IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE GENERATION STORAGE REGULATION DISTRIBUTION MEASUREMENT AND UTILIZATION OF ELECTRICITY AND APPARATUS OR MEANS THEREFOR AND IN METHODS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATION OF SUCH APPARATUS OR PARTS THEREO) THEREOF PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Stokes Williams of Riverton New Jersey United
States of America for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO THE GENERATION STORAGE REGULATION DISTRIBUTION MEASUREMENT AND
UTILIZATION OF ELECTRICITY AND APPARATUS OR MEANS THEREFOR AND IN
METHODS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATION
OF SUCH APPARATUS OR PARTS THEREO)
THEREOF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Stokes Williams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1883.
JOSEPH STOKES WILLIAMS of Riverton New Jersey United States of America
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE GENERATION, STORAGE REGULATION
DISTRIBUTION MEASUREMENT AND UTILIZATION OF ELECTRICITY AND APPARATUS
OR MEANS THEREFOR AND IN METHODS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATION OF SUCH APPARATUS OR PARTS THEREOF."
"
My invention consists in improvements in and relating to the generation storage
regulation distribution measurement and utilization of electricity and in apparatus
methods or means therefor and in apparatus devices or means employed in the
construction or working of an apparatus or system of electrical distribution and
the said invention relates partly to methods and means for utilizing the generating
apparatus to their full capacity or so as to provide for utilizing a surplus of power
or heat at gas works manufacturing establishements or elsewhere or devices or
means for converting natural forces into power and utilizing such power or surplus
of such power by its conversion into electric energy and the storage of such energy
or any surplus of energy capable of being developed either of high or low potential
in the electric circuits of energy capable of being produced by the generating
devices or apparatus over what would be required in an electrical system of
distribution the devices may be operated through the medium of of natural forces
such as the wind, the tide, or the force or fall of water and wind-mills turbines or
water wheels with or without means for compressing air and with or without

page_text: means for carburetting the air so compressed and utilizing such carburetted air
for the generation of electric currents or other purposes or by the conversion of
coal or fuel into electric energy through the medium of steam or gas for the
operation of suitable engines connected or combined with the generating machines
thermo electric generators or gas generators or any combination of them which
may be adapted to operate or be combined with one or more of the electrical
circuits of the system preferably through the medium of accumulating devices
magazines or batteries adapted to be charged vivified or revivified and to hold
electric energy in reserve at one or more points in the electrical system of
distribution and so as to make the discharging circuits operative and to regulate
the potential in such circuits independently of the potential in other circuits or the
charging circuit or circuits or to form part of the equipment of vessels vehicles
trains elevators or other portable objects (so as to regulate convert or vary the
potential in one or more of the electrical circuits thereon) adapted to operate from
fixed or determined points places or stations or to be operated over some fixed
or determined line of rail or metallic circuit with or without conserving or
accumulating devices designed to form part of or operate in conjunction with an
electric circuit or system forming part of one or more of such portable objects with
or without devices or means for connecting and disconnecting automatically or
otherwise one or more electric circuits upon one or more independent portable
objects or vehicles with one or more electric circuits upon other vehicles or with
one or more stationary circuits and with or without independent accumulating or
conserving devices adapted to provide for holding energy in reserve upon each of
such waggons or vehicles or other portable objects and with or without utilizing
the earth as a portion of the electrical circuit or circuits in the stationary and
portable parts of the system or either of them or any combination of an insulated
circuit with partly uninsulated circuits with the devices for accumulating or
storing energy and electric potential convertors or current transformers or
regulators or the devices for translating electric energy such as lighting apparatus
(either arc or incandescent) heating apparatus for warming buildings or heating
metals liquids or other purposes or for the translation of electric energy into
motive power either for traction or other purposes or for the deposition or
extraction of metals by heat or electro deposition or for the heating of bars metals
or materials in passing through rolls or adapted to be compressed die'd or formed
within moulds or shaping devices when heated by the electric current the circuits
or devices in which the energy is translated or adapted to be translated being
connected in the electrical circuits in series, parallel circuit, multiple arc series, or
series or any combination of such circuits insulated or partially insulated with
return by earth or the reverse the accumulating devices being adapted to provide
for the conservation of power in the form of electric energy electro chemically or
through the medium of a gas or gases, condensers or any combination of such
means adapted to provide a reserve in one or more of the circuits or to serve as
electro motive force or potential convertors regulators or reducers with or without
induction devices in one or more of the circuits of the system to operate as
potential regulators of alternating or continuous currant or to convert continuous
currents into alternating currents in the working circuits or vice versa for lighting
heating motive power or other purposes and being combined or adapted to be
combined in the electric circuit through the medium of switching or commutating
devices so as to provide for varying or regulating the supply or potential in
independent circuits or for varying regulating and stopping or diminishing the
discharge of the current from the devices or means in which the electric energy is
stored or held in reserve or from the main electric circuit. The various improve-
ments combinations applications or methods of working as claimed or described in
the Specifications of former Letters Patent granted to me or on my behalf and my
Provisional Specification herein referred to or any combinations of them are adapted
to be used in combination with the improvements combinations applications or
methods of working as herein provided for.

page_text: By such method of working I am enabled to utilize the full capacity of the
plant at industrial works or elsewhere or devices or means for converting a natural
force or power or the force or fall of water or the force of the wind into electric
energy through the medium of water wheels turbines wind-mills or otherwise
and to provide for storing any surplus of power in the form of electric energy
over that which may be necessary for the operation of the machinery in such
works or elsewhere or the plant may be utilized mostly or entirely during a
given time for the operation of the machinery and at other times for converting
power into electric energy and storing such energy at one or more points places
or stations connected or adapted to be connected with the electric circuit. In order
to provide for such a method of working I combine permanently or at intervals
with the shaft or axle of the engine (either gas air or steam or any combination
of them) or with the turbine or water wheel or wind engine (for utilizing the
force or fall of water or the force of the wind) a dynamo or magneto electric
machine or machines and I regulate the current developed (if any) by such
Inachines dependent upon the speed of the shaft or axle or upon the amount of
work imposed upon the same (The generators may be adapted to operate as fly
wheels and continuous or alternating current producers with devices or means in
the electrical circuit or circuits therefrom for conserving or utilizing the energy
developed I preferably employ generating machines whose elements are connected
in the electrical circuits and adapted to operate in conjunction with one or more
inductive poles or one or more magnetic fields in which one or more poles are
employed in such a manner as to provide for the induction of a current in one or
more set of elements connected with the external circuit in series or parallel
circuit or as a continuous circuit without the reversal of the current during any
portion of the movement of one or more of the elements in one direction.
conducting elements of the pole or pole pieces or magnetic element or elements
both stationary and movable may be connected in a continuous circuit with or
without utilizing the inductive action of the earth. The magnetic element or
elements may consist of a permanent or electro magnet or magnets of horse-shoe
or other form with or without being connected in the external circuit and with or.
without the movable element or elements being connected in the external circuit
at the axle and with or without commutating devices and with or without
employing a liquid in the electrical circuit between the portions of the circuit of
the machine and the external circuit and with or without the completion of the
electrical circuit from the periphery of the armature or moving portion and with
or without employing a liquid in such circuit metallic or otherwise adapted to
operate in conjunction with the periphery of the said armature element or moving
portion and with or without the conducting element or elements of a magnetic
pole or poles being included in the main external circuit and with or without
utilizing the inductive action of the earth or the earth as a portion of the electrical
circuit and with devices or means connected or adapted to be connected in the.
external circuit automatically or otherwise in series or parallel circuit or both or
any combination of such circuits at one or more points places or stations in the.
electrical circuit, or the main electrical circuit or circuits may be completed with,
the element or elements of the generating machine at the periphery or at the axis
of the moving portion by induction or through a partially insulating liquid. A
special construction of the elements of some of these machines are more fully.
described in the Specifications of Letters Patent and Provisional Specification
herein referred to.
The
In order to provide for an extended surface adapted to be connected with the
external circuit I sometimes so arrange the conducting material that it presents a
surface with their edges or broader surface towards the inductive pole, like a series
of bars united together alternatively so as to form a continuous conductor in
section or a continuous conductor with the ends thereof extending to the rings or
commutators upon the axle when such conducting material is mounted upon the;

