Improvements in and relating to the Production and Application of Electric-energy for Lighting or other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1887
Complete Left, 16th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 8th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
.
Improvements in and relating to the Production and Application of
Electric-energy for Lighting or other Purposes.
I JOHN Ross, of 62, Commercial Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Electrician, do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention to be as follows :-
My Invention has for its object to raise the electro-motive force or potential whilst
maintaining if necessary the full strength of the currents produced by dynamo-electric
machines or other generators of electric-energy for electric lighting or other purposes;
and comprises new or improved arrangements or combinations of apparatus or
devices for effecting this result.
According to my Invention I mount two commutators on the same axis or spindle
which may be driven at a high speed by a small motor, or from the armature-shaft
of a dynamo-electric generator, or the commutators may be mounted or coupled on
to the armature shaft. These commutators are each placed in circuit with a dynamo
electric machine, battery or other generator of electric energy which supplies a direct
or continuous current. The commutators are also by my improvements each placed
in circuit with the inner and outer wires respectively of an induction-coil or coils
through which alternating currents of electric-energy are made to pass as hereinafter
described.
The electric energy produced can be used to light lamps, or supply other translating
devices placed in the circuit, and to excite the field-magnets of the dynamo, or other
primary generator used.
In carrying my Invention into practice under one arrangement, I lead the current
by main wires from the terminals of a dynamo-electric machine, battery, or other
generator of continuous currents of electric-energy, and split the current and lead
it in two circuits to contact springs placed on one side of each of their respective com-
mutators mounted on the same axis and the currents in these branches between the
generators and the commutators are found to have a higher electro-motive force
than those in the mains. Incandescent or are lamps or other translating devices may
be placed in multiple or parallel arc or in series order in either circuit between the

page_text: generator and these contact springs of either or both of the commutators. I arrange
one, two, or more induction-coils, and when more than one connect them together
in series, or in multiple arc. These induction coils would consist of one or more
inner and outer wires, preferably of the same thickness, with a central core of soft
iron-wires or laminated thin plates of any desired sectional shape. The terminal ends
of the inner wire or wires of the induction coil or coils, are connected to wires led
from contact springs or brushes placed on opposite sides of one or more of the
commutators; and the terminal ends of the outer wire or wires of the induction
coil or coils are connected to wires led from contact springs or brushes placed on
opposite sides of the other commutator or commutators. By this arrangement as
the commutators rotate, alternating currents will be sent from the contact springs
placed on opposite sides, through the respective wires of the induction-coils and the
wires placed in the circuits; and the connections from the wires leading from the
contact springs of the commutators, will preferably be made with the induction coil
or coils, so as to make the alternating currents in the inner and outer wires
respectively pass or flow in opposite directions. Incandescent or arc lamps. or
other translating devices would be placed in multiple arc in the alternating current
circuits leading to and from the induction-coils; and a higher electro-motive force or
potential with an increased current will be produced in these circuits than in the
main wires leading from the primary generator.
An alternating current dynamo electric machine may be used as the primary
generator instead of a continuous current dynamo.
Dated this 16th day of June 1887

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Production and Application of
Electric Energy for Lighting or other Purposes.
I, JOHN Ross, of 62 Commercial Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Electrician, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be:
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
My said invention has for its object to increase the energy of the currents produced
by dynamo-electric machines or other generators of electric-energy for electric
lighting or other purposes; and comprises new or improved arrangements or com-
binations of apparatus or devices for effecting this result.
According to my invention I mount two commutators on the same axis or spindle
for each set of induction coils which commutators may be driven at a high speed by
a small motor, or from the armature-shaft of a dynamo-electric generator, or the
commutators may
be mounted or coupled on to the arinature-shaft. These commutators
are each placed in circuit with a dynamo-electric machine battery, or other generator
of electric energy which supplies a direct or continuous current. The commutators
are also by my improvements each placed in circuit with the inner and outer wires
respectively of an induction-coil or coils through which alternating currents of
electric-energy are made to pass as hereinafter described.
The electric energy produced can be used to light lamps, or supply other trans-
lating devices placed in the circuit, and to excite the field-magnets of the dynamo,
or other primary generator used.
In carrying my invention into practice under one arrangement, I lead the current
by main-wires from the terminals of a dynamo-electric machine, battery, or other
generator of continuous currents of electric-energy, and split the current and lead it
in two circuits to contact springs placed on one side of each of their respective
commutators mounted on the same axis and the currents in these branches between
the generators and the commutators are found to have a higher electro-motive force
than those in the mains. Incandescent or arc lamps or other translating devices
may be placed in multiple or parallel arc or in series order in either circuit between
the generator and these contact springs of either or both of the commutators. I
arrange one, two, or more induction coils, and when more than one connect them
together in series or in multiple arc. These induction coils would consist of one or
more inner and outer wires, preferably of the same thickness, with a central core of
soft iron-wires or laminated thin plates of any desired sectional shape. The terminal
:

