Improvements in Machines for Generating Electricity.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Generating Electricity.
1. VICTOR HIRBEC of 20 High Holborn, London, W.C. domiciled at 48 Rue-
de-Malte, Paris, in the Republic of France Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
In carrying out this invention a large and wide endless band of paper is
mounted on two drums having a circumferential surface of paper. If one of the
drums were set in rotation the other would he caused to rotate, but as the paper
band is not sufficiently strong for this purpose the transmission of motion from
the one drum to the other is effected by means of a driving belt or band. The
upper length of the paper band is highly heated at a place where it leaves one
of the drums by the flames of several small petroleum lamps placed in a case
having a perforated top covered by a screen to prevent burning of the paper
band.
A cylinder of small diameter covered with a woollen fabric or other
suitable material is mounted in bearings transversely to the paper band and so
as to be in contact with it at a point where it ceases to be acted upon by the
heat from the lamps. The drums and small cylinder are driven from a driving
shaft through pullies and bands, the drums slowly and the small cylinder at fifty
times the speed of the drums. The small cylinder rotates in the same direction
as the paper band but as its circumferential velocity is much greater than the
speed at which the paper band travels, there is friction between this latter and
the woollen cylinder covering. Two conductors or collectors are arranged to
collect the two electric fluids. They are in the form of two cases insulated on
glass supports. Metal rods lead from one of the collectors to the front of the
small cylinder at a short distance from the point where it is about to arrive in
contact with the paper band. Metal rods from the other collector lead to within
a short distance of the paper band at a point where this has just passed away from
the small cylinder. The two electric fluids thus separately collected may be
employed for the production of motive power or for other purposes. The
apparatus of this invention may be established on a large scale by increasing the
length of the endless paper band and causing it to make many circumvolutions in
its passage over a number of drums in a heating chamber provided with slit like
apertures, one for the entrance, and another for the exit of the paper band upon
which the small woollen covered exciting cylinder acts at the point where it leaves
the heating chamber.
Dated this Thirteenth day of Vauah 1001
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Generating Electricity.
I, VICTOR HIRBEC, Engineer of 48 Rue-de-Malte, Paris, France, do hereby
40 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:-
The different forms of apparatus embodying my invention are designed, one for
the teaching of physics, the other for industrial use.

page_text: '
Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof;
Figure 3 is an elevation of the power transmitting rolls, showing in detail the
manner of mounting the rolls and cylinders;
Figure 4 is an elevation and plan of one of the lamp holders;
Figure 5 is a top plan of the heating boxes;
Figure 6 illustrates in plan, elevation, and section the relative arrangement of
the heating boxes and their supporting frame;
Figure 7 is a detail of an adjustable belt tightening device;
Figure 8 shows in side and bottom plan the arrangement of the belt guides;
Figure 9 is a side elevation of a machine adapted for industrial use;
Figure 10 is an end elevation thereof;
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are details of some of the parts.
The arrangement of mechanism designed for educational purposes is shown in its
entirety in Figure 1, which is, as are also the other figures on the scale of one
fifth.
The apparatus shown in said figure comprises a ribbon of paper in the form of
a belt, which is mounted on two wooden cylinders F, F, as shown. At its upper
part where it moves from left to right, this ribbon travels in contact with the upper
surface of three tin boxes which communicate the heat to it. In the part above
these three boxes and extending back to the roller rubber J (hereinafter termed
the "rubber") said ribbon is covered with a band a, b of flannel, under which it
moves and which has the object of retaining its heat.
The "rubber" J bears on this paper ribbon near the rear end of the third box,
turning at its circumference with the velocity of about 1 metre 50 centimetres, for
one turn of the driving pulley B, while during the same time the cylinders F,
under the action of the pulleys A, C, D, and the roll E, are actuated to advance
the paper about 3 centimetres.
The revolution of the "rubber" J is in the same direction as the ribbon, shown
by the arrows, Figure 1. The rubber is composed of a small wooden shaft,
of 4 centimetres in diameter, on which a piece of flannel is rolled in 10 rounds.
The end of this piece which is in contact with the shaft, is nailed to it, without any
projection but the thickness of the flannel. The rolling up is made in the direction
desired, so that the revolution of the rubber tends to wind the flannel on the shaft ;
that is, from left to right. The rolled up flannel is nailed to the rim of the shaft at
its two extremities.
