IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC AND MAGNETO-ELECTRIC ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Cromwell Fleetwood Varley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1882.
CROMWELL FLEETWOOD VARLEY of Cromwell House Bexley Heath in the
County of Kent "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC AND MAGNETO-ELECTRIC
ENGINES."
My invention is designed for the production of rotary motion from electric
currents or electric currents from rotary motion and for getting rid of or greatly
reducing the burning at the places of contact. Where the word magnet is used in
this specification it is to be understood that any magnetizable metal is meant.
The magnets are sometimes permanent sometimes electro magnets according to
circumstances. The first method of carrying out this invention consists of placing
two or more magnet bars end to end free to rotate axially in either direction.
Near to or surrounding each bar is placed the hollow pole of a magnet. Each
alternate bar may be a fixture. On passing a current through the bars rotation is
produced. These rotating bars are connected by gearing or otherwise with the
apparatus to be moved. If the bars are rotated a current of electricity is generated.
The second method of carrying this invention into operation consists of a long
magnet bar having magnet discs upon it. The discs have near them or around
them a magnet ring and the bar in between the discs passes through a hole in a
magnet or a magnet or magnets are brought near to it. If the north poles of the
magnets be presented to the discs the south poles of the magnets are presented to
the bar between the discs. On passing an electric current through the bar from
end to end rotation is produced. The discs may in some cases be insulated from
the iron bar and have spring rubbers connecting the circumference of the disc with
a point near the centre of each disc. When the bar is rotated currents of electricity
flow between the centre and circumference of the disc. For the convenience of
constructing this machine each alternate magnet has a disc screwed into it. This
disc has a hole through which the bar passes; in order to put this disc over the
bar it is made in two halves and pinned together so that when put together and
screwed inside the pole of the fixed magnet it acts as a portion of it. A third
method of carrying out this invention is as follows:-On a revolving magnet bar
s placed a series of magnet discs, each alternate or odd disc is cut down from the

page_text: circumference nearly to the centre to divide it practically into two or more discs.
Each other alternate or even disc is made of two pieces hollowed out in the centre
so as to touch only at the circumference where the one is made to fit or screw into
the other. These run inside holes in stationary magnet bars; the latter bars may
be made in the form of squares so that the holes occupy the middle of one of the
sides of the square.
Fourth method: The magnet bar is made of segments, each of the segments
being insulated from one another. Each of the segments is joined to an insulated
ring at the extreme ends of the bar. These rings run in insulated metal bearings
or springs press against them. These springs are so connected by conductors that
the segments composing the bars can be joined either in one continuous circuit or
otherwise according to the circumstances of the case. By connecting the further
end of segment No. 1 to the near end of segment 2 (and so on through all the
segments) a smaller volume or quantity of electricity of greater potential is required
to produce rotation than where the rod is solid. The rods are generally made in
the form of a tube and the discs are perforated perpendicularly to the axis of the
tube. Any convenient arrangement is made for giving motion to or taking motion
from the various parts of the machine such as are used in ordinary machinery viz:
bands or gearing. I generally cover the ends of the magnets or bars with copper
or gun-metal and these bearings or rubbers are lubricated by mercury or an amalgam
of mercury.
In some cases it is advisable to coat the whole of the bars or segments with
nickel or platinum. This I prefer to do by electric deposition. Where the bar is
coated with copper or other conducting metal I prefer to coat it again with nickel
or platinum to prevent the copper from being amalgamated. The metal mercury
is used as a lubricator and contact maker. These moveable bars when connected
with a thermo-electric pile of but few elements of large dimensions produce rotation
from heat. The fixed magnets may be replaced by coils of insulated wire
surrounding the moveable bars and the apparatus can be made self-magnetizing as
in the Pachinotti Ring machine or Wylde's magneto-electric machine.