page_text: ends of the inner wire or wires of the induction coil or coils, are connected to wires
led from contact springs or brushes placed on opposite sides of one or more of the
commutators; and the terminal ends of the outer wire or wires of the induction
coil or coils are connected to wires led from contact springs or brushes placed on
opposite sides of the other commutator or commutators. By this arrangement as
the commutators rotate, alternating currents will be sent from the contact springs
placed on opposite sides through the respective wires of the induction coils and the
wires placed in the circuits; and the connections from the wires leading from the
contact springs of the commutators, will preferably be made with the induction coil
or coils, so as to make the alternating currents in the inner and outer wires
respectively pass or flow in opposite directions. Incandescent or are lamps, or other
translating devices would be placed in multiple arc or in series order in the alternating
current circuits leading to and from the induction-coils; and a higher electro-motive
force or potential with an increased current will be produced in these circuits than in
the main wires leading from the primary generator.
An alternating current dynamo electric machine may be used as the primary
generator instead of a continuous current dynamo.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of diagram drawings, in which the same reference letters and
figures are used to indicate as far as possible corresponding or equivalent parts in all
the figures where shown. Figure 1. shews a diagram plan view of the connections
of the apparatus with a direct current dynamo A. The cominutator B2 is included
in the primary circuit of the induction coils CC¹by the conductors D2 D2 being
connected to its brushes 6 and 7, and the commutator B' in their secondary circuit
by the conductors D' D¹ being connected to the brushes 2 and 3. The commutator B*
is included in the primary circuit of the coils C3 by the conductors D* D* being con-
nected to its brushes 14 and 15, and the commutator B³ in their secondary circuit by
their conductors Ds, D³, being connected to the brushes 10 and 11. The induction
coils C, C, are shewn with both their primary and secondary wires connected up in
series. These induction coils CC may consist of any required number and be
connected up either in series, or in parallel arc, or in a combination of these. The
commutators B to B may be made with ordinary movable bars as shewn in figure 1,
or they may consist of split cylinders as shewn in figures 2 and 3. Either or both
pairs of commutators B B2 and B3 B4, may be used for supplying direct currents, or
for supplying alternating currents of electric energy. In constructing commutators
to be used with a direct current dynamo having a potential exceeding 1. or 12 volts.
I prefer where possible to have the same number of bars on these commutators as
may be on the commutator A' of the dynamo. If the commutator A' of the dynamo
consist of an odd number of bars, then the commutators B to B will consist of
double that number. In the case of a dynamo having a lower potential than 10
or 12 volts the commutators may have any number of bars, and instead of being
coupled or connected up to the dynamo as shewn at A2 in figure 1 may be rotated by
means of a belt and pulley from the shaft of the dynamo, or by means of a motor.
The latter method also applies to voltaic batteries and secondary or storage batteries
when these are used instead of the dynamo A. The brushes 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14
and 15, on the commutators B1 to B are fixed to rockers or holders in the usual way
so that they may be shifted round the commutators. The wires i, j, are the main
conducting wires leading from the generator A. The wires a, b, and c, d, are the
sub-mains. The wires e, f, form part of the secondary circuit of the coils (2, shown
in series, being directly connected to the secondary conductors D³, and are for the
supply of alternating currents to lamps or other translating devices which may be
placed in circuit. The wires g, h, form part of the secondary circuit of the coils C₁,
and are for the supply of direct or continuous currents to arc lamps or for other
purposes all the brushes are marked with numbers 1 to 16.
;
Figure 2 shows a diagram view of the connections with an alternating current
dynamo at A having two pairs of collecting rings at A¹. The armature coils on the

