G is a water-supply pipe, and H is the steam-exhaust pipe, which communicates with all the tubes C in the armature B, so that steam escaping from the boiler will pa.s.s through the tubes.
In the steam-exhaust pipe H is a valve V, to which is connected the lever I, by the movement of which the valve is opened or closed. In such a case as this the heat of the fire may be utilized for other purposes after as much of it as may be needed has been applied to heating the core B. There are special advantages in the employment of a cooling device, in that the metal of the core B is not so quickly oxidized. Moreover, the difference between the temperature of the applied heat and of the steam, air, or whatever gas or fluid be applied as the cooling medium, may be increased or decreased at will, whereby the rapidity of the magnetic changes or fluctuations may be regulated.
CHAPTER x.x.xVII.
ANTI-SPARKING DYNAMO BRUSH AND COMMUTATOR.
In direct current dynamos of great electromotive force--such, for instance, as those used for arc lighting--when one commutator bar or plate comes out of contact with the collecting-brush a spark is apt to appear on the commutator. This spark may be due to the break of the complete circuit, or to a shunt of low resistance formed by the brush between two or more commutator-bars. In the first case the spark is more apparent, as there is at the moment when the circuit is broken a discharge of the magnets through the field helices, producing a great spark or flash which causes an unsteady current, rapid wear of the commutator bars and brushes, and waste of power. The sparking may be reduced by various devices, such as providing a path for the current at the moment when the commutator segment or bar leaves the brush, by short-circuiting the field-helices, by increasing the number of the commutator-bars, or by other similar means; but all these devices are expensive or not fully available, and seldom attain the object desired.
To prevent this sparking in a simple manner, Mr. Tesla some years ago employed with the commutator-bars and intervening insulating material, mica, asbestos paper or other insulating and incombustible material, arranged to bear on the surface of the commutator, near to and behind the brush.
In the drawings, Fig. 244 is a section of a commutator with an asbestos insulating device; and Fig. 245 is a similar view, representing two plates of mica upon the back of the brush.
In 244, C represents the commutator and intervening insulating material; B B, the brushes. d d are sheets of asbestos paper or other suitable non-conducting material. f f are springs, the pressure of which may be adjusted by means of the screws g g.
In Fig. 245 a simple arrangement is shown with two plates of mica or other material. It will be seen that whenever one commutator segment pa.s.ses out of contact with the brush, the formation of the arc will be prevented by the intervening insulating material coming in contact with the insulating material on the brush.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 244.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 245.]
Asbestos paper or cloth impregnated with zinc-oxide, magnesia, zirconia, or other suitable material, may be used, as the paper and cloth are soft, and serve at the same time to wipe and polish the commutator; but mica or any other suitable material can be employed, provided the material be an insulator or a bad conductor of electricity.
A few years later Mr. Tesla turned his attention again to the same subject, as, perhaps, was very natural in view of the fact that the commutator had always been prominent in his thoughts, and that so much of his work was even aimed at dispensing with it entirely as an objectionable and unnecessary part of dynamos and motors. In these later efforts to remedy commutator troubles, Mr. Tesla constructs a commutator and the collectors therefor in two parts mutually adapted to one another, and, so far as the essential features are concerned, alike in mechanical structure. Selecting as an ill.u.s.tration a commutator of two segments adapted for use with an armature the coils or coil of which have but two free ends, connected respectively to the segments, the bearing-surface is the face of a disc, and is formed of two metallic quadrant segments and two insulating segments of the same dimensions, and the face of the disc is smoothed off, so that the metal and insulating segments are flush. The part which takes the place of the usual brushes, or the "collector," is a disc of the same character as the commutator and has a surface similarly formed with two insulating and two metallic segments. These two parts are mounted with their faces in contact and in such manner that the rotation of the armature causes the commutator to turn upon the collector, whereby the currents induced in the coils are taken off by the collector segments and thence conveyed off by suitable conductors leading from the collector segments. This is the general plan of the construction adopted. Aside from certain adjuncts, the nature and functions of which are set forth later, this means of commutation will be seen to possess many important advantages. In the first place the short-circuiting and the breaking of the armature coil connected to the commutator-segments occur at the same instant, and from the nature of the construction this will be done with the greatest precision; secondly, the duration of both the break and of the short circuit will be reduced to a minimum. The first results in a reduction which amounts practically to a suppression of the spark, since the break and the short circuit produce opposite effects in the armature-coil. The second has the effect of diminishing the destructive effect of a spark, since this would be in a measure proportional to the duration of the spark; while lessening the duration of the short circuit obviously increases the efficiency of the machine.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 246.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 247.]
