AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MACHINE
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MACHINE." -A communication
from abroad by Dieudonné François Joseph Lontin and Eardley
Louis Charles d' Ivernois, both of Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 18th September 1869, and dated the 25th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th March 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MACHINE,"
munication, to be as follows:-
In order that the system of electro-magnetic machines forming the
subject of the present application may be well understood, it is necessary
to remember that for a long time already it has been acknowledged that

page_text: an electro-magnet put in action by an electro-magnetic machine acquires
a force of magnetic attraction superior to that of the magnets which
feed the machine; but up to the present time all electro-magnetic
machines based upon the employment of the augmentation of magnetic
power for obtaining stronger electric currents have the great defect of
not producing electric currents strong enough to be employed in the
manufactures, except by a speed of rotation impossible to maintain
in practice without destroying rapidly the parts of the machine, especially
the bearings.
This Invention permits of the entire utilization of the augmentation
of the magnetic power developed by the means above mentioned while
giving to the machine a speed of rotation as moderate as can be desired.
The said Invention consists, first, in the union upon a single axis of
rotation of a number of armatures of soft iron with two branches having the
form of an electro-magnet, but not magnetized, of which the parts which
would form the poles are placed (if these armatures were magnetized) being
placed upon the same circumference of which they assume the curve.
Second, in the union of a number of electro-magnets (magnetized the first
time from any suitable source) disposed exteriorly to the circumference
described by the soft iron armatures in such a manner that their poles
are placed in a circumference concentric to the first and very near to the
same. It results from this double arrangement that at each turn of the
axis of rotation cach one of the soft iron armatures will pass before all
the poles of the fixed interior electro-magnets, and that electric currents
will be developed. These armatures and electro-magnets are covered
with zinc, iron, copper, or other metallic wire, either round, square, or
flat, or in a band having the same width as the iron to be covered, either
bare or covered with an insulating material, and rolled in the usual
manner, and which in the case where a very fine wire is employed
should be wound with a number of threads at a time. The number of
armatures upon the axis of rotation and that of the exterior electro-
magnets is practically unlimited; there may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 20,
or other convenient even or odd number. The number of the armatures
may also be greater or less than that of the electro-magnets, or these two
numbers may be equal.
In order that my Invention may be better understood I have repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawings, as an example only, a magneto-
electric machine constructed according to my system.

page_text: Figure 1 is a vertical clevation of the face of the said machine;
Figure 2 is a vertical side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a vertical
section on the line 1, 2, Figure 2; Figure 4 shows in detail the arrange-
ment of the armatures; Figure 5 shows one of the armatures detached.
In all these Figures the same letters indicate the same parts.
The machine I have shown in the Drawing allows of four armatures
and four electro-magnets.
a indicates two cast-iron cheeks forming the frame destined to support
the various parts of the machine; they are maintained in their position
by bolts j. The rotating shaft turns in two bearings c fixed upon
bars d secured to the frame. Upon this shaft is keyed a pulley receiving
its motion from any suitable motor. Four armatures e, e¹, with double
branches are arranged circularly around the shaft b; they are main-
tained in place and rendered solid with the shaft by two disks or
cheeks keyed on the said shaft, and united by bolted rods. These
armatures are covered with wire in the ordinary manner; they are
insulated electrically from the discs f by sheets of pasteboard, Figure 4,
or by other electric non-conductor. The four electro-magnets i are fixed
upon the frame a, and their poles are cut circular in such manner that
they may be placed in a circumference very near to that described by
the poles of the armatures, the same being called poles from analogy of
function. Plates of wood or other electrically non-conducting sub-
stance insulate the electro-magnets i from the frame a. Commutators
of the currents are arranged upon the shaft b of each side of the checks f.
The one 1, Figure 1, communicates electrically by the wires m with the
armatures e, and another, not shown, communicates with the armatures e¹.
Spring plates n bear upon the commutators, these plates are fixed upon
metallic squares o resting upon a wooden wedge or chock p, solid with
the frame of the machine. Each of the said squares is furnished with a
connecting screw. From the screw of the commutator extends a
wire 8, which, after having connected the four electro-magnets returns
to the screw ¹ of the same commutator, as shewn in Figure 1. From
each one of the screws of the other commutator extends a distinct wire
(see Figure 2); these two wires serve to collect the electric force of
the machine.
From the foregoing description it can be seen on examining the
Drawing, first, that the four soft iron armatures e, e', being carried on
the shaft may have a rotating motion; second, that the four electro-