page_text: moving part or otherwise to provide for the flow of the current through the
external circuit as set forth. Or the external circuit may be formed by the stationary
elements or be mounted upon or form part of the magnet or magnets arranged and
adapted to operate in conjunction with the movable or rotating permanent or electro*
magnets so that the current will be induced in the conducting portion of the
stationary element or elements connected with or adapted to form part of the
external circuit. The conducting elements may have the form of a continuous
coil or fold of conducting material as a single conductor let into or formed in
recesses or grooves dovetailed or otherwise in magnetic or non magnetic material
and lengthwise of the axle or at an angle thereto or of a spiral or screw form or
the equivalent thereof around the armature from end to end or portions thereof,
let in or formed in recesses or grooves dovetailed or otherwise or the conducting
material may be let into or formed in recesses at the ends or faces of the magnets
or elements or both the end faces and the other portions thereof with the edges or
broadest parts towards the inductive pole or poles and the conducting elements may be
arranged in a similar and in reverse manner on the stationary and movable elements.
In order to govern the production of the currents I sometimes employ a govenor
combined or adapted to be combined with such axle which govenor has combined
with it an adjustable circuit maker or breaker with means for increasing or
decreasing or regulating the resistance through a series of circuits or otherwise
the normal position of the circuit maker or series of them being such as to prevent
the development of a current from the generator except when a predetermined speed
is reached or a predetermined current can be produced when such speed is reached or
the predetermined current can be developed by the generator such current will be
in proportion or in accordance with the position of such circuit maker or breaker
or a series of them in the electrical circuit to the generator. Or a series of
generators may be combined with or driven from the same shaft and be adapted to
operate through the medium of circuit makers or breakers so as to offer resistance
in the movement of the shaft or axle according to any decrease or variation in the
work being done through the medium of the machinery driven from the engine or
engines. The governing device or devices may be connected or combined with the
gas or fuel supply for firing the boiler when steam is used or both the gas and fuel
supply and the cut offs in the steam supply pipes to the cylinders or with the
cut offs in the gas or fuel supply for the operation of gas or air engines or with
the inlets or channels to a turbine or water wheel or with the gas or fuel supply
or heating agent of thermo electric generator or gas batteries or producers or any
combination of them. Or I may employ an electric generator or a portion of the
current from an electric generator for completing or regulating the circuit to the
main generator or for increasing the power of the generator in proportion as the
speed increases. I connect the elements of the generating machine with the
elements of an accumulating device or a series of them which are preferably so
connected in the electrical circuit as to be charged or revivified with the minimum
current or current of low force developed in the electrical circuit by the generating
machine and I employ independent sets or groups of accumulating devices electro
chemical or otherwise so as to provide for one or more parts set or groups of
elements being in the charging circuit from the generator coupled for quantity
whilst one or more other parts sets or groups of elements are adapted to discharge
into one or more discharging or working circuits in tension series or otherwise or
so as to regulate or vary the potential in the charging and discharging circuits
through the medium of conserving regulating converting and other devices or means
as set forth in the Specification of the Letters Patent and the Provisional
Specification herein referred to, through insulated or partially insulated circuits or
any combination of them in which electric translating devices are adapted to
operate in parallel circuits or series or any combination of such circuits for the
translation of electric energy into light, heat, motive power or for the purposes of
traction over fixed or deterinined electrical circuits such as elevators tramway or

page_text: railway lines or the like with or without devices or means adapted to provide for
the accumulation or storage of electric energy through the medium of the electrical
circuit and conserving devices forming part of the equipment of the waggons
vehicle train or other portable object. I provide an automatic cut off in the
electrical circuit between the accumulating devices upon the portable objects and
the source or store of electric energy in the stationary portion of the system, either
on the portable objects or in the stationary portion of the electric circuit such cut
off being adapted to operate so as to prevent the return flow of the current from
the accumulating or storage devices forming part of the equipment of the portable
object or train. I also provide such automatic cut offs in the charging circuits to
the stationary conserving or storing devices or in the charging circuit to
independent conserving or accumulating devices and between the generating
device or series of them and the main electrical discharging or developing circuit
or circuits.
These cut off devices can be electrically or electro-chemically operated with or
without the medium of gas or gases under pressure devolved from electro-chemical
or gas batteries electro-deposition or by the expansion or contraction of a liquid
or solid through the medium of heat evolved through the electric current or
pumping devices with or without the agency of weights electrically operative the
cut off devices being, preferably adapted to operate upon the charging circuit
through the medium of a derived loop or shunt circuit which represents a portion
of the current passing as more fully set forth in the Patents and the Provisional
Specification herein mentioned circuit making devices of simple or compound con-
struction being adapted to operate for controlling the current to the translating
devices automatically by time mechanism electrically by pressure through the
medium of a gas gases varying pressure or otherwise with or without being
combined with time or speed mechanism or by hand or by any combination of
such means for controlling the translation of such energy in the various main-,
branch sub-branche derived or loop circuit through the medium of independent
circuits and devices adapted to operate in the charging or discharging circuits,
through the medium of simple or compound circuit makers or circuits or otherwise.
so as to vary the resistance or conductivity in quch circuits or so as to, regulate,
reduce or vary the supply or the electro motive force, or tension of the currents in
the discharging working or translating circuits dependent upon the number. of
translating devices in operation that is to say dependent upon the resistance of.
the circuit and the amount of energy expended upon energy and light by incandes-
cent or arc lamps or dependent upon the amount of energy expended for the
development of motive power through the medium of electric motors stationary or
portable for the purposes of traction or both or for the development of heat or for
the deposition of metals or for the heating of metals liquids or other purposes or
dependent upon the conservation of electric energy (the devices or elements, for
accumulating or storing energy being connected in the electrical circuit in parallel
circuit or series or any combination of such circuits) at one or more points places
or stations in one or more of the electric circuits of the system either stationary
portable or both or dependent upon the consumption or conservation of electric
energy for use upon the portable objects such as trains vehicles vessels elevators &c
on the amount of energy consumed for propelling or operating portable objects
over fixed or determined points or stations electrical circuits or any combination of
electrical circuits and of devices or means for accumulating storing regulating or
varying the electric potential in the charging and discharging circuits or in the
same circuit independent discharging or working circuits in the stationary or
portable system or parts thereof or either of them. In some cases I provide for
utilizing electric currents in a general system or apparatus or system of electrical
distribution of lighting heating motive power or the purposes of traction or any
combination of such purposes by employing methods and means, for the extraction
of metals or metallic compounds, or ores, or from silicates or quartz, with or without
'