Under the action of the rubber, the heated paper ribbon becomes negative. The
rubber is positive. The action of the rubber is a purely mechanical action by
which it takes the electricity at its source, which is the heat in the paper ribbon, as
is proved by the working of my apparatus under the different circumstances of the
experiments for which I have intentionally arranged my apparatus. The current
of electricity is led off from above the rubber and the paper ribbons by means of
small tin tubes U (or rods of a conducting metal) which terminate in two metal
boxes or conductors, T supported each on two glass tubes V on the upper bar A¹
of the frame and the one corresponding to it in back of the apparatus.
The details of these conductors are indicated by the figure to the right of
Figure 1. Their height, (not shown in the drawings,) is 30 centimetres. T'he
tubes U secured to the bottoms of these conductors must be of a length such that
their lower ends are at a half centimetre distant from the rubber and the paper
ribbon, so that the passage of the electricity is made by discharge through the
air and not by contact. These tubes, or the metal rods which can be substituted,
represent the comb of the ordinary electrostatic machines.
The tubes of the conductor receiving electricity from the rubber are arranged in
a line parallel to this "rubber," on the side towards towards the left and a little
above the horizontal axis of said "rubber," as shown in Figure 1. These tubes

page_text: of the conductor receiving electricity from the ribbon are also in a line above this
ribbon.
The conductor above the rubber is charged with positive electricity from the
"rubber," the other with negative electricity from the belt. The discharge is
made either by sparks, or by current in the ordinary conditions.
The precise place for the tubes with relation to the rubber and to the ribbon is
easily found with a little ball of cork suspended by a linen thread held in hand and
with which the electrical field is explored.
The three boxes O Figures 1, 5 and 6 are of tin and without cover; they are
inverted, so that their bottoms are uppermost. This bottom is pierced with holes
as shown in Figure 5; but in that side of the third box, which lies beneath the
rubber, there are no holes in the half before the rubber. These holes permit a
more rapid transmission of the heat to the paper ribbon which passes above, and
they hinder the irregularities, which would be produced in the flames of the lamps
used for the heating, as is mentioned further on, if all the hot air were confined
underneath the boxes.
Figure 6 shows the three boxes O fixed on a wooden frame P which by means of
two transverse bars R is supported by the bar A' of the frame Figure 1 and that
which corresponds to it in back. One of these bars R' (shown at the right of
Figure 6, separated from the wooden frame) shows the cuts made at its ends, so
that the lower surface of the frame comes down about 22 millimetres below the
upper part of the two bars of the frame serving as a support. Each box is held
above its corresponding opening as will be explained later on, by small wooden bars
of one centimetre at the side fixed on the frame and whose ends form four stop
points corresponding to the four inner corners of the box. The wooden frame has
openings shown by letters L, Figure 7 underneath which the lamps are placed to
heat the interior of the boxes as shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 shows the bottom of
the frame in plan, which is turned over so as to show said openings.
Above these openings thin plates o' of sheet-iron are arranged on four feet which
are separated from the bottom of the boxes O by a space of half a centimetre only ;
this bottom is thus protected against the direct flame of the lamp whose heat is also
better divided on said bottom. The piece of sheet-iron punched to make a plate
and its feet and the plate fixed over the opening of a frame are shown by the
detached figures at the left of Figure 6.
The heating underneath the boxes is done by means of twelve small ordinary oil
lamps shown by letters I Figure 1; indicating the six in front on this drawing;
the other six are at the back. These lamps are mounted on supports S, of which
one is shown in Figure 4 from above and from the side. These supports are fixed
to the two bars of the frame in back of Figure i corresponding to the bars A'
and A. To put in and take out these supports easily, they are held on top and at
the bottom by two cleats shown by the upper drawing Figure 4.
Figure 2 shows the arrangements of the apparatus at the left end to show the
breadth of the paper ribbon, indicated by dotted lines, and its arrangement
relatively to the cylinder F and to the "rubber" J whose rubbing surfaces extend
out at each side from the breadth of the paper. This figure also shows the
relations of the "rubber" J to the pulley B, of the pulley C to the pulley A,
mounted on the same shaft as pulley B, which shaft is mounted in bearings on the
frame and carries the driving crank of the apparatus, while all the other parts
which are revolved are mounted on the points of bearing pins or studs secured to
the frame.
Figure 3 illustrates the relative sizes of pulleys D and the roller E, which latter
owing to its contact with cylinder Fon the left of Figure 1 transmits a rotary
motion to said cylinder, and drives the belt .r.
