IMPROVEMENTS IN THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Woodward at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April 1883.
HENRY WOODWARD, of Shepherd's Bush, in the County of Middlesex,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS,
My Invention relates to improvements in thermo-electric generators, whereby
they are rendered more efficient compact and durable than those hitherto
constructed.
In carrying out my Invention I prepare an alloy of antimony and zinc, and cast
or form it into a number of elements of any suitable shape, but the form I prefer
to give to my elements greatly resembles that of a grooved pulley in cross section,
and to these elements I attach, by casting, or otherwise, suitably shaped tinned
iron pieces or strips. These elements and the tinned iron pieces or strips thus
combined, are arranged over and around a chamber or casing, hereinafter described,
and they are connected in the usual manner. The inner ends or faces of the pairs
are kept heated, and the outer ends or faces are kept cool in the manner hereinafter
described. The tinned iron pieces or strips are attached to the bottoms of these
elements and are carried up between the ends of the same and then attached to the
upper part of the next element, and so on. The open spaces formed between the
elements (resulting from the form I prefer to give to the elements, but which space
I shall always form between my elements no matter what form I may give to them)
may be filled up with any non-conductor of heat, or they may be left open. By
this arrangement the difference of temperature between the ends of the elements
can be greatly increased, thereby enhancing the value of the generator.
I obtain the heat necessary to produce the greatest quantity of electricity either
from an ordinary fire, or spirit lamp, or (by preference) from gas, burnt through a
Bunsen, or other suitable burner, over or above which I place a quantity of asbestos,
cotton slag or slag wool, in the manner as hereinafter described, for the purpose of
D

page_text: producing a clean and permanent fire, and one giving a temperature which is
distributed equally throughout the generator.
The fire, lamp or burner, is enclosed in the hereinbefore mentioned chamber or
casing which has a perforated bottom; to allow the air necessary to support
combustion to enter, and at the top of this chamber or casing I fit two or more
concentric chinnies or flues, directly over the fire or flame. These chimnies or
Hues are provided at bottom with a fine mesh wire or netting which forms a
grating or grid and allows the flame to pass to the asbestos or wool slag which is
placed in any or all of the chimnies or flues. Or the opening at the top of the
casing or chamber may be provided with the wire netting. To the innermost
chimney or flue I fit an inverted metal cone to assist in drawing up and equalizing
and distributing the heat. The chimnies or flues are so arranged that the
heated air is compelled to circulate throughout the same before making its final
escape.
To preserve the elements from destruction by beat, I apply one or more coatings
of asbestos paint which renders them almost indestructible, and the application of
this asbestos paint forms an important feature in my Invention, as all thermo-
electric generators heretofore constructed have, after a very short time, become
non-effective from constant exposure to the high temperature necessary to generate
the electricity.
In some cases I fit or arrange a coiled pipe or worm around the element in such
a manner that the cois of the worm lie against the outer faces of the layers or
ties of elements, and through this worn I cause a stream of water to circulate
in order to keep the outer faces of the elements cool. Or the coiled pipe or worm
may be perforated and fine jets of water allowed to play upon the outer faces of
the elements thereby ensuring their being kept cool.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Woodward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th October
1883.
HENRY WOODWARD, of Shepherd's Bush, in the County of Middlesex,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THERMO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS
My Invention relates to improvements in thermo-electric generators, whereby
they are rendered more efficient, compact and durable than those hitherto
constructed:
And in order that my Invention may be readily understood, I proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which fig: 1, is
a horizontal section of my improved generator, and fig: 2, a part elevation and
part section thereof, the section being taken on the line x, x, of fig. 1. Fig: 3, is
a detached view shewing, in full size, two of my improved form of elements used
in building up the generator.
