completion of the shunt circuit by the
action of the relay or I sometimes employ a clockwork apparatus whose motive
power is a weight or spring wound ap at proper intervals and arrange it so that on
the relay making contact the clockwork is released and allowed to wind up the
spring which turns the switch axis until the switch axis has been made to turn one
step, when the movement of the clockwork is again arrested.
If instead of using a single shunt circuit for causing the converter contacts to
be closed or opened I use two shunt circuits one for effecting the opening of
the converter contacts the other for closing them-contact pieces dipped into or
removed from cups of mercury may be used for completing or interrupting the
converter circuits. The contact pieces may in this case be carried by a magnetic
tumbler surrounded by two coils whose windings are in opposite directions, and
through either of which the shunt current may be sent. On a current being sent
through one coil, the tumbling armature moves into one position and on its being
sent through another coil it moves into another position and tends to remain in
either position into which it may be moved. In one position the contact pieces
which it carries dip into the mercury cups and complete the converter circuits: in
the other position the contact pieces are held away from the cups, and the circuits,

page_text: are broken. In this case also sparks at the relay contacts may be prevented in
the same way as above described.
When it is desired to add more than 1 converter to a circuit or take off one,
it is necessary to provide a means of determining the switches direction, i.e., whether
the switch has to add or to take off converters. This can be done by having
induction motors in which a change of contacts will cause the reversal of motion,
for instance in the motor used and patented by Wright and others, if instead of
the coils round the pole piece being short-circuited on themselves and the energizing
coils being supplied from another circuit these connections were reversed the
armature could be made to rotate the other way, and in the above mentioned way
sometimes converters are required to be taken off and sometimes put on this
direction can be determined by the contacts being made one way or the other.
The relay for use in the above forms of switches may conveniently be formed of
two iron cores, (one fixed and the other on an axis capable of moving against an
opposing force, such as torsion of a wire or spring) surrounded by a coil, through
which the main current is passed, and each core having an arm extending from it.
On being magnetized by the surrounding coil the similar magnetism of these iron
cores causes the arm of the movable core to be repelled more or less according as
the current is strong or weak. Connected to the movable arm is a small contact
tongue connected with the shunt motor circuit, this contact tongue is placed
between two contact pieces connected to the two coils of the magnetic tumbler or
motor switch. The tumbler may consist of a fine wire coil with or without an iron
core supported on a horizontal axis and surrounded by two similar fine wire coils,
whose windings are in opposite direction. On a shunt current being sent through
the armature coil carried by the axis and one of the surrounding coils the armature
coil tends to set the plane of its windings parallel to that of the fixed energised
coil and on the current being sent through the other fixed coil the armature tends
to reverse its position.
Instead of the armature of the tumbler being surrounded by two coils wound in
opposite directions it may be surrounded by a single coil and by a spring or
otherwise be caused to lie in one position when no current is passing through the
surrounding coil and in another position when a sufficient current is passed through
this coil.
Instead of a tumbler rotating on an axis the same switching in or out of trans-
formers can be effected by a straight or partially circular core being attracted in
or repelled or drawn out of a suitable solenoid which may be energized by a shunt
current closed by the action of a relay or automatic switch.
Instead of employing a relay to join up a shunt circuit to work electric motors
or tumblers for shifting the converter contacts the main current on getting
sufficiently strong or weak can be used for this purpose.
The motor switch can be applied to alter the connections of different windings
on a transformer i.e., besides putting in or taking out several transformers from
circuit the same automatic switch can put the windings of a transformer into series
or parallel or some in series and others in parallel.
For feeding low pressure mains from sub-stations I use transformers of slightly
different ratios all in parallel on their primary side and connected through feeder
mains to the supply mains at varying distances from the station or I use a trans-
former with several ends coming out and each giving different volts say 100, 102,
104, 106, 108, 110-the lowest coupled to the mains close at the station, the
highest coupled to the furthest points of the mains extending out from the station
and so on for the intermediate ones. I also use automatic gear with the above so
that all feeders receive 100 volts at a small load, as load rises all feeders except
the one close to the station receive say 102 volts, next rise 1st feeder keeps
100 volts, 2nd feeder 102 volts and third and remaining feeders 104 volts and so
I may or may not keep on the lower voltage feeders when the higher voltage
feeders are connected up. Or when the first rise takes place the highest feeder
may be brought into action and intermediate ones as the load rises. By the above
on.

page_text: pressure
means the E.M.F. is kept constant along the line by the automatic addition of
transformers and feeder mains at the same time the magnetizing current which
would be necessary if other converters were added is saved and the drop in
due to rise in load is prevented. Or I may use a converter with several ends of
different voltage all constantly coupled to the mains the lowest one at the station
the others through feeding mains to distant points from the station so as to keep
the pressure constant throughout the line and then as load rises bring on a second
converter through its own feeder mains and, so on.
