Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Controlling or Regulating the Movement of Electro Dynamic Motors Machinery or Apparatus Propelled or Driven thereby.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Controlling or
Regulating the Movement of Electro Dynamic Motors
Machinery or Apparatus Propelled or Driven thereby.
or of
÷
I, BRADLEY ALLAN FISKE a Lieutenant in the United States Navy at present
attached to U.S.S. Atlanta do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:—
The object of this invention is to regulate in a simple and effective manner the
speed or direction of rotation of the armature of an electro-dynamic motor, and the
speed or direction of movement of machines or bodies driven or propelled by such
motors.
The general idea of my invention is to perform the regulation by making the motor
or the driven machine or body follow the movements of the hand of the operator, so
that the operator has only to move the regulator in the manner in which he wants the
motor or driven body to move.
For instance, in the first portion of the invention the design is to vary simply
the speed and direction of rotation of the motor, and this is accomplished by
employing a device or mechanism designed to be continuously operated by the
hand of an operator and connected with the motor through current varying devices
or other regulating apparatus in such manner that the movements of the motor
will conform or correspond in speed or direction or both to the movements given
by the hand to such hand mechanism; that is when the operator works faster or
slower the motor will run faster or slower; when the operator stops, the motor
will stop; and when the operator reverses his movement, the direction of rotation
of the motor will be reversed. The method of operation therefore, which forms a
feature of the invention, consists mainly in regulating the speed or direction of
rotation, or both, of the motor, correspondingly to variations in the speed or direction
or both of hand operated mechanism.
Heretofore in the operation of electro-dynamic motors in situations where the
necessity for continual regulation arises-for instance in the running of street cars or
in the training of heavy guns on ship-board or elsewhere-the regulating devices
used or proposed have been switches or commutators with moveable arms which would

page_text: be moved to one part or another of the commutator to so affect the circuits as to
produce the desired effect on the motor. The advantage of the present invention over
this is that in it, no reasoning or effort of mind is required on the part of the operator,
but he has simply to obey his unconscious instinct which leads him to do that to which
he has been always accustomed in the daily operations of life; that is he has to make
similar motions to those he wishes to give to the motor, while in the old forms, the
motions of the operator are dissimilar to those which they produce in the motor. In
the preferred arrangement of this apparatus for instance the operator merely continues
to turn a crank, and if he wishes the motor to run faster or slower, he turns the crank
faster or slower. If he wants to stop the motor, he stops the crank; or if he wants
the motor to run the other way, he turns the crank the other way. With an ordinary
regulating commutator, if, for instance, the motor is to run faster, the operator must
first reason that if he turns the arm to a certain point the desired result will ensue,
after which he performs the operation; and so with all the other motions which may
be necessary. Again, when a person is engaged in regulating a motor his natural
instinct, if he wants the motor to stop, is to stop what he is doing. He therefore with
the old methods has first to overcome this desire, then to decide how to move his
switch, and then to so move it. But with this invention he has simply to obey this
instinct. It becomes to him as though he himself was rotating the motor or operating
the driven mechanism and he has to do simply what he would do if the crank he
was turning did actually propel the car or move the gun or raise the elevator as the
case may be.
°
While the invention is adapted to electric motors in any situation where regulation
is necessary, it was designed with special reference to the use of electric motors in the
training of heavy guns, which have to be moved sometimes in one direction and
sometimes in the other, sometimes rapidly and sometimes slowly and which must be
started and stopped promptly. Here the invention possesses peculiar advantages, for
in the midst of hurry and confusion and among disturbing circumstances, the necessity
for fumbling with a switch and deciding which way and how far to move it would
render the regulation slow and uncertain, whereas by this invention the gunner is put
in a position to feel that he is moving the gun itself, and the motor obeys his hand
with movements entirely corresponding with his own, so that there is no occasion for
thought on his part and he-even though totally inexperienced or of a slow and inactive
mind can perform his duty with readiness and accuracy.