page_text: magnets i (which have a slight initial magnetism by any suitable means)
are fixed upon the frame. If then the shaft 6 is caused to turn it will
be seen that in a single rotation each one of the armatures e, e¹, passes
eight times before the poles of the electro-magnets i, and consequently
produces its effect eight times. Now in all machines hitherto existing
the effect of the induction can only be produced twice in each rotation,
so that to obtain a current sufficiently continuous it is necessary to have
a speed of rotation of from two thousand five hundred to three thousand
five hundred times per minute, a velocity which it is impossible to main-
tain for a long time in practice.
With my machine constructed as indicated in the Drawing the speed
of rotation of the shaft is only a quarter of that required for former
machines. It will only be the sixth, the eighth, the tenth, the fifteenth,
or the twentieth, according to the number of electro-magnets and
armatures employed.
I will now describe the manner in which the electricity is produced.
When the shaft bis put in motion the armatures e, e', describe a
circular motion opposite to and at the slightest possible distance from
the poles of the electro-magnets i, and magnetize themselves by influence
which produces a certain quantity of electricity in the wire which covers
them. The electricity disengaged from the electro-magnets e is collected
by means of the commutator l, and sent by the wires into that one of
the magnets i, which thus becomes magnetized strongly, and to the point
of saturation if the rotation is sufficiently rapid. The electro-magnets i
produce by this means in the wire of the armatures e¹ a considerable
quantity of electricity which is collected by the commutator to be
applied to all the uses for which electricity can serve. I reserve the
right to dispose upon the shaft 6 an intermediate disc between the discsf;
on one side I should place armatures e before sending the current in the
electro-magnets i, and on the other I should place armatures e¹ before
collecting the electricity developed by the machine; these armatures
may be of equal or unequal dimensions. In this case the armatures e, e¹,
should be placed side by side, instead of one after the other. In such
case also the poles of the different armatures could be placed facing each
other, or otherwise, as desired.
As the remainder of the iron of the electro-magnets which produce the
magnetic power is capable of diminution to such an extent that the

page_text: electro-magnetic machine will not start immediately when it has been a
long time without working, I may form these electro-magnets with a
certain quantity of steel, which once magnetized keeps for a long time the
remainder of the magnelism, and I can temper it so. that the magnetism
will be preserved for an indefinite time. This steel can be arranged to.
form the breach or base plates of the electro-magnets on the ends of the
breach, so that it will become an attractive pole. With less advantage
these electro-magnets may be entirely of steel, or may be formed of
steel and iron soldered, or otherwise, for the core or body. In the latter
case the machine would have less electrical force.
In addition to what I have above specified, my Invention may be
applied to lighting by electricity, to electrotyping, and also to chemical;
decompositions, especially to those of the chloride of sodium, the chloride
of potassium, and hydrochloric acid, for obtaining chlorine, sodium,
potassium, soda, potash, the hypochlorites of soda, of potash, and of
lime and chlorous acid.
I may also modify the construction, the arrangement, and the operation
of the machine in many ways without departing from the principle of
my Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd September 1869..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Oilice," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "AN IMPROVED ELECTRO-
MAGNETIC MACHINE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner tho
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
In order that the system of electro-magnetic machines forming the
subject of the present application may be well understood, it is necessary
to remember that for a long time already it has been acknowledged that
an electro-magnet put in action by an electro-magnetic machine acquires
a force of magnetic attraction superior to that of the magnets which feed
the machine; but up to the present time all electro-magnetic machines
based upon the employment of this augmentation of magnetic power for
obtaining stronger electric currents have the great defect of not pro-
ducing electric currents strong enough to be employed for manufacturing
purposes, except by speed of rotation impossible to maintain in practice
without destroying rapidly the parts of the machine, especially the
bearings.
This Invention permits of the entire utilization of the augmentation
of the magnetic power developed by the means above mentioned
while giving to the machine a speed of rotation as moderate as can be
desired.
The said Invention consists, first, in the union upon a single axis of
rotation of a number of armatures of soft iron with two branches having
the form of an electro-magnet, but not magnetized, the parts which would
form the holes (if these armatures were magnetized) being placed upon
one and the same circumference of which they assume the curve.
Second, in the union of a number of electro-maguets (magnetized the

