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ELECTRIC GENERATOR,
No. 511916, Patented Jan. 2, 1894,

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ELECTRIC GENERATOR,
No. 511,916, Patented Jan. 2, 1894,
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 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
NIKOLA TESLA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.
ELECT R C GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,916, dated January 2, 1894.
Application filed August 19, 1893, Serial No. 483,562, (No model.)

To Cult, tufton, it inval/ concern: to, the ports are so arranged that the movement
Beit known that I, NIKOLATESLA, a citizen of the piston within the cylinder in either di
of the United States, residing at New York, in rection ceases when the force tending to impel 55
the county and State of New York, have in it and the momentum which it has acquired
vented certain new and useful Improvements are counterbalanced by the increasing press
in Electric Generators, of which the follow ure of the Steam or compressed air in that end
ing is a specification, reference being had to of the cylinder toward which it is moving, and
the drawings accompanying and forming a as in its movement, the piston has shut off at
part of the same. a given point, the pressure that impelled it and
O In an application of even date herewith, established the pressure that tends to returnit,
Serial No. 483,563, I have shown and described it is then impelled in the opposite direction,
a form of engine invented by me, which, un and this action is continued as long as the
der the influence of an applied force Such as requisite pressure is applied. The length of
the elastic tension of Steam or a gas under the stroke will vary with the pressure, but
pressure, yields an Oscillation of constant the rate or period of reciprocation is no more
period. dependent upon the pressure applied to drive
In order that my present invention may be the piston, than would be the period of oscil
more readily understood I will explain the lation of a pendulum permanently maintained
conditions which are to be observed in Order in vibration, upon the force which periodically
to secure this result. impels it, the effect of variations in such force
It is a well known mechanical principle being merely to produce corresponding varia
that if a spring possessing a sensible inertia tions in the length of stroke or amplitude of .
be brought under tension, as by being vibration respectively. 75
stretched, and then freed, it will perform vi In practice I have found that the best re
25 brations which are isochronous, and as to sults are secured by the employment of an
period, in the main, dependent upon the ri air spring, that is, a body of confined air or
gidity of the spring, and its owninertia or that gas which is compressed and rarefied by the
of the system of which it may form an imme movements of the piston, and in order to se
diate part. This is known to be true in all cure a spring of constant rigidity I prefer to
cases where the force which tends to bring the employ a separate chamber or cylinder con
spring or movable system into a given position taining air at the normal atmospheric press
ure, although it might be at any other press
is proportionate to the displacement.
in the construction of my engine above re ure, and in which Works a plunger connected
ferred to I have followed and applied this with or carried by the piston rod. The main
reason Why no engine heretofore has been
35 principle, that is to say, I employ a cylinder capable of producing l'esults of this nature is
and a piston which in any suitable manner I that it has been customary to connect with
maintain in reciprocation by Steam or gas the reciprocating parts a heavy fly-wheel or
under pressure. To the moving piston or to Some equivalent rotary system of relatively
the cylinder, in case the latter reciprocate very great inertia, or in other cases where no
and the piston remain stationary, a Spring is rotary System was employed, as in certain re
connected so as to be maintained in vibration ciprocating engines or tools, no regard has
thereby, and whatever may be the inertia of been paid to the obtainment of the conditions 95
the piston or of the moving system and the essential to the end which I have in view,
rigidity of the Spring relatively to each other, nor would the pressure of such conditions in
45 ) rovided, the practical limits within which said devices appear to result in any special
the law holds true that the forces which tend advantage.
to bring the moving system to a given position Such all engine as I have described affords OO
are proportionate to the displacement, are not a means for accomplishing a result heretofore
exceeded, the impulses of the power impelled unattained, the continued production of elec
So piston and the natural vibrations of the Spring tric currents of constant period, by impart
will always correspond in direction and coin.
cide in time. In the case of the engine referred ing the movements of the piston to a core or
 511,916 .
