IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC ENERGY AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Carrington Phillips of 110 Cannon Street,
in the City of London for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC ENERGY AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Carrington
Phillips at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd October
1882.
FREDERICK CARRINGTON PHILLIPS of 110 Cannon Street in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC ENERGY
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
The electro motive force set up in the armature of an electro generator is
dependent, as is well known, upon the speed of rotation and on the intensity of
the magnetic field. This magnetic intensity is the resultant of two forces; first of
the current or currents circulating in the coils of the field magnets; and, second, of
the current circulating in the coils of the armature; and these two forces are
opposed to each other. From this it follows that if resistance be added to the
external circuit of an electric generator whose magnetic field is excited by a
current from an external source, the difference of electromotive force at the
terminals of the machine will increase because the opposing or demagnetising effect
of the current in the armature is decreased. The same result obtains in a generator
in which the coils of the field magnets form a shunt to the armature coils, for, even
assuming that the resistance of the armature can be made so small with regard to
the external circuit, that the magnetising effect of the current in the magnet coils
is constant, yet the magnetic intensity of the field will be influenced by the current
in the coils of the armature.
Now my invention has for object to cause electric generating apparatus to
automatically adjust itself to the conditions of the circuit, and either keep a
constant current flowing therein, or maintain a constant difference of electro.

page_text: motive force between the two ends of the external circuit independently of the
varying resistances or conditions of the said circuit. For this purpose I arrange
the exciting circuit of the field magnets of the generator or generators in such wise
that the combined effects of the exciting current or currents, and of the current
in the armature will produce a sensibly constant magnetic field; that is to say, I
cause the magnetising effect of the current which flows round the magnet coils to
increase at the same rate as the opposing or demagnetising effect of the current in
the armature coils, and vice versa; thus the magnetising current will attain its
maximum when the armature is developing the full amount of current for which it
is designed, and will attain its minimum when an infinite or approximately infinite
resistance is inserted in the circuit fed by the armature coils. This minimum
magnetising effect of the exciting current is that which is required to produce the
required electromotive force in the armature coils when there is no opposing or
demagnetising current in those coils.
I produce the magnetic field by two currents, or by one current which is the
resultant of two currents, or of two electromotive forces. These currents may be
variously combined to produce, in conjunction with the current in the armature coils,
a magnetic field of constant intensity.
According to one method, one of these currents is constant, and is calculated to
induce a magnetic field of the normal or desired intensity when there is no
opposing current in the armature coils; the other current is variable, and is
calculated to vary in such a way that it will counterbalance the opposing or
demagnetising effect of the current in the armature coils under all conditions of
that current between zero and the maximum.
☑
According to another method both currents may-be variable, but varying according
to different laws, so that the resultant current or magnetising effect may correspond
to, the current required in the external circuit: The constant current and the
variable current, or the two variable currents as aforesaid, may in some cases tend
to induce opposite polarities, when the magnetic effect produced by them will be a
function of their algebraic sum.
My invention may be carried into effect in many different ways, some of which
I describe below by way of example. The current hereinafter denominated the
constant current is in some cases obtained by a shunt across the terminals of the
machine itself, and will be constant, or approximately so, accordingly as the
combined effect of the two currents in the magnet coils produces a difference of
electromotive forces between the terminals of the generator that is exactly or
approximately constant.
According to one arrangement I construct the field magnet circuit in two parts
and I make the part which is traversed by the constant current a shunt to the
external circuit; that is, across the poles of the machine, and I place the part that is
traversed by the variable current directly in the external circuit, or in a derivation
therefrom.
According to a second arrangement I place the part of the magnet circuit that
is traversed by the variable current, in the circuit of the armature conductor,
and I make the part traversed by the constant current a shunt to the exterior
circuit.
When two generators are coupled in parallel arc, they may have the parts of
their field magnet circuits which are traversed by the variable current placed in
the exterior circuit which receives the current from both generators. These two
field magnet circuits will form shunts to each other, and each will then be
traversed by half the current of the exterior circuit, or they may both be traversed
by the whole of the current in the exterior circuit.
According to another arrangement the variable portion of the magnetising
current is derived from a separate or subsidiary generator provided for the purpose.
