Improved Apparatus for Converting Alternating Electric Currents into Direct Currents.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
Improved Apparatus for Converting Alternating Electric Currents
into Direct Currents.
1, WILLAM JOSEPH STILL, of Brackendale, near the City of Toronto, in the
County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Electrician, 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 transmuters or transformers for changing an alternating
current into a steady or constant current for power purposes or for the charging
of accumulators and it consists essentially in securing on a shaft a cylinder of
insulating material around which are secured metal rings with lateral teeth or
projections which are arranged to co-act with a series of brushes by which the
alternating current is changed to a constant current, the cylinder being rotated
by a motor arranged in a fixed relation to the transmuting cylinder and the
whole being constructed in detail and arranged to operate as hereinafter more
particularly explained by reference to the accompanying drawing in which :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a transmuter or transformer for electric
currents constructed according to my invention; and,
Figure 2 is a sectional detail showing the means for adjusting the short circuiting
brush on the transmuting cylinder.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.
My invention is more particularly designed for the transmuting or changing
of an alternating current to a constant current where it is necessary. to have
such changing done at a distance from the generator where it would be im-
possible to connect the generator with the transmuter by any mechanical means.
A is the main driving spindle jourualled at each end in the bearing standards A¹.
At one end of the spindle A is situated a motor the armature B of which is
comprised of the coil C of fine wires which are connected in the usual manner to
the commutator D, secured on the spindle A. E are the brushes which are
secured in the holders F pivotally attached to the vertical posts G.
brushes E are held against the commutator D by the usual spiral springs f secured
in the holder F. H are field magnets within which rotates the armature B.
The
1, is a cylinder of insulating. material secured on the opposite end of the
spindle A.
J, K and L are metal rings which are secured on the cylinder I. The rings J
and L have lateral rectangular teeth or projections j and which extend inwardly.
The projections and 1 are alternately arranged on the cylinder, the spaces
between the projections ; being opposite the projections and the spaces between
the projections / being opposite the projections j. The metal ring K has outwardly.
extending lateral projections k, kon each side alternately arranged and extending
into the spaces between the projections ; and 7 respectively.
Into the spaces
between the projections k, k on each side of the ring K extend the projections j
and respectively. The projections j in the ring J, the projections in the ring L
and the projections k, in the ring K, are each of the same width, such width
being less than the spaces between the projections. The projections in each case
also do not extend to the end of the spaces between the projections on the adjacent
rings.
Consequently a strip of insulating material can be introduced extending around
the edges of the projections between the rings J, K and L.
111 AL TYL
1.01

page_text: which are supported on the sleeve R of insulating material through which extends
the rod S. The brushes M, N, O, P and Q are held against the surface of the
transmuting cylinder by spiral springs such as m. T is a short circuiting brush
which is supported in the holder U which is pivoted on the spindle u journalled in
the lugs of the sleeve. V. s is an angular groove made in the rod S having a
worm cut in it.
W is an adjusting screw extending through a hole in the sleeve V and meshing
with the worms. The insulating sleeve R surrounding the rod S is cut away
as indicated in Figure 2 so as to allow of the adjustment of the sleeve V. This
adjusting screw is designed to circularly adjust the sleeve V upon the rod S so
as to readily alter the position of the brush upon the cylinder. The brush is
held against the cylinder by the pressure of the spiral spring u' on the spindle u
one end of which spiral spring projects in front of the holder as shown.
X is a pinion secured on the spindle A on the opposite end to that at which the
motor is situated and Y is a starting wheel which is provided with notches y on
the face of the rim, and jaws y' on the periphery of the rim. Z is a lever pivoted
on the inclined stud 2 on which the starting wheel Y is journalled. The handle Z
of the lever Z is pivoted at 2¹ on the end of the lever and has a dog shaped end z
which is designed to fit in between the jaws y' when it is designed to rotate the
starting wheel. 3, is a spring which is secured on the lever Z one end of which
presses against the back of the handle Z' so as to hold the dog z in the jaws y¹.
4, is a knife secured beneath the lever Z and designed to be brought round beneath
the spring fingers 5 and 6 of the switch 7 from the position shewn in dotted lines.