Similar automatic mechanism to that herein before described may be employed
when feeding mains with continuous current. In place of using a number of
separate converters one or more of which can be automatically put out of action
whenever they are not required to be in use the loss due to using more converter
power than necessary may be diminished by using transformers so wound and
arranged as to admit of their having sections of their coils put by an automatic
switch either all in parallel or all in series according as the load increases or
diminishes. On the sections being put in series with one another the magnetic
induction through the iron and therefore the energy consumed in it is diminished
and the transformer will then act as and take only the same energy to magnetise
it as an ordinary one of very much smaller dimensions. When the load increases
to a determined extent the sections can be automatically put all in parallel which
will then act as a large transformer and take a greater but necessary amount of
energy to magnetise it. To make the above system of saving magnetizing energy
plain I will suppose that both the high and low tension coils of a transformer are
divided into 4 equal sections which can be by suitable automatic switches either
put all in series or all in parallel. In the first case the iron will be magnetised in
order to give off the same E.M.F. to a quarter of the amount that it will be when
all the sections are in parallel because in the former case there are virtually 4 times
as many turns for the same E.M.F. to be generated in as in the latter and the
expenditure of energy in the first case will be much less than a quarter of that
required in the latter, probably something like a sixth, and the saving will be
greater as the induction used is higher.
Instead of using one large transformer divided into equal sections the high and
low tension windings of several separate transformers can be put in parallel or in
series according as the load is heavy or light.
Instead of the sections all being of the same size the different sections can be of
consecutively diminishing or increasing sizes.
Instead of making the change from all in series to all in parallel at once, the
change can be more gradual say for example, from 4 in series to 2 in series and 2
in parallel, and then to 4 in parallel.
Or as the load diminishes more and more converters can be put in series with
one another and thus reduce the induction to as small an amount as desired the
saving in this method arising from the fact that the energy spent in magnetising
diminishes more rapidly than the induction.
Or the windings or sections can be so arranged as to enable more and more turns
of the high and low to be put in or taken out according as the load diminishes or
increases thus suppose at full load the currents circulated through only one layer
or section of H and L and at a quarter load 4 layers or sections were put in series
with one another the iron in the first case would be magnetised to four times the
extent of the latter and probably take 6 times the energy and yet the corresponding
fall in E.M.F. due to the rest of the sections would be the same. The putting
of these layers or windings into or out of action can be done all at once or
gradually so that the induction in the iron increases as the current or load increases
and the energy spent in maguetising the iron falls more or less rapidly as the load
diminishes.
The above changes can be effected automatically by automatic switch mechanism
acting in the manner herein before described.
The number of contact pieces or mercury cups used for the converter contacts

page_text: will depend on the manner in which the converters are required to be put in or out
of action.
In cases where a small pilot converter is used in combination with a much larger
one only four contact pieces or mercury cups will be required but when the
windings of the converter are put in parallel or series the number of contacts
required may be very much larger. The relays also may be made to act with a
number of contact tongues successively one after the other to supply current to
more than one motor for operating a number of converter contacts or to make the
same motor effect the same object.
For putting a number of converters or separate windings of single converters
either in series or parallel or partly in one and partly the other a switch capable
of being turned in either direction may be used. For example with four converters
or different windings of a converter there may be 4 contact pieces at opposite ends
of a line passing through the centre of the switch. Two contact pieces each of
double length at the opposite ends of another line passing through the centre and
a single long contact piece at the opposite ends of another line. With four
contact bars on the switch axis brought into contact with the two sets of four
single contacts the four converters or sections may be coupled in series. When
brought into contact with the pair of contacts they may be coupled two in series
and two in parallel and with the single contact all in parallel.
Dated this 20th day of January 1891.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Distributing Electrical Energy.
I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI, of 120 Fellows Road, Hampstead, in the
County of Middlesex, 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 :-
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me No. 15251 in the year 1885
I described a system in which the primary coils of converters were fed with high
tension currents supplied from a generating station and the current of reduced
tension induced in the secondary coils was used for feeding low tension mains by
which the current was distributed for use and I described automatic mechanism
for ensuring that the number of converters at any time in use for feeding the low
tension main should not exceed what was required for maintaining the current in
that main at the tension required-the converters being switched on and off auto-
matically as required.
In some cases I now in like manner put in condensers on to the mains in parallel.
The object being to raise the potential as the load increases. The condensers will
keep up tension and draw an extra amount of current for this purpose.
As
In a long line running out from a station or from a converter the E.M.F. will
drop with the distance as the current rises at first, whenever little current is flowing
there will be practically speaking an even E.M.F. all along the line.
however the current rises the E.M.F. will remain approximately the same at the
source and will get lower the further it gets away from the station.
In order to
compensate for this I add condensers along the line which will put up the pressure
locally as much as may be required.
