IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING UTILIZING AND REGULATING ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR LIGHTING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Anthony Reckenzaun at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st July 1882.
ANTHONY RECKENZAUN, of Leytonstone in the County of Essex, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING UTILIZING AND REGULATING
ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR LIGHTING AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
and
My invention relates to electrical apparatus for lighting and other purposes
comprises various improvements whereby I provide, in a very advantageous
manner, for the generation utilization and regulation of electric currents.
I will more particularly describe my improvements with reference to their
employment for electric lighting. Any apparatus designed for this purpose must
comprise a generator, a lamp or lamps, and means for regulating or controlling the
currents.
My improved generator is a dynamo-electric machine which may also serve as
a motor. This machine has stationary electro-magnets, a revolving armature, and
an automatic arrangement for varying the strength of the magnetic field. The
electro-magnets, that is to say, the field magnets are composed of cast iron tubular
pieces with wrought iron cores. The object of this construction is to improve the
magnetic field by utilizing the magnetic qualities of both kinds of iron viz:-the
residual magnetism of cast iron and the superior magnetic capacity of wrought
iron. The tubular cast iron parts are arranged radially to the axis of the machine
and are formed with polar extensions which enclose the cylindrical central space or
magnetic field. I cover the tubular cast iron parts of the magnets with one or
more coils of insulated wire. I provide a shunt arrangement whereby I can
introduce one or more of these magnet coils into the circuit, thus varying the
magnetic field, and I can also by these means increase or decrease the resistance of
the circuit.
I construct the armature of the said machine of iron rings, each of which rings
is formed of a number of thin sheet iron washers. These washers have as many
projecting parts as there are bobbins in a ring and are capable of revolving in the
magnetic field in very close proximity to the polar extensions of the said magnets.
Each ring is supported by means of non magnetic discs provided with projections
of somewhat greater depth than the armature coil. The said projections have
holes corresponding to holes in the iron rings, and pins fitted in these holes support
the armature-rings.
The object of making the projections on the non-magnetic discs somewhat
deeper than the coil or coils is to provide for a free circulation of air, and this
arrangement, in conjunction with the hollow core of the armature, will be very
effectual for preventing excessive heating of the machine.

page_text: The projections on the non-magnetic discs are arranged in such a manner that
the bobbins of each ring will be between, or not in line with, those of the adjacent
ring or rings. The rings and dises forming the armature are firmly secured on the
shaft of the machine.
Upon this compound metal ring I wind the wire coils in sections at convenient
distances apart; the ends of the wire of each section being connected to the com-
mutator and to other sections of the armature.
The lamp to be used for developing the light from the current supplied by the
said generator has a regulator which depends for its action upon the action of an
elastic fluid contained in one or more vessels constructed as herein described; that
is to say, each vessel has a part for containing water or other suitable liquid and
another part arranged to rise and descend in the said liquid and to hold air or
other elastic fluid; the liquid forming a seal which confines the air or gas without
perceptible friction, so that the inlet or outlet of the gas or fluid can only be
effected through suitable valves. A tube extends up from the bottom of the said
vessel to a point above the level of the liquid therein and the lower end of this
tube is provided with a valve arranged in combination with an electro-magnetic
device. One or more holders for the carbons or other light-emitting conductors
can be connected either directly or by means of cords and pulleys to the upper or
movable part of the said vessel. The carbon or other points which touch when
the lamp is inactive are separated by the action of an electro-magnet, and form
the arc, the upper holder which is carried by the said moving part of the vessel
descends with it whilst a regulated quantity of the air or other elastic fluid is
permitted by the valve to escape from the vessel, and at any variation in the
length of the arc the electro-magnet opens or closes the said valve and thus
regulates the distance between the said carbon or other points. The lamp may be
provided with one pair of holders or it may have two or more pairs thereof so that.
as one pair of carbons is consumed a second pair can be arranged to come
automatically into.action; for this purpose the current is shunted and at the same
time takes off the weight of the second carbon-holder, which, as it descends, causes
or allows the movable vessel to rise. Air or other elastic fluid to replenish the
vessel then enters through a suitable valve, which is also actuated by, or combined
with, an electro-magnet so arranged as to regulate its action according to the
relative position of the ends or points of the carbon or other light-emitting con-
ductors. In this manner several pairs of such conductors can be brought
successively into action and the duration of the light can be prolonged auto-
matically to suit all circumstances.
.
It is obvious that I may vary or modify the arrangement of the valves and
electro magnetic devices in the said lamp.
I provide, in combination with my machine and lamp, a switch furnished with
means for preventing or reducing sparking when a current, is switched on or off.
For this purpose I introduce between the contact pieces varying resistances in the
following manner, that is to say;-I arrange between the metal contact-pieces, and
level with the same, a series of materials of different resistance, for example I may
employ a series of resistances consisting of iron, German silver, carbon and wood,
or other suitable material so arranged that the series thereof will, form a gradually
increasing resistance. In some instances I provide the switch with a contact ring.
It is obvious that although I have herein described my improvements with
reference to their.employment in an electric lighting system, yet the various parts
thereof may be used independently and the said improvements, with the exception.
of the lamp, may be applied or adapted for other purposes.