page_text: the agency of chemical solutions either acid or alkaline by utilizing the material
from which the metal is to be extracted with or without carbon or coke mixed
therewith so as to constitute an electrode or anode of a battery with return by
earth or an insulated circuit with its electrodes coupled in series or multiple arc
multiple series or otherwise in the electric circuit with an electric generator operated
by natural forces or steam or gas engine or otherwise or with a gas battery thermo
electric generator or in a circuit with accumulators or magazines charged or
revivified from a generating source or any combination of generating or storing
and electric circuits and translating devices or such as electric motors heaters
lighting apparatus arc and incandescent portable objects such as trains waggons,
vessels elevators hoisting apparatus or the like equipped with electric circuits with
or without electric circuits with or without accumulating or converting devices in
one or more circuits of the system either stationary or portable or both as will be
understood with reference to the aforesaid Patents granted to me or on my behalf.
This method of working is applicable for the extraction of aluminium from alum,
sulphate of alum, alumina or the earthy compounds containing the oxides or base
of the metal aluminium or'I sometimes employ such method for the extracting or
deposition of iron with or without being alloyed by deposition with other metal
or metals or the extraction of gold with or without employing mercury as the
electrode and with or without heating the water or liquid employed. I sometimes
treat the metallic oxide or base or the metallic salts or any combination of them
with suitable chemical agents or agents with or without heat I sometimes first
extract or precipitate from the base or compound with or without chemical agents
and by varying the chemical agents employed provide for the separation precipitation
or extraction of the metals from the compounds or ore
I sometimes employ carbon or coke and introduce or mix the same pulverized or
otherwise with the material from which the metal is to be extracted a terminal or
conductor or a series of them so that such material will be adapted to constitute an
electrode or an anode when arranged in conjunction with another electrode or a
cathode which is preferably composed of one or more carbon sheets or plates or of
pulverized carbon; or metal plates sheets or scraps can be employed as the electrode
or cathode with or without carbon. The electrodes or elements may be separated
from each other by distance or by a sheet of insulating material or by a porous
diaphragm and may be arranged vertically or horizontally or in any other desired-
position. The said electrodes are immersed either partially or entirely in a liquid
or solution which may be the one employed for attacking or decomposing the
metal. This liquid or solution may be heated by air steam gas or any combination
of them introduced into such liquid through pipes or inlets or the said liquid or
solution may be heated in any other manner desired and where practicable by the
consumption or burning of gas evolved electrically in gas holders either as hydrogen
alone with or without carburetting or oxygen and hydrogen by electrolitic decom-
position in electro chemical batteries or otherwise the gas or gases being conducted
into separate holders through pipes or retained in the upper portion of the
magazine I employ a safety valve or safety valves combined mechanically or
electrically or both mechanically and electrically with charging circuit or generating
device operated through the agency of natural forces gas engines steam thermo
electric hydro electric generators or any combination of them and in some cases
combine the cut offs with the fuel or gas supply produced electrically or otherwise
or by the direct application of heat or by gas produced in the usual manner from
carbonaceous materials or by pumping air into a reservoir and carburetting the
same during the same operation or subsequently as the gas being utilized for the
direct conversion into heat by firing or for the development of electric currents
with or without the medium of machinery I can provide a reserve of power and
can utilize any surplus of power natural or otherwise with or without accumu-
lating or storing power in the form of electric energy or adapted to develop an
electric current in an external circuit as herein set forth.

page_text: By such means I regulate the consumption of gas or fuel or the conservation of
power and regulate or utilize the source of power and I regulate the temperature
of the liquid in the electrolitic bath or depositing chambers these improvements
may be adapted to regulate through the medium of a mechanical or electrical
governor the supply of gas to the cylinders of a gas engine or the firing of the
gas in the cylinder or the supply of steam in the flow of water to a turbine or the
speed of a wind mill or the generation or the conservation of the current dependent
upon the speed of the generator or shaft of the windmill water wheel or other
engine or the conservation of power electrically or both electrically and otherwise
and I may employ thermo regulating devices or means connected with the 'gas
system or holder fuel supply and described in the referred to Specifications the
thermo regulating devices may be provided with cut off or circuit making devices
adapted to operate in the charging circuit from the generator or electric magazine or
any combination of them so as to decrease or stop the generation or to decrease
stop or provide for the conservation of electric energy or the waste of energy or to
provide for directing the current into another circuit (or to provide for the accumu-
lation of power electrically or otherwise) or circuits in which the energy may be
conserved or stored in electric magazines or batteries or be otherwise utilized either
for the extraction precipitation or deposition of a metal or metals or for the
development of light heat motive power or for traction purposes through the
medium of incandescent or other electric lighting devices electric motors electric
heaters adapted to operate in such electric circuit or circuits in series parallel
circuit or series or series in parallel circuit or the reverse or any combination of
them suitable switching devices automatically and otherwise operative being
provided in such circuits with or without one or more electric circuits from the
generating devices or electric magazines at one or more stations or places or any
combination of them in one or more parts of the system adapted to supply electric
energy for the operation of vehicles railway trains or engines, vessels or other
portable devices or systems fitted or equipped with electrical circuits and devices
or means for the translation of electric energy into light heat brake or motive
power or for the purpose of traction or any combination of them with or without
accumulating devices upon one or more of the portable objects suitable switching
and regulating devices being provided in such circuits for rendering the discharging
circuit or circuits independent of the generating source or supply for a given time
and devices or means for varying the electric potential or regulating the electro-
motive force or tension of the current in the charging or discharging circuits so as
to provide for utilizing converting or regulating the force of the current or for
reducing or minimizing the amount of metal employed in the insulated electrical
circuit or circuits or to provide reserves of power in the form of electric energy at
one or more or any number of points stations or places in the system adapted to
be charged vivified or be operated or operative in charging and discharging or
working circuits for the development of light heat motive power brake power or
traction purposes or other purposes in an electrical system as herein provided or in
combination with the methods means or elements of the system for generating
distributing storing measuring recording regulating or utilizing for lighting heating
motive power traction or other purposes electric energy in any of the applications
or combinations as herein provided for or as set forth in the herein referred to
specifications for Letters Patent and application for Provisional Protection or any
of them or any combination of them or of the special claiming clauses of such
Patents with the improvements herein set forth, and I sometimes provide for the
decomposition of a liquid material or compound by electrolitic or electro
chemical action and provide for the accumulation in a gas tight reservoir
reservoirs or receivers of the gas or gases evolved by such process and I
utilize the gas or gases so evolved with or without steam or air and with
or without carburetting which are conducted through suitable pipes provided
with check valves to the combustion chambers furnaces puddling furnaces or

page_text: other industrial applications or for the heating of rooms compartments, or
spaces the extraction of metal or metals from their ores or base by heat given off
the combustion of the gas or for the operation of gas engines I also employ vats
or retorts composed of or built up or lined with an earthy or insulating material
or compound which will not be attacked by the chemical agent or agents employed
to facilitate or effect the decomposition or disintegration of the metal from its
compound or base. These vats or retorts, may be formed in such a manner as to
provide for the material being distributed in thin layers horizontally or otherwise
and may be of large dimensions. Or I may employ a series of such vata or retorts
and so construct them that the gas or gases given off in the process of decom-
position or extraction of the metal may be collected for use to assist in heating the
material or for other purposes. These vats or retorts may be built up or lined
with porcelain or equivalent material and may have porous partitions or divisions
formed or composed of granulated pumice stone or the like or such partitions or
divisions may have apertures or openings through them or be otherwise arranged
or constructed so as to provide for the deposition precipitation or extraction of the
metal from the material compound or base arranged to operate as an electrode or
anode. Heat may be applied to the material from which the metal is to be
extracted only. By connecting the electrodes or elements so as to constitute a
battery the extraction deposition or precipitation of the metal will be facilitated.
Or the said electrodes or elements may be placed in an electrical circuit with a
generator of electric currents or with an accumulating store or magazine or with
any combination of such devices or means connected with these electrodes or
elements in such a manner as to provide for utilizing the current from a generator
or store for the extraction of the metal from the base or compound and the
precipitation or deposition of such metal upon the cathode or a series of them or
the extraction and precipitation of the metal from one element or part of the vat
or retort to the other element or part thereof. I sometimes form these retorts in
such a manner as to provide for the precipitation or deposition of the metal in an
independent chamber. This result may be accomplished under different con-
structions or arrangements one method being the decomposition of the metal by
chemical agents say an alkaline solution which is drawn from the decomposing
chamber into a separate chamber where I provide for electrically or otherwise
depositing or precipitating the metal contained in such solution upon cathodes or
electrodes of carbon metal or other material having an affinity for metal.
may employ sheets of aluminium and carbon in such vats retorts or chambers so
as to provide for the deposition of the metal from the solution upon the cathode of
aluminium. Or I may employ sheets or ingots of copper or other metal or an
alloy whereon to deposit the aluminium. These sheets or ingots may provide for
the subsequent formation of an alloy by fusion or heat which may be rolled into
sheets wires plates or bars. Or the aluminium may be removed from the carbon
or base electrically chemically mechanically or by heat.
.T.
And I
Under such methods of extracting metals I am enabled to utilize the natural
forces such as the wind tide or the force or fall of water or the heat of the sun or
artificial heat or combustion or any combination of them by converting such forces
into electric energy and preferably accumulating or storing such energy (through
the medium of gases or electro chemically or both or otherwise) constantly or
intermittently in such a manner as to provide for the entire conservation of the
power in accordance with the devices or means employed for converting such
forces into electric energy or so as to provide for utilizing the capital expenditure
for such devices to the best advantage and holding power in reserve for the
extraction of a metal or metals as before described with or without being used in
combination with devices or means for distributing or utilizing electric energy for
lighting heating or motive power or for the purpose of traction or for other
purposes as will be fully understood by reference to my method of converting
power into electric energy or constructing and working a system of electrical