This subsidiary generator likewise has its field magnet circuit divided into two
parts, one of which is a shunt to the armature, and the other is placed in the main
external circuit fed by the generator or generators which are to be regulated. This

page_text: subsidiary generator may supply the variable magnetising current to one, two, or
more main generators working in combination. Or, the varying current which
must be supplied by the subsidiary generator may be governed by the action of an
electro magnet or electro magnets which can be placed in the main circuit of the
system, or in the armature part of the system, which in consequence of its variations
produces the necessary regulating effect. Or instead of the subsidiary or exciting.
generator supplying the variable current to the main generator or generators, it
may work under uniform conditions, and supply a constant current to the field
magnet circuits, which may derive a variable current from the main or exterior.
circuit. This main current may be divided into as many portions as there are
main generators; or the whole of it may circulate round the magnet coil of each
generator; or each generator may derive its variable magnetising current from its
own armature circuit, as may be found convenient.
In the above system, in which a constant electromotive force is generally
maintained, it may become desirable to effect either momentary or permanent
alterations of the electromotive force to accomplish many objects; such for
instance as the increasing or diminishing of the illuminating power of incandescent
lamps. For this purpose I vary the variable current in the field in a quicker or
slower ratio than the variations of the current flowing in the armature circuit, that
is, I provide a subsidiary arrangement whereby the variable part of the field
magnetism may be varied so as to produce a variable electro motive force at the
poles of the machine in place of the ordinary constant electromotive force.
"
When it is desired to maintain a constant current in the system and not a
constant difference of electromotive force as in the examples given above, the
arrangement is substantially the same. The constant part of the magnetising,
current then the current flowing in the system, or a definite proportion of it, and.
the variable part is obtained by a shunt across the main leads. Or the constant.
current may be obtained from a subsidiary or exciting generator working under
constant conditions. Or the variation in the current in a shunt across the poles of
the machine or across the ends of the entire external circuit can be made to:
actuate suitable mechanism to cause the necessary variation in a current separately
generated.
When a number of generators arranged according to my invention are feeding a
system they will automatically adapt themselves to the demands of the system.
At the same time it is not economical that machines should work greatly below
their full capacity, and therefore, in some cases in conjunction with or independently
of the arrangements I have already described, I provide apparatus which cuts the
machines successively out of circuit, as the demand decreases, by an amount equal
or approximately equal to the energy furnished by one or more machines;
and puts
them automatically into circuit again as the requirements of the system increase to
the same extent.
According to one arrangement, when the machines are arranged in parallel arc
I interpose between one terminal of each machine and one of the main leads a
movable contact piece, which is, when that inachine is in the circuit, held against a
fixed contact piece by the attraction of an electro magnet, or equivalent device in
the main circuit or in the variable circuit of the magnet coils against the opposition
of gravity or of a spring or other force. Each moving contact piece is loaded to a
different strain in opposition to the attraction of the magnet, so that as the current.
in the system decreases, they will fall in succession. When the first or most heavily
loaded one falls, the corresponding machine is cut out of circuit, and the remaining
ones supply its place by each furnishing an increased current. If the demands on
the system continue to decrease another generator will be cut out of circuit and so
Contrary wise when the working machines are developing a current that
approaches the limit of their capacity the magnets will reattract the moving
contact pieces and bring additional generators into circuit as required.
on.
When the machines are arranged in series it will be obvious that the same
result may be attained by subjecting the said electromagnets to a variable current

page_text: either in the magnet circuits, or in a shunt across the main leads or the terminals
of the machine.
It will be obvious that the principle of using two or more independent currents
around field magnets, or of using one current that is the resultant of two or
more currents or electromotive forces, may be applied to electric motors as well
as to electric generators, to effect the result of a constant field magnetism, or a
varying field magnetism, according as it is desired to keep the effective field
magnetism uniform or to make it increase with the diminishing current in the
armature. In this latter case the power derivable from the motor would be
the same within small ranges of speed. If it be desired that the motor should
be capable of starting at full power in order to overcome friction, inertia, etc,
then the variable part of the magnetising current must be arranged to assist the
constant part.
When an electric motor is placed between the main leads in what is known as
parallel arc; one convenient arrangement, according to my invention, is to place the
part of the magnet coil traversed by the variable current in circuit with the
armature coils and the part that is traversed by the constant current as a shunt
between the leads. The variable part of the magnet circuit may either assist or
oppose the uniform part. When the motors are in series the constant magnetising
current may be the main current or a derivation of it and the variable current be
derived by a shunt across the terminals of the motor. As in the preceding case,
the two currents may either act in opposition or together.
Devices for bringing additional machines into circuit as the work increases and
for cutting them out of circuit as the work to be done decreases may be applied to
electric motors in a similar manner to that already described for electric generators,
as the speed of the motor affects the current in the variable part of the magnetising
circuit, and will thus be available for operating the said devices.
