(No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet 1.
N. TESLA.
METHOD OF CONVERTING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS,
No. 382,282, Patented May 1, 1888.
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(No Model.) 2 sheets-Sheet 2.
N TESLA. -
METHOD OF CONWERTING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS,
No. 382,282, Patented May 1, 1888.
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ATTORNEYS."
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
NIKOLATESLA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.
METHOD OF CONVERTNG AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS,
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,282, dated May 1, 1888.
Original application filed December 23, 1887, Serial No. 258,787. Divided and this application filed March 9, 1888, Serial No.
266,75i. (No model.)
To all, whom it may concern: machines, including the combined motors and
Be it known that I, NIKOLA TESLA, from generators, have been devised. For instance,
Smiljan, Lika, border country of Austria-Hun a motor is constructed in accordance with well
gary, and now residing at New York, in the understood principles, and on the same arma- 55
county and State of New York, have invented ture are wound induced coils which constitute
certain new and useful Improvements in Meth a generator. The motor-coils are generally of
ods of Converting and Distributing Electric fine wire and the generator - coils of coarser
Currents, of which the following is a specifica wire, so as to produce a current of greater
tion, this application being a division of anap. quantity and lower potential than the line-cur
IC plication filed by me December 23, 1887, Serial rent, which is of relatively high potential to
No. 258,787. avoid loss in long transmission. A similar ar
This invention relates to those systems of rangement is to wind coils corresponding to
electrical distribution in which a current from those described on a ring or similar core, and
a single source of Supply in a main or trans by means of a commutator of Suitable kind to
mitting circuit is caused to induce, by means direct the current through the inducing-coils
of suitable induction apparatus, a current or successively, so as to maintain a movement of
currents in an independent working circuit or the poles of the core or of the lines of force
circuits. which set up the currents in the induced coils.
The main objects of the invention are the Without enumerating the objections to these
same as have been heretofore obtained by the systems in detail, it will suffice to say that the
use of these. systems-eviz, to divide the cur theory or the principle of the action or oper
rent from a single source, whereby a number ation of these devices has apparently been so
of lamps, motors, or other translating devices little understood that their proper construc
may be independently controlled and operated tion and use have, up to the present time, been 75
25 by the same source of current, and in some attended with various difficulties and great ex
cases to reduce a current of high potential in pense. The transformers are very liable to be
the main circuit to one of greater quantity and injured and burned out, and the means resorted
lower potential in the independent consump to for curing this and other defects have in
tion or Working circuit or circuits. variably been at the expense of efficiency. I
The general character of the devices em have discovered a method of conversion and dis
ployed in these systems is now well understood. tribution, however, which is not subject to the
An alternating - current magneto-machine is defects and objections to which I have alluded,
used as a source of Supply. The current de and which is both efficient and safe. Secure
veloped thereby is conducted through a trans by it a conversion by true dynamic induction
mission-circuit to one or more distant points, under highly efficient conditions and without
at which the transformers are located. These the use of expensive or complicated apparatus
consist of induction-machines of various kinds. or moving devices, which in use wear out and
In some cases ordinary forms of induction require attention. This method consists in
coil have been used with one coil in the trans progressively and continuously shifting the
40 mitting-circuit and the other in a local or con line or points of maximum effect in an induct
sumption circuit, the coils being differently ive field across the convolutions of a coil or
proportioned, according to the work to be conductor within the influence of said field
done in the consumption-circuit--that is to and included in or forming part of a second
say, if the work requires a current of higher ary or translating circuit. 95
45 potential than that in the transmission-circuit In carrying out my invention I provide a
the secondary or induced coil is of greater series of inducing-coils and corresponding in
length and resistance than the primary, while, duced coils which, by preference, I wind upon
on the other hand, if a quantity current of a core closed upon itself-such as an annulus
lower potential is wanted, the longer coil is or ring-Subdivided in the usual manner. The Ioo
So made the primary. In lieu of these devices two sets of coils are wound side by side or su
various forms of electro-dynamic inductions perposed or otherwise placed ih well-known
382,282
ways to bring them into the most effective re The device is provided with suitable bind
lations to one another aid to the core. The ing-posts, to which the ends of the coils are
inducing or primary coils wound on the core led. The diametrically-opposite coils B Band
are divided into pairs or sets by the proper B Bare connected, respectively, in series, and
electrical connections, so that while the coils. the four terminals are connected to the bind
of one pair or set co-operate in fixing the mag ing-posts 1 2 3 4. The induced coils are con
netic poles of the core at two given diametric nected together in any desired maniner. For
ally-opposite points the coils of the other pair example, as shown in Fig. 3, C C may be con
or set-assuming, for the sake of illustration, nected in multiple arc when a quantity cur
that there are but two-tend to fix the poles rent is desired-as for running a group of in
at ninety degrees from such points. With this candescent lamps, D-while C C may be in
induction device I use an alternating-current dependently connected in series in a circuit
generator with coils or sets of coils to corre. including arc lamps D', or the like. 8.