page_text: distribution or devices as herein provided or described in the Specifications of
formers Letters Patent Dated February 13th A.D. 1882 N° 700. February 16th A.D.
1882 N° 766 February 22nd A.D. 1882 N° 856 March 10th A.D. 1882 N° 1174..
March 30th A.D. 1882 N° 2558 August 22nd A.D. 1882 N° 4034 and in my
Provisional Specification filed January 1 A.D. 1883 N° 24. In some cases I employ
secondary batteries accumulators electric reservoirs or magazines adapted to
provide for the conservation or storage of electric energy electro chemically
through the medium of gasses or otherwise and I employ such accumulating or
storing devices in one or more of the circuits partially or entirely insulated for the
purpose of holding the energy in reserve and for regulating and converting the
force of the current or the electric potential in the discharging circuits in one or more
of the circuits of the system in which are employed the electrode or elements
arranged in such a manner as to be adapted to provide for the extraction
precipitation or deposition of the metal from the metallic base or compound.
I provide switching devices electric circuit and governing devices for controlling
the supply of electric energy to such electrodes or elements and the switching
devices may be automatically operative electrically by pressure or by the evolution
of gas or compression of air or gas or the pumping of liquid with or without
weights or springs being employed so as to represent the amount of work relatively
to the amount of metal extracted or deposited. Such automatic cut off may be
combined with an armature or core of a magnet or solenoid of simple or compound
form or with a lever adapted to be operated by the deposition on somewhat the
same principal as an electro depositing compressing pumping or other meter and
cut off devices and measuring and recording mechanism may be combined with
these devices so as to record the consumption of energy the conservation development
or utilization of energy and a commutator or switching devices automatically
operated by the meter device by time mechanism electrically or otherwise may be
employed so as to provide for directing the current from one set of such electrodes or
elements into other set sets groups or series when the metal shall have been
extracted or deposited as herein provided for or the switching devices may be
operated by hand or both by hand and electrically or otherwise. Any means
which will indicate a given or proportionate amount of work in the circuit or
circuits will provide for measuring and recording the current passing or the amount
of work done can be combined with switching or commutating devices in such a
manner as to cut one set or series of electrodes or elements out of the circuit from
the generating source or storage source or both and putting another set or series
of electrodes or elements in the charging circuit in series or parallel circuit. By
the employment of a series of these devices I am enabled to provide for constantly
utilizing the current for the extraction or deposition of the metal or metals
from their bases or compounds through the medium of a series or groups of
electrodes or elements adapted to be placed automatically or otherwise in the.
electric circuit these electrodes may be adapted to be combined in the circuit in
series parallel circuit through the medium of grouping boxes or a centrallized
system of switches or the like and during such time as I am not able to utilize
the current I provide for conserving or storing the energy through the medium of
accumulating or storing devices as before stated and I preferably employ groups
or series of these accumulating devices or batteries having extensions or terininala
extending to a grouping box or centralized system of switches mounted upon one
or more rotating shafts or endwise or movable bars adapted to move or operate
across the terminals extending from the electrodes or elements the circuits may be
completed through liquids metallic or otherwise and for the purpose of ensuring
good electrical contacts I sometimes employ mercurial contacts and employ
glycerine or other insulating and protecting medium upon the surface of the
mercury the mercury being enclosed in an insulating box the commutating, or
switching devices are arranged and adapted to operate in such a manner as to,
provide for charging one part or series of accumulating devices coupled in parallel,

page_text: circuit or in series dependent upon the distance of such device from the generating
source or the electrodes or elements adapted to provide for the extraction of the
metal or metals can be adapted to operate in a similar manner and when desired to
connect in the translating circuits for the development of light or other purpose and
be adapted to operate as regulator of potential in the translating circuits these
accumulating devices or the electrodes or elements being adapted to operate in the
circuits so that some part or series may be connected in the discharging or working
circuit with or without containing the electrodes or elements adapted to provide
for the extraction precipitation or deposition as before stated.
These electrodes or elements from which the metal is extracted precipitated or
deposited may be used or employed in an electrical system of distribution or an
apparatus or system for generating and distributing electric energy for the purpose
partly or entirely of utilizing the capital expended in generating apparatus to its
full capacity that is to say when some predetermined maximum storage of energy
in an electrical system shall be reached any surplus which can be produced by
the generating apparatus can be utilized either directly from the storage systems
or from the generator or both and through the medium of suitable electric
conductors connections or circuits and switching devices.which may be automatically
operative as before stated the elements which provide for the extraction of the
metal need only be in the circuit when such maximum storage of energy in the
system shall be reached. Or such elements may be adapted to use as absorbents
in the electrical system and the electrical circuit may be completed through them
through the medium of an insulated circuit or by earth an insulated circuit with
return by earth or otherwise and I provide for connecting such number of them
in series as will be suited to the force of the current transmitted through the
charging circuit for instance when utilizing the natural force from some distant
point such as the wind, the tide or the force or fall of water or the waste heat
from furnaces or works or when coal or other agents either as gas carbonic oxide
or otherwise are converted into electric energy at some distant point by the direct
transformation of heat into electric energy through the medium of Thermo electric
generators or the evolution of gases or by the employment of steam or gas engines
or any combination of these means sometimes it is desirable to transmit the
currents with high tension in order to lessen the amount of metal employed in the
electrical circuit. In such cases the tension of the current transmitted or the
potential being high I may connect the elements from which it is designed to
extract the metal in series in the charging circuit through the medium of a
centrallized system of switches and conductors commutating or switching devices
at which points of contact I preferably employ an insulating liquid as will be
understood with reference to the hereinbefore referred to Patents and application.
The number of the elements coupled in series in the charging circuit being
dependent upon the force of the current transmitted.
I may employ a series or sets of groups of these elements adapted to operate
independently of each other and connected with the charging circuit or the electrodes
or elements from which the metal is extracted may be adapted to operate in the
circuits so as to provide for utilizing the full force of the generators for useful
work these devices and means elements or electrodes adapted to operate for the
extraction of a metal or metals may be adapted to operate in the discharging or
translating circuits and may be connected at will or automatically in such circuits
so as to develop the current in the external circuits (containing the translating
or storing devices in multiple arc series or any combination of circuits) with an
electro motive force dependent upon the number of elements coupled in series in
such circuits that is to say the electrodes or elements in the vats reservoirs or
retorts adapted to provide for the extraction of aluminium or other metal can be
utilized as batteries or magazines for the accumulating of power in the form of
electric energy and develop power in the external circuit through the medium
automatically or otherwise operative switching devices as employed with other