It will be obvious that regulating appliances for electric machines may be
constructed in many different ways according to my invention without departure
from its essential principles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Carrington Phillips in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st March 1883.
FREDERICK CARRINGTON PHILLIPS of 110 Cannon Street in the City of London
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC ENERGY
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
When a number of electric generators are feeding a system they will, if self
regulating, automatically adapt themselves to the demands of the system. At the
same time it is not economical that machines should work greatly below their full
capacity; and, therefore, in conjunction with or independently of the self regulating
arrangements, I provide apparatus which cuts the machines successively out of
circuit, as the demand decreases, by an amount equal, or approximately equal, to
the energy furnished by one or more machines, and puts them automatically into
circuit again as the requirements of the system increase to the same extent.
According to one arrangement, when the machines are arranged in parallel arc,
I interpose between one terminal of each machine, and one of the main leads, a
movable contact piece, which is, when that machine is in the circuit, held against
a fixed contact piece by the attraction of an electro magnet, or equivalent device
in the main circuit, or in the variable circuit of the magnet coils against the
opposition of gravity, or of a spring or other force. Each moving contact piece is
loaded to a different strain in opposition to the attraction of the magnet, so that
as the current in the system decreases, they will fall in succession.
When the first or most heavily loaded one falls the corresponding machine is
cut out of circuit, and the remaining ones supply its place by each furnishing an
increased current. If the demands on the system continue to decrease, another
generator will be cut out of circuit, and so on. Contrary wise, when the working
machines are developing a current that approaches the limit of their capacity, the
magnets will attract the moving contact pieces, and bring additional generators
into circuit, as required.
When the machines are arranged in series, it will be obvious that the same
result may be attained by subjecting the said electro magnets to a variable current
which may be flowing in all or a part of the field magnet conductors, or in a shunt
across the main leads.
It will be evident that devices for bringing additional machines into circuit, as
the work increases, and for cutting them out of circuit, as the work to be done
decreases, may be applied to electric motors in a similar manner to that already
described for electric generators, as the speed of the motor affects the current in
the magnetising circuit, and will thus be available for operating the said devices.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of diagrammatic drawings, Fig 1 shews an
arrangement for the automatic putting in and cutting out of machines or generators,
arranged in so-called multiple arc. The figure shews two self regulating dynamo
machines, and two putting in and cutting out devices, but, as each pair is identical,
a description of the arrangement as it affects one generator, will suffice for both.
Although the generators shewn, are of the self regulating type, the invention is
equally applicable to those of ordinary construction.
a is an electro magnet introduced into the main circuit at ƒ and g. bis an
armature pivotted at h. c is a contact piece against which armature b makes
contact when attracted by the magnet a. M is an electric generator, the two poles
of which are at p and p, and which is connected to the main conductors at d and e.

page_text: 4
L is the main conductor into which the utilizers or translators of the electric energy
generated are inserted.
The operation of the apparatus above described is as follows:-
As shown, the generators are in operation and connected with the conductors or
mains. Supposing the demand on the generators diminishes to such an extent 5
that one of the generators may be taken out of circuit and made idle, the current
flowing in the main conductors diminishes, and therefore the electro magnet a will
become weakened, until at a certain determined strength of current, it can no
longer retain the armature b against gravity, or an equivalent force. The armature
will then move away from the contact piece c, and the connection between one pole 1
of the machine, and the main conductor, will thereby be broken. Conversely,
when the demand on the generators increases, the electro magnet will, with a
certain strength of current, again attract the armature b, and again put that.
generator into circuit. There can be as many of these putting in and cutting out
devices as there are machines connected to a pair of main conductors-that is, each
machine can be provided with its own cutting out device, and each device can be
made to operate at some particular strength of the main current; in this way the
machines go out of action and into action in a regular and fixed order.
The electro magnets of these devices instead of being each put into the main
circuit, and thereby having the whole current to go through each of them, may be
arranged as shunts to each other, in which case were there ten machines, and ten
of these electro magnets, the total current generated by the ten machines, would'
divide through the ten electro magnets
Fig 2 shews an arrangement for the automatic putting in and cutting out of
generators on the so-called series plan, wherein the current is maintained constant
under varying conditions of the demand on the generators.
The electro magnets of the cutting out and putting in devices obtain their
varying currents, not by being placed in the main circuit but by being placed as a
shunt to the main circuit since it is the electro motive force of the system, and not
the current strength, which is to vary.