In the first diagram A I have shown an electromagnet automatically putting in
a condenser when the current passing to the far part of the line exceeds a certain
amount, as a certain amount of current passing will of course give a certain definite
drop. In the second diagram B I have shown two of these condensers put in at
different parts of the line, and each being actuated by the current flowing past

page_text: them to the work beyond them. These condensers might be put in by other auto-
matic gear with or without a relay. There might also be several of them connected
in parallel at each point where the gear was situated. They might be turned on
and off by hand or by mechanism actuated from the generating or distributing
station. They might also be worked by a relay or solenoid or magnet fed in
parallel across the mains, so that as soon as the E.M.F. dropped at any point
another condenser was put on. These would then be independent of the current
going past them.
In order to improve the means for automatically switching converters on and off
or it might be condensers I now use contact or relay mechanism which when the
current in the low tension main is either too high or too low completes a shunt
circuit which puts into operation an electric or other motor to open or close the
converter contacts, and cause the switch for the converter contacts as it tumbles
over to break the shunt circuit whilst at the same time another contact in the relay
switch is brought into position to be acted upon whenever another movement of the
main switch becomes necessary. The same circuit may be used both for opening
and closing the main switch or separate circuits may be used one for opening the
converter contacts the other for closing them.
In order to get a definite contact at the delicate relay points I sometimes use
contacts made in such a manner that the contacts are locked until the main switch
flies over, for instance I may make the contact join up a little subsidiary electro
magnet, which on being energised holds the contact over on to the point until the
main switch is thrown over. The shunt circuit may either be made and broken at
the relay contact or it may be broken by another contact piece actuated by the
tumbling over of the main switch. When I use a single circuit for effecting both
operations I use for the converter contacts switch mechanism in which an axis is
made to revolve a distance each time that the contacts are to be closed or opened―-
the contacts being closed when the axis has completed one movement and open
when the axis has completed the next movement and so on alternately. Preferably
I make the axis to carry a metallic bar each end of which in one position of the
axis is brought between metallic brushes which bear against its sides and so
complete the circuit through the bar and when the contact is to be opened I cause
a quarter turn to be given to the axis so that the bar is moved away from the
brushes and stands at right angles to its former position. Another quarter turn
will again close the contacts and so on. The axis carries two bars one for the high
tension and the other for the low tension circuit.
For revolving the axis at the times required I use by preference an electric
motor having neither collectors nor brushes such for example as that described in
the Specification of a Patent granted to A. Wright and others No. 1480 in the
year 1889.
In order that the axis may whenever it is turned be moved quickly
from one position to another I retain the axis in either of the positions in which it
comes to rest by spring stops-preferably I make the axis to carry a disc with
recesses in its circumference into which spring stops are pressed which tend to
retain the axis either in a position to hold the contacts open or closed-and the
motor axis I couple to the switch axis by a flexible spring coupling in such a
manner that when the motor axis revolves it winds up the spring until it has
gradually stored up sufficient power to overcome the friction of the contact brushes
and spring stops-the spring then causes the axis to quickly make a quarter turn
and the spring stops then again arrest the movement of the axis-in this way a
sharp make and break of the contacts is obtained.
The motor is put into movement whenever required by the action of the relay.
The relay coil is supplied with current from the low tension main, when the current
in this main exceeds a certain strength a contact arm actuated by the relay coil is
brought against another contact piece and completes a shunt circuit preferably from
the low tension main through the motor and puts the motor into action until it has
caused a quarter turn to be given to the switch axis. The shunt circuit through

page_text: the motor is then broken by a cam on the switch axis shifting the contact piece out
of the plane of the moving contact arm of the relay. The same movement brings
a second contact piece into the same plane as the moving contact arm for this arm
to be brought against whenever the strength of the current in the low tension main
gets below a certain strength. When it comes against this contact the shunt
circuit is again completed through the motor and the motor again causes the switch
axis to make a quarter turn and the converter is thereby again brought into action
and at the same time the movement of the motor is arrested in the same way as
before.
Figures 1 to 9 shew examples of relay contact mechanism acting in the manner
above described.
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 an end view and Figure 3 a plan of an automatic
converter switch for a system in which a pilot converter is at all times in action
and a large converter has to be thrown in and out of action as required. In this
construction also the motor for putting the large converter in and out of action
is formed of solenoid coils.
Figure 4 is a diagram view of the connections.
In the diagram a is the primary of the pilot converter. a the secondary. b the
primary of the large converter and the secondary. F F solenoids for operating
contacts for passing current to one or other of two solenoids E E' used for rocking
a lever e carrying contact pieces fg for completing the primary and secondary
circuits of the larger converter. is the lamp circuit.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 A is a rocking lever carrying contact pieces B C the one B
for completing the circuit through the secondary of the large converter by dipping
into mercury cups B' and the other C for completing the circuit through the
primary of this converter. D D are iron cores carried by the two arms of the
lever A and passing down through solenoid coils E E. D'D' are ebonite blocks
on the top of each of the cores D. When current is passed through the coil E the
lever A is drawn into a position for bringing into action the large converter-and
when current is passed through the coil E the large converter is put out of action
or a spring might be substituted for one of these coils.