The knife 4, is insulated from the lever Z by the insulating plate 4'.
The knife 4 by merely being brought in contact with the spring fingers 5 and 6,
which are insulated from each other, closes the circuit between them.
8, is a ratchet wheel secured on the top of the stud 2, and 9 is a pawl or dog
pivotted on the starting wheel Y and held against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 8
by the spring 10. The starting wheel Y and lever Z are loose on the stud.
It will consequently be seen that when the lever Z is brought from the position
.shown in dotted lines to the position shewn in full lines, the starting wheel will
be partially rotated and the dog 9 will prevent any possibility of the starting
wheel from being rotated in the opposite direction when the lever is brought
back into the position shown in dotted lines.
When the starting lever is brought round so as to start the machine the pinion X
comes opposite one of the notches y and is thus prevented from being frictionally
affected by the starting wheel when the transmuting cylinder is being driven
by the motor.
11 and 12, are the wires leading from the alternating current generator to
the binding posts 13 and 14. 11 is a wire leading to the vertical post G from
which the current passes through the brushes, commutator and armatures of the
motor out through the wire 12 which connects with the wire 12. The wire 11
leads from the binding post 13 to the binding screw 15 which extends into the
spring finger of the switch 7. The wire 11 is continued from the binding
screw 16 which extends into the spring finger 5 of the switch 7 and leads
through the branch wires 112, 11 to the brushes M and Q to the back of
which the latter wires are secured in the sockets as shown. 17, is a wire
leading from the central brush to the wire 12 which is a continuation of
the same from the supplemental wire 12'. 18 is a wire leading from the brush N
to the binding post 19 and thence to the motor.
20 is a wire leading from the brush P to the binding post 21 and thence to the
motor. 22 is a wire connected to and leading from the wire 20 to and through
the lamp 23 and back to the end of the rod S in which it is secured by the binding
screw t.
The operation of my instrument is as follows. The alternating current passes
through the wires 11 and 12. To start the machine the lever Z' is brought round
from the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 to the position shewn-in full

page_text: lines carrying with it by means of the dog z fitting in the jaw y' the starting
wheel Y. The peripheral face of the rim of this starting wheel acting upon the
pinion ✗ will cause it to rotate very quickly and at the same time will throw the
knife 4 into connection with the spring fingers 5 and 6 of the switch 7 which will
complete the circuit of the wire 11 through the switch.
Suppose the current to pass through the wire 11 in the direction indicated by
the arrow through the switch 7 to the brushes M and Q. In the position in
which the transmuting cylinder is shown in the drawing the brush Qwill be idle
as it rests upon the ring L which is separated from the central ring K by the
insulating strip n. The current will therefore, pass through the brush M ring J
and lateral projection j up through the brush N and down along the wire 18 to the
binding post 19 to and through the motor and back by the wire 20. This of
course will be a continuous current so as to drive the motor and will pass in the
direction indicated by the arrow over the wire. The current will pass back from
the binding post 21, along the wire 20 to the brush P down through the projection k'
of the ring K and up through the central brush O thence along the wire 17 to the
wire 12 and back to the generator.
Now suppose that the direction of the current is changed and that it passes
through the wires 12 and 17 into the central brush O the position of the rings
having being changed so as to move the lateral projections of the rings L, K
and L into the position shown in dotted lines. It will be seen that the current
coming through the brush O will pass out through the brush N and down the
wire 18 in the direction indicated by the arrow, that is to say, in the same
direction as before out through the wire 18 through the motor and back through
the wire 20 in the same direction to the binding post 21 thence up through the
wire 20 to the brush P and down through the brush P to the projections / and out
through the ring L and brush Q to the wire 11 through which it passes out in the
opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow.
It will consequently be seen that the current running through the motor will be
always in the direction indicated by the arrow and will therefore be constant or
continual while the current will alternate over the wires 11 and 12 such alternation
being changed into the constant current passing over the wires 18 and 20 through
the motor by the peculiar construction of the rings J, K and L. The continual
alternations of the current will take place as the cylinder revolved by the motor
and the current will be transmuted through the brushes as herein before described.
