Patent Number
GB237759
Title
IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF DRIVING ELECTRICITY GENERATING PLANT
Specification
I, FRANK BERNARD DEHN, M.Sc., Ph.D., A.I.C., F.C.P.A., a British subject, of 53, Doughty Street, London, W.C. 1, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to me by Peter William Babbitt, a citizen of The United States of America, of 46, Ellsworth Street, in the City and County of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Surgical Assistant), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in self-driving electricity generating plant having for an object to provide an electricity generating plant especially advantageous for use as a local source of energy or power plant in the illuminating of houses, and the supplying of that power necessary for ordinary use, the invention including mechanical means which are employed for operating the electricity generating apparatus for that period of time necessary to bring the same to its peak of generating efficiency, whereupon the mechanical starting means may be discontinued and the generating apparatus wilt continue to function.
Yet another and equally important object of the invention is to provide the electricity generating machine with a novel arrangement of electrical generators and motor, the same receiving their initial motive power from the mechanical starting means and being so inter-geared as to with operation of the same at their maximum efficiency, permit the discontinuance or disconnection of power thereto from said mechanical starting means and thereafter to become self driving.
Other objects of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter.
I am aware that the combination of an electric dynamo with an electric motor adapted to drive it, and means for supplying the motor with the current generated by the dynamo has previously been proposed and that in this connection the means for supplying the motor with the current generated by the dynamo has comprised a storage battery or an accumulator charged by the dynamo.
It has also been proposed to provide an electro mechanical plant in which a dynamo and electric motor are connected together in a closed electrical circuit, said machines working without the aid of power from any foreign source once they are started, the armatures of said dynamo and electric motor being mounted on the same shaft, said shalt being driven by an auxiliary motor, the plant being started by the supply of current from a separate source which is subsequently shut off, when the dynamo provides the required power to keep both motors working.
According to the present invention, however, I provide a self-driving electricity generating plant having an electricity generator mechanically and electrically connected to an electric motor including a mechanical starting means mechanically connected to said electricity generator and a. second electricity generator mechanically connected to said electric motor.
In order that the Invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings, and in the detailed following description based thereupon, set out one embodiment of the same.
In these drawings,
Fig. 1 is an edge view of a machine showing a preferred embodiment of this invention with parts in section;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the same with a part of the casing broken away to show interior construction;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the circular ratchet used therein, and
Fig. 4 is a side view of the braking device partly in section.
Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the improved machine may be stated to comprise a housing or casing 1 of suitable design and construction, said housing having a plurality of electricity contact terminals generally indicated by the numeral 2 mounted upon the upper portion thereof whereby connection as between the generating machine and apparatus to receive power therefrom may be readily effected.
This housing 1, as shown in the embodiment, of the invention herein illustrated, comprises upper and lower compartments 3 and 4, the lower compartment receiving a form of mechanical motor to be hereinafter more fully described, while the upper compartment receives the electricity generating apparatus of the invention.
A mechanical motor supporting frame consisting of upwardly converging end bars 5 interconnected at their upper ends and braced with respect to the housing 3 through the medium of a horizontally extending bracing arm 6 is arranged within the compartment 3 and as will be noted, has driving and driven shafts 7 and 8 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried upon transversely disposed supporting bars 9 and 10 connected in a suitable manner to the end bars 5. These shafts 7 and 8 are arranged in substantially horizontal and relatively parallel relationship: the driving shaft 7 having a suitably formed or constructed heavy coiled spring 11 mounted upon and connected to the outer end thereof, the remaining end of said coiled spring being extended into engagement with one of the bars 5 of the motor supporting frame and fixedly connected thereto, as indicated by the numeral 12. That end of the driving shaft 7 carrying the coiled spring 11 is extended and squared or similarly formed whereby to permit the detachable engagement of a crank 13 therewith, such crank obviously serving as a means for winding the spring 11 and placing the same under that tension desired and necessary to effect rotation of the driving shaft 7.
In order that reverse rotation of the driving shaft 7 during winding of the coiled spring 11 through the medium of the crank 13 will be prevented, a circular ratchet 14 is mounted upon the opposite end portion of the same and is adapted, at times, to be engaged by a pawl 15 pivotally mounted, as indicated at 16, upon an adjacent portion of the motor supporting frame and having one end of a contractile coiled spring 17 connected thereto, the opposite end of said spring being connected to a fixed or immovable portion of said motor supporting frame in order that a pull will be normally exerted upon the pawl 15 whereby to retain the same in engagement with the adjacent teeth or the ratchet 14. Thus, it will be understood that with rotation of the driving shaft 7 through the medium of the crank 13, as when the coiled spring 11 is being wound or placed under the desired tension, reverse rotation of said driving shaft will be prevented due to the engagement of the spring actuated pivotal pawl 15 therewith.