'
FF are two coils through which the current passes GG are two magnet bars
passing down through the coils F F. The magnets G are fixed and the magnets G
carried by a lever H which at its centre turns on a vertical axis H'. I is a spring
attached to one arm of a lever H and tending to draw the magnets G G¹ towards
one another.
When but little current is passing the magnets are so drawn towards
one another but when a stronger current passes the magnets are reinforced and
repel one another. J Jare contact arms extending from the lever H. When
little current is passing the contact arm J is by the action of the spring I held
against the ebonite block on the top of the solenoid core Dx. When the current
increases a spring contact piece J* carried by the contact arm J is brought against.
the core D and current is conveyed by it through the coil E the core D is thus
attracted and the lever A rocked so as to bring the large converter into action.
So soon as the contact spring J is brought against the core D and current passes
through the solenoid coil E the core becomes magnetized and the contact arm
being of iron is attracted and keeps the spring contact J* held continuously to the
core. In this way all sparking at this contact is avoided. If the spring contact J*
were not interposed sparking would take place when an alternating current is
passing as the core would be magnetized and demagnetized at each pulsation of
the current.
K is a weight carried by a vertical arm of the lever A-and serving to hold the
lever A in either one or other of the two positions into which it can be rocked.
As the lever completes its rocking motion to put the large converter into action
the core D descends until the contact arm J rests against the ebonite block on the
core' and no more current passes to the coil E but the rocking of the lever
is completed by the action of the tumbling weight. When less current passes the
parts act in a similar manner to put the large converter out of action.

page_text: The contact piece Jx of the contact arm J would then be brought against the
core D and current would pass through the coil E¹ so drawing down the core D*
and reversing the position of the rocking lever A.
The way in which current is caused to pass through one or other of the
coils E E whenever one or other of the contact springs J* comes against one or
other of the metal cores which work through these coils is shown in the diagram
Figure 4.
One contact spring J is coupled by a light wire with one end of the coil E'
the other spring J* with one end of the coil E-the other ends of the coils are
both connected with the contact B₁. The cores DxD of the solenoids are both
connected by light wires with the contact X. In this a circuit is completed
through E or E whenever a contact spring J* is brought against its metallic core.
If desired the lever A might be made to carry two pairs of contacts at each of
its ends as shown at diagram H. The two pairs of contacts being for the primary
and secondary of the small or pilot converter and those at the opposite end being
for the large converter. In this way the pilot converter is taken off as the large
one is brought into use.
If it
The arrangements by which the relay can only make contact on the proper side
are important, i.e., when the lights increase if the converter is coupled for small
powers the relay can only make contact so as to arrange it for large powers.
was already arranged for large powers and the lights suddenly thrown on the relay
could make no contact at all and the switch would be kept where it was until the
lights diminished sufficiently for it to go over to the other side where a contact
was waiting for it, and so rearrange the converters for small loads.
Figure 5 is a side elevation Figure 6 a plan and Figure 7 an end view of another
form of converter switch in which the contact pieces are moved in and out of
acting position by the action of an electric motor which transmits motion to a
revolving axis.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the parts by which the axis is held in either one or
other of two positions.
Figure 9 is an elevation of the electric motor I prefer to use-it is constructed in
the manner described in the Specification of the hereinbefore mentioned Patent
No. 1480 of 1889.
A is the axis carrying two insulated conducting bars B the ends of which enter
contact clips C when the axis is in the position shown in Figure 6-one bar then
completes the primary circuit of a large converter the other the secondary. By
giving a quarter turn to the axis the bars B are moved away from the contacts
and both circuits are broken. D is a disc fast on the axis-it has in its circum-
ference four notches Dx. E E are two rollers pressed by springs E' E' against
opposite sides of the circumference of the disc. When the rollers enter two of the
notches in the disc they hold the axis A at rest until sufficient force is exerted to
force the rollers out from the notches. F is a toothed wheel turning loosely on the
axis A. G is a bent spring one end of which is connected to the disc and the other
to the toothed wheel. H is the electric motor and H¹ a train of gearing trans-
mitting motion to the toothed wheel from the axis of the motor. I (see Figures 5
and 7) is an oblong cam fast on the axis A. J is a vertical sliding bar which
carries a truck J₁ that rests upon the cam-the bar J carries two contact pieces JJ³
at different levels as seen in Figure 7. K is a solenoid coil through which the
current passes. L L' are two magnets passing down through the coil and having
their ends bent into a horizontal position-one of these L is fixed the other is
carried by a spindle M. M' is a spring around the spindle which tends to turn the
spindle in a direction to bring the ends of the magnet L towards the ends of the
magnet L. The lower end of the magnet L carries a contact pin L* one or other
end of which can be brought against one or other of the two contact pieces J' J'
and whenever it comes into contact with either of them current passes to the
electric motor H and sets it in movement.