°
One form of apparatus for the purpose just explained consists of a drum or hollow
wheel on a shaft supported in any suitable manner in line with the armature shaft of
the motor but not mechanically joined thereto, said drum having external contact
plates separated by insulation, to which resistance coils within the drum are suitably
connected. The drum shaft has a small pinion upon it engaging with a large
toothed wheel provided with a crank for turning it. Upon the drum shaft are
two collars, one insulated, the other not insulated, from said shaft and on each
collar bears a spring or brush, each of which forms a terminal of the circuit supplying
current to the motor. Said insulated collar is connected by a wire to the coils inside
the drum.
Upon the periphery of the druin press two rollers, brushes or springs carried by
metal arms which are carried by and turn with the armature shaft-one of said arms
extending from a sleeve or collar insulated from the shaft, the other being directly
connected with the shaft. On said insulated collar bears a brush or spring and another
brush or spring bears directly on the shaft; and these two brushes or springs are
connected respectively with the two commutator brushes of the motor.
The connections within the drum may be as follows:-
Suppose there are are eight external contact plates number consecutively 1 to 8. To
plates 1 and 5 which will be opposite each other no connections at all are made. To
plate 2 the wire from the supplying circuit-that is from the insulated collar on the
drum shaft is connected. Plate 2 is joined to plate 3, and plate 3 to plate 4, cach
through resistance coils. Plate 6 is connected to the drum shaft, and 6 is joined to 7,
and 7 to 8, through more resistance coils.

page_text: It will be seen then that if the current collectors are on 1 and 5 the motor circuit
will be broken; if they are on 2 and 6, it will be closed through no resistance; if on 3
and 7 the circuit will be through two resistance coils, one on each side; if on.4 and 8.
it will be through all the resistance coils; or if the current collectors are reversed in
their position on the drum the circuit will be reversed.
There are thus provided two sets of contact devices, one carried by the motor, the
other turned by hand and these are connected through regulating devices in such
manner that variations in their relative position affect the speed and direction of
rotation of the motor.
It is evident that there may be a greater number of contact plates and of divisions
of the resistance so as to permit of more exact regulation if desired.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows..
The motor. being mechanically connected to any machine or mechanism which is
to be driven or propelled thereby, the operator proceeds to turn the crank so as to
revolve the drum shaft at the same speed at which the armature shaft is turning,
and in the same direction. The excessive size of the toothed wheel enables slow
motion of the crank to become a rapid one at the drum shaft. It will be seen that so
long as the two shafts run at the same speed, the current collectors will remain in
the same position on the surface of the drum to which they may have been originally
adjusted. For instance if they are placed on plates 2 and the motor will continue
to run at its highest speed, there being no resistance in its armature circuit so long
as the operator continues to turn the crank at the right speed. But if he wishes to
lessen the speed of the motor, he has simply to turn the crank more slowly whereupon
the more rapid rotation of the armature shaft will carry the current collectors over
to another part of the drum, whereby portions of the resistance will be placed in
circuit and the speed of the motor will be at once reduced and it will run at this
reduced speed until another change is necessary, when the crank may be turned
either more slowly so as to bring the rollers on the next plates and put in more
resistance; or more rapidly so that the rollers running more slowly than the drum
will go back to 2 and 6. To stop the motor the operator stops the crank, whereupon
the armature will continue to turn for a moment until the rollers reach the unconnected
plates and 5 when the circuit will be broken and the motor will stop. To reverso
the direction of rotation of the motor the motion of the crank is reversed, whereupon
the drum will be shifted at once so as to bring the rollers, into opposite positions
on the drum and so reverse the direction of the armature current.
And the operator
then continues his movement in the new direction, fast or slow, according to the
speed required of the motor.
While the invention has been described as acting by throwing resistance coils into
and out of the armature circuit it is evident that it may be as well employed with
other known modes of regulating the speed of motors, as by throwing resistance into
and out of the field circuit. of the motor.
Further the resistance coils in the armature or field circuit need not be carried by
the drum, but may be stationary and connected with suitable commutator plates
having sliding connections with the drum or shaft which connections are affected
by the changes in the relative speed of the two shafts. In this way also the
apparatus may be made to act by cutting out or throwing in sections of coils on the
field magnet.
