Improvements in and relating to Electrical Distribution.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electrical Distribution.
I, LOUIS KLING OPPENHEIMER, Printer and Engraver, of Number 2230
Kemper Lane, in the City of Cincinnati, County of Hamilton, State of Ohio,
United States of America, 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 :-
My invention relates to systems of electrical distribution wherein a plurality of
separate circuits containing translating devices are energized from the same source
of current supply, and particularly where each circuit is supplied therefrom with a
succession of intermittent impulses succeeding each other so rapidly as to produce
in practice the same effect as an entirely uninterrupted current.
The present invention is based upon my discovery that the electro-motive force
required at the generator, for supplying a plurality of circuits with current of the
necessary voltage, must bear a certain definite relationship, not only to the number
of circuits supplied, but also to the relative duration of the individual impulses and
cessations of impulse. Availing myself of this discovery I have devised the
hereinafter described method of adapting the supply of the current to the particular
requirements of use, and have likewise devised apparatus for making said method
practically available.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 represents, diagrammatically, the main leads of a generator circuit, and
a plurality of individual circuits to be supplied therefrom, and shows, in side
elevation, a device adapted thereto, in accordance with my invention, for inter-
mediating said supply;
Figure 2 represents the device referred to, in end elevation ;
Figure 2 represents in detail perspective, the carbon brush and its holder,
employed in said device; -
Figure 3 represents an end elevation of another apparatus for the practice of
the invention, said apparatus possessing within itself the combined functions of the
device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and of the generator supplying said device;
Figure 4 represents a plan view of Fig. 3, and illustrates the disposition of the
individual circuits with respect thereto.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.
Referring to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,
a, b, indicate the main leads from a dynamo-electric machine or other generating
source; c, d, represent an independent circuit to be supplied therefrom; e, f, repre-
sent another independent circuit, and g, h, still another, it being, of course,
understood, that said three independent circuits, require for their proper supply,
currents of the same or substantially the same voltage.
It will be noted that one leg of each of the independent circuits is connected
permanently to one of the main leads, (as a), and that the other leg (as d, f, h) is
connected to a device which, to guard against imperfect contact is preferably made
up of two carbon or other brushes k, each set in a suitable brush holder (as 7) and
pressed inwardly by springs m toward a revoluble metallic disc A.
The disc A is mounted to revolve freely within bearings of the metallic frame
or journal bearing supports B, to which latter the lead b is electrically connected.
Upon opposite faces of the disc A are secured the metallic segments p, and
the segments r, of. insulating material, the arrangement, therefore, being such that
when, in the revolution of the disc, the metallic segments are brought into contact
with the carbons 7 of the brush holders of any particular circuit, current from the

page_text: main leads a b passes through that circuit, and when the insulation segments are in
contact with the same carbons the supply of current is cut off. In practice, the
disc A is to be driven so rapidly by the pulleys that each'independent circuit (c, d)
(e, f) and (g, h) receives a series of intermittent impulses so quickly succeeding
each other as to have practically the same effect as a continuous current.
The characteristic feature of my improvement will now be understood when I
call attention to the fact that, first, the length of the metallic segments p is one-
half that of the insulation segment r, so that the period of duration of the impulse,
is one-half the period of cessation, and secondly, that the E.M.F. of the generator
supplying the leads a, b, is 220 volts, where the voltage required for the translating
devices in the independent circuits is to be 110 volts when supplied with a
continuous current.
It will, of course, be understood that the particular values expressed in the
preceding paragraph relate to.a system (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2) wherein the
problem is to supply independent circuits containing translating devices requiring
110 volts, when supplied with a continuous current and three in number. Where
four such independent circuits are to be supplied, four sets of equal spaced brushes
would be employed, the metallic segment p would be made one-third the length of
the insulation segnient and the E.M.F. of the main generator would be 275 volts.
In fact, whatever the number of independent circuits supplied, exactly corresponding
relative conditions to those specified should be established, the relative arrangement
being therefore capable of expression by the following genera! equation, to-wit;
the ratio of the duration of the successive impulses of the intermittent current must
be, approximately, to the duration of the intervening periods of cessation, as the
ratio of one-half of the E.M.F. required by the translating devices employed,
when constantly supplied with current, is to the E.M.F. employed in excess of
that required by said translating devices, when constantly supplied with current.
It is, of course, necessary to express this formula approximately, for the reason
that lamps and all other commercial translating devices, whether constructed by the
same cr by different makers, present varying efficiencies and other characteristics,
besides being, in some instances, affected by age and use; and for the further
reason that it is often a commercial practice to supply less than a standard measure
of effects, all of which would involve corresponding small changes in the proportion
given, while still falling fairly within my invention.
In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the generator itself is
adapted to produce intermittent currents, thereby obviating the necessity of
employing an auxiliary switching device of the kind shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The
generator consists of a dynamo, made up of a frame D, field magnet cores E,
energized by the field coils t, and an armature wound with separate sections u and v,
and having brushes u¹ and y', which co-operate respectively with the commutators
and y. In the particular form illustrated, the dynamo is shown as supplying but
two circuits, and, for this reason, each pole piece E and armature-section end is
shown as extending through an arc of ninety degrees, so as to furnish the herein-
before expressed ratio of duration of impulses to cessations thereof, and, at the
same time the E.M.F. of the generator is established, in accordance with the same
expression, at 165 volts.
:
It is evident that any of the well known forms of dynamos whether constructed
with drum or ring armatures and open or closed coils may be adapted for the
practice of my invention; and, that, while I have illustrated an armature provided
with commutators, there are certain conditions, depending upon the character of
the translating devices employed, under which the commutators may be dispensed
with and continuous collector rings substituted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what: 1
claim'is:
1. The herein described method of distributing electrical energy to a plurality

page_text: of translating device circuits, which consists in supplying successive electrical
impulses to said circuits, the ratio of the duration of said impulses being, approxi-
mately, to the duration of the intervening periods of cessation, as the ratio of
one-half of the electro-motive force required by the translating devices, when
constantly supplied with current, is to the electro-motive force employed in excess
of that required by said translating devices when constantly supplied with current..
2. Apparatus for distributing electrical energy to a plurality of translating
device circuits, consisting of a source of supply, to said circuits, of successive
intermittent impulses, and means establishing the ratio of duration of said impulses
to the duration of the intervening periods of cessation as equal to the ratio of one-
half of the electro-motive force required by the translating devices when constantly
supplied, to the electro-motive force employed in excess of that required by said
translating devices when supplied with a continuous current; substantially as
described.
Dated this 23rd day of June A.D. 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.