page_text: form of batteries accumulators or regulating devices or alternately consecutively
or intermittently being in the charging and discharging circuits as herein set forth
in any of the combinations applications or uses
The improvements herein described or any portion or combination of them are
intended to be used in combination with or independently of the improvements
set forth in the Specifications of my following Letters Patent and applications
N° 5229 30th November 1881. N° 5233. 30th November 1881. N° 5742.
31 December 1881. No 85. 6th January 1882. No 224. 16th January 1882.
No 700. 13th February 1882. N° 766. 16th February 1882. N° 856. 22nd February
1882. N° 1174. 10th March 1882. N° 1556. 30th March 1882. N° 2558. 30th May
1882. N° 4034. 22nd August 1882. N° 24. 1 January 1883. and N° 2147
27th April 1883.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Stokes Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th October 1883.
JOSEPH STOKES WILLIAMS of Riverton, New Jersey, United States of America
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE GENERATION, STORAGE REGULATION
DISTRIBUTION MEASUREMENT AND UTILIZATION OF ELECTRICITY AND APPARATUS
OR MEANS THEREFOR AND IN METHODS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATION OF SUCH APPARATUS OR PARTS THEREOF."
"
My invention consists in improvements in and relating to the generation storage
regulation distribution measurement and utilization of electricity and in apparatus
methods or means therefor and in apparatus devices or means employed in the
construction or working of an apparatus or system of electrical distribution and
the said invention relates partly to methods and means for utilizing the generating
apparatus to their full capacity or so as to provide for utilizing a surplus of power
or heat at gas works manufacturing establishments or elsewhere or devices or
means for converting natural forces into power and utilizing such power or
surplus of such power by its conversion into electric energy and the storage of
such energy or any surplus of energy capable of being developed either of high or
low potential in the electric circuits of energy capable of being produced by the
generating devices or apparatus over what would be required in an electrical
system of distribution the devices may be operated through the medium of natural
forces such as the wind, the tide or the force or fall of water and wind mills
turbines or water wheels with or without means for compressing air and with or
without means for carburetting the air so compressed and utilizing such
carburetted air for the generation of electric currents or other purposes or by the
conversion of coal or fuel into electric energy through the medium of steam or gas
for the operation of suitable engines connected or combined with the generating
machines thermo electric generators or gas generators or any combination of them
which may be adapted to operate or be combined with one or more of the electrical
circuits of the system preferably through the medium of accumulating devices
magazines or batteries adapted to be charged vivified or revivified and to hold
electric energy in reserve at one or more points in the electrical system of
distribution and so as to make the discharging circuits operative and to regulate
the potential in such circuits independently of the potential in other circuits or the
charging circuit or circuits or to form part of the equipment of vessels vehicles.
trains elevators or other portable objects (so as to regulate convert or vary the
potential in one or more of the electrical circuits thereon) adapted to operate from
fixed or determined points places or stations or to be operated over some fixed or
determined line of rail or metallic circuit with or without conserving or accumu
lating devices designed to form part of or operate in conjunction with an electric
circuit or system forming part of one or more of such portable objects with or
without devices or means for connecting and disconnecting automatically or
otherwise one or more electric circuits upon one or more independent portable
objects or vehicles with one or more electric circuits upon other vehicles or with
one or more stationary circuits and with or without independent accumulating or
conserving devices adapted to provide for holding energy in reserve upon each of
such waggons or vehicles or other portable objects and with or without utilizing
the earth as a portion of the electrical circuit or circuits in the stationary and
portable parts of the system or either of them or any combination of an insulated
circuit with partly uninsulated circuits with the devices for accumulating or

page_text: ог current transformers or
storing energy and electric potential convertors
regulators or the devices for translating electric energy such as lighting apparatus
(either arc or incandescent) heating apparatus for warming buildings or heating
metals liquids or other purposes or for the translation of electric energy into motive
power either for traction or other purposes or for the deposition or extraction of
metals by heat or electro deposition or for the heating of bars metals or materials
in passing through rolls or adapted to be compressed die'd or formed within moulds
or shaping devices when heated by the electric current the circuits or devices in
which the energy is transformed or adapted to be translated being connected in
the electrical circuit in series parallel circuit, multiple series, or series or any
combination of such circuits insulated or partially insulated with returns by earth
or the reverse the accumulating devices being adapted to provide for the
conservation of power in the form of electric energy electro chemically or through
the medium of a gas or gases condensers or any combination of such means adapted
to provide a reserve in one or more of the circuits or to serve as electro motive
force or potential convertors regulators or reducers with or without induction
devices in one or more of the circuits of the system to operate as potential
regulators of alternating or continuous current or to convert continuous currents
into alternating currents in the working circuits or vice versa for lighting heating
motive power or other purposes and being combined or adapted to be coinbined
in the electric circuit through the medium of switching or commutating devices so
as to provide for varying or regulating the supply or potential in independent
circuits or for varying regulating and stopping or diminishing the discharge of
the current from the devices or means in which the electric energy is stored or
held in reserve or from the main electric circuit. The various improvements
combinations applications or methods of working as claimed or described in the
specifications of former Letters Patent granted to me or on my behalf or any
combinations of them are adapted to be used in combination with the improvements
combinations applications or methods of working as herein provided for.
By such method of working I am enabled to utilize the full capacity of the
plant at industrial works or elsewhere or devices or means for converting a natural
force or power or the force or fall of water or the force of the wind into electric
energy through the medium of water wheels turbines wind-mills or otherwise and
to provide for storing any surplus of power in the form of electric energy over that
which may be necessary for the operation of the machinery in such works or
elsewhere or the plant may be utilized mostly or entirely during a given time for
the operation of the machinery and at other times for converting power into
electric energy and storing such energy at one or more points places or stations
connected or adapted to be connected with the electric circuit. In order to provide
for such a method of working I combine permanently or at intervals with the
shaft or axle of the engine (either gas or steam or any combination of them) or
with the turbine or water wheel or wind engine (for utilizing the force or fall of
water or the force of the wind) a dynamo or magneto electric inachine or machines
and I regulate the current developed (if any) by such machines dependent upon
the speed of the shaft or axle or upon the amount of work imposed upon the same
The generators may be adapted to operate as fly wheels and continuous or
alternating current producers with devices or means in the electrical circuit or
circuits therefrom for conserving or utilizing the energy developed I preferably
employ generating machines whose elements are connected in the electrical circuits
and adapted to operate in conjunction with one or more inductive poles or one or
more magnetic fields in which one or more poles are employed in such a manner
as to provide for the induction of a current in one or more set of elements connected
with the external circuit in series or parallel circuit or as a continuous circuit
without the reversal of the current during any portion of the movement of one or
more of the elements in one direction. The conducting elements of the pole or
pole pieces or magnetic element or elements both stationary and movable may be
connected in a continuous circuit with or without utilizing the inductive action of

page_text: the earth. The magnetic element or elements may consist of a permanent or
electro magnet or magnets of horse shoe or other form with or without being
connected in the external circuit and with or without the movable element or
elements being connected in the external circuit at the axle or with or without
commutating devices and with or without employing a liquid in the electrical
circuit between the portions of the circuit of the machine and the external circuit
and with or without the completion of the electrical circuit from the periphery of
the armature or moving portion and with or without employing a liquid in such
circuit metallic or otherwise adapted to operate in conjunction with the periphery
of the said armature element or moving portion and with or without the conducting
element or elements of a magnetic pole or poles being included in the main external
circuit and with or without utilizing the inductive action of the earth or the earth
as a portion of the electrical circuit and with devices or means connected or
adapted to be connected in the external circuit automatically or otherwise in series
or parallel circuit or both or any combination of such circuits at one or more
points places or stations in the electrical circuit or the main electrical circuit or
circuits may be completed with the element or elements of the generating machine
at the periphery or at the axis of the moving portion by induction or through a
partially insulating liquid. A special construction of the elements of some of these
machines are more fully described in the specifications of Letters Patent herein
referred to.
In order to provide for an extended surface adapted to be connected with the
external circuit I sometimes so arrange the conducting material that it presents a
surface with their edges or broader surface towards the inductive pole, like a series
of bars united together alternatively so as to form a continuous conductor in section
or a continuous conductor with the ends thereof extending to the rings or com-
mutators upon the axle when such conducting material is mounted upon the
moving part or otherwise to provide for the flow of the current through the external
circuit as set forth. Or the external circuit may be formed by the stationary
elements or be mounted upon or form part of the magnet or magnets arranged and
adapted to operate in conjunction with the movable or rotating permanent or
electro magnets so that the current will be induced in the conducting portion of
the stationary element or elements connected with or adapted to form part of the
external circuit. The conducting elements may have the form of a continuous coil
or fold of conducting material as a single conductor let into or formed in recesses
or grooves dovetailed or otherwise in magnetic or non magnetic material and
lengthwise of the axle or at an angle thereto or of a spiral or screw form or the
equivalent thereof around the armature from end to end or portions thereof, let in
or formed in recesses or grooves dovetailed or otherwise or the conducting material
may be let into or formed in recesses at the ends or faces of the magnets or
elements or both the end faces and the other portions thereof with the edges or
broadest part towards the inductive pole or poles and the conducting elements
may be arranged in a similar and in reverse manner on the stationary and movable
elements.
In order to govern the production of the currents I sometimes employ a
governor combined or adapted to be combined with such axle which governor has
combined with it an adjustable circuit maker or breaker with means for increasing
or decreasing or regulating the resistance through a series of circuits or otherwise
the normal position of the circuit maker or series of them being such as to prevent
the development of a current from the generator except when a predetermined
speed is reached or a predetermined current can be produced when such speed is
reached or the predetermined current can be developed by the generator such
current will be in proportion or in accordance with the position of such circuit
maker or breaker or a series of them in the electrical circuit to the generator. Or
a series of generators may be combined with or driven from the same shaft and be
adapted to operate through the medium of circuit makers or breakers so as to
offer resistance in the movement of the shaft or axle according to any decrease or