To cause current at this time to pass to the electric motor both contact

page_text: pieces J J may be put in electrical connection with one end of the coils of the
electric motor the other end of the coils being coupled say to X (diagram
Figure 4) whilst the contact pin LX is in electrical connection with B¹.
When the large converter is to be brought into action and sufficient current is
passing through the coil K to cause the magnets to repel one another sufficiently to
overcome the action of the spring M' the contact pin L* is brought against the
upper contact J which is of iron and holds to it by reason of the arm which
carries the contact pin being magnetic-the motor is thereby set into action and the
toothed wheel Fis revolved. As it revolves it further bends the spring G until
its tendency to turn the disc D is increased to such an extent as 'to overcome the
action of the rollers E to hold the disc at rest-the disc then makes a quarter turn
and is again arrested by the rollers-this brings the contact bars B against the
contacts C so as to put the large converter into action. As the disc D and its
axis A make this quarter turn the cam I moves upwards the vertical sliding bar J.
As it does so the upper contact piece J' is moved to above the level of the contact
pin L and no more current passes to the motor. At the same time that the
contact J' is carried away from the pin Lx the contact J³ is brought to a level
with it and whenever the amount of current passing through the coil K is reduced
and the spring M' draws the ends of the magnet L towards the ends of the
magnet L' the pin L* makes contact with the contact J³ and current again passes
to the motor. The axis is in consequence again caused to make a quarter turn and
the converter is in consequence put out of action--and is then again in readiness
to put the converter again into action whenever required.
If a number of converters are to be put into action one after the other each
would be put in and out of action by its own switch actuated in the above way and
the time at which each would be brought into action would be regulated by the
strength of the springs M' which tend to draw together the two magnets of
the relay.
The relays to put on or take off converters may be at the central supply station
or distributing stations and the converters and main switches at distant points
along the mains and the relays be worked by indicating wires led from the mains
at the points where the converters are situated.
In some cases to prevent sparking at the relay contacts I provide other contacts
by which the shunt circuit is broken during the greater part of the time that the
switch axis is turning from one position to another the advantage of this being that
the spark which occurs on breaking the circuit does not take place at the delicate
relay contacts but on the more substantial and less easily put out of order contact
plates on the switch axis.
Instead of an electric motor other forms of motor might be used and be put into
or out of action whenever required by the completion of the shunt circuit by the
action of the relay or I sometimes employ a clockwork apparatus whose motive
power is a weight or spring wound up at proper intervals and arrange it so that
on the relay making contact the clockwork is released and allowed to wind up the
spring which turns the switch axis until the switch axis has been made to turn
one step, when the movement of the clockwork is again arrested.
If instead of using a single shunt circuit for causing the converter contacts to
be closed or opened I use two shunt circuits one for effecting the opening of
the converter contacts the other for closing them-contact pieces dipped
into or removed from cups of mercury may be used for completing or inter-
rupting the converter circuits. The contact pieces may in this case as shown in
diagram be carried by a magnetic tumbler surrounded by two coils whose
windings are in opposite directions, and through either of which the shunt current
may be sent.
On a current being sent through one coil, the tumbling armature
moves into one position and on its being sent through another coil it moves into
another position and tends to remain in either position into which it may be moved.
In one position the contact pieces which it carries dip into the mercury cups and
complete the converter circuits in the other position the contact pieces are held
B

page_text: away from the cups, and the circuits are broken. In this case also sparks at the
relay contacts may be prevented in the same way as above described. In place of
two fixed coils a single fixed coil might be used and the relay made in such a way
that currents in either direction can be sent through it.
The tumbler may consist of a fine wire coil with or without an iron core
supported on a horizontal axis and surrounded by two similar fine wire coils,
whose windings are in opposite direction. On a shunt current being sent through
the armature coil carried by the axis and one of the surrounding coils the armature
coil tends to set the plane of its windings parallel to that of the fixed energised
coil and on the current being sent through the other fixed coil the armature tends
to reverse its position.
Instead of the armature of the tumbler being surrounded by two coils wound in
opposite directions it may be surrounded by a single coil and by a spring or other-
wise be caused to lie in one position when no current is passing through the
surrounding coil and in another position when a sufficient current is passed through
this coil.
When it is desired to add more than one converter to a circuit or take off one,
it is necessary to provide a means of determining the switches direction, i.e.,
whether the switch has to add or to take off converters. This can be done by
having induction motors in which a change of contacts will cause the reversal of
motion, for instance in the motor used and patented by Wright and others, if
instead of the coils round the pole piece being short circuited on themselves and
the energizing coils being supplied from another circuit these connections were
reversed the armature could be made to rotate the other way, and in the above
mentioned way sometimes converters are required to be taken off and sometimes
put on this direction can be determined by the contacts being made one way or
the other.
Or the connection may be surrounded by a pole piece which has a coil around
each of its ends as shown in diagram J so that if current be sent through one coil
the armature will rotate in one direction and if sent through the other will rotate
in the opposite direction.