spond with those of the converter, and by means The generator in this system will be adapted
of suitable conductors I connect up in inde to the converter in the manner illustrated.
pendent circuits the corresponding coils of the For example, in the present case I employ a
generator and converter. It results from this pair of ordinary permanent or electromagnets,
that the different electrical phases in the gen E E, between which is mounted a cylindrical
erator are attended by corresponding magnetic arnature on a shaft, F, and wound with two
changes in the converter; or, in other words, coils, G G'. The terminals of these coils are
that as the generator-coils revolve the points connected, respectively, to four insulated con
of greatest magnetic intensity in the converter tact or collecting rings, H H H II, and the
will be progressively shifted or whirled around. four line-circuit wires I connect the brushes 90
This principle I have applied under variously Kbearing on these rings to the converter in the
modified conditions to the operation of elec ordershown. Noting the results of this combi
tro-magnetic motors, and in previous applica nation, it will be observed that at a given point
tions-notably in those having serial numbers of time the coil G is in its in 2tutral position and
252,132 and 256,561-I have described in de is generating little or no current, while the
tail the manner of constructing and using such other coil, G', is in a position where it exerts its
notors. maximum effect. ASSunning coil G to be con
In the present application my object is to nected in circuit with coils B B of the converter
describe the best and most convenient manner and coil G' with coils B B', it is evident that
of which I am at present aware of carrying the poles of the ring A will be determined by IOO
out the invention as applied to a system of coils B'B' alone; but as the armature of the
35 electrical distribution; but one skilled in the generator revolves, coil G develops more cur.
art will readily understand, from the descrip rent and coil G' less until G reaches its maxi
tion of the modifications proposed in said ap mum and G' its neutral position. The obvious
plications, wherein the form of both the gener result will be to shift the poles of the ring A IOS
ator and converter in the present case may be through one quarter of its periphery. The
modified. In illustration, therefore, of the de movement of the coils through the next quar.
tails of construction which my present inven ter of a turn, during which coil G" enters a field
tion involves, I now refer to the accompanying
drawings. of opposite polarity and generates a current
of opposite direction and increasing strength, IO
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of while coil G is passing from its maximum to
the converter and the electrical connections of its neutral position, generates a current of de
the same. Fig. 2 is a horizontal central cross creasing strength and same direction as be
section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the fore, and causes a further shifting of the poles
circuits of the entire system, the generator through the second quarter of the ring. The I I5
being shown in section. second half-revolution will obviously be a
I use a core, A, which is closed upon itself repetition of the same action. By the shifting
that is to say, of an annular, cylindrical, or of the poles of the ring A a power-dynamic in
equivalent form-and as the efficiency of the ductive effect on the coils C C is produced.
apparatus is largely increased by the subdi Besides the currents generated in the Second O
vision of this core I make it of thin strips, ary coils by dynamo-magnetic induction, other
plates, or wires of Soft iron electrically insu currents will be set up in the same coils in
lated as far as practicable. Upon this core, by consequence of any variations in the intensity
any well-known method, I wind, say, four coils, of the poles in the ring A. This should be
B B B B, which I use as primary coils, and avoided by maintaining the intensity of the
for which I use long lengths of comparatively poles constan f, to accomplish which care should
fine wire. Over these coils then Wind shortel be taken in designing and proportioning the
coils of coarser wire, C C C C, to constitute generator and in distributing the coils in the
the induced or secondary coils. The construc ring A and balancing their effect. When this
tion of this or any equivalent form of converter is done, the currents are produced by dynamo. I 30
may be carried farther, as above pointed out, magnetic induction only, the same result be
by inclosing these coils with iron-as, for ex ing obtained as though the poles were shifted
ample, by Yinding over the coils a layer or by a commutator with an infinite number of
layers of insulated iron wire. Segments,
382,282
The apparatus by means of which this within the inductive influence of said field, as
method of conversion is or may be carried out herein set forth.
may be varied almost indefinitely. The spe 2. The method of electrical conversion and
cific form which I have herein shown I regard distribution herein described, which consists
as the best and most efficient, and in another in generating in independent circuits produc
application I have claimed it; but I do not ing an inductive field alternating currents in
limit myself herein to the use of any particu such order or manner as to produce by their
lar form or combination of devices which is or conjoint effect a progressive shifting of the
may be capable of effecting the same result in points of maximum effect of the field, and in
O a similar way. ducing thereby currents in the coils or convo
What I claim is lutions of a circuit located within the induct
1. The method of electrical conversion and ive influence of the field, as set forth.
distribution herein described, which consists NIKOLA TESLA.
in continuously and progressively shifting the
points or line of maximum effect in an induct. Witnesses:
ive field, and inducing thereby currents in FRANK B. MURPHY,
the coils or convolutions of a circuit located FRANK E. HARTLEY.