page_text: variation in the work being done through the medium of the machinery driven
from the engine or engines. The governing device or devices may be connected
or combined with the gas or fuel supply for firing the boiler when steam is used
or both the gas and fuel supply and the cut offs in the steam supply pipes to the
cylinders or with the cut offs in the gas or fuel supply for the operation of gas or
air engines or with the inlets or channels to a turbine or water wheel or with the
gas or fuel supply or heating agent of thermo electric generator or gas batteries or
producers or any combination of them. Or I may employ an electric generator or
a portion of the current from an electric generator for completing or regulating the
circuit to the main generator or for increasing the power of the generator in
proportion as the speed increases. I connect the elements of the generating
machine with the elements of an accumulating device or a series of them which
are preferably so connected in the electrical circuit as to be charged or revivified
with the minimum current or current of low force developed in the electrical
circuit by the generating machine and I employ independent sets or groups of
accumulating devices electro chemical or otherwise so as to provide for one or more
parts set or groups of elements being in the charging circuit from the generator
coupled for quantity whilst one or more other parts sets or groups of elements are
adapted to discharge into one or more discharging or working circuits in tension
series or otherwise or so as to regulate or vary the potential in the charging and
discharging circuits through the medium of conserving regulating converting and
other devices or means as set forth in the Specifications of Letters Patent herein
referred to, through insulated or partially insulated circuits or any combination of
them in which electric translating devices are adapted to operate in parallel circuits
or series or any combination of such circuits for the translation of electric energy
into light, heat, motive power or for the purposes of traction over fixed or
determined electrical circuits such as elevators tramways or railway lines or the
like with or without devices or means adapted to provide for the accumulation or
storage of electric energy through the medium of the electrical circuit and
conserving devices forming part of the equipment of the waggons vehicle train or
other portable object. I provide an automatic cut off in the electrical circuit
between the accumulating devices upon the portable objects and the source or
store of electric energy in the stationary portion of the system either on the portable
objects or in the stationary portion of the electric circuit such cut off being adapted
to operate so as to prevent the return flow of the current from the accumu-
lating or storage devices forming part of the equipment of the portable object or
train. I also provide such automatic cut offs in the charging circuits to the
stationary conserving or storing devices or in the charging circuit to independent
conserving or accumulating devices and between the generating device or series
of them and the main electrical discharging or developing circuit or circuits.
These cut off devices can be electrically or electro chemically operated with or
without the medium of gas or gases under pressure devolved froin electro-chemical
or gas batteries electro deposition or by the expansion or contraction of a liquid or
solid through the medium of heat evolved through the electric current or
pumping devices with or without the agency of weights electrically operative
the cut off devices being preferably adapted to operate upon the charging
circuit through the medium of a derived loop or shunt circuit which repre-
sents a portion of the current passing as more fully set forth in the
Specifications of former Letters Patents berein mentioned circuit making
devices of simple or compound construction being adapted to operate for
controlling the current to the translating devices automatically by time mechanism
electrically by pressure through the medium of a gas gases varying pressure or
otherwise with or without being combined with time or speed mechanism or by
hand or by any combination of such means for controlling the translation of such
energy in the various main-branch sub-brauch derived or loop circuits through the
medium of independent circuits and devices adapted to operate in the charging or
discharging circuits through the medium of simple or compound circuit makers or

page_text: circuits or otherwise so as to vary the resistance or conductivity in such circuits
or so as to regulate reduce or vary the supply or the electro motive force or tension
of the currents in the discharging working or translating circuits dependent upon
the number of translating devices in operation that is to say dependent upon the
resistance of the circuit and the amount of energy expended or upon the amount
of light by incandescent or arc lamps or dependent upon the amount of energy
expended for the development of motive power through the medium of electric-
motors stationary or portable for the purposes of traction or both or for the
development of beat or for the deposition of metals or for the heating of metals
liquids or other purposes or dependent upon the conservation of electric energy
(the devices or elements for accumulating or storing enery being connected in the
electrical circuit in parallel circuit or series or any combination of such circuits) at
one or more points places or stations in one or more of the electric circuits of the
system either stationary portable or both or dependent upon the consumption or
conservation of electric energy for use upon the portable objects such as trains
vehicles vessels elevators &c on the amount of energy consumed for propelling or
operating portable objects over fixed or determined points or stations electrical
circuits or any combination of electrical circuits and of devices or means for
accumulating storing regulating or varying the electric potential in the charging
and discharging circuits or in the same circuit independent discharging or
working circuits in the stationary or portable system or parts thereof or either
of them. In some cases I provide for utilizing electric currents in a general system
or apparatus or system of electrical distribution by lighting heating motive power or
the purposes of traction or any combination of such purposes by employing methods
and means for the extraction of metals or metallic compounds or ores or from
silicates or quartz with or without the agency of chemical solutions either acid
or alkaline by utilizing the material from which the metal is to be extracted
with or without carbon or coke mixed therewith so as to constitute an electrode or
anode of a battery with return by earth or an insulated circuit with its electrodes
coupled in series or multiple are multiple series or otherwise in the electric circuit
with an electric generator operated by natural forces or steam or gas engine or
otherwise or with a gas battery thermo electric generator or in a circuit with
accumulators or magazines charged or revivified from a generating source or any
combination of generating or storing devices and electric circuits and translating
devices such as electric motors heaters lighting apparatus arc and incandescent
portable objects such as trains waggons, vessels elevators hoisting apparatus or the
like equipped with electric circuits with or without accumulating or converting
devices in one or more circuits of the system either stationary or portable or both
as will be understood with reference to the aforesaid Patents granted to me or on
my behalf. This method of working is applicable for the extraction of aluminium
from alum, sulphate of alum, aluminia or the earthy compounds containing the
oxides or. base of the metal aluminium or I sometimes employ such method for the
extracting or deposition of iron with or without being alloyed by deposition with
other metal or metals or the extraction of gold and with or without heating the
liquid employed. I sometimes treat the metallic oxide or base or the metallic salts
or any combination of them with suitable chemical agents or agents with or
without heat I sometimes first extract or precipitate from the base or compound
with or without chemical agents and by varying the chemical agents employed
provide for the separation precipitation or extraction of the metals from the
compounds or ore.
I sometimes employ carbon or coke and introduce or mix the same pulverized or
otherwise with the material from which the metal is to be extracted a terminal or
conductor or a series of them so that such material will be adapted to constitute
an electrode or an anode when arranged in conjunction with another electrode or a
cathode which is preferably composed of one or more carbon sheets or plates or
of pulverized carbon; or metal plates sheets or scraps can be employed as the
electrode or cathode with or without carbon. The electrodes or elements may be

