Nikola Tesla's Arc-Light Technology
Automatic Lamps, Commutators, Regulators, DC Generator or "Dynamo"
335,786
Electric-Arc Lamp - March 30, 1885
334,823
Commutator for Dynamo-Electric Machines - May 6, 1885
336,961
Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines - May 18, 1885
336,962
Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines - June 1, 1885
350,954
Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines - Jan 14, 1886
359,748
Dynamo-Electric Machine - Jan 14, 1886
335,787
Electric-Arc Lamp - July 13, 1886
382,845
Commutator for Dynamo-Electric Machines - April 30, 1887
On Jan 14, 1886, Tesla filed for patent protection on a "Dynamo-Electric Machine", a rugged, commerically sized DC generator head designed to power large arc-lamp systems, as in a big factory. This system was installed and operated commerically for street lighting in Rahway, New Jersey, where Tesla had his first shop/laboratory.
In this patent Tesla discusses some of the problems with magnetic leakage in other (read Edison) type DC generators. In his very first generator or "dynamo" patent, Tesla subdivides the iron, even for a DC machine. And with very little modification, simply replace the commutator with continously connected slip-rings and reconnect the coil ends, this machine can be set up to produce polyphase alternating currents. Tesla filed patent on the conversion of DC machines in just this manner: US Patent 390,414. It is important to note too that US Patent 390,414 covers cases where both slip rings and commutators are employed on the same generator shaft; and that the resulting machine can produce either direct current, alternating current, or both at the same time.
The arc-lamp patents are ingenious; the lamps are fully automatic, with electromagnetically controlled incremental carbon feeding mechanisms. The lamps incorporated automatic switching to remove the lamp from service in the event of a short, stuck rod, etc..
The regulators shown, and the early commutator are of special interest. The regulators document coherant electromagnetic geometries and related angular displacement functions that are completely missed by other investigators, and are very important in understanding advanced EMHD physics. The principals first disclosed here, were advanced on and developed by Tesla in his later work. This technology is obsolete, but the principals that Tesla patents here, will never be obsolete!
The problems of switching circuits with large amounts of EMF, Electro-Magnetic or Motive Force, began with DC commutators switching arc-lamps. The commutators spark. If an arc forms that short circuits the switching plates, all of the EMF of the generator gets consumed in burning up the copper plates and brushes in an electrical fire; which simultaneously burns up the generator windings. All of the energy of the prime mover, a steam engine turning a fly-wheel, is converted into intense heat and blue-green arcing which spews beads of molten copper. In the presense of coal dust, or other flammable materials, significant property damage can occur very quickly. Tesla's dynamo produces a very high EMF, and he made sure his commutator switching was up to the job. Switching high EMF circuits was work that Tesla would continue to develop all the way up until 1900, or later.
To the Archive Page Discussion on Tesla's Technology
Lab-Tesla disclosures on the technology just presented
Tesla's Electric Circuit Controllers
Precision Switching Technology
Tesla Fluid Model
Unified Field Mathematics
Tesla's Laboratory Power
