US125504A - Improvement in electro-magnetic engines - Google Patents

Description

WILLIAM e. THORNTON'.

` Improvement in Electro-Magnetic Engines.

N0. 125,504, PafenfedAprne,1e72.

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UNITED STATES WILLIAM GLITHORNTON, OF VICTORIA, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC ENGINES.l

Specilcation forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,504, dated April 9, 1872.

Specification describing an Improved Electro-Magnetic Engine, invented by WILLIAM G. THORNTON, of Victoria, in the county of Victoria and State of Texas.

Figure l represents a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved electro -magnetic engine. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same on the line o c, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new practical application of electro-magnetism to machinery for the purpose of moving the same and keeping it in motion, and developing a degree of force which is only limited by the reduced proportion of power applied. The invention consists principally in the transmission of electromagnetic power through compressed air for motor purposes, and the mechanism and combination of machinery necessary for that purpose.

A in the drawing represents a lever pivoted to a fulcrum-standard, B. C is an air-pump with all necessary valves and fixtures, to be worked by the lever A. D is an atmospheric receiver or fuel-chest with all necessary connecting-pipes, valves, 85e. The lever A is'to be worked by electro-magnets E E in conjunction with gravitationthe electro-magnets to lift the piston and gravitation to drive it down. The length of stroke is regulated by a set-screw, ci, in the head of a slotted standard and guide, F. The electro-magnets E E are arranged in pairs on a line under the lever, their top ends all being on a level. G G are armatures suspended from the lever by arms b b that extend upon each side of the lever, and are connected by a cross-bar, d, which is movable, and fastened to the arm by nuts c. By these nuts the arms can be lengthened or shortened, as maybe desired. The cross-bar d forms an edge at the lower side like a scale-pivot, so that it may swing with little friction. Every bar d is conined in place by a pair of projecting guards or guides `fon the leverA. These guards f extend upward at such angles as give freedom of motion to the suspended armature, and will allow free motion to the lever after each armature has reached its respective pair of magnets. These guides f also insure the return of each armature to its proper place on the lever after the stroke is completed and while the lever is moving up to its starting point. The distance at which the iirst armature and pair of magnets should be fixed from the fulcrum of the lever will depend upon the strength ofthe magnets. The first pair of magnets have little more to do than to lift the piston ofthe air-pump. The next pair of magnets, being of the same power as the irst, will be able to continue the movement, owing to mechanical advantage in length of lever, and so on, each pair of magnets gaining mechanical power as the distance from the fulcrum increases, thus enabling them to meet the constantly-increasing resistance ofthe air during the whole time ot' magnetic action.

It must be understood that the i'irst pair of magnetsthat is, those nearest the fulcrum will bring down the lever so that the next armature will be brought under the influence ol' the next pair of magnets. Vlien the lirst armature, therefore, lias reached its magnets, it will remain idle during the continuance of the stroke; and sol with each armature, one after the other. They all will become idle and stand upon the magnets until the stroke is finished and the circuit opened. Then the circuit is opened, the weight of the piston at the opposite cnd of the lever, aided, if necessary, by an extra weight or spring, will lift this end of the lever to the starting point, and, as it rises, each armature will be taken up in its turn, and they will all assume their places on the lever ready for another stroke, at which time the circuit will be closed by an automatic tender, and the action repeated, and so on.

The extra or overbalance weight H, when necessary to sink the piston, should be hung near the fulcruin of the lever A, as shown. It', on the contrary, extra weight can be allowed on the power end of the lever, this weight should be near the end of the lever. The circuit-tender I is a slotted plate or frame with a crossboard to receive a set-screw, h, through the cross-bar, and another set-screw, i, through the bottom, as shown. The two screws point toward each other, and can be set to shorten or lengthen the distance between their points. The frame I is, by a jointed rod, j, which works in guides l Z, suspended from the lever A, near the fulcrum of the same, as shown. The circuit-lever J stands at right angles to the main lever, or has an arm standing thus at right angles, as in Fig. 3. One end of the lever J is inserted in the frame I between the points of the two setscrews, h and t', so that, when the main lever rises to nearly its starting point,

the lower screw t' presses the lever J up and the other end down upon a button-like point, m, which rests upon a rubber pad, n, through which the circuit-wire o passes to connect with this button. The lever J is connected with the other pole of the battery by a wire, p, so that, when the point of the lever J presses the point m on the pad n, the circuit is closed. When the main lever A is drawn nearly down, the screw h will open the circuit. The pivot of the circuit-lever J should work just stii enough to hold the lever whenever it is left by the action of the-screw h or i. The armatures G G hang at right angles on the main lever A, and

in such positions, respectively, that each will be over the center of magnetic attraction at the time the armature reaches its magnetsin other Words, the armatures are to gravitate to theiridle point,whi1e at the beginning of action they gravitate toward the fulcrum. The magnets E E are all put upon the same circuit unless a great number should be used, in which case they may be divided into groups and each group put upon an Iindependent circuit, when each group would require its own circuit-tender, the magnets nearest the fulcrum being charged first. The armor-guides are to be made of material not susceptible of magnetism, as brass or hard rubber, and so must be the circuit-tender I, lever J, and the overbalance weight H.. All iron substances not necessary to electro-magnetic action, as well as all quickmotioned machinery, should be removedfrom the magnets, and the magnets should not be too near each other. To stop the machine, the set-screw a is moved down upon the main lever.

I nd that the electro-magnetic mechanism and operative power can be more advantageously used in connection with atmospheric air, which it compresses in alternate strokes by the movements of the lever A, than in the combination with other machinery.

Bellows of suitable kind may be substituted for the air-pump.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentv l. The combination of the lever A with electro-magnets and with air-pump or bellows, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The armatures G G, suspended by scalepivots d from the lever A, which carries the guards f, substantially as herein shown and described. 3. The frame I, having` the screws h and t', and combined with the lever J, as set forth.

4. The magnets E E, armatures Gr Gr, lever A, frame I, and lever J, all combined with each other substantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM G. THORNTON. Witnesses:

JNO. A. DAVIS, T. BROWNSON.

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