IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MECHANICAL EFFECT BY ELECTRICÁL NEDAY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Laker Voice of 1 Francis Street Torrington
Square in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING MECHANICAL EFFECT BY ELECTRICÁL
NEDAY
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Laker Voice at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th September 1882.
EDWARD LAKER VOICE of 1 Francis Street Torrington Square in the County of
Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING
MECHANICAL EFFECT BY ELECTRICAL ENERGY
The construction of electro-magnetic or electro-dynamic machines have not,
hitherto, been found to work economically as compared with other kinds of
mechanical motors, owing to the fact that electric currents are induced in the said
machines having a direction opposite to those currents which cause the mechanical
motion, and it is the difference between these two currents that constitutes the
amount of power gained.
My invention consists in the construction of electro-magnetic or electro-dynamic
machines whereby mechanical effect is obtained without mechanical appliances for
the reversion, cessation or otherwise varying the direction of the currents in the
said machines or in any part thereof, thereby dispensing with the use of commu-
tators, or current reversers.
The principle of the invention may be demonstrated in, the following
manner.
If a hollow bobbin be placed in a horizontal position and the ends of the wire
connected to a powerful battery or other source of electricity, and if a rod of iron
about two thirds the length of the bobbin be offered to one of the openings, it will
be seen to rush through with considerable force and will be projected some distance
to the other side of the bobbin.
It is well known that when the iron rod approaches the bobbin, an induced

page_text: current is generated in the coil having a direction opposed to that supplied by the
battery, and when it leaves the bobbin an induced current is generated having the
same direction as the battery current. It will thus be seen that although there is
a loss of power in the first case, owing to the conflicting currents, this loss is
balanced and compensated for when the iron rod leaves the bobbin, by reason of the
induced current being in the same direction as that of the battery.
The reason of the iron rod being projected through the bobbin, is probably
caused, partly by the momentum it acquires on entering it, partly by the magnetic
effect of the rod resulting from the speed at which it travels, and partly by the
influence which the polarity of the bobbin has on the rod when it arrives at the
middle of the bobbin; as, although the currents circulating in the coil make it and
the rod of the same polarity, the polarity of the former tends to induce opposite
polarity in the latter, thereby enabling the rod to pass out of the bobbin more
freely. The effect may in some cases be increased by placing a fixed rod in the
bobbin, leaving a sufficient space for the movable rod to pass freely through it;
it may also be increased by placing permanent or electro-magnets near each end of
the bobbin, like poles joining. Thus in carrying out my invention in electro-
magnetic or electro-dynamic machines, I cause a number of iron blocks or magnets
to be arranged-preferably at an equal distance apart, and in this case joined
together and supported by a non-magnetic substance such as brass, the said iron
blocks being of a suitable shape and size to pass freely through, in the direction of
their polarity one or more hollow bobbins, coils or solenoids, and by reason of
the magnetic force caused by electric currents in the wires of the said bobbins, the
iron blocks or magnets are acted upon and mechanical effect obtained in rotatory
or longitudinal motions.
.
i
I arrange one form of machine by having one or more flat hollow bobbins.
Mounted on a shaft running in bearings placed in the sides of the said, hollow
bobbin, is a circular disc of non-magnetic material having a number of iron blocks
or magnets arranged radially, and at a certain distance apart and of a size as to
pass freely through the said bobbin in their polar direction, thereby enabling it or
them to freely rotate. Two or more of these discs may be made to rotate in one
bobbin, in which case they are preferably made to rotate in opposite directions and
geared in such a manner that one of the iron blocks or magnets of one disc would
meet one of the blocks of the other disc exactly in the middle of the bobbin,
instead of which one disc only may be used and the same result partially obtained
by fixing a thin block of iron in the bobbin, leaving sufficient space for the movable
blocks or magnets to pass through. The discs may be dispensed with by fixing the
rotating iron blocks to arms radiating from the shaft.
Any practicable number of the before mentioned bobbins, with their rotating
blocks may be arranged in a row, and if necessary there may be permanent or
electro-magnets placed between them and so arranged that one pole of the bobbin
or bobbins is near to the pole of the same name of the said magnets.
The rotating magnets or discs may be fixed to a shaft that is common to and
running through all of the said bobbins, or each bobbin might have a shaft of its
own the respective shafts being in that case connected together if desirable by.
suitable gearing.
Instead of the blocks of iron or magnets rotating, they may be fixed and the.
bobbins be made to rotate. Machines to operate upon the principle of my invention
as above set forth may be constructed in various other forms than that above
described by way of example, as for instance one or more iron blocks or magnets
arranged in cylindical form and supported by arms or flanges radiating from the
middle of the shaft. In a modification of my, invention I use two iron blocks
forming segments of a circle and the intervening spaces between the two said
blocks or magnets, are filled in with brass, or they may be banded together by a
number of brass rings. The said magnets and brass segments or rings are
supported by arms radiating from the shaft or by a suitable projection therefrom.