Figure 7 shows at a pulley to tighten the cord or belt transmitting movement
from pulley B to the rubber J, so that any slack in the cord may be taken up
which would result from the lowering of the axis of the rubber, should it be

page_text: desirable to have it exercise a stronger pressure on the paper ribbon. This pulley
is mounted on two bars L of the frame Figure 1, which are transversal like the
bars M, by means of two screws, whose head is fixed in the bars but traverses
freely two openings made for this purpose in the portion of L on which the pulley
is fixed. Two nuts of hard wood screwed on the screws above the same piece,
secure this piece to the bars L after adjustment of the pulley to exercise the
necessary pressure on the said cord, as shown by Figure 7.
The two supports of the "rubber" are seen from the side in Figure 1. These
supports are fixed on the two bars and A', A of the frame and on these corre-
sponding ones in back, by means of screws fixed in the bars of the frame traversing
the support freely and bearing at their ends, nuts of hard wood which operate to
clamp the ends of the support tightly between the bars of the frame and the nuts.
The supports can thus be moved at top and bottom to put them to the desired
height.
The ribbon in the arrangement just described is of very thin paper so as to
present a small body to be heated.
The two ends of the ribbon of the desired length are united by means of a paste,
after the ribbon is rolled on the two cylinders F and passes through the flat
openings of the guide, which will be described hereafter. After placing the ribbon
on each cylinder there is, at some distance to the front, a guide plate to hold and
rectify the direction of the ribbon, if necessary. This guide-plate is shown in
the drawing, Figure 8. It is composed of a little board, fixed horizontally at
the height of the paper, on the vertical bars of the frame of the apparatus
shown in section at the two ends of the plate. On the upper surface of this
plate a band of paper is fixed, very smooth and very supple, whose ends are
united above the ribbon. to form a ring, entirely flattened, d which covers this
ribbon, which is less broad by half.a centimetre than the guide.
Paper contracting by the heat, the ribbon must not be stretched "taut” so that
its contraction can take place without tearing it.
The cylinders F are mounted on movable supports which permit of their being
approached or distanced as is necessary. The design of one of these supports His
between the Figures 1 and 2. Its details are practically the same as the supports
fixed on the apparatus.
The discs on top and on bottom are hard wood nuts, engaged in the screws fixed
by their head in the support, whose thickness at the place of the screw is increased
so as to almost touch the outer surface of the bar of the frame. In tightening the
screws the bars of the frame become clamped together as shown in the detached
view to the left of Figure 1.
The tension of the ribbon must remain imperfect because of its contraction and
expansion which has been spoken of before. Movement is given it by roller E,
bearing on the pulley marked by the same letter. This roller presses the ribbon
against the surface of the cylinder to the left, to which it communicates
movement.
This roller E is of wood, but the part which must press on the ribbon is wound
tightly around with paper, forming a thickness of three or four millimetres with
several rounds. The paper used is common paper: for example such as is
ordinarily used as foundation for the more costly wall papers. To preserve its
softness it must be applied without paste, but secured by fine tacks to each end of
the roller, outside of the which must bear on the ribbon, and without leaving any
injurious projections. The winding must be made in the direction desired, so that
the revolving movement tends to tighten, and retains it on the roll, as has been
de-cribed in reference to the flannel on the "rubber" J. The pressure of this
roller on the cylinder is maintained independently of the cord which connects it
with pulley D, by two springs the free ends of which are connected to the sides of
the movable frame which bears the said roller, of which springs one is shown in N
Figure 1, the other being similarly disposed ou the opposite side of the frame,

page_text: The roller is, as previously stated, mounted on a frame pivoted on the centers C¹¹
Figures 1 and 3, which permits of its being approached more or less to the
cylinder F on which it nets.
To maintain a relative movement between the two cylinders F F and the paper
belt, without subjecting the latter to strains, the cylinders are provided at the face
end Figure 1, with pulleys G, with flat groove, and connected with each other by a
cord whose lower part is indicated by on said figure.
The flat form given to the groove allows the cord to slide in case an accidental
circumstance would stop the travel of the ribbon, and render same liable to
be torn.
For industrial use my apparatus is shown by Figures 9 to 14. It comprises a
heating chamber of sheet-iron whose parts are shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 and
are indicated by full lines. The casing in Figure 9 in rear of the bars H2, H
and H of the frame is supposed to have been removed to show the inner details.
This chamber is composed of a hearth R with an ashpit S. The hearth is fitted
with return flues or tubes which traverse the heating chamber-proper in its lower
part and lead the products of combustion into a single flat up-take or flue X which
extends the entire breadth of the chamber and terminates above the latter in a
pipe continued in the back of Figure 9 to conduct the said products of combustion
to the outside.
Between the tubes l' and the fire box, there is a part Q of the heating chamber,
which is subjected to the direct action of the fire in the combustion chamber of
which it forms the roof.