coil in a magnetic field. It should be stated and a small force applied periodically in the
however, that in applying the engine for this proper direction to maintain it in motion, this
purpose certain conditions are encountered force would have no substantial control over
which should be taken into consideration in the period of the oscillation, unless the in
order to satisfactorily secure the desired re ertia of the pendulum
Sult. When a conductor is moved in a mag to the impelling force, be and
small in comparison
this would be true
netic field and a current caused to circulate no matter through what fraction
therein, the electro-magnetic reaction between the force may be applied. In theofcase the period
under 75
it and the field, might disturb the mechanical
O oscillation to such an extent as to throw it consideration the engine is merely an agent
out of isochronism. This, for instance, might for maintaining the vibration once started,
although it will be understood that this does
occur when the electro-magnetic reaction is not préclude the performance of useful work
very greatin comparison to the power of the en which would simply result in a shortening of
gine, and there is a retardation of the current the stroke, My invention, therefore, involves
so that the electro-magnetic reaction might the combination of a piston free to recipro
have an effect similar to that which would re cate under the influence of steam or a gas
sult from a variation of the tension of the under pressure and the movable element of
spring, but if the circuit of the generator be an electric generator which is in direct me
so adjusted that the phases of the electromo chanical connection with the piston, and it
tive force and current coincide in time, that is
is to say, when the current is not retarded, to moresecure
especially the object of my invention
from such combination electric cur
then the generator driven by the engine acts rents of a constant period. In the attainment
merely as a frictional resistance and will not, of this object I have found it preferable to 90
as a rule, alter the period of the mechanical construct the engine so
25 vibration, although it may vary its amplitude. trols the period, but as Ithat it of itself con
This condition may be readily secured by I may so modify the elements stated have before,
properly proportioning the self induction and nation that the electro-magnetic systemcombi
of the
capacity of the circuit including the genera exert a partial or even complete controlmay of 95
tor. I have, however, observed the further the period.
fact in connection with the use of such en In illustration of the manner in which the
gines as a means for running a generator, invention is carried out I now refer to the
that it is advantageous that the period of the accompanying drawings.
engine and the natural period of electrical Figure I is a central sectional view of an CO
vibration of the generator should be the same, engine and generator embodying the inven
35 as in such case the best conditions for electri tion. Fig. 2 is a modification of the same.
cal resonance are established and the possi Referring to Fig. 1 A is the main cylinder
bility of disturbing the period of mechanical in which works
vibrations is reduced to a minimum. I have pass through theasides piston B. Inlet ports CC
found that even if the theoretical conditions ing at the middle portionofthereofandon
the cylinder open Io5
oppo
40 necessary for maintaining a constant period in
sitesides. Exhaust portsDD
the engine itself are not exactly maintained, the walls of the cylinder and are formedextend through
still the engine and generator combined will with branches that open into the interior of
vibrate at a constant period. For example, if
instead of using in the engine an independent the cylinder on each side of the inlet ports TO
and on opposite sides of the cylinder. The
45 cylinder and plunger, as an air spring of prac piston
tically constant rigidity, I cause the piston to groovesB isE formed
F which
with two circumferential
communicate through
impinge upon air cushions at the ends of its openings G in the piston with the cylinder on
own cylinder, although the rigidity of such opposite sides of said piston
cushions or springs might be considerably af. The particular constructionrespectively.of the cylinder, II5
fected and varied by the variations of pressure the piston and the ports controlling it may
within the cylinder, still by combining with be very much varied, and is not in itself
such an engine a generator which has a period terial, except that in the special case now ma un
of its own approximately that of the engine, der consideration it is desirable that all the
constant vibration may be maintained even ports, and more especially the exhaust ports
55 through a considerable range of varying press should
ure, owing to the controlling action of the ally thebecase made very much larger than is usu
so that no force due to the ac
electro-magnetic system. I have even found tion
that under certain conditions the influence to retard or affectorthecompressed
of the steam
return of
air will tend
the piston in I 25
of the electro-magnetic system may be made either direction. The piston B is secured to
so great as to entirely control the period of a piston rod H which works in suitable stuff
the mechanical vibration within wide limits ing boxes in the heads of the cylinder A.