Another way of accomplishing the same result, which latter way was designed more
especially with reference to steering vessels by electric power, though it is applicable
as well to other uses, is by placing upon a screw, which is turned by the motor, a
screw threaded sleeve which is itself provided or connected with a handle for turning
it, and which carries or moves a switch arm whose movement controls or regalates
the motor. It will be seen that when the sleeve is turned by the hand, if the screw
is stationary, the sleeve will move along the screw. Thus the switch arm can be
moved to start the motor. Then the screw will turn in the direction in which the
motor runs, and this will be such as to tend to move the sleeve back to its first
position, but so long as the 'movement of the hand is continued at the same speed

page_text: the sleeve and the switch arm will reniain still and the motor will continue to run at
the same speed; but if the operator quickens or lessens the speed of movements of
his hand, the sleeve will move along the screw in one direction or the other and will
move the regulating switch arm so that the speed of the motor will be increased or
diminished as may be required; if the operator stops his movement, the sleeve will
be moved by the motor to its normal position so that the switch arm will break
circuit and stop the motor; and if the operator reverses the direction of his movement
the sleeve will move on the screw and change the position of the switch arm so as to
reverse circuit and cause the motor to run the other way.
In applying this to ship steering the motor shaft is connected with an arm or tiller
moving the rudder, in such manner that said arm will be moved in one direction or
the other according as the motor runs in one direction or the other and with a
rapidity of movement dependent upon the speed of the motor.
The connection between the motor and the tiller which is preferred is somewhat
similar to that just described for moving the switch. That is, a screw turned by the
motor shaft, and a screw threaded sleeve on said screw, and to which said tiller is
attached, whereby said sleeve and the tiller attached thereto are moved along the
screw in one direction or the other and rapidly or slowly according to the direction
and speed of movement of the motor.
Another part of the invention or a further extension of the same idea already
explained relates to the employment of electric motors for moving bodies which are
required to move in one direction or the other with a limited movement, such as
gun carriages, railway turntables, cars or trucks running short distances, planing
machines, hoists, etc.; and its object is mainly to enable the operator to control the
movement of such body, by manual movements such as he desires to give to the body
itself.
In accomplishing this, an arm, moveable independently of the body to be moved,
is employed, the movements of which arm affect a circuit controlling or regulating
switch, carried by such moveable body and so connected with the motor that when
such arm is moved in either direction the body is moved in the same direction so long
as the movement of the arm is continued.
It will thus be to the operator as though the movement imparted to the arm itself
moved this body, and he has to act simply as though this was really the case without
stopping to consider the effect of his action on the motor..
The motor may be mounted directly upon the moving body or may be detached
therefrom and geared to it so as to move it. The switch controlling arm is preferably
a lever pivotted upon the inoveable body, and the switch is one having a central
position at which circuit to the motor is broken, while upon movement in one direction
or the other circuit is closed in one direction or the other, and through resistance,
whereby the moveable body moves slowly as long as the arm is moved slowly so as to
keep it in the same position relative to the switch; while upon a more rapid movement
of the arm it will cut out such resistance so as to produce a more rapid movement
of the said moveable body, this rapid movement continuing so long as the more rapid
movement of the arm is continued; and if the motion of the arm is stopped the body
continues moving for a moment until the switch is brought to its central position
when, the circuit being broken, the motion will cease.
The inventor sometimes provides centreing springs or other means for causing the
arm to return with certainty to its central position in case the operator accidentally
or carelessly releases his hold upon it.
Dated this 30th day of March 1800
BRADLEY ALLAN FISKE.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Controlling or
Regulating the Movement of Electro Dynamic Motors or of
Machinery or Apparatus Propelled or Driven thereby.
I, BRADLEY ALLAN FISKE, a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, at present
attached to U.S.S. "Atlanta" do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to regulate in a simple and effective manner the speed
or direction of rotation of the armature of an electro-dynamic motor, and the speed or
direction of movement of machines or bodies driven or propelled by such motors.
The general idea of my invention is to perform the regulation by making the motor.
or the driven machine or boly follow the movements of the hand of the operator, so
that the operator has only to move the regulator in the manner in which he wants the
motor or driven body to move.