page_text: A series of hollow bobbins or solenoids are made of such a shape as to allow the
said iron blocks or magnets and their radiating supports to freely rotate and pass
through them. This is obtained by enclosing the said magnets and their supports
in a cylinder of thin non-magnetic material. A similar cylinder is placed on the
inner periphery of the said revolving iron blocks or. magnets extending as far as
the radiating supports of the said blocks or magnets thereby leaving sufficient
space for the radiating arms or supports to rotate. The bobbins are connected or
looped in series; a conductor is led from each respective loop toward the shaft on
which are two insulated pieces of metal in communication with the source of
electricity.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Laker Voice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd March 1883.
EDWARD LAKER VOICE of 1 Francis Street Torrington Square in the county, of
Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING
MECHANICAL EFFECT BY ELECTRICAL ENERGY
It is well known that Electro-magnetic or Electro-dynamic machines develope a
counter-electro-motive force to that which causes the movement, it being the
difference between these two forces that constitutes the amount of power which
may be utilised for mechanical purposes. My invention consists in the construction
of electro-magnetic or electro-dynamic machines whereby mechanical effect is
obtained without mechanical appliances for the reversion, cessation or otherwise
varying the direction of currents in the said machines or in any part thereof,
thereby dispensing with the use of commutators or their equivalents. The principle
may be demonstrated in the following manner. If a hollow bobbin be placed in a
horizontal position and the ends of the wire connected with a powerful battery, and
if a rod of iron about two thirds the length of the bobbin be offered to one of the
openings it will be seen to rush through with considerable force and will be
projected some distance to the other side of the bobbin. It is well known that
when the iron rod approaches the bobbin an induced current is generated in the
coil, having a direction opposed to that supplied by the battery, and when it leaves
the bobbin an induced current is generated having the same direction as the battery
current; it will thus be seen that although there is a loss of power in the first case
owing to the conflicting currents, this loss is compensated for when the rod leaves
the bobbin, because the induced current in this case is in the same direction as the
battery current. The reason of the iron rod being projected through the bobbin is
probably caused, partly by the momentum it acquires on entering it, partly by the
magnetic effect of the rod resulting from the speed at which it travels and partly
by the influence which the polarity of the bobbin has on the rod when it arrives at
the middle of the bobbin; as, although the currents circulating in the coil make it
and the rod of the same polarity, the polarity of the former tends to induce opposite
polarity in the latter thereby enabling the rod to pass out of the bobbin more
freely. The effect may in some cases be increased by placing a fixed piece of iron
in, or on the outer side of the bobbin; it may also be increased by placing permanent
or electro-magnets at, or near the ends of the bobbin, like poles joining. Thus, in
carrying out my invention in electro-magnetic or electro-dynamic-machines, I cause
a number of iron blocks, bars or rods which are made to act as magnets by induc-
tion, arranged preferably at an equal distance apart, and which may be joined
together and supported by a non-magnetic substance such as brass, the blocks bars
or rods being of a suitable shape and size to pass freely through one or more hollow
bobbins, coils or solenoids, and by reason of the magnetic force caused by electric
currents in the wires of the said bobbins, the iron blocks or magnets are acted upon
and mechanical effect obtained in suitable motions I arrange one form of machine
by having one or more flat hollow bobbins. Mounted on a shaft running in bearings
placed in the sides of the said bobbins-or in bearings supported by separate
standards is a circular disc of non-magnetic material having a number of iron
blocks or magnets arranged radially so as to be capable of rotating in the said
hollow bobbins. Two or more of these discs may be made to rotate in one bobbin
and instead of having the iron blocks fixed to the said disc, a solid piece of iron
may be used having radial arms Any practicable number of the before mentioned

page_text: bobbins, with their rotating blocks or magnets may be arranged in a row and
permanent or electro-magnets placed between them. The rotating discs or blocks
may be fixed to a shaft that is common to and running through all of the said
bobbins, or each disc or blocks might have a separate shaft, the respective shafts.