The relay for use in the above forms of switches may conveniently be formed as
hereinbefore described of two iron cores, (one fixed and the other on an axis
capable of moving against an opposing force, such as torsion of a wire or spring)
surrounded by a coil, through which the main current is passed, and each core
having an arm extending from it.
Instead of a tumbler rotating on an axis the same switching in or out of
transformers can be effected by a straight or partially circular core being attracted
in or repelled or drawn out of a suitable solenoid which may be energized by a
shunt current closed by the action of a relay or automatic switch.
Instead of employing a relay to join up a shunt circuit to work electric motors
or tumblers for shifting the converter contacts the main current on getting
sufficiently strong or weak can be used for this purpose.
The motor switch can as hereinbefore stated be applied to alter the connections
of different windings on a transformer i.e., besides putting in or taking out several
transformers from circuit the same automatic switch can put the windings of a
transformer into series or parallel or some in series and others in parallel.
For feeding low pressure mains from sub-stations I use transformers of slightly
different ratios all in parallel on their primary side and connected through feeder
mains to the supply_mains at varying distances from the station or I use as illus
trated in diagram K a transformer with several ends coming out and each giving
different volts say 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, the lowest coupled to the mains close
at the station, the highest coupled to the furthest points of the mains extending
out from the station and so on for the intermediate ones. I also use automatic
gear with the above so that as illustrated in diagram L all feeders receive
100 volts at a small load, as load rises all feeders except the one close to the
station receive say 102 volts, as illustrated in diagram M next rise 1st feeder keeps
["

page_text: 100 volts, 2nd feeder 102 volts and third and remaining feeders 10+ voits and so
on until the line is working with full load as illustrated in diagram N. I may or
may not keep on the lower voltage feeders when the higher voltage feeders are
connected up.
Or when the first rise takes place the highest feeder may be
brought into action and intermediate ones as the load rises. By the above means
the E.M.F. is kept constant along the line by the automatic addition of trans-
formers and feeder mains at the same time the magnetizing current which would
be necessary if other converters were added is saved and the drop in pressure
due to rise in load is prevented. Or I may use a converter with several ends of
different voltage all constantly coupled to the mains the lowest one at the station
the others through feeding mains to distant points from the station so as to keep
the pressure constant throughout the line and then as load rises bring on a second
converter through its own feeder mains and so on.
Similar automatic mechanism to that hereinbefore described may be employed
when feeding mains with continuous current. In place of using a number of
separate converters one or more of which can be automatically put out of action
whenever they are not required to be in use the loss due to using more converter
power than necessary may be diminished by using transformers so wound and
arranged as to admit of their having sections of their coils put by an automatic
switch either all in parallel or all in series according as the load increases or
diminishes. On the sections being put in series with one another the magnetic
induction through the iron and therefore the energy consumed in it is diminished
and the transformer will then act as and take only the same energy to magnetise it as
an ordinary one of very much smaller dimensions. When the load increases to a
determined extent the sections can be automatically put all in parallel which will
then act as a large transformer and take a greater but necessary amount of energy
to magnetize it. To make the above system of saving magnetizing energy plain I will
suppose that both the high and low tension coils of a transformer are divided into 4
equal sections which can be by suitable automatic switches either put all in series
or all in parallel. In the first case the iron will be magnetised in order to give off
the same E.M.F. to a quarter of the amount that it will be when all the sections
are in parallel because in the former case there are virtually 4 times as many turns
for the same E. M.F. to be generated in as in the latter and the expenditure of
energy in the first case will be much less than a quarter of that required in the
latter, probably something like a sixth, and the saving will be greater as the
induction used is higher.
Instead of using one large transformer divided into equal sections the high and
low tension windings of several separate transformers can be put in parallel or in
series according as the load is heavy or light.
Instead of the sections all being of the same size the different sections can be of
consecutively diminishing or increasing sizes.
Instead of making the change from all in series to all in parallel at once, the
change can be more gradual say for example, from 4 in series to 2 in series and 2
in parallel, and then to 4 in parallel.
Or as the load diminishes more and more converters can be put in series with one
another and thus reduce the induction to as small an amount as desired the saving
in this method arising from the fact that the energy spent in magnetising diminishes
more rapidly than the induction.
Or the windings or sections can be so arranged as to enable more and more turns
of the high and low to be put in or taken out according as the load diminishes or
increases thus suppose at full load the currents circulated through only one layer
or section of H and L and at a quarter load 4 layers or sections were put in series
with one another the iron in the first case would be magnetised to four times the
extent of the latter and probably take 6 times the energy and yet the corre-
sponding fall in E.M.F. due to the rest of the sections would be the same.
putting of these layers or windings into. or out of action can be done all at once or
The

page_text: gradually so that the induction in the iron increases as the current or load increases
and the energy spent in magnetising the iron falls more or less rapidly as the load
diminishes.
The above changes can be effected automatically by automatic switch mechanism
acting in the manner hereinbefore described.