In the said heating chamber, above the tubes P, are, horizontally arranged, two
series of wooden rollers, Figure 1, provided with brass plates at extremities and
projecting to the outside on both sides of the chamber where they are mounted on
points, carried by two bars in a way to permit of the oiling of the points on which
they turn, see Figure 11.
The heating chamber is at its upper right hand corner provided with a triangular
extension i formed in one with said heating chamber so as to have free communi-
cation therewith. The vertical black line at this part of the drawing is not
intended to represent a dividing wall.
An opening which can be closed tightly, comprising almost the entire top of the
heating chamber permits of access to arrange the paper in turns on the rollers.
The paper ribbon indicated by a dotted line, enters into the heating chamber at
the height of the lower part of the cylinder F, Figure 9, and is carried alternatively
over the upper and lower rollers Z, as shown by Figure 9, terminating its windings
at the top of the heating chamber on the last roller, in the left corner, and passing
out at the right side below the upper surface of the heating chamber and over the
top of the triangular extension i above referred to.
The openings at the top and at the bottom for the entrance and exit of the
ribbon, are limited to a size just sufficient to admit of the free passage of the
ribbon, and provided with a border of highly polished wood. The openings
through which the ends of the rollers Z project, are strictly limited to the
dimensions of these rollers, at the same time permitting of their free rotation in
consequence of the movement communicated to them by the travel of the ribbon on
them.
After having been heated in the in the heating chamber, where owing to its
sinuous course it remains a sufficient time to be thoroughly heated; the ribbon, on
leaving the chamber at the top, as before stated, passes between the "rubber" J
and the top of the triangular chamber i before referred to, where it undergoes the
action of the "rubber." The ribbon is carried over a glass tube 1, mounted, as a
roller, on two points, and thence onto the cylinder from whence it is carried back
nto the heating chamber, by the opening at the bottom, and continues its circuit
indefinitely.
The conductors above the "rubber" and the paper ribbon, only differ from
hose of the first apparatus in consequence of the wider ribbon, necessitating the

page_text: corresponding increase in dimensions, and in the number of tubes or stems of metal
which they bear at their lower part.
The roller exercising the pressure on the ribbon and the cylinder is shown at E
Figures 9 and 10.
Contrary to what takes place in the first described arrangement of my apparatus,
this roller turns under the action of the cylinder F. The pressure is regulated by
the adjustment of the point supports on which it is mounted. To permit of this
adjustment, each point passes freely through a vertical slot formed in the two
upright bars of the frame in front and in back between which is the roller. The
two supports are held on the bars of the frame by means of screws and hard wood
nuts, like the supports K of the rubber and H of the spindle I.
Figure 10 shows the apparatus seen from the right end; the disposition of the
spindle 1, the cylinder F, the roller E, and the movable bars which bear the points
on which the rollers Z are mounted.
The dotted lines R' and S' in the same figure, indicate the lines of the openings
of the hearth R and the ashpit S as shown in Figure 9 which are at the other end
of the apparatus. The dotted lines on the spindle and the cylinder F represent
the width of the paper ribbon, which has the strength of ordinary writing paper,
and the place it occupies on said tube and cylinder.
The guide-plate of the ribbon, arranged like the one in the first described
arrangement of my apparatus, is vertically disposed like the ribbon in this part.
It is shown at H' in Figure 10, and is indicated by same letter in Figure 9.
Figure 1 represents the interior and exterior ends of the rollers Z of the heating
chamber, with the movable bar bearing the points of same, and the supports of said
bar seen from above. The arrangement of the several parts in Figure 11 coincides
with, and will be rendered apparent on reference to Figure 9.
In Figure 11 is also shown, as seen from above, the arrangement of the pulleys A
and G to move the cylinder, and of the pulleys B, C and D to move the rubber J.
The shaft of the pulleys A and B is mounted in bearings in front, and on points in
back. The points of the two shafts in back are carried by two upright bars corre-
sponding to those shown facing in Figure 9. These upright bars rest at the top,
and the bottom, on the transverse bars M of the same figure and are connected at
the side of the frame to the right, by two bars, the one on top, the other at the
bottom (of which one seen from above is shown in said Figure 11) which
corresponds with the bars II II of Figure 9. The bearings designated by O in
Figures 9 and 11 consist of a metal plate held by a screw and lying against a
small projection forming a guide to the right on the upright bar of the frame.