page_text: upper side are in circuit with the primaries of the induction coils C. Those armature
coils on the lower side are in circuit with the secondaries of the induction coils. Two
induction coils C, C, are shown, but there may be any number and they may be
joined in any way required. The brushes 2, 3, 6, 7, are fixed to rockers on the
cominutators B¹, B².
The current flowing in the wire c, d, e, is a direct current and its potential may be
varied by varying the resistance of the wires for g.
It is my discovery that by the employment of two alternating currents in an induction
coil self induction or electro magnetic inertia may be counterbalanced, and the energy
of the currents be thereby greatly increased. These currents may unite as direct
currents, but they must be separate and distinct as alternating currents. I have
found it to be of little or no use in practice dividing an alternating current between
the primary and secondary wires of an induction coil. Accordingly when only
alternating currents of increased energy are required I may dispense with the com-
mutators B1, B2, shewn in figure 2 and connect by means of a wire or other conductor
the collector-brush a² to the induction coil primary terminal Y. The collector-
brush is connected by a wire to the induction coil secondary terminal X and in
this wire may be placed incandescent or are lamps or other translating devices.
The armature coils "A" are shewn equally divided between the primary and the
secondary circuits, but they may be divided in any required way.
In the case of an alternating current dynamo in which the field-magnets revolve
and the armature coils are stationary I join by means of a wire one terminal a¹
of one set of armature coils to the induction-coil primary terminal W, the other
terminal a² of the same set of armature coils through the commutator circuit B¹ is
joined to the induction-coil primary terminal Y. I also join by means of a wire
one terminal b₁ of another set of armature coils to the induction coil secondary
terminal V. The other terminal 2 of the same set of armature coils is joined through
the commutator circuit B2 to the induction coil secondary terminal ✗. In either
of these wires or circuits incandescent or arc lamps or other translating devices
may be placed. In this manner the armature-coils may be arranged in various
ways.
Figure 3 shews a diagram plan view of the connections with an alternating current
dynamo A having two collecting rings at A' A'. One commutator B rectifies the
armature currents. It is then divided between the other commutators B1 B2 as in
the previous arrangement.
Figures 4 and 5 show diagram views of an elevation and plan respectively of a
modification of these commutators. Z is a rocking table to which are fixed the
contact springs 5, 6, 7, 8. These springs press down on one side of the com-
mutators B¹, B³, and their pressure is regulated by means of a wheel and screw at C¹.
An oscillating movement is given to these commutators B1 B2 by means of a hinged
lever to which is attached the armature e of an electro-magnet E that actuates said
lever c².
Figure 6 shows a diagram end view of the commutators B¹ B³, also how the
contact springs 2, 4, rise from the base z to them.
Figure 7 shews a diagram plan view to an enlarged scale of the commutators B¹, B³.
Each consists of four pieces of copper or other metal d', d³, d³, d', bolted or rivetted
to a piece of hardwood or other suitable material z.
The contact springs 2, 4, may all be made to rise from the base-board z as shown
in figure 6. In that case the tension may be regulated by means of a spiral spring
one end of which may be attached to a tension screw fixed to the base z while the
other end may be attached to an arm projecting from the commutator-shaft on the
left hand side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is:-

page_text: commutators in circuit with a dynamo electric machine or machines or other generators
of electric energy, in combination with induction coils, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying diagram
drawings.
Second. In a system of distributing electric-energy, the arranging of commutators
in circuit with the primary and secondary conductors of induction coils, substantially
as and in the manner and for the purposes herein described, in reference to and shown
in the accompanying diagram drawings.
Third. In a system of distributing electric-energy the herein described methods of
employing separate alternating currents in the primary and secondary wires of an
induction-coil or coils substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In a system of distributing electric energy the construction and use of
oscillating commutators described with reference to figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 in com-
bination with induction coils, and dynamo electric generators, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.