page_text: separated from each other by distance or by a sheet of insulating material or by a
porous diaphragm and may be arranged vertically or horizontally or in any other
desired position. The said electrodes are immersed either partially or entirely in
a liquid or solution which may be the one employed for attacking or decomposing
the metal. This liquid or solution may be heated by air steam gas or any combina-
tion of them introduced into such liquid through pipes or inlets or the said liquid
or solution may be heated in any other manner desired and where practicable by
the consumption or burning of gas evolved electrically in gas holders either as
hydrogen alone with or without carburetting or oxygen and hydrogen by electro-
litic decomposition in electro chemical batteries or otherwise the gas or gases being
conducted into separate holders through pipes or retained in the upper portion of
the magazine I employ a safety valve or safety valves combined mechanically or
electrically or both mechanically and electrically with charging circuit or generating
device operated through the agency of natural forces gas engines steam thermo
electric hydro electric generators or any combination of them and in some cases
combine the cut offs with the fuel or gas supply produced electrically or otherwise
or by the direct application of heat or by gas produced in the usual manner from
carbonaceous materials or by pumping air into a reservoir and carburetting the
same during the same operation or subsequently as the gas being utilized for the
direct conversion into heat by firing or for the development of electric currents
with or without the medium of machinery I can provide a reserve of power and
can utilize any surplus of power natural or otherwise with or without accumu-
lating or storing power in the form of electric energy are adapted to develop an
electric current in an external circuit as herein set forth.
By such means I regulate the consumption of gas or fuel or the conservation of
power and regulate or utilize the source of power and I regulate the temperature of
the liquid in the electrolitic bath or depositing chambers these improvements may
be adapted to regulate through the medium of a mechanical or electrical governor
the supply of gas to the cylinders of a gas engine or the firing of the gas in the
cylinder or the supply of steam in the flow of water to a turbine or the speed of a
wind-mill or the generation or the conservation of the current dependent upon the
speed of the generator or shaft of the wind mill water wheel or other engine or the
conservation of power electrically or both electrically and otherwise and I may
employ thermo regulating devices or means connected with the gas system or holder
fuel supply and described in the referred to Specifications the thermo regulating
devices may be provided with cut off or circuit making devices adapted to operate
in the charging circuit from the generator or electric magazine or any combination
of them so as to decrease or stop the generation or to decrease stop or provide for
the conservation of electric energy or the waste of energy or to provide for directing
the current into another circuit (or to provide for the accumulation of power
electrically or otherwise) or circuits in which the energy may be conserved
or stored in electric magazines or batteries or be otherwise utilized either
for the extraction precipitation or deposition of a metal or metals or
for the development of light heat motive power or for traction purposes
through the medium of incandescent or other electric lighting devices electric
motors electric heaters adapted to operate in such electric circuit or circuits
in series parallel circuit or series or series in parallel circuit or the reverse or any
combination of them suitable switching devices automatically and otherwise
operative being provided in such circuits with or without one or more electric
circuits from the generating devices or electric magazines at one or more stations
or places or any combination of them in one or more parts of the system adapted
to supply electric energy for the operation of vehicles railway trains or engines,
vessels or other portable devices or systems fitted or equipped with electrical
circuits and devices or means for the translation of electric energy into light heat
brake or motive power or for the purpose of traction or any combination of them
with or without accumulating devices upon one or more of the portable objects
suitable switching and regulating devices being provided in such circuits for

page_text: rendering the discharging circuit or circuits independent of the generating source
or supply for a given time and devices or means for varying the electric potential
or regulating the electromotive force or tension of the current in the charging or
discharging circuits so as to provide for utilizing converting or regulating the force
of the current or for reducing or minimizing the amount of metal employed in the
insulated electrical circuit or circuits or to provide reserves of power in the form of
electric energy at one or more or any number of points stations or places in the
system adapted to be charged vivified or be operated or operative in charging and
discharging or working circuits for the development of light heat motive power
brake power or traction purposes or other purposes in an electrical system as
herein provided or in combination with the methods means or elements of the
system for generating distributing storing measuring recording regulating or
utilizing for lighting heating motive power traction or other purposes electric
energy in any of the applications or combinations as herein provided for or as set
forth in the herein referred to specifications of Letters Patent or any combination
of them or of the special claiming clauses of such Patents with the improvements
herein set forth, and I sometimes provide for the decomposition of a liquid material
or compound by electrolitic or electro chemical action and provide for the accumu-
lation in a gas tight reservoir reservoirs or receivers of the gas or gases evolved
by such process and I utilize the gas or gases so evolved with or without steam
or air and with or without carburetting which are conducted through suitable
pipes provided with check valves to the combustion chambers furnaces puddling
furnaces or other industrial applications or for the heating of rooms compartments
or spaces the extraction of thetal or metals from their orės or base by heat given
off the combustion of the gas or for the operation of gas engines I also employ vats
or retorts composed of or built up or lined with an earthy or insulating material
or compound which will not be attacked by the chemical agent or agents employed
to facilitate or effect the decomposition or disintegration of the metal from its
compound or base. These vats or retorts may be formed in such a manner as to
provide for the material being distributed in thin layers horizontally or otherwise
and may be of large dimensions.
Or I may employ a series of such vats or retorts and so construct them that the
gas or gases given off in the process of decomposition or extraction of the metal
may be collected for use to assist in heating the material or for other purposes.
These vats or retorts may be built up or lined with porcelain or equivalent material
and may have porous partitions or divisions formed or composed of granulated
pumice stone or the like or such partitions or divisions may have apertures or
openings through them or be otherwise arranged or constructed so as to provide
for the deposition precipitation or extraction of the metal from the material
compound or base arranged to operate as an electrode or anode. Heat may be
applied to the material from which the metal is to be extracted only. By connecting
the electrodes or.elements so as to constitute a battery the extraction deposition
or precipitation of the metal will be facilitated. Or the said electrodes or elements
may be placed in an electrical circuit with a generator of electric currents or with
an accumulating store or magazine or with any combination of such devices or
means connected with these electrodes or elements in such a manner as to provide
for utilizing the current from a generator or store for the extraction of the metal
from the base or compound and the precipitation or deposition of such metal upon
the cathode br a series of them or the extraction and precipitation of the metal
from one element or part of the vat or retort to the other element or part thereof.
I sometimes form these retorts in such a manner as to provide for the precipitation
or deposition of the metal in an independent chamber. This result may be
accomplished under different constructions or arrangements one method being the
decomposition of the metal by chemical agents say an alkaline solution which is
drawn from the decomposing chamber into a separate chamber where I provide for
electrically or otherwise depositing or precipitating the metal contained in such
solution upon cathodes or electrodes of carbon metal or other material having an

