IMPROVEMENTS IN CURRENT-REGULATING DEVICES FOR USE IN THE CIRCUITS OF ELECTRIC LAMPS OR OTHER APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: We SYDNEY FERRIS WALKER and FRANCIS GERVASE OLLIVER, both of 195 Severn
Road, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Electrical Engineers do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURRENT-REGULATING DEVICES
FOR USE IN THE CIRCUITS OF ELECTRIC LAMPS OR OTHER APPARATUS" to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to the automatic regulation of the current in electric
circuits for lighting or other purposes.
The steadiness of currents which supply the energy developed in electric lamps,
or motors, or other apparatus is affected by variations in the electro-motive force,
and in the resistence. The first are caused chiefly by irregularity in the speed of
the generator, and the second by changes in the conditions of the lamps or other
apparatus in the circuits.
One very important object of our invention is to prevent the flickering or
unsteadiness of electric lamps caused by variations of the current in circuits
wherein both arc and incandescent lights are used.
For this purpose we employ our improved regulating devices or apparatus as
follows, that is to say: we place in a derived circuit between the mains an electro-
magnet of high resistance and provide the same with a pivotted armature which
carries, at its free end, a contact piece or point of carbon or other suitable substance
arranged in combination with a similar contact piece in a fixed holder.
The said armature is hinged or pivotted in a bracket to which one of the main
wires is connected, the hinge or pivot being properly insulated. A fine wire
connects the wire coil of the magnet with the said bracket and a similar wire
connects the said bracket with the armature lever; the latter has an end extended
behind its pivot or fulcrum and this extended end is connected by a spring with
a regulating screw. Another regulating screw may be provided in any suitable
position for limiting the movement of the armature.
As above stated, one of the mains is connected to the bracket in which the
armature lever is pivotted. The other main is connected to a stud or terminal
between which, and the aforesaid carbon holder, we interpose a circuit of the
required resistance and preferably a variable resistance which may be an incan-
descent lamp of fifty candle power or other suitable capacity. The aforesaid

page_text: terminal or stud to which this resistance is connected is also connected by a fine
wire with the coil of the electro-magnet, which, as will be obvious from the above
description, is placed in a derived circuit between the mains.
It is obvious that the arrangement of the terminals and connections may be
varied to suit the circumstances of each case where our apparatus is used.
When the armature has been properly adjusted by means of the aforesaid
regulating screw and spring at the extended end of the armature lever, and the
engine is running at a uniform speed and all other circumstances affecting the
circuit and apparatus are in a normal condition our improved regulator absorbs
only a slight amount of current passing through the fine wire of the electro-magnet
(or if the carbons are in light contact a slight additional amount of current through
them) but an increase of current energy will impart to the electro-magnet sufficient
force to attract the armature to it and thereby increase the pressure of the carbon
contacts, so that the increased or surplus current will pass from the first main
terminal through the armature, the aforesaid contact points or pieces, and the
resistance between the fixed carbon and the other main terminal.
The construction and arrangement of our invention will be substantially the
same whether used in the circuits of electric lamps or in other electrical circuits.
We may employ more than one of the said regulators in one circuit or branch if
desirable or necessary. The said regulators will form very advantageous substitutes
for the fusible cut-outs heretofore used for the above named purposes.
DL
1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: We, SYDNEY FERRIS WALKER and FRANCIS GERVASE OLLIVER, both of 195,
Severn Road, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Electrical Engineers do hereby declare the
nature of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURRENT-REGULATING DEVICES FOR
USE IN THE CIRCUITS OF ELECTRIC LAMPS OR OTHER APPARATUS" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to the automatic regulation of currents in electric circuits
for lighting or other purposes.
The steadiness or uniformity of currents which supply the energy expended in
lamps, motors or other electrical apparatus is affected by variations in the electro-
motive force and in the resistance of the circuits. The first are caused chiefly by
irregularity in the speed of the generator, and the second by changes in the
conditions of the lamps or other apparatus in the circuits.
Some of the important objects of our invention are as follows viz:-the
prevention of the flickering or unsteadiness caused in electric lamps by variations
of the current in circuits wherein both arc and incandescence lights are used.
Also the prevention of the destruction of one or more worn or imperfect lamps and
the inconvenience sometimes experienced by the consequent successive failure of
the other, or some of the other, lamps in the circuit. Also the prevention of
injury to the lamps or conducting wires from the heating or other effects of
excessive currents.
Its utility will also be very apparent in preventing injury to electric motors by
excessive currents or sudden variations of the current, particularly in starting the
motor, or in suddenly stopping, or lowering the speed of, the same. It will also be
found very advantageous for the regulation of currents generated by the aid of
motors which are practically uncontrollable, as in the case of rivers or streams of
water distant from the circuit to be regulated.
For these purposes we employ our improved regulating devices or apparatus,
which we will now proceed to describe by the aid of the accompanying drawing, in
which
Figure 1 is a plan or top view, and
Figure 2 a side elevation of the said apparatus, and
Figure 3, is a diagram illustrating its use in connection with a circuit consisting
of two mains with incandescence lamps, in parallel, between them.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is an electro-magnet of high resistance: b is a lever forming its armature,
which is pivotted in the bracket c, and which carries at its free end a contact-
piece d, of carbon or other suitable substance, arranged in combination with a
similar contact-piece e in a fixed holder e¹. In some instances, we interpose,
between the contact-pieces d, e, a series of carbon discs or plates, or powdered or
granulated carbon contained in a tube or other suitable receptacle.
The bracket c, to which the said armature is hinged or pivotted, has a screw-
terminalf, to which one of the main wires of the circuit is connected as shewn in
Figures 1 and 3. A flexible wire g connects the wire coil of the electro-magnet
with the bracket c and a similar wire g¹ connects the said bracket with the
armature-lever b.
To counteract or resist the attraction of the electro-magnet, we combine, with the
armature-lever, a spring or weight or other suitable means. In the drawing, we