For instance, in the first portion of the invention, the design is to vary simply the
speed and direction of rotation of the motor, and this is accomplished by employing a
device or mechanism designed to be continuously operated by the hand of an operator
and connected with the motor through current, varying devices or other regulating
apparatus in such manner that the movements of the motor will conform or correspond
in speed or direction or both to the movements given by the hand to such hand
mechanisin; that is, when the operator works faster or slower, the motor will run
faster or slower when the operator stops, the motor will stop, and when the operator
The
reverses his movement, the direction of rotation of the motor will be reversed.
method of operation therefore, which forms a feature of the invention, consists mainly
in regulating the speed or direction of rotation, or both, of the motor, correspondingly
to variations in the speed or direction or both of hand operated mechanism.
Heretofore in the operation of electro-dynamic motors in situations where the
necessity for continual regulation arises, for instance, in the running of street cars, or
in the training of heavy guns on ship-board or elsewhere, the regulating devices used
or proposed have been switches or commutators with moveable arms which would be
moved to one part or another of the commutator to so affect the circuits as to produce
the desired effect on the motor. The advantage of the present invention over this is
that in it no reasoning or effort of mind is required on the part of the operator, but he
has simply to obey his unconscious instinct which leads him to do that to which he has
been always accustomed in the daily operations of life that is he has to make similar
motions to those be wishes to give to the motor, while in the old forms, the motions of
In the preferred
the operator are dissimilar to those which they produce in the motor.
arrangement of this apparatus for instance the operator merely continues to turn a
crank, and if he wishes the motor to run faster or slower he turns the crank faster or
slower. If he wants to stop the motor he stops the crank, or if he wants the motor to
run the other way, he turns the crank the other way. With an ordinary regulating

page_text: commutator, if, for instance, the motor is to run faster the operator must first reason
that if he turns the arm to a certain point the desired result will ensue, after which he
performs the operation; and so with all the other motions which may be necessary.
Again, when a person is engaged in regulating a motor his natural instinct, if he wants
the motor to stop, is to stop what he is doing. He therefore with the old methods has
first to overcome this desire, then to decide how to move his switch and then to so
move it. But with this invention he has simply to obey this instinct. It becomes to
him as though he himself was rotating the motor or operating the driven mechanism
and he has to do simply what he would do if the crank he was turning did actually
propel the car or move the gun or raise the elevator as the case may be.
While the invention is adapted to electric motors in any situation where regulation
is necessary, it was designed with especial reference to the use of electric motors in
the training of heavy guns, which have to be moved sometimes in one direction and
sometimes in the other, sometimes rapidly and sometimes slowly and which must be
started and stopped promptly. Here the invention possesses peculiar advantages. For
in the midst of hurry and confusion and among disturbing circumstances, the necessity
for fumbling with a switch and deciding which way and how far to move it would
render the regulation slow and uncertain, whereas by this invention the gunner is put
in a position to feel that he is moving the gun itself, and the motor obeys his hand with
movements entirely corresponding with his own, so that there is no occasion for thought
on his part, and he, even though totally inexperienced or of a slow and inactive mind,
can perform his duty with readiness and accuracy.
Apparatus embodying this portion of the invention is illustrated in figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 is an elevation of an electric motor provided
with such apparatus, and Figure 2 is a diagram of the regulating resistance.
It is to be understood that the apparatus shown, while it is such as may be used, is
intended principally for illustration and may be modified in many ways without departing
from the spirit of the invention.
A is the armature and B the field magnet of an electro dynamic motor, which may
be of any suitable and efficient character. Brushes a, a bear on the commutator
cylinder C. D is the armature shaft. The field magnet of the motor may be energized
in any suitable way.
E is a drum or hollow wheel on a shaft F in line with the armature shaft. This
drum has external contact plates b. bbbbbb07 separated by insulation, to which
resistances r. r. within the drum are connected in a manner to be presently explained.
The shaft F has a pinion G upon it, with which engages a large toothed wheel G¹
provided with a crank H for turning it. The shaft F and the crank shaft are supported
by a post or beam I or in any other suitable manner.