of varying pressure. This is likely to occur This rod is prolonged on one side and extends
in those instances where the power of the en through
gine while fully capable of maintaining a mountedbearings or
V in a cylinder I suitably
supported in line with the first,
vibration once started, is not sufficient to and within which is a disk or plunger J car
change its rate. So, for the sake of illustra ried by the rod H. The cylinder I is without
tion, if a pendulum is started in vibration, ports of any kind and is air-tight except as a
 511,916
small leakage may occur through the bear or period of reciprocation of the piston, how
ever, is mainly determined as described above
ings V, which experience has shown need
not be fitted with any very considerable ac by the rigidity of the air spring and the in
ertia of the moving system, and any period
curacy. The cylinder I is surrounded by a of oscillation within very wide limits may be
jacket K which leaves an open space or cham secured by properly portioning these factors,
ber around it. The bearings V in the cylin as by varying the dimensions of the air cham
der I, extend through the jacket K to the out ber which is equivalent to varying
side air and the chamber between the cylin idity of the spring, or by adjusting thethe rig 75
weight
der and jacket is made steam or air-tight as of the moving parts. These conditions are
O by a suitable packing. The main supply pipe
L for steam or compressed air leads into this all readily determinable, and an engine con
chamber, and the two pipes that lead to the follow theasprinciple
structed herein described may be made to
of operation above stated
cylinder A run from the said chamber, oil and maintain a perfectly uniform period
cups M being conveniently arranged to de through very wide limits of pressure.
liver oil into the said pipes for lubricating The pressure of the air confined in the cyl
the piston. In the particular form of engine inder
shown, the jacket IX which contains the cylin sition when the plunger I is in its central po
will always be practically that of the
der I is provided with a flange N by which it surrounding atmosphere, for while the cylin
is screwed to the end of the cylinder A. A der is so constructed as not to permit such
Small chamber O is thus formed which has air sudden escape of air as
vents P in its sides and drip pipes Q leading modify the action of thetoairsensibly impair or
out from it through which the oil which col still be a slow leakage of airspring there will
into or out of it
lects in it is carried off.
To explain now the operation of the engine around the piston rod according to the press
ure therein, so that the pressure of the air on
25 described, in the position of the parts shown, opposite sides of the plunger will always tend
or when the piston is at the middle point of to remain at that of the outside atmosphere.
its stroke, the plunger J is at the center of To the piston rod His secured a conductor 95
the cylinder I and the air on both sides of the
same is at the normal pressure of the outside or coil of wire D'' which by the movements of
atmosphere. If a source of steam or com tie piston is oscillated in the magnetic field
produced by two magnets B' B' which may
pressed air be then connected to the inlet be permanent
ports C C of the cylinder A and a movement C'C' connectedmagnets or energized by coils
be imparted to the piston as by a sudden blow, currents E'. Thewithmovement a source of continuous OO
of the coil D'
the latter is caused to reciprocate in a man across the lines of force established by the
35 ner Well understood. The movements of the magnets gives rise to alternating currents in
piston compress and rarefy the air in the cyl the coil. These currents, if the period of
inder I at opposite ends of the same alter mechanical oscillation be constant will be of
nately. A forward stroke compresses the air constant period,
ahead of the plunger J which acts as a spring purpose desired. and may be utilized for any
40 to return it. Similarly on the back stroke the In the case under consideration it is as
air is compressed on the opposite side of the sumed
plunger J and tends to drive it forward. The ertia ofasthea necessary condition that the in
compressions of the air in the cylinder I and tor and the movable element of the genera C
the consequent loss of energy due mainly to it exerts willelectro-magnetic reaction which
not be of Such character as to
the imperfect elasticity of the air, give rise to
45
a very considerable amount of heat. This materially disturb the action of the engine.