page_text: have shewn, for this purpose, a spiral spring h, connected to the said lever at the
end 6 thereof and provided with an adjusting screw h¹ for regulating the tension
of the said spring. In some instances, we arrange an electro-magnet in place of, or
to assist, the said spring or weight; this electro-magnet should have a thick wire
coil, and is included in the main circuit. We find it advantageous to have a
regulating screw at i for limiting the movement of the armature.
As above stated, one of the mains is connected to the bracket c in which the
arinature-lever is pivotted. The other main is connected to a stud or terminal j,
between which and the carbon-holder e' we interpose a circuit of the required
resistance and preferably a variable resistance. We have shewn, for this purpose,
an incandescence lamp L of fifty candle power or other suitable capacity. The
aforesaid terminal or stud j, to which this resistance is connected, is also connected
by a flexible wire k with the coil of the electro-magnet, which is thus placed in a
derived circuit between the mains. It is obvious that the arrangement of the
terminals and connections may be varied to suit the circumstances of each case
'where our apparatus is used. Also that solenoids will be equivalents of the electro-
magnets in the said apparatus. When we use solenoids, the coils will be connected,
in the above described or other suitable manner, to the circuits, and the cores will
be jointed or pivotted to the armature-lever..
When our improved apparatus is properly connected in the circuit to be
regulated, care must be taken to ensure that the armature b is properly adjusted
by means of the aforesaid regulating screw and spring. Then, while the engine is
running at a uniform speed and all other circumstances affecting the circuit and
apparatus are in a normal condition, the regulator absorbs only a slight amount of
current, that is to say, an amount inversely proportionate to the difference between
the resistance of the fine wire of the electro-magnet and that of the other parts of
the circuit. Or, in some cases, the carbons might be in light contact and a very
slight amount of current might also pass in that direction. But any increase of
current energy, sufficient to sensibly affect the condition of the lamps or other
apparatus in the circuit, will augment the force of the attraction of the electro-
magnet a for its armature, and the contact-pressure between the carbons will be
increased in proportion to the current. An additional path or circuit will,
therefore, be provided for the current from the first main terminal through the
shunt or branch circuit consisting of the armature, the aforesaid contact-pieces,
and the resistance inserted between the fixed carbon piece and the other main
terminal j, and, by the action of the apparatus, the resistance in this path or circuit
will be automatically regulated in proportion to the variations in the E. M. F. and
the resistance of other parts of the circuit, so that the quotient obtained by the
equation C=
will be constant, or nearly so, in respect of the circuits which it is
designed to protect, at all times during the working of the same, and the lamps
will not be affected by variations or fluctuations due to irregularities of the motor
or to other causes.
E
B
'
When a lamp is used as the resistance, as above described, its action assists that
of the carbon contacts, that is to say, when (but not until) there is an increase of
current sufficient to pull the movable carbon into contact with the other carbon,
the filament of the lamp just reddens, its brightness increasing and its resistance
diminishing with an increase of current, the reverse effect being produced by
diminution of the current.
;
The construction and arrangement of our invention will be substantially the
same whether used in the circuits of electric lamps or in other electrical circuits.
We may employ more than one of the said regulators in one circuit or branch, if
desirable or necessary. The said regulators will form very advantageous sub-
stitutes for the fusible cut-outs heretofore used for the above named and similar
purposes.
.
We wish it understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise détails
of form or relative position or arrangement of the parts of our apparatus: The

page_text: construction and arrangement shewn in the drawing will be found very convenient
for many purposes, but, so long as the essential features of the said invention, as
set forth in the above description, are embodied in the said apparatus, it will be
found more or less efficient for the purposes specified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be. performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. The improvements in and relating to devices or apparatus in which the
attractive force of an electro-magnet or solenoid, arranged in combination with
contact-pieces in a shunt or branch circuit, tends to cause the approximation of the
said pieces in opposition to a force which tends to separate them, thereby
automatically varying the resistance and regulating the current, as, and for the
purposes, specified.
Second. The combination, with the said apparatus, of a lamp or similar variable
resistance, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1884
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.