The wires 1. 2. of the supplying circuit are connected respectively to brushes c. c
which bear, one on a sleeve or collar d carried by, and insulated from, the shaft F, the
other on an uninsulated collar d', or, if desired, directly upon the shaft. A wire e extends
from collar d to the interior of the drum E.
Upon the periphery of the drum E two metal rollers and f¹ bear, or springs or
brushes may be used instead, which are carried by spring arms g, and g¹ of metal,
respectively, the arm g being connected directly with the shaft D, while the arm gi
extends from an insulated collar on the shaft. A brush bears on collar and a
brush on the shaft or on an insulated collar thereon. Brush is connected in any
suitable way, as indicated, to commutator brush «; and brush is connected to
commutator brush a¹.
The connections shown within the drum E are as follows. From shaft F connection
is made directly to an external contact plate b, plate is connected to and plate b¹
to b² through resistance coils r. r. To plates and no connections are made. The
wire e is connected to, is joined to 6 and 5 to 6 through other resistance
coils r. r.
It will be seen that if the current collectors
the motor will be broken; if they are on
and are on 3 and 6' the circuit to
and b, the motor circuit will be closed
through no resistance; if on 6 and b¹ the circuit will be through two resistance coils,

page_text: one on each side; if on 60 and 6 the circuit will be through all the resistance coils.
Or if fand are reversed in their position on the drum the circuit will be reversed.
There are thus provided two sets of contact devices, one carried by the motor the
other turned by hand, and these are connected through regulating devices in such
manner that variations in their relative position affect the speed and direction of rotation
of the motor.
It is evident that there may be a greater number of contact plates and of divisions
of the resistance, so as to permit of more exact regulation if desired.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The motor, being mechanically con-
nected to any machine or mechanism which is to be driven or propelled thereby, the
operator proceeds to turn the crank N so as to revolve the shaft F at the same speed at
which the armature shaft is turning, and in the same direction. The excessive size of
the toothed wheel G' enables a slow motion of the crank to become a rapid one at the
shaft F. It will be seen that so long as the two shafts run at the same speed, the
rollers will remain in the same position on the surface of the drum E to which
they may have been originally adjusted. For instance, if they are placed on plates b
and, the motor will continue to run at its highest speed, there being no resistance
in its armature circuit, so long as the operator continues to turn the crank at the
right speed. But if he wishes to lessen the speed of the motor, he has simply to
turn the crank more slowly, whereupon the more rapid rotation of the armature shaft
will carry the rollers f. f over. to another part of the drum E, that is, to the plates b¹
and 6, whereby portions of the resistance will be placed in circuit and the speed of
the motor will be at once reduced, and it will run at this reduced speed until another
change is necessary, when the crank may be turned either more slowly so as to bring
the rollers on 6 and 6 and put in more resistance, or more rapidly so that the rollers
running more slowly than the drum will go back to b and b. To stop the motor, the
operator stops the crank, whereupon the armature will continue to turn for a moment
until the rollers reach the plates and when the circuit will be broken and the
motor will stop. To reverse the direction of rotation of the motor the motion of the
crank is reversed, whereupon the drum E will be shifted at once so as to bring
the rollers into opposite positions on the drum and so reverse the direction of the
armature current. And the operator then continues his movement in the new
direction, fast or slow, according to the speed required of. the motor.
While the invention has been shown and described as acting by throwing resistance
coils into and out of the armature circuit, it is evident that it may be as well employed
with other known modes of regulating the speed of motors, as by throwing resistance
into and out of the field circuit of the motor.
Further, the resistance coils in the armature or field circuit need not be carried by
the drum, but may be stationary and connected with suitable commutator plates having
sliding connections with the drum or shaft, which connections are effected by the
changes in the relative speed of the two shafts. In this way also the apparatus
may be made to act by cutting out or throwing in sections of coils in the field
magnet.
Another way of accomplishing the same result, which latter way was designed more
especially with reference to steering vessels by electric power, though it is applicable
as well to other uses, is illustrated in figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. Figure
shows the regulating apparatus partly in diagram and Figure 4 illustrates the applica-
tion thereof to ship steering.