Fig. 2 is an example of a combination in
heat I utilize by conducting the steam or com which the engine is not of itself capable of II5
pressed air to the engine cylinder through the determining
chamber formed by the jacket surrounding but in which entirely the
the period of oscillation,
generator contributes to this
the air-spring cylinder. The heat thus taken end. In this figure the engine is the same as
up and used to raise the temperature of the in Fig. 1. The exterior air spring is however
steam or air acting upon the piston is availed omitted and the air spaces at the ends of the
of to increase the efficiency of the engine. In cylinder A relied on for accomplishing the
any given engine of this kind the normal same purpose. As the pressure in these
55 pressure will produce a stroke of determined spaces is liable to variations from variations
length, and this will be increased or dimin the steam or gas used in impelling the pis
ished according to the increase of pressure in ton they might affect the period of oscillation, I 25
above or the reduction of pressure below the and the conditions are not as stable and cer.
normal.
In constructing the apparatus proper allow tain as in the case of an engine constructed
ance is made for a variation in the length of brationFig.of 1.theBut
as in if the natural period of vi
elastic system be made to ap
stroke by giving to the confining cylinder I proximately accord
of the air spring properly determined dimen of the engine such with the average period
tendencies to variation
sions. The greater the pressure upon the are very largely overcome
piston, the higher the degree of compression preserve its period even and the engine will
of the air-spring, and the consequent Coun erable range of variations through of
a consid
pressure, The
teracting force upon the plunger. The rate
 511,916
generator in this case is composed of a mag under pressure, of the moving conductor or
netic casing F in which a laminated core G' element of an electric generator in direct me. 45
secured to the piston rod His caused to vi chanical connection therewith, the engine and
brate. Surrounding the plunger are two ex generator being adapted by their relative ad
citing coils C'C', and one or more induced justment with respect to period to produce
coils D' D'. The coils C'C' are connected currents of constant period, as set forth.
with a generator of continuous currents E' 3. The combination with an engine compris
and are wound to produce consequent poles ing a piston which is free to reciprocate un
in the core G'. Any movement of the latter der the action of steam or a gas under press
O
will therefore shift the lines of force through ure, and an electric generator having induc
coils D'D' and produce currents therein.
In the circuit of coils D is shown a con ing and induced elements one of which is ca
denser H. It need only be said that by the said pable of oscillation in the field of force, the
use of a proper condenser the self induction movable element being carried by the
of this circuit may be neutralized. Such a piston 4. The
rod of the engine, as set forth.
combination with an engine oper
circuit will have a certain natural period of ated by steam or a gas under pressure and hav
vibration, that is to say that when the elec ing a constant period of reciprocation, of an
tricity therein is disturbed in any way an electric generator, the moving element of
electrical or electro-magnetic vibration of a which is carried by the
certain period takes place, and as this de the engine, the generatorreciprocating part of
pends upon the capacity and self induction, ing so related to the engine with respectbe
and its circuit
to
such period may be varied to approximately the period of electrical vibration as not to
accord with the period of the engine.
In case the power of the engine be com disturb the period of the engine, as set forth.
5. The combination with a cylinder and a
25 paratively small, as when the pressure is ap
piston reciprocated by steam or a gas under
plied through a very small fraction of the pressure of a spring maintained in vibration
total stroke, the electrical vibration will tend by the movement
to control the period, and it is clear that if tric generator, the ofmovable
the piston, and an elec
the character of such vibration be not very ment of which is connected conductor or ele
with the piston,
widely different from the average period of these elements being constructed and adapt
vibration of the engine under ordinary work ed in the manner set forth for producing a 75
ing conditions such control may be entire current of constant period.
ly adequate to produce the desired results. 6. The method
Having now described my invention, what rents of constantofperiod producing electric cur
herein described
35 I claim is
1. The combination with the piston or equiv ofwhich consists in imparting the oscillations
alent element of an engine which is free to tricangenerator
engine to the moving element of an elec
and regulating the period of
reciprocate under the action thereon of steam mechanical oscillation by an adjustment of
or a gas under pressure, of the moving con the reaction of the electric generator, as here
ductor or element of an electric generator in in set forth.
direct mechanical connection there with.
2. The combination with the piston or equiv Witnesses:
NIKOLATESLA.
-
alent element of an engine which is free to PARKER. W. PAGE,
reciprocate under the action of steam or a gas R. F. GAYLORD.