page_text: first time from any suitable source) disposed exteriorly to the circum-
ference described by the soft iron armatures in such a manner that their
poles are placed in a circumference concentric to the first and very near
to the same. It results from this double arrangement that at each turn
of the axis of rotation each one of the soft iron armatures will pass before
all the poles of the fixed interior electro-magnets, and that electric
currents will be developed. These armatures and electro-magnets aro
covered with zinc, iron, copper, or other metallic wire, either round,
square, or flat, or in a band, having the same width as the iron to be
covered, and either bare or wrapped in a covering of some insulating
material rolled in the usual manner, and which in the case where a very
fine wire is employed should be wound with a number of threads at a
time. The number of armatures upon the axis of rotation and that of the
exterior electro-magnets is practically unlimited; there may be 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 10, 20, or other convenient even or odd number. The number of the
armatures may also be greater or less than that of the electro-magnets,
or these two numbers may be equal.
In order that this Invention may be more fully understood I
I have represented in the accompanying Drawing, as an example
only, a magneto-electric machine constructed according to the said
Invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of the face of the said machine;
Figure 2 is a vertical side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a vertical
section on the line 1, 2, Figure 2; Figure 4 shews in detail the arrange-
ment of the armatures; Figure 5 shews one of the armatures detached.
In all these Figures the same letters indicate the same parts.
The machine shown in the Drawing allows of four armatures and
four electro-magnets.
a indicates two cast-iron cheeks forming the frame destined to
support the various parts of the machine; they are maintained in their
position by bolts j. The rotating shaft turns in two bearings c fixed
upon bars d. secured to the frame; upon this shaft is keyed a pulley
receiving its motion from any suitable motor. Four armatures e, e¹,
with double branches are arranged in a circle around the shaft b. They
are maintained in place and rendered solid with the shaft by two disks
or checks keyed on the said shaft and united by screwed rods; theso
armatures are covered with wire in the ordinary manner; they are