This piece can be raised and lowered, and by engaging a groove formed in the
shaft prevents the movement of the shaft lengthwise and holds it against the point
which supports it in back. By raising this plate and opening the bearing the shaft
and its pulleys can be taken out by disengaging same from the inclined slot formed
in the upright bar N towards the left. The moving crank of the apparatus is fixed
to the end of said shaft.
Figure 12 shows the "rubber" with its pulley and its supports which allow of
its being raised and lowered to regulate the pressure on the ribbon.
Figure 13 shows at a small pulley mounted on the transverse bar 1 (see same
letter Figure 9) which it is possible to displace and thereby to more or less stretch
the left part of the cord going from pulley D to the pulley of the rubber J.
Figure 14 shown in detail the arrangement of the return tubes P of the flame,
corresponding with the bottom of the hearth R, and end, at its flue X. Between
these tubes P and the rollers Z at the bottom of the heating chamber, are two
horizontal copper tubes, shown by the dotted lines in Figure 14 closed at one end
and their open and opposite ends being connected to another tube in communication
with a gauge which indicates the pressure and temperature of the air enclosed in
the said tubes, so as to ensure as high a rate of speed as is possible without incurring
the risk of burning the paper.
As a means to utilize the source, and to regulate the delivery of electricity in the

page_text: different potentials which can be obtained below the "potential limit," I enlarge
the capacity of the conductors by putting them in communication with a condenser
with a large surface, established under the ordinary conditions on the outside of the
apparatus, and only making connection with it as it may be deemed useful in view
of the results to be obtained.
The frame in the two hereinbefore described arrangements of my apparatus is of
wood, this also applies to the other parts thereof, unless where the use of different
material would not be found in practice to be of advantage.
In reference to the motor, by using a crank, I find that manual power is sufficient,
but may use any other force, for my apparatus for industrial purposes, the
available force derived from the consumed combustible, ie, the electricity
generated, being far greater relatively to the force spent for the working of the
apparatus according to my invention.
reserve also for myself to add to my industrial apparatus an arrangement
answering the requirements of safety valves. The hand of the gauge could at the
right moment close the circuit of a battery having sufficient power to actuate an
electric bell, and energize an electro-magnet. This electro-magnet would operate
the disengaging of a weight whose fall will open a door on the side of the heating
chamber facing on Figure 9. This door,-which should open one half (the upper
part) to the inside of the chamber, the other half to the outside, would be placed
on a horizontally disposed axle passing through its middle. On its higher half and
on the outside it would carry a perpendicular lever whose weight being below the
centre of gravity would keep the door shut by itself. A cord fixed to the end of
this lever drawn upwards at the fall of the weight would open the and keep it open
at the distance necessary to avert overheating in the heating chamber.
Briefly, it will be plainly seen from the preceding description that the two
arrangements herein before described only comprise, substantially, the same apparatus
having no modification of principle and differing only in details having especially in
view the objects of each disposition.
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. As constituting my invention the herein described apparatus of scientific and
industrial principle with all the arrangements attached to it, the said apparatus
utilising heat as a source of electricity.
2. The combination substantially as described, of the cylinders, the paper belt
thereon, a heating device to heat said belt, a rubber roll arranged above the rear
end of the heating device to revolve in contact with the belt, conductors each
having a set of conducting points arranged one to receive electricity from the
rubber," and the other from the belt, and means for rotating the cylinders and
the rubber.
3. The combination of the cylinders with their paper belt, the heating device
and rubbing roll for said belt, the insulated conductors each provided with a set of
conducting points, terminating, one near the "rubber" and the other near the belt,
and driving mechanism transmitting motion to the cylinders through a roll held
in frictional contact with one of said cylinders, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the cylinders, a paper ribbon or belt mounted thereon, a
driving belt connecting said cylinders, the heater, the rubbing roll and conductors
arranged as described, the roll E held in frictional contact with one of the cylinders
and its paper belt by spring pressure, and mechanism for rotating said friction roll,
substantially as herein set forth.
5. The combination of the cylinders, the paper ribbon or belt, the heater, the
flannel surfaced rubbing belt, the conductors with their points, the frictional
driving roll, and mechanism for rotating said driving roll substantially as
described.
6. The combination of the cylinders, the paper ribbon or belt thereon, the

page_text: rubbing roll, the frictional driving roll, and mechanism arranged to drive the
rubbing roll at greater speed than the cylinders, substantially as described.
7. The combination of the cylinders, the paper ribbon or belt, the rubbing roll
the paper surfaced frictional driving roll, the conductors, and the power shaft
having pulleys connected with the said rubbing and frictional driving rolls, sub 5
stantially as described.
Doted this 7th day of December 1801