The number of contact pieces or mercury cups used for the converter contacts
will depend on the manner in which the converters are required to be put in or out
of action.
In cases where a small pilot converter is used in combination with a much larger
one only four contact pieces or mercury cups will be required but when the
windings of the converter are put in parallel or series the number of contacts
required may be very much larger. The relays also may be made to act with a
number of contact tongues successively one after the other to supply current to
more than one motor for operating a number of converter contacts or to make the
same motor effect the same object.
For putting a number of converters or separate windings of single converters
either in series or parallel or partly in one and partly the other a switch capable of
being turned in either direction may be used. For example with four converters or
different windings of a converter there may be 4 contact pieces at opposite ends of
a line passing through the centre of the switch. Two contact pieces each of double
length at the opposite ends of another line passing through the centre and a single
long contact piece at the opposite ends of another line. With four contact bars on
the switch axis brought into contact with the two sets of four single contacts the
four converters or sections may be coupled in series. When brought into contact
with the pair of contacts they may be coupled two in series and two in parallel and
with the single contact all in parallel.
Figure 10 is a plan view partly in section of an arrangement of contact
mechanism which may be used for putting a number of converters or parts of a
single converter into series or into parallel as required.
Figure 11 is a section through the line C D. Figure 12 a section through the
line EF and Figure 13 a section through the line A B.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of the same. With this
apparatus 3 converters or sections of a converter can be put in or out of action as
required.
A is the axis it carries transverse contact bars B each of which can make
contact between pairs of contact clips C. On opposite sides of its circumference
and in a line at right angles to these bars it also carries two insulated bars D each
of which has 3 projections standing out from it to be brought into contact with 3
of the clips Cand couple them all together-the three clips so coupled together
by one bar would be for the primary windings and the others coupled together by
the other bar would be for the secondary windings of the converters or sections of
a converter. When the clips are coupled by the bars B the converters would be
in series as illustrated by the diagram C, current would enter from one terininal
say at c, would pass from there through a converter coil X to c', from c¹ to c³
through a bar B, then through a converter coil to c³, and from c³ to c, and then
through a third converter coil to c to the other terminal. When the clips are
coupled by the bars D the converters would be in parallel as illustrated by the
diagram Dthe letters X in these diagrams indicate converters.
E is a toothed wheel turning loosely around the shaft A-it is driven by a train
of gearing F from the axis of an electric motor F. G is an arm fast on the
shaft A-this arm is shewn in elevation at Figure 15-it carries a catch H which
by the action of a spring H' is pressed against a fixed plate and when it enters a
notch in this plate it locks the axis A and prevents it from being turned. I is a
bent spring coupled at one end to the toothed wheel E and at the other end to the
arm G.
When the toothed wheel is revolved it bends the spring I until an
incline E¹ on the toothed wheel comes against an incline on the catch H and turns

page_text: the catch back so as to release it-these parts are shewn separately at Figure 16.
The axis then is caused to make a quarter turn by the action of the spring and is
again arrested by the catch.
Current is supplied to the motor whenever it is to be put into action in the
following manner:-The axis A carries at its end a disc J in which are carried two
small electro magnets K as shewn at Figures 17 and 18. The face of the magnet
pole pieces being flush with the face of the disc. The disc also is embraced by a
contact ring J against which a brush is made to bear to convey current to the
motor whenever current is passed to the ring. L1 L2 are contact arms of iron
extending from a spindle L in front of the face of the disc J. L is a contact
spring carried by each arm as shewn at Figure 19. When the spindle L is turned
in one direction one spring is brought against the face of the disc and when turned
in the opposite direction the other spring is brought against the disc.
When one of the springs is so brought into contact with the face of one of the
electro magnets current passes from it through the coils of the magnet to the
contact ring J and so to the electric motor which is thereby put into action. So
soon as current passes through the magnet coils the magnet attracts towards it the
iron arm which carries the contact spring and so keeps this spring well into contact
with the magnet face and all sparking or liability to intermittent action of the
motor is thereby avoided.
The rocking of the spindle L at the required times is effected in the following
manner: M is a solenoid coil through which current is always passing. Two
magnets pass down through this coil one of these is fixed the other is carried by
an arm which extends from the spindle L. Around the spindle is a spring which
tends to bring the magnets towards one another but which is overcome when
sufficient current is passing through the coil to sufficiently reinforce the magnets to
make their mutual repulsion overcome the action of the spring.
If the disc J is in the position shewn in Figure 17 and the left hand contact arm
is bearing against the disc no current will be passing to the motor and the axis A
will remain at rest but if the spindle L is turned sufficiently to make the right hand
contact arm bear against the face of the electro magnet which is then in a position
opposite to it as shewn current will at once pass through the coils of this magnet
to the motor and the axis A will be caused to make a quarter turn as above
explained.
If desired the apparatus might be made capable not only of putting a number of
converters either into series or in parallel but also of putting them partly in series
and partly in parallel as illustrated in the diagrams E F and G.