page_text: insulated electrically from the discs by sheets of pasteboard h, Figure 4,
or by some other electric non-conductor. The four electro-magnets i
are fixed upon the frame a, and their poles are cut circular in such
manner that they may be placed in a circumference very near to that
described by the poles of the armatures, the same being called polcs
from analogy of function. Plates k of wood or other electrically non-
conducting substance insulate the electro-magnets i from the frame a.
commutators for directing of the currents are arranged upon the shaft b
on each side of the checks f. The one 1, Figure 1, communicates
electrically by the wires m with the armatures e, and another, not shown
communicates with the armatures e¹. Spring plates n bear upon the
commutators, these plates are fixed upon metallic right-angle pieces o
resting upon a wooden wedge or chock p, which is solid with the frame
of the machine. Each of the said pieces is furnished with a connecting
screw. From the screw r of the commutator extends a wire s, which,
after having connected the four electro-magnets returns to the screw
of the same commutator, as shewn in Figure 1.
From each ono
of the screws of the other commutator extends a distinct wire (sce
Figure 2). These two wires serve to collect the electric force of the
machine.
By the aid of the foregoing description it can be seen in examining
the Drawing, first, that the four soft iron armatures e, e', being carried
on the shaft 6 will have a rotating motion; second, that the four electro-
magnets i (which have a slight initial magnetism by any suitable means)
are fixed upon the frame. If then the shaft 6 is caused to turn it will
be seen that in a single rotation each one of the armatures. e, e¹, passes
eight times before the poles of the electro-magnets i, and consequently
produces its effect eight times. Now in all machines hitherto existing
the effect of the induction can only be produced twice in each rotation,
so that to obtain a current sufficiently continuous it is necessary to have
a speed of rotation of from two thousand five hundred to three thousand
five hundred turns per minute, a velocity which it is impossible to main-
tain for any length of time in practise.
With the aforesaid machine constructed as indicated in the Drawing
the speed of rotation of the shaft is only a quarter of that required with
former machines. It will only be the sixth, the eighth, the tenth, the
fifteenth, or the twentieth according to the number of electro-magnets
and armatures employed.

page_text: I will now describe the manner in which the electricity is produced.
When the shaft b is put in motion the armatures e, e¹, describe a circular
motion opposite to and at the slightest possible distance from the poles
of the electro-magnets i and magnetize themselves by influence, a certain
quantity of electricity being produced in the wire which covers them.
The electricity disengaged from the electro-magnets e is collected by
means of the commutator 1, and sent by the wire s into that one of the
magnets i, which thus becomes magnetized strongly, and to the point of
saturation if the rotation is sufficiently rapid. The electro-magnets i
produce by this means in the wire of the armatures e¹ a considerable
quantity of electricity which is collected by the commutator / to be
applied to all the uses for which electricity can serve. I reserve the
right to dispose upon the shaft 6 an intermediate disc between the discs f;
on one side I should place armatures e before sending the current in the
electro-magnets i, and in the other I should place armatures e¹ before
collecting the electricity developed by the machine. These armatures
may be of equal or unequal dimensions. In this case the armatures e, e¹,
In such
should be placed side by side instead of one after the other.
case also the poles of the different armatures could be placed facing
each other, or otherwise, as desired.
As the remainder of the iron of the electro-magnets which produce the
magnetic power is capable of diminution to such an extent that the
electro-magnetic machine will not start immediately when it has been a
long time without working, I may form these electro-magnets with a
certain quantity of steel, which, once magnetized, keeps for a long time
the remainder of the magnetism, and I can temper it so that the
magnetism will be preserved for an indefinite time. This steel can be
arranged to form the breeches or base plates of the electro-magnets or the
ends of the breech so that it will become an attractive pole. With less
advantage these electro-magnets may be entirely of steel, or may be
formed of steel and iron, soldered or otherwise, for the core or body. In
the latter case the machine would have less electrical force.
In addition to what I have above specified, my Invention may be
applied to lighting by electricity, to electrotyping, and also to chemical
decompositions, especially to those of the chloride of sodium, the chloride
of potassium, and hydrochloric acid, for obtaining chlorine, sodium,
potassium, soda, potash, the hypochlorites of soda, of potash, and of lime
and chlorous acid.

page_text: I may also modify the construction, the arrangement, and the opera-
tion of the machine in many ways without departing from the principle
of this Invention.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
The combination upon a single axis of rotation of a number of soft
iron armatures with two branches in the form of electro-magnets (but
not magnetized) placed upon one circumference of which they assume
the curvature.
Also the combination of a number of electro-magnets united electrically
initially magnetized and placed in a fixed position at the exterior of the
circumference described by the soft iron armatures in such a manner that
their poles lie in another circumference concentric with and in close
proximity to the first, the whole forming a magneto-electric machine
which, with a speed of rotation as moderate as can be desired, permits
the developement of a great electric force which may be employed for
manufacturing purposes, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)