As additional means for preventing rotation of the driving shaft 7 in a direction to relieve the coiled spring 11 or its tension, a braking device is employed in connection with said driving shaft, comprising a standard or supporting bracket 18 secured in a suitable manner as at 19 to the flooring of the compartment 3 of the housing 1, pivotally mounted opposed semi-circular brake bands or arms 20 being mounted upon the upper ends of said standard 18 and having their free ends extended and apertured, whereby to receive an adjusting screw 21 therethrough. One of the apertures in the extended end of one of the brake arms 20 is internally screw threaded and is adapted to have the screw-threaded shank portion of the adjusting screw 21 turned into engagement therewith.
These semicircular brake arms 20 are adapted to embrace a circular brake drum 22 fixedly mounted upon an adjacent portion of the driving shaft 7 and hence it will be understood that with rotation of the adjusting screw 21 in the proper direction, braking action as between the brake arm 20 and said drum 22 will be effected to the desired degree. Thus, with application of the braking arm 20 in the manner described, the driving- shaft 7 will be prevented from having rotation in a direction to relieve the coiled spring 11 of its tension, irrespective of engagement of the pawl 11 with its ratchet 14, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.
Mounted intermediately of the driving and driven shafts 7 and 8 is a relatively parallel counter shaft 23, the same being journaled in suitable bearings provided upon bars suitably secured and supported upon the motor frame bars 5. This counter shaft 23 and the driving shaft 7 are interconnected through the medium of a suitable train of power transmission gearing, certain of the gears being mounted upon the driving shaft 7 while certain others of said gears are secured to the counter shaft 23 as will be subsequently described. Thus, it will be seen that a power transmission connection as between the driving shaft and the counter shaft of the machine will be established, and in this connection, it is to be understood that the relative ratio of said gearing is such as will materially step up the velocity of speed at which the counter shaft 23 will be rotated. In practical usage of the machine, it has been found that the driving shaft 7 may advantageously be caused to rotate at approximately ten revolutions to the minute, the counter shaft 23, through the medium of the power transmission gearing then being caused to rotate at approximately one thousand four hundred and sixty revolutions to the minute.
As an example, the operation of the gearing illustrated in Fig.1, may be as follows:-
The gear 24a fast on shaft 7, is rotated by the spring and transmits its motion to the double gear 24b consisting of a small and a large gear and being loosely mounted on shaft 23. The large gear of double gear 24b is in mesh with the pinion of double gear 24c loosely mounted on shaft 7. The large gear of double gear 24c is in mesh with the pinion of double gear 24d, loosely mounted on shaft 23. The large gear of double gear 24d is in mesh with the pinion of double gear 24e loosely mounted on shaft 7, and finally the large gear of double gear 24e is in mesh with the smaller gear of double gear 24f fastened to shaft 23, and the other gear 25 of said double gear 24f is in constant mesh with the gear 26, fixedly mounted upon the intermediate portion of the driving shaft 8, whereby power transmission connection as between the driving shaft and said driven shaft 8 will be established.
A balance or fly wheel 27 is preferably mounted upon a suitable portion of the driven shaft 8 and obviously, serves to augment the power efficiency of the the machine through its gathered momentum, while a pulley 28 is fixedly mounted upon the opposite portion of said driven shaft 8 and is adapted to receive belt gearing 29 thereabout, the purpose of which will be presently described.
Arranged within the compartment 4 of the housing 1 and immovably secured to the flooring of such compartment in relative spaced relationship is an electricity generator 29’, an electric motor 30 and a second load delivering generator 31. The generator 29’ is electrically connected through conductors 32 to the electric motor 30, while the generator 31 is connected through suitable conductors 33 to the various contact posts 2 carried upon the upper portion of the housing 1 of the machine.
To effect operation of the apparatus within the compartment 4 of the housing 1, the opposite end of the endless belt gearing 29 is engaged over a pulley 34 mounted upon the rotatable armature shaft of the generator 29’, while another endless belt 35 has one end thereof engaged over a second pulley 36 also fixedly mounted upon said armature shaft of the generator 29’; the opposite end of this endless belt 35 being engaged over a pulley 37 fixedly mounted upon the armature shaft of the electric motor 30. The electric motor 30, in turn, is connected to the generator 31 through the medium of an endless belt 38, one end of which is engaged over a pulley 39 fixedly mounted on its armature shaft in proximity to the pulley 37, while the opposite end of said belt 38 is engaged over a pulley 40 fixedly mounted upon one end of the armature shaft of said generator 31. A storage element 50 is connected with the generator 31 to store any surplus electric power produced.