page_text: affinity for metal. And I may employ sheets of aluminium and carbon in such
vata retorts or chambers so as to provide for the deposition of the metal from the
solution upon the cathode of aluminium. Or I may employ sheets or ingots of
copper or other metal or an alloy whereon to deposit the aluminium. These
sheets or ingots may provide for the subsequent formation of an alloy by fusion
or heat which may be rolled into sheets wires plates or bars. Or the aluminium
may be removed from the carbon or base electrically chemically mechanically or
by heat.
Under such methods of extracting metals I am enabled to utilize the natural
forces such as the wind tide or the force or fall of water or the beat of the sun or
artificial heat or any combination of them by converting such forces into electric
energy and preferably accumulating or storing such energy (through the medium
of gases or electro chemically or both or otherwise) constantly or intermittently
in such a manner as to provide for the entire conservation of the power in
accordance with the devices or means employed for converting such forces into
electric energy or so as to provide for utilizing the capital expenditure for such
devices to the best advantage and holding power in reserve for the extraction of a
metal or metals as before described with or without being used in combination
with devices or means for distributing or utilizing electric energy for lighting
heating or motive power or for the purpose of traction or for other purposes as
will be fully understood by reference to my method of converting power into
electric energy or constructing and working a system of electrical distribution or
devices as herein provided for or described in the Specifications of former Letters
Patent dated February 13th A.D 1882 N° 700 February 16th A.D 1882 N° 766
February 22nd A.D 1882 N° 856 March 10th A.D 1882 N° 1174 March 30th
A.D 1882 N° 1556 May 30th AD 1882 N° 2558 August 22nd A.D. 1882 N° 4034
and January 1" A.D 1883 N° 24. In some cases I employ secondary batteries
accumulators electric reservoirs or magazines adapted to provide for the conservation
or storage of electric energy electro chemically through the medium of gases or
otherwise and I employ such accumulating or storing devices in one or more of
the circuits partially or entirely insulated for the purpose of holding the energy in
reserve and for regulating and converting the force of the current or the electric
potential in the discharging circuits in one or more of the circuits of the system in
which are employed the electrode or elements arranged in such a manner as to be
adapted to provide for the extraction precipitation or deposition of the metal from
the metallic base or compound.
I provide switching devices electric circuit and governing devices for controlling
the supply of electric energy to such electrodes or elements and the switching
devices may be automatically operative electrically by pressure or by the evolution
of gas or compression of air or gas or the pumping of liquid with or without
weights or springs being employed so as to represent the amount of work
relatively to the amount of metal extracted or deposited. Such automatic cut off
may be combined with an armature or core of a magnet or solenoid of simple or
compound form or with a lever adapted to be operated by the deposition on
somewhat the same principle as an electro depositing compressing pumping or
other meter and cut off devices and measuring and recording mechanism may be
combined with these devices so as to record the consumption of energy the
conservation development or utilization of energy and a commutator or switching
devices automatically operated by the meter device by time mechanism electrically
or otherwise may be employed so as to provide for directing the current from one
set of such electrodes or elements into other set sets groups or series when the
metal shall have been extracted or deposited as herein provided for or the
switching devices may be operated by hand or both by hand and electrically or
otherwise any means which will indicate a given or proportionate amount of work
in the circuit or circuits will provide for measuring and recording the current
passing or the amount of work done can be combined with switching or
commutating devices in such a manner as to cut one set or series of electrodes or

page_text: elements out of the circuit from the generating source or storage source or both
and putting another set or series of electrodes or elements in the charging circuit
in series or parallel circuit. By the employment of a series of these devices I am
enabled to provide for constantly utilizing the current for the extraction or
deposition of the metal or metals from their bases or compounds through the
medium of a series or groups of electrodes or elements adapted to be placed
automatically or otherwise in the electric circuit these electrodes may be adapted
to be combined in the circuit in series parallel circuit through the medium of
grouping boxes or a centrallized system of switches or the like and during
such time as I am not able to utilize the current I provide for conserving or
storing the energy through the medium of accumulating or storing devices as
before stated and I preferably employ groups or series of these accumulating
devices or batteries having extensions or terminals extending to a grouping box or
centrallized system of switches mounted upon one or more rotating shafts or end wise
or movable bars adapted to move or operate across the terminals extending from
the electrodes or elements the circuits may be completed through liquids metallic
or otherwise and for the purpose of ensuring good electrical contacts I sometimes
employ mercurial contacts and employ glycerine or other insulating and protecting
medium upon the surface of the mercury the mercury being enclosed in an
insulating box the commutating or switching devices are arranged and adapted to
operate in such a manner as to provide for charging one part or series of accumu-
lating devices coupled in parallel circuit or in series dependent upon the distance
of such device from the generating source or the electrodes or elements adapted to
provide for the extraction of the metal or metals can be adapted to operate in a
similar manner and when desired to connect in the translating circuits for the
development of light or other purposes and be adapted to operate as regulators of
potential in the translating circuits these accumulating devices or the electrodes or
elements being adapted to operate in the circuits so that some part or series may
be connected in the discharging or working circuit with or without containing the
electrodes or elements adapted to provide for the extraction precipitation or
deposition as before stated.
:
These electrodes or elements from which the metal is extracted precipitated or
deposited may be used or employed in an electrical system of distribution or an
apparatus or system for generating and distributing electric energy for the purpose
partly or entirely of utilizing the capital expended in generating apparatus to its
full capacity that is to say when some predetermined maximum storage of energy in
an electrical system shall be reached any surplus which can be produced by the
generating apparatus can be utilized either directly from the storage systems or
from the generator or both and through the medium of suitable electric conductors
connections or circuits and switching devices which may be automatically operative
as before stated the elements which provide for the extraction of the metal need
only be in the circuit when such maximum storage of energy in the system shall
be reached.. Or such elements may be adapted to use as absorbents in the electrical
system and the electrical circuit may be completed through them through the
medium of an insulated circuit or by earth or otherwise and I provide for con-
necting such number of them in series as will be suited to the force of the current'
transmitted through the charging circuit for instance when utilizing the natural
force from some distant point such as the wind, the tide or the force or fall of
water or the waste heat from furnaces or works or when coal or other agents either
as gas carbonic oxide or otherwise are converted into electric energy at some distant
point by the direct transformation of heat into electric energy through the medium-
of thermo electric generators or the evolution of gases or by the employment of
steam or gas engines or any combination of these means sometimes it is desirable
to transmit the currents with high tension in order to lessen the amount of metal
employed in the electrical circuit. In such cases the tension of the current trans-
mitted or the potential being high I may connect the elements from which it is
designed to extract the metal in series in the charging circuit through-the medium

page_text: of a centrallized system of switches and conductors commutating or switching
devices at which points of contact I preferably employ an insulating liquid as will
be understood with reference to the hereinbefore referred to Patents.
The number of the elements coupled in series in the charging circuit being
dependent upon the force of the current transmitted.
I I may employ a series or sets of groups of these elements adapted to operate inde-
pendently of each other and connected with the charging circuit or the electrodes
or elements from which the metal is extracted may be adapted to operate in the
circuits so as to provide for utilizing the full force of the generators for useful
work these devices and means elements or electrodes adapted to operate for the
extraction of a metal or metals may be adapted to operate in the discharging or
translating circuits and may be connected at will or automatically in such circuits
so as to develop the current in the external circuits (containing the translating or
storing devices in multiple arc series or any combination of circuits) with an
electro motive force dependent upon the number of elements coupled in series in
such circuits that is to say the electrodes or elements in the vats reservoirs or
retorts adapted to provide for the extraction of aluminium or other metal can be
utilized as batteries or magazines for the accumulating of power in the form of
electric energy and develop power in the external circuit through the medium of
automatically or otherwise operative switching devices as employed with other
form of batteries accumulators or regulating devices or alternately consecutively or
intermittently being in the charging and discharging circuits as herein set forth in
any of the combinations applications or uses.
The improvements herein described or any portion or combination of them are
intended to be used in combination with or independently of the improvements set
forth in the Specifications of my following Letters Patent namely N° 5229
30th November 1881. N° 5233. 30th November 1881. N° 5742 31st December
1881. N° 85 6th January 1882. N° 224 16th January 1882. N° 700
13th February 1882. N° 766 16th February 1882. N° 856 22nd February 1882
No 1174 10th March 1882. N° 1556 30th March 1882. N° 2558 30th May 1882.
N° 4034 22nd August 1882. N° 24 1 January 1883, and N° 2147 27th April
1883.
I sometimes employ aluminium or a metallic alloy containing aluminium which
is not oxidizable in the acid solution employed in batteries (secondary or otherwise)
-I sometimes perforate the plate and coat the same with lead or oxides of an
active agent and sometimes employ such alloy or metal for the opposite electrode
covered or not covered with lead or active agent or I sometimes employ flexible
carbon sheets or deposited carbon with or without being covered with lead to
operate in conjunction with the aluminium electrode. I preferably employ the
arrangement of elements described in the Specifications of the herein referred
to Letters Patent and in conjunction with secondary batteries I sometimes
employ a pumping device such as a centrifugal pump lined with lead or aluminium
alloy for maintaining a circulation of the liquid constantly or at intervals the
pumping device being combined with an electric motor or other means for elec-
trically operating the same and measuring the work done or for interrupting the
charging circuit when the magazines are charged in derived circuits or otherwise
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Stokes Williams have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty seventh day of October in the year of Our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
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