In this case as will be seen four contacts C are required for every three contacts C
in the arrangement above described and explained by diagrams C, D.
In diagram E the converters are shewn coupled in series when there is but little
work being done-in diagram F they are shewn partly in series and partly in
parallel for an intermediate amount of work-and in diagram G they are shewn in
parallel for heavy work. For this arrangement the motor used must be arranged
to work forwards or backwards to make the various changes required in the con-
nections or the shaft A. might at each movement make an eighth of a turn only
instead of a quarter turn.
Where the switch is arranged to add several converters to one which always
remains on, or to add progressively to the capacity of a converter by changing its
connections from say all in series to two in parallel and two in series and then to all
in parallel, it is necessary to have a relay with graduated contacts or else to use
two or more relays such as shown with different strengths of spring. It is necessary
also that these relays should be so connected that they put into circuit either the
coil on the left or right leg of the motor magnet, so as to run the switch in one
direction or the other to add to or diminish the power of the converters as illustrated
by diagram J.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tior and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Adding condensers in parallel across an electric main to keep up the pressure
at distances from the end at which the main is fed with current.
2. The employment of condensers at intervals apart on an electric main and
relay apparatus for putting such condensers into and out of action substantially as
described.
3. For putting converters into or out of action for feeding current to electric
mains the employment of a relay acting to start into movement an electric or other
motor when the supply of current to the main requires to be increased or diminished
which motor when put into action winds up a spring or raises a weight and the
spring or weight when sufficiently wound or raised acts to shift contact mechanism
to put a converter into or out of action or full action and at the same time stop the
action of the motor substantially as described.
4. For putting converters into or out of action for feeding current to electric
mains the employment of contact or relay mechanism which when the current in
the low tension main is either too high or too low completes a shunt circuit which
puts into operation an electric or other motor to open or close the converter
contacts, and cause the switch for the converter contacts as it tumbles over to
break the shunt circuit whilst at the same time another contact in the relay switch
is brought into position to be acted upon whenever another movement of the main
switch becomes necessary.
5. The employment of a magnetic relay substantially as described for starting
electric or other motors to put transformers into or out of action to increase or
decrease the supply of current to an electric main in order that as soon as a contact
is made by the relay it may be maintained by magnetic action until the electric or
other motor has made the required movement.
6. The magnetic relay with spring contact blades carried by iron arms which
blades when brought against other contacts are held to them by magnetic action
substantially as described.
7. For putting converters into or out of action for feeding current to electric
mains the employment of contact arms carried by an axis which when more or less
current is required is caused to make a partial turn by an electric or other motor
brought into action by a relay and is caused always to turn in the same direction
whether the current is to be increased or diminished.
8. Preventing sparking at the relay contacts by providing other contacts by
which the shunt circuit is broken during the greater part of the time that the
switch axis is turning from one position to another the advantage of this being that
the spark which occurs on breaking the circuit does not take place at the delicate
relay contacts but on the more substantial and less easily put out of order contact
plates on the switch axis.
9. For putting converters into or out of action for feeding current to electric
mains the employment of relay mechanism and two shunt circuits one driving the
motor in one direction to effect the opening of the converter and the other driving
the motor in the opposite direction for closing the contacts.
10. For putting converters into or out of action for feeding current to electric
mains the employment of relay mechanism and a motor which can be driven in
either direction according to the current supplied to it.
11. The employment of transformers of slightly different ratios to supply through
feeder mains electric mains at varying distance from the supply station to keep the
pressure uniform throughout the line.
12. Feeding an electric main at a number of points with feeders at uniform
pressure say 100 volts at a small load then as load rises all feeders except the one
close to the station receive say 102 volts as illustrated in diagram M, next rise

page_text: 1st feeder keeps 100 volts, 2nd feeder 102 volts and third and remaining feeders
104 volts and so on.
13. For feeding an electric main with current the employment of a number of
transformers or a single transformer so wound and arranged as to admit of the
several transformers or sections of a transformer being put either all in parallel or
all in series or some in parallel and some in series.
14. For feeding an electric main with current the employment of a number of
transformers or a single transformer in sections together with an automatic relay or
relays by which all the converters or sections of a converter can be put either all
in parallel or all in series or some in parallel and sonie in series.
15. Constructing converters in such manner that the windings or sections can be
so arranged as to enable more and more turns of the high and low to be put in or
taken out of action according as the load diminishes or increases substantially as
described and illustrated by diagram K.
16. Constructing the switch mechanism in such manner that it can be turned in
either direction and when turned in one direction always gives an increased feed
of current and in the opposite direction a decreased feed substantially as described.
17. The arrangement of mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described for
putting converters or condensers on to or cutting them off from electric mains to
control the current in them.
18. The combination of mechanism. hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the drawings annexed for putting converters or condensers on to or cutting them off
from electric mains to control the current in them.
Dated this 20th day of November 1891.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.