It will be noticed in starting my machine that the starting wheel Y will cause
the spindle A to revolve faster than the alternations of current but immediately
upon the current being thrown on the speed will be reduced so that my transmuter
will keep pace with the alternations of current from the generator.
In order to provide against the sparking of the brushes N and P I provide as
before described, a supplemental brush T which is designed to short-circuit the
wires 18 and 20 leading to the motor. The brush T is so arranged that it will
reach the following projection j before the brush N has left the preceding
projection of the ring J or the succeeding projection of the ring K before the
brush has left the preceding projection as the case may be, this of course
depending on the direction of the current or alternations, so that when the brush N
is passing over the insulating strip m¹ the current instead of passing through the
brush N from the brush M will when it comes in through the wire 11 pass through
the wire 11' to the brush M, ring J, projection ; out through the brush T, holder U,
sleeve V, adjusting screw W, rod S, wire 22, and lamp 23, back by the wires 22
and 20 to the brush P, through the projection k¹, ring K, to the brush O, and out
through the wire 17, to the wire 12.
If the current is coming in through the wire 12 and the transmuting cylinder has
passed round so as to bring the projection k of the ring K underneath the brush N
and the projection of the ring K, underneath the brush P it will be seen that
the current will then be short-circuited through the wire 12, wire 17, brush O,
ring K, succeeding projection k, brush T, holder U, sleeve V, adjusting screw W,

page_text: rod S, wire 22, passing through the lamp 23, back through the wire 22, to the
brush P, down through the brush P, to the projection of the ring L, through the
ring Land out through the brush Q, wire 11 and wire 11.1
From this description it will be seen that I have provided an instrument in which
an extremely large voltage may be carried on a small wire from a generator many
miles away by an alternating current and the current transmuted at the point where
it is desired to be used from an alternating current to a constant or continuous
current.
Although I show a short circuiting brush T it will of course be understood that
it will be unnecessary to provide such a brush if the counter-electro-motive force
passing through the motor is sufficient to prevent sparking but I prefer to provide
the brush T as shown aud described.
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 I
claim is :-
1. A transmuter or transformer for electric currents comprising a cylinder and
a motor for driving such cylinder, the motor being arranged to run on an alternating
current in unison with the alternations and the cylinder being so constructed as to
change the alternating current into a constant current as and for the purpose
specified.
2. The combination with the motor adapted to be run by an alternating current,
of a transmuting cylinder formed of three rings insulated from each other and from
the central spindle on which is located the motor and cylinder and having
rectangular, tooth-shaped lateral projections alternately arranged and designed to
fit into the spaces between the lateral projections of the adjacent ring and means
whereby the alternating current is conveyed to the rings and transmuted to a
constant current to be conveyed away from the rings, as and for the purpose
specified.
3. The combination with the motor having the armature and commutator located
on the spindle A and driven through the alternating current wires as specified of
the transmuting cylinder comprising the three rings J, K and L insulated from the
spindle A by the insulating cylinder I and having rectangular tooth-shaped, lateral
projections, the projections; extending into the spaces between the projections of
the ring K and the projections, of the ring L, extending between the projections k¹
of the ring K, and the projections of the ring K extending between the
projections of the ring J and the projections of the ring K extending between
the projections of the ring L so as to form rectangular insulating spaces m' and n'
between the ring K and the rings J and L respectively of the brushes M, N, O, P, Q
and means whereby the alternating current entering the brushes is transmuted by
the cylinder comprising the rings J, K and L as described and conveyed from the
brushes as a constant current as and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with the motor having the armature and cominutator located
on the spindle A and driven through the alternating current-wires as specified of
the transmuting cylinder comprising the three rings J, K and L insulated from the
spindle A by the insulating cylinder I and having rectangular tooth-shaped lateral
projections, the projections extending into the spaces between the projections & of
the ring K and the projections of the ring L extending between the projections k
of the ring K and the projections of the ring K extending between the projections;
of the ring J and the projections of the ring. K extending between the