In figure 3, A represents an electric motor and B its armature shaft. 1. 2. is the
armature circuit from any suitable source, through a regulating switch C, which is of
that well known character employing a circular series of contacts a to a", a switch
arm consisting of two parts b and moveable together upon such contacts and
insulated from each other and with which the supplying wires 3 and 4 are connected
respectively; the contacts on each side being connected together through resistance
coils c. c, there being no connection to the contacts a and a and the armature wires 1. 2.
being connected respectively to contacts a³ and a. By the use of this switch, the
armature circuit is open when the arm b. bis on a and a; it is closed through high

page_text: resistance in one direction when the arm is on a¹ and a; and the resistance is
decreased when it is moved to at and alo or to a³ and a³; and the resistance is wholly
removed when it is moved to a³ and a³.
Upon the armature shaft B is a pinion D engaging with a large toothed wheel E
which turns a screw F. On the screw is an internally screw threaded sleeve G,
which has a handle H for turning it by hand; and the sleeve G carries a loose collar Í
from which an arm K extends, carrying the pivotted arm L, which terminates in a
curved rack M engaging with a pinion N on the spindle d which carries the switch
arm b. b. The switch arm is thus connected with the sleeve G so as to be moved
upon the contacts a. a' etc. by the longitudinal movement of said sleeve upon the
screw F.
In the position shown the motor is at rest since the switch arm is at the zero point,
on the contacts a. a' and the circuit is broken. To start the motor the operator turns
the handle H, in one direction or the other, according to the direction in which he
wants the motor to run and the sleeve G is thus moved upon the screw, F turning the
switch arm to, say, the contacts a¹ and a', whereby the motor starts in the required
direction, but slowly, since the full resistance is in circuit. This movement of the
motor tends to move the sleeve G back and turn the switch arm back to its normal
position; but the operator continues to turn the handle at the same speed so as to
maintain the same relative speed of the motor and the hand, and the sleeve and switch
arm remain stationary, and the motor runs at the same speed until it has done what
is required of it, when the operator, desiring the motor to stop, stops the handle, and
the motor then moves the sleeve G, brings the switch arm back to a¹a, and stops. If,
while running in this way the operator wants to run faster, he turns the handle faster
so as to move the sleeve against the movement of the motor and bring the switch arm
to the contacts a² and as thus removing resistance from the armature circuit so that
the motor runs faster and the operator, by continuing his rapid movement keeps the
switch arm stationary and the motor running fast. If it is required to have the motor
run the other way, the operator will turn the handle the other way, and bring the
switch arm thus to the opposite side of the zero position, that is, to all and a, which
reverses the circuit through high resistance, and he may vary the speed of the reversed
motion or stop it by varying the speed or stopping the motion of his hand.
It will be seen that this furnishes a very simple and effective way of regulation for
electric motors, in which the movement of the motor corresponds precisely with those
of the operator's hand.
It is evident that instead of using tho switch to vary the resistance of the armature
circuit, it may be employed to vary that of the field magnet circuit or to vary the
number of sections of the field coils in circuit.
The motor shown may have any suitable field magnet connections.
This method of regulation is found particularly suitable for electric motors
used in steering vessels wherein it is required to reverse the movement of the motor,
to have it run slowly or rapidly, and to do these things quickly and readily.
The arrangement for this purpose is shown in Figure 4, where is shown a switch of
somewhat different construction from that in figure 3, though it is evident that the
latter form can be used as well.
O represents a vessel. At the place at which the steering is to be performed I place
a wheel e having a handle for turning it, and from this wheel extends a chain or
cord y passing to the stern of the vessel and over a drum carrying a toothed wheel i,
which engages with teeth on a sleeve k, which is screw threaded internally and placed
on the screw F extending from the shaft of the operating motor A. The sleeve k
carries, by means of a loose collar, as before described, the switch arm l. The switch
is similar in principle to that of figure 1, having a central position, as shown, at which
the circuit is broken and closing circuit in one direction of the other as it is moved
in one direction or the other, and cutting out resistance as it is moved farther in either
direction.
Upon the screw F is also placed a screw threaded sleeve m, to which is attached
the tiller or rudder arm n, by means of a pin o working in a slot in said arm.