In carrying out my Invention I prepare an alloy of antimony and zinc, and cast
or form it into a number of elements e, e, of any suitable shape, but the form I
prefer to give to the same greatly resembles that of a grooved pulley in cross
section. To these elements I attach by casting, or otherwise, suitably shaped
tinned iron pieces or strips a, a, The elements and the tinned iron pieces or strips
thus combined, are arranged around a chamber or casing, and they are connected
together at the ends, by riveting, soldering, clamping, or in any other suitable
manner. The inner ends or faces of the pairs are kept heated, and the outer ends
or faces are kept cool, in the manner hereinafter described. The tinned iron pieces
are arranged in the desired form, and are coated with asbestos paint and then wrapped
in asbestos paper, which, in its turn, is coated with asbestos paint, for the purpose
of insulating the said pieces, and between these pieces the alloy of antimony and
zinc is run in to form the elements. Between each row of elements thus formed a
strip or band d, of asbestos paper, or other suitable non-conductor, is also placed.
The open spaces b, formed between the elements (resulting from the form I give to
them) may be filled up with any non-conductor of heat, by preference, slagwool,
whereby a cushion is formed rendering expansion and contraction of the elements.
more easy of accomplishment; or they may be left open. By this arrangement the
difference of temperature between the ends of the elements is greatly increased,,
thereby reducing the resistance, lessening the quantity of material used and thus
enhancing the value of the generator. A copper sheet or jacket q surrounds the
elements, over which water may play for the purpose hereinafter set forth.
I obtain the heat necessary to produce the greatest quantity of electricity either
from an ordinary fire, or spirit lamp, or from gas burnt through a Bunsen, or other
suitable burner, and when a lamp or burner is used I place over or above the same
a quantity of asbestos, in the manner as hereinafter described, for the purpose of
producing a clean and permanent fire, and one giving a temperature which is
distributed equally throughout the generator.
Also when a lamp or burner is used; it is enclosed in the chamber or casing,
whose bottom is perforated to allow the air necessary to support combustion to
enter, and at the top of this chamber or casing I fit two or more concentric
chimnies or flues, directly over the fire or flame. The innermost of these chimnies
or flues is provided at bottom with a wire netting which forms a grating or grid
and allows the flame to pass to the asbestos, which is in this innermost chimney or
flue. The chimnies or flues are arranged concentrically, so that the heated air is
compelled to circulate throughout the saine before making its final escape.

page_text: In the drawings, the chamber or casing is shewn as formed over an ordinary fire
place F, and is composed of four concentric passages or spaces f, g, h, k, which are
divided into channels 1, 1, 1, 1, by ribs or partitions m. The innermost or central
space N, forms the flue. The heat from the fire passes through this flue N, into
the channels 7, of the first passage k, as shewn by the arrow, then enters at
bottom into the channels, of the second passage h, then from top into the
channels of the third passage g, and through the channels 13, of the fourth
passage f, whence it makes its exit through the chimney p.
To preserve the elements from destruction by heat, I apply one or more coatings
of asbestos paint which renders them almost indestructible, and the application of
this asbestos paint forms an important feature in my Invention, as all thermo-
electric generators heretofore constructed have, after a very short time, become
non-effective from constant exposure to the high temperature necessary to generate
the electricity.
A perforated pipes is arranged around and at the top of the casing. A, and
through this pipe fine jets of water, supplied from a tank or other head, are
allowed to play upon the copper sheet or jacket q, surrounding the elements,
thereby ensuring the outer faces of such elements being kept cool. Or a coiled
pipe or worm may be arranged around the copper jacket q, in such a manner that
the coils of the worm lie against the jacket, and through this worm a stream of
cold water is caused to circulate for the purpose before mentioned.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,
1: The special and peculiar form or construction of the elements as herein
described and shewn, and for the purposes set forth.
2. The application of one or more coatings of asbestos paint to the elements, for
the
purposes set forth.
3. The application of asbestos paint and the wrapping in asbestos paper which
is afterwards coated with asbestos paint, of the tinned iron pieces connecting the
elements, for the purposes set forth.
4. The use of slagwool, or other non-conductor of heat, in or between the hollows
or recesses of the elements, for the purpose of forming a cushion, and thus
rendering the expansion and contraction of the elements easier of accomplishment,
and with less injurious effects than heretofore.
5. The employment and arrangement of a perforated pipe through which jets
of water are discharged on the copper jacket surrounding the elements, for the
purpose of ensuring the outer faces of such elements being kept cool, substantially
as set forth.
6. The improved thermo-electric generator having its parts constructed, arranged
and combined substantially as herein described and as shewn in the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Woodward have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty third day of October in the year 1883.
TT
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