projections of the ring so as to form rectangular insulating spaces m and n
between the ring K and the rings J and L respectively of the brushes M, N, O, P, Q,
and the alternating current wires 11 and 12, the wire 11 being connected to the
brushes M and Q so that when the current passes over the wires 11 in the direction
indicated and the brushes M and P are on the projections; and the current will
pass through the wire 11, wire 11, brush M, ring J, projectious j, brush N, over
the wires 18 and 20, in the directions indicated back to the brush P, through the

page_text: projection, ring K, brush O, wire 17, to the wire 12, but when the current is
passing over the wire 12 in the direction indicated.and the brushes N and P are on
the projections & and of the rings K and L respectively, the current will pass
over the wire 12 in the direction indicated through the wire 17, brush O, ring K,
brush N, and wires 18 and 20, in the same direction as before back to the brush P,
through the projections I, ring L, brush Q, out through the wire 11', and wire 11,
in the opposite direction as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the alternating current wires 11 and 12 designed to
convey the current through the brushes M, N, O, P, Q and cylinder and wires 18
and 20, as specified of means whereby the current is short-circuited as the brush N
passes from one lateral projection to the succeeding one as the transmuting
cylinder is caused to revolve as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the alternating current wires 11 and 12 designed to
convey the current through the brushes M, N, O, P, Q, and cylinder and wires 18
and 20 as specified of the short circuiting brush T arranged to come in contact
with the succeeding projection as the brush N, leaves the preceding projection of
the same ring, the brush T being connected by a short circuiting wire to a
substance of low resistance and finally passing out through the brushes into one of
the alternating current wires as and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination with the alternating current wires 11 and 12 designed to
convey the current through the brushes M, N, O, P, Q, and cylinder and wires 18
and 20 as specified, of the short-circuiting brush T arranged to come into contact
with the succeeding projection as the brush N leaves the preceding projection of
the same ring, the brush T being connected through the holder U, sleeve V,
adjusting screw W, rod S, wire 22, lamp 23, brush P, projection k', ring K,
brush O, wire 17, and wire 12, and alternately in the opposite direction through
the wire 12, wire 17, brush O, brush T, holder U, sleeve V, adjusting screw W,
rod S, wire 22, lamp 23, wire 22, brush P, projection ring L, brush Q, wire 11,
and wire 11, as and for the purpose specified.
8. The combination with the transmuting cylinder comprising the rings J, K
and L having the lateral projections j, k and k' and I and the brushes M, N, O, P, Q,
arranged as regards the alternating current wires and constant current wires as
specified, and the alternating current motor of the pinion X and means whereby
this pinion is partially rotated to start the transmuting cylinder and at the same
time throw into circuit the alternating current wires to the brushes, as and for the
purpose specified.
9. The combination with the transmuting cylinder comprising the rings J, K
and L having the lateral projections j, k and k¹ and and the brushes M, N, O, PQ,
arranged as specified as regards the alternating current wires and constant current
wires and the alternating current motor, of the pinion X and starting wheel Y
having the notches y and lever Z designed to partially rotate the starting wheel Y
and cause the pinion X to revolve as and for the purpose specified.
10. The combination with the transmuting cylinder comprising the rings J, K
and L having the lateral projections j, k and kand and the brushes M, N, O, P, Q,
arranged as specified as regards the alternating current wires and constant current
wires, and the alternating current motor, of the piuion X and starting wheel Y
having the notches y and lever Z designed to partially rotate the starting wheel Y
and cause the pinion X to revolve and at the same time bring the knife 4 beneath
the spring fingers 5 and 6 of the switch 7 so as to complete the circuit through the
wire 11, as and for the purpose specified.
11. The combination with the transmuting cylinder comprising the rings J, K
and L having the lateral projections j, k and hand and the brushes M, N, O, P, Q
arranged as specified as regards the alternating current wires and constant current
wires and the alternating current motor, of the pinion X and starting wheel Y
having the notches y and lever Z which is provided with a pivoted handle designed
to fit in between the jaws y' and partially rotate the wheel and the spring pawl or

page_text: dog-9, designed to come in contact with the ratchet wheel 8 secured to the stud 2,
as and for the purpose specified.
12. The improved transmuter or transformer for electric currents, hereinbefore
described 'and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 11th day of September 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.