page_text: It will be seen that when it is desired to move the tiller n in one direction or the
other, the handle fis turned which turns the sleeve kon screw F and moves the
switch so as to start the motor in the required direction, and the movement of the motor
causes the sleeve m to move on the screw and turns the rudder to the required point,
the movement of handle being continued fast or slow according to the quickness
with which it is desired to move the rudder; and when the rudder has been moved
far enough the handle f is stopped and the motor moves the switch arm back to its
central position and stops. To move the rudder the other way, handle fis moved the
other way so as to reverse the motor and cause sleeve m to move the other way on the
screw. It will be seen that the helmsman at the handle will know by the position
of said handle what is the position of the rudder at any time, and no matter at what
distance he may be from it.
Another part of the invention or a further extension of the same idea already
explained relates to the employment of electric motors for moving bodies which are
required to move in one direction of the other with a limited movement, such as gun
carriages, railway turn tables, cars or trucks running short distances, planing machines,
hoists, etc.; and its object mainly to enable the operator to control the movement
of such body, by manual movements, such as he desires to give to the body itself.
In accomplishing this an arm, moveable independently of the body to he moved, is
employed, the movements of which arm affect a circuit controlling or regulating
switch, carried by such moveable body and so connected with the motor that, when
such arm is moved in either direction, the body is moved in the same direction so long
as the movement of the arm is continued.
.
It will thus be to the operator as though the movement imparted to the arm itself
moved this body, and he has to act simply as though this was really the case without
stopping to consider the effect of his action on the motor.
The motor may be mounted directly upon the moving body or may be detached
therefrom and geared to it so as to move it. The switch controlling arm is preferably
a lever pivotted upon the moveable body, and the switch is one having a central
position at which circuit to the motor is broken, while upon movement in one
direction or the other circuit is. closed in one direction or the other, and through
resistance, whereby the moveable body moves slowly as long as the arm is moved
slowly so as to keep it in the same position relative to the switch; while upon a more
rapid movement of the arm it will cut out such resistance so as to produce a more
rapid movement of the said moveable body, this rapid movement continuing so long
as the more rapid movement of the arm is continued; and if the motion of the arm
is stopped, the body continues moving for a moment until the switch is brought to its
central position, when, the circuit being broken the motion will cease.
The inventor sometinies provides centering springs or other means for causing the
arm to return with certainty to its central position in case the operator accidentally or
carelessly releases his hold upon it.
This portion of the invention is shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings.
Figure 5 is a plan view of an arrangement in which the motor is placed upon the
body which it propels. Figure 6 is a view of another form in which the motor is
detached from the propelled body, the electrical connections being shown diagram-
matically. Figure 7 is an end view of the hand lever of figure 6.
Referring first to Figure 5, A represents a body, such as a gun carriage, turn table,
etc.; which is pivotted at a so as to be capable of movement in one direction or the
other, it being moved by the electric motor B placed upon it, whose armature shaft b
has a pinion c engaging with a stationary curved rack C, whereby the turning of the
shaft in one direction or the other swings the body A on its pivot in one direction or
the other.
The switch D is preferably placed as shown upon the field magnet of the motor, and
consists of contact blocks d. d. separated by insulation and on which travel two contact
arms e. e, such connections being made to the contact blocks and arms from the field
magnet coils and armature circuit of the motor-as will be readily understood-so

page_text: that, when the said arms are in the position shown, the circuit to the motor will be
broken and the motor will not run. But if the arms are moved in one direction on
the switch, circuit will be closed to the motor with a strong field so that it will start
slowly in a certain direction and as the movement is continued the field will be
weakened and the motor will run faster. Moving the arms to the other side of the
zero position reverses the motor so that it runs the other way in the same manner.
Switches of this character are well known in the art.
The arms e. e. are moved by a lever E having a handle pivotted at a or elsewhere
on the body A and carrying a rack 9 which engages with a pinion on the shaft of
the switch arms. Centering springs i. i. may be provided which tend to hold the
lever E at its central position and the arms e. e. at the zero position.