being in that case connected together, if desirable, by suitable gearing. Instead of
the discs or blocks of iron being made to rotate, they may be fixed and the bobbins
be made to rotate. Machines to operate upon the principle of my invention as
above set forth may be constructed in various other forms than that above described
by way of example, as for instance one or more iron blocks arranged.in cylindrical
form and supported by arms or flanges radiating from the shaft. In a modification
of my invention I use two iron blocks arranged cross-wise shown in Fig 1 of the
accompanying drawings Sheet 1, being an end elevation, Fig 2 a cross section and
Fig 3 a longitudinal section of this form of machine. A and A¹ are two flat hollow
stationary bobbins placed a sufficient distance from each other to allow the shaft to
rotate between them. I and I are blocks of iron suitably fixed to the base B and
which serve to hold the said bobbins in their place. D is the armature which may
consist of two plates of iron halved together or it may be cut out of a solid piece;
or arranged in blocks fixed to a non-magnetic disc as herein before explained. This
armature is keyed or otherwise suitably mounted on the shaft so as to rotate in the
bobbins. A and A'. It will at once be seen that the bar which is transverse to the
wires of the bobbin will be powerfully magnetized giving in this case N polarity.
on the right and S polarity on the left of the Figure whilst the vertical bar being
parallel with the current is comparatively out of action, the result being that N
will be attracted upwards to iron block I, and S downwards to block I, whence a
rotary motion ensues. Fig 4 is an end elevation and Fig 5 a section through dotted
line Fig 4 of another form of my invention, consisting of a number of soft iron
armatures the shape of which is shown at Fig 7. These armatures are mounted
on a shaft and made to rotate in hollow bobbins placed side by side, as shown in
section Fig 5. The bobbins are fixed to the field magnets which latter are wound
to give N polarity at one end of the bobbins, and S polarity at the other, as shown.
The action of this is the same as Fig 1, with this difference, that whereas in Fig 1
the attractive force is only made use of, in Fig 4 there is both an attractive and
repelling force set up, by reason of having field magnets. I prefer however in all
the machines herein mentioned, to magnatize the armature more strongly than the
field magnets. Fig 6 shows another form of machine according to my invention
the only difference being in the arrangement of the field magnets, and the longi-
tudinal section of which may be understood by referring to Fig 5. Instead of
having the armature in the forms shown in Figures 2 and 7 a straight bar of iron
may be used as shown at Fig 8 and as it is essential that the armatures should be
capable of rapidly reversing their polarity, it is, or may be convenient to construct
them of insulated strips or wires. Fig 9 shows an end elevation and Fig 10
a longitudinal section of an arrangement whereby greater power may be obtained
by arranging a number of machines side by side, of the type shown in Fig 1, and
whose shafts are geared to the outer or inner periphery of a wheel by which the
motion is transmitted. Between each bobbin, as shown in section, is a bar of
iron E fixed to two longitudinal bars of the same material I and I', the action
being the same as herein before explained with reference to Fig 1. The iron bars I
and I being suitably fixed to and supported by the frame B. Field magnets may
be used instead of bars I and II, so that one side of each machine is subjected to
the opposite poles of the said magnets, the direction of motion being governed by
the direction of the current in the armature bobbins. Fig 11 is an end view
partly in section and partly in elevation and Fig 12 a longitudinal section of
another machine, according to my invention, consisting of two or more cross bars
mounted on an axle and having other bars fixed to their ends as seen in the
sectional drawing which latter are fixed at right angles to the axial bars and
under the influence of permanent magnets are caused to rotate in the flat hollow
bobbin This machine may be used as a dynamo-electric machine and will produce

page_text: alternating currents. In all of the foregoing machines any suitable number of
bobbins may be used and in some cases they may be fixed at right angles to each
other and looped together and one half of the said loops could be connected with
a positive wire and the other half with the negative or vice versa. It is evident
that the amount of work done in the before mentioned machines will be pro-
portional to the amount of energy expended, hence the mechanical effect obtained
by this means can be made to actuate clock-work or suitable mechanism for
indicating the amount of current utilised in a given time, thereby acting as an
electric meter. Having now explained the nature of my said Invention and thé
manner of carrying it into practice I claim Firstly-Electro-magnetic or electro-
dynamic machines the armature or armatures of which consists of a radial or
segmental bar or bars rods or blocks of iron mounted on an axis thereby enabling
it or them to freely rotate in or through a fixed hollow stationery bobbin or bobbins
substantially as herein before set forth with reference to accompanying drawings.
Secondly Electro-magnetic or electro-dynamic machines whose armatures consists of
radial bars and segmental blocks of iron mounted on an axis enabling them to
rotate in or through fixed hollow bobbins coils or solenoids substantially as set
forth with reference to drawings Figures 11 and 12 Sheet 2. Thirdly Electro-
magnetic and electro-dynamic machines whereby a continuous rotatory motion is
obtained without the aid of commutators in a manner herein before set forth with
reference to drawings Fourthly The general arrangement and construction of
machines substantially as set forth with reference to accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Laker Voice have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty second day of March in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness
CHARLES BOND
EDWARD LAKER VOICE (L.S.)