In cutting out an electric generator from a series arrangement in which the
generator is, as it were, self exciting, it becomes specially necessary to guard against
a possible interruption of the continuity of the circuit, for each machine has flowing
through it-or, at least, its armature-the whole of the current generated by all
the generators. It will be manifest that in taking out of circuit a generator in a
so-called series arrangement the operation is more complex than in a so-called
parallel arrangement, since, in the series arrangement, the continuity of the circuit
must be established across the generator before the generator can be taken out of
circuit. And furthermore, before the generator can be short circuited to make a path
for the current,-it must be paralyzed as a generator. My arrangement for putting
out of, and into, circuit generators as arranged in series, accomplishes the above
named objects namely, 1st, it paralyzes the generator as a generator (by short
circuiting its field conductors); 2nd, it establishes a short circuit across the poles of
the machine, by which the continuity of the main circuit is maintained; 3rd, it
open circuits the generator itself, and detaches it from the main circuit.
In Fig 2 a is an electro magnet placed in circuit as a shunt to the main circuit
at o and p. b is an armature to the electro magnet, and is pivotted at q. cde
and h are levers pivotted as shewn; ƒ and g are contact pieces against which the
levers c and d respective rest, when allowed to do so, by the proper movement of
armature b. s is a piece of insulating material attached to armature 6 having two
steps or projections on which the levers c and d are carried. At t there is a third
step connected to s, this carries the lever e; the lever h rests on the lever e; i is a
stop which arrests the movement of lever h, causing the lever h to cease contact
with lever e when levere has made sufficient downward movement. k and jare
the poles of the generator M. A is the armature of the generator, and F its field
magnets. The pole k is connected as shewn through levers h and e to the main
conductors at m; the pole j is connected to main conductor as shewn at n.
The

page_text: electro magnets operating the cutting out and putting in devices are shown con-
nected as a shunt to the main conductors at o and p. L is the main line or
conductor into the circuit of which the various devices utilizing or storing the
electric energy generated, are put.
The operations of the devices are as follows. As shown, the generator M is in
circuit and doing work. Let us suppose the work in the external circuit L.
diminishes so that the generator M is not required. The machines being self
regulating, or being otherwise regulated, the electro motive force is made to vary
with the work to be done. This being the case, the potential between the points o
and p in the main circuit becomes less when the work to be done becomes less;
this lowering of the difference of potential between o and p, causes the current in
the magnets a a to become less and so at the proper strength of current in one
magnet a the armature 6 falls, allowing thereby the levers c d e and h to descend.
In their descent, the lever c first comes into contact with the contact piece f, and
so short circuits the field magnet conductors of the generator. A still further
movement of armature b allows lever d to rest on contact piece g, and thereby short
circuits the entire generator. A still further descent of the armature b allows the
lever h to rest on the stop i, and thereby break the contact between lever hand
lever e, thereby opening the circuit of the machine itself. When the difference of
potential between o and p increases, making it necessary to put generator M into
circuit again, the reverse action will take place.
In my provisional specification I described various methods of causing electric
generating apparatus to automatically adjust itself to the conditions of the circuit,
and either keep a constant current flowing therein, or maintain a constant difference
of electro motive force between the two ends of the external circuit, independently
of the varying resistance or conditions of the said circuit. For this purpose I
proposed to arrange the exciting circuit of the field magnets of the generator, or
generators, in such wise, that the combined effects of the exciting current, or
currents, and of the current in the armature, would produce a sensibly constant
magnetic field, that is to say, I proposed to cause the magnetising effect of the
current, which flows round the magnet coils, to increase at the same rate as
the opposing or demagnetising effect of the current in the armature coils, and
vice versa, but I now make no claim to such methods as I have discovered they
were of doubtful novelty at the date of my application for Letters Patent.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
carrying it into practical effect, I hereby declare that what I claim as secured to
me under the Letters Patent first hereinabove in part recited is :—
1. Apparatus for cutting electric machines arranged in parallel arc out of circuit
when the requirements or conditions of that circuit fall below a determined amount,
and for putting the same into circuit when the requirements of the circuit rise
above a determined amount, arranged and operating substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for cutting electric machines arranged in series out of circuit when
the requirements or conditions of that circuit fall below a determined amount, and
for putting the same into circuit when the requirements of the circuit rise above a
determined amount, arranged and operating substantially as described.
In Witness whereof I the said Frederick Carrington Phillips have hereunto
set my hand and seal this thirty first day of March in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
F. C. PHILLIPS. (L.S.)