Now it will be seen that if the lever E is moved to the right, the motor will start
slowly in such a direction as to turn the pinion c on the rack C and move the body A
to the right. So long as the operator continues to move the lever E, the body A will
continue to turn slowly to the right following the lever. If it is desired to move it
faster the lever is moved faster so that the switch arms e.e. moving faster than the
body A will reach the next pair of contacts and the speed will be increased. To stop
the motor, the operator ceases to move the lever, and holds it in the position in
which it is, whereupon the motor continues to move for a moment until the body A
overtakes the lever, and the arms bear on the zero points again, so that the motor
stops where it is, and remains there so long as the operator holds the lever at that
point. Thus it will be seen that the movements of the body A correspond entirely
with those of the lever. When the lever is moved one way or the other, the body A
moves in the same direction; the speed of movement. of the body A corresponds with
the speed of the lever; and the body A can be maintained at any point by holding
the lever in the corresponding position. The centering springs i.i. are not essential
but are provided to guard against the possibility of the operator neglecting to
maintain control of the lever. That is, if he should move the lever to one side and
then leave it there, the springs will bring the switch arms back to zero, and stop the
motor, since they will prevent the lever from moving with the body by friction.
In the form shown in figures 6 and 7, the motor B is mounted apart from the body A
to be moved by it, and connected with it by worm gearing M or other speed reducing
gearing.
The switch placed upon said body consists of a metal lever N having an insulating
section. One part of the lever rests on the metal contact plate m, which is insulated
from the body A; if the latter is of metal. The other part of the lever rests on the
contact plate and may make contact with one or the other of the two plates o and o¹.
The lower half of the lever is also adapted to come into contact with plates p. p,
which are joined through resistance coils 9.4, and are connected with the armature
circuit 1, 2, of the motor. A wire 3 from the supplying circuit goes to the plate m,
and a wire 4 from the other side of said circuit to the plate n. a wire 5 from one side
of the armature circuit goes to plate o and wire 6 from the other side to plate o¹.
The outer end of the lever having the handleworks across a curved rack O and
has a tooth r, which will stop the lever by dropping into the rack.
It will be seen that if the lever N is moved to the right on to plates o¹ and p, the
circuit of the motor will be closed as follows, wire 4, plate n, lever N, plate o¹, wire 6,
wire 1, motor, wire 2, resistance coils q, lever N, plate m and wire 3. This closes the
motor circuit through resistance coils in such direction that the motor slowly turns the
body A to the right. The operation is then the same as already explained. The
movement of the switch to the left of the central position closes the motor circuit in
the opposite direction, so that the motor runs the other way.
If the operator loses, or leaves, the control of the lever, the tooth dropping into
the rack stops the lever at that point until the motor overtakes it and the circuit is
broken.
In practice it is preferred to bring the switch connections up through the pivot at a,
which is made hollow for the purpose:

page_text: It is evident that my invention may be readily applied to hoisting apparatus, in
which case the operator will pull a cord connected with a switch on the car or body to
be raised or lowered according to the direction in which he wishes to move it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Methods and apparatus for controlling and regulating electric motors or bodies
driven or propelled thereby, in which the movements of the motor or driven body are
made to correspond in speed and direction with the movements of the hand of the
operator, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination with an electric motor and regulating devices therefor, of two sets
of contact devices, variations in whose relative position affect said regulating devices
so as to vary the speed or direction of the motor, one set of contact devices being
arranged to be moved by the motor and the other to be moved by hand, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. The construction and use of apparatus for regulating electric motors substantially
such as is shown in figures 1 and 2 of the drawing and particularly described, with
reference thereto.
4. The construction and use of apparatus for regulating electric motors substantially
such as is shown in figure 3 of the drawing and particularly described with reference
thereto.
5. The construction and use of apparatus for steering vessels by electric power
substantially such as is illustrated in figure 4 of the drawing and particularly described
with reference thereto.
6. The construction and use of apparatus for controlling the movements of bodies
driven by electric motors substantially such as is illustrated in figures 5, 6 and 7 of
the drawings and particularly described with reference thereto.
Dotad this 10th day of December 1888
BRADLEY ALLAN FISKE.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.