The modus operandi of my improved electricity power generating machine is as follows:-
The coiled spring 11 is placed under proper tension by rotation of the driving shaft 7 in the proper direction through the medium of the crank 13. During such rotation of the driving shaft 7, that is, to effect winding or placing of the coiled spring 11 under the desired tension, the pivotal spring actuated pawl 15 is engaged with the circular ratchet 14. Thus, reverse rotation of the driving shaft 7 in the direction to relieve the spring 11 of its tension will be prevented. When the coiled spring 11 has been properly tensioned, the crank 13 is removed from the driving shaft 7 and at this time the adjusting screw 21 of the frictional braking device is turned so as to bring the semi-circular brake arms 20 into braking engagement with the peripheral portion of the brake drum 22 fixedly mounted upon said driving shaft 7. At this time, the spring actuated pawl 15 is completely disengaged from its ratchet 14 and the mechanical starting means of the improved electricity generating apparatus is ready to start. In starting the mechanical motor or starting means of the machine, it is only necessary to rotate the adjusting screw 21 in a direction to reduce the braking pressure of the brake arms 20 upon the peripheral portion of the brake drum 22 whereupon the coiled and tensioned spring 11 will immediately exert a rotary driving force upon the driving shaft 7, causing the same to rotate at that velocity regulated by the extent of engagement of the semi-circular brake arms 20 with the peripheral portion of the brake drum 22. Such rotary motion of the driving shaft 7 will be transmitted by way of the power transmission gearing 24 to the counter shaft 23, whereupon it will be materially stepped up, that is, the counter shaft 23 in the example hitherto given, and when operating at its maximum efficiency, will be caused to rotate at approximately one thousand four hundred and sixty revolutions to the minute.
With transmission of rotary motion to the counter shaft 23, the driven shaft 8 will also be rotated by reason of the meshing of the gears 25 and 26, thus causing the pulley 28 to be rotated and transmitting rotary motion to the endless belt 29 to the electricity generating machine 29’ within the compartment 4 of the machine housing 1. The size and tension of the coiled spring 11 will be such as to effect rotation or the generator 29’ for that length of time necessary to bring the same to its peak of generating efficiency, during which period of time, the power generated from the same will be directed to the electrical motor 30 through the medium of the electrical conductors 32, causing said electric motor 30 to be rotated and in turn, transmitting such rotary motion from the electric motor 30 by way of the endless belt 38 to the generator 31, which, as hereinbefore stated, is connected through the medium of conductors 33 to the various contact or power distributing terminals 2 arranged upon the upper portion of the machine housing 1. When the generator 29’ has been caused to operate to generate electricity at its peak of efficiency, it will be understood that the tension of the coiled spring 11 will be of such a degree that the same will give but little if any aid to the rotary driving force of such generator 29’ and in order that rotation of the movable field of such generator may he kept at its maximum in order that the same will function at its peak of generating efficiency, the electric motor 30 receiving electricity from the generator 29’, as aforesaid, is connected to said generator through the medium or the endless belt 35 engaged about the pulley wheels 36 and 37 mounted whereupon.
Thus, it will be understood that continued operation of the electricity generating apparatus of the invention will be insured and that in consequence, the apparatus will in itself produce a self contained and operated electricity generating system or plant; the electrical power being directed from the generator 31 to the various distributing contact terminals 2 arranged upon the housing 1.
It is to be understood that any apparatus desired to be operated from my improved electricity generating machine may be connected to the distributing contacts 2, such as conditions or preference may dictate. Furthermore, the speed at which the mechanical starting means consisting of the spring motor contained within the compartment 3 is operated may be regulated to the desired nicety through the medium of the frictional brake provided by the semicircular brake arms 20 engaging the peripheral portion of the brake drum 22 under influence or adjustment of the adjusting screw 21.
The storage battery or element 50 receives any surplus power while the machine is running and stores it up. The power thus stored up can be used for starting the machine instead of winding it up and furthermore in case of breakage of the parts it can immediately be used to furnish current to avoid stoppage of the machinery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature or my said invention and in what manner the same is to he performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A self-driving electricity generating plant having an electricity generator mechanically and electrically connected to an electric motor including a mechanical starting means mechanically connected to said electricity generator and a second electricity generator mechanically connected to said electric motor.
2. A self-driving electricity generating plant as set forth in Claim 1, including a housing divided into compartments, a spring motor arranged in one of said
compartments, the electric motor and generators being arranged in the other compartment and means for regulating and governing the velocity of said spring motor.
3. A self-driving electricity generating plant as set forth in Claim 2, including a motor supporting frame, a driving shaft, a driven shaft and an intermediate counter shaft supported by said frame, spring motive means connected to said driving shaft, power transmission gearing interconnecting said driving shaft and counter shaft, gearing connecting the counter shaft and the driven shaft and pawl and ratchet means engageable with said driving shaft at times.
4. A self-driving electricity generating plant as set forth in Claim 3, including frictional braking means engageable with said driving shaft, at times, to regulate its velocity.
5. A self-driving electricity generating plant as set forth in Claim 2, including a plurality of distributing contact terminals carried upon a portion of said housing and electrically connected to said second generator.
6. A self-driving electricity generating plant as set forth in Claim 1, including means connected with the second generator for storing surplus electrical energy.
7. A self-driving electricity generating plant substantially as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 29th day of September, 1924.