The mechanical advantages will be better understood by referring to the accompanying diagrams, in which Fig. 246 is a central longitudinal section of the end of a shaft with the improved commutator carried thereon. Fig. 247 is a view of the inner or bearing face of the collector. Fig. 248 is an end view from the armature side of a modified form of commutator. Figs. 249 and 250 are views of details of Fig. 248. Fig. 251 is a longitudinal central section of another modification, and Fig. 252 is a sectional view of the same. A is the end of the armature-shaft of a dynamo-electric machine or motor. A" is a sleeve of insulating material around the shaft, secured in place by a screw, a".
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 248.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 249.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 250.]
The commutator proper is in the form of a disc which is made up of four segments D D" G G", similar to those shown in Fig. 248. Two of these segments, as D D", are of metal and are in electrical connection with the ends of the coils on the armature. The other two segments are of insulating material. The segments are held in place by a band, B, of insulating material. The disc is held in place by friction or by screws, g" g", Fig. 248, which secure the disc firmly to the sleeve A".
The collector is made in the same form as the commutator. It is composed of the two metallic segments E E" and the two insulating segments F F", bound together by a band, C. The metallic segments E E" are of the same or practically the same width or extent as the insulating segments or s.p.a.ces of the commutator. The collector is secured to a sleeve, B", by screws g g, and the sleeve is arranged to turn freely on the shaft A. The end of the sleeve B" is closed by a plate, f, upon which presses a pivot-pointed screw, h, adjustable in a spring, H, which acts to maintain the collector in close contact with the commutator and to compensate for the play of the shaft. The collector is so fixed that it cannot turn with the shaft. For example, the diagram shows a slotted plate, K, which is designed to be attached to a stationary support, and an arm extending from the collector and carrying a clamping screw, L, by which the collector may be adjusted and set to the desired position.
Mr. Tesla prefers the form shown in Figs. 246 and 247 to fit the insulating segments of both commutator and collector loosely and to provide some means--as, for example, light springs, e e, secured to the bands A" B", respectively, and bearing against the segments--to exert a light pressure upon them and keep them in close contact and to compensate for wear. The metal segments of the commutator may be moved forward by loosening the screw a".
The line wires are fed from the metal segments of the collector, being secured thereto in any convenient manner, the plan of connections being shown as applied to a modified form of the commutator in Fig. 251. The commutator and the collector in thus presenting two flat and smooth bearing surfaces prevent most effectually by mechanical action the occurrence of sparks.
The insulating segments are made of some hard material capable of being polished and formed with sharp edges. Such materials as gla.s.s, marble, or soapstone may be advantageously used. The metal segments are preferably of copper or bra.s.s; but they may have a facing or edge of durable material--such as platinum or the like--where the sparks are liable to occur.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 251.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 252.]
In Fig. 248 a somewhat modified form of the invention is shown, a form designed to facilitate the construction and replacing of the parts. In this modification the commutator and collector are made in substantially the same manner as previously described, except that the bands B C are omitted. The four segments of each part, however, are secured to their respective sleeves by screws g" g", and one edge of each segment is cut away, so that small plates a b may be slipped into the s.p.a.ces thus formed. Of these plates a a are of metal, and are in contact with the metal segments D D", respectively. The other two, b b, are of gla.s.s or marble, and they are all better square, as shown in Figs. 249 and 250, so that they may be turned to present new edges should any edge become worn by use. Light springs d bear upon these plates and press those in the commutator toward those in the collector, and insulating strips c c are secured to the periphery of the discs to prevent the blocks from being thrown out by centrifugal action. These plates are, of course, useful at those edges of the segments only where sparks are liable to occur, and, as they are easily replaced, they are of great advantage. It is considered best to coat them with platinum or silver.
In Figs. 251 and 252 is shown a construction where, instead of solid segments, a fluid is employed. In this case the commutator and collector are made of two insulating discs, S T, and in lieu of the metal segments a s.p.a.ce is cut out of each part, as at R R", corresponding in shape and size to a metal segment. The two parts are fitted smoothly and the collector T held by the screw h and spring H against the commutator S. As in the other cases, the commutator revolves while the collector remains stationary. The ends of the coils are connected to binding-posts s s, which are in electrical connection with metal plates t t within the recesses in the two parts S T. These chambers or recesses are filled with mercury, and in the collector part are tubes W W, with screws w w, carrying springs X and pistons X", which compensate for the expansion and contraction of the mercury under varying temperatures, but which are sufficiently strong not to yield to the pressure of the fluid due to centrifugal action, and which serve as binding-posts.
In all the above cases the commutators are adapted for a single coil, and the device is particularly suited to such purposes. The number of segments may be increased, however, or more than one commutator used with a single armature. Although the bearing-surfaces are shown as planes at right angles to the shaft or axis, it is evident that in this particular the construction may be very greatly modified.
CHAPTER x.x.xVIII.
AUXILIARY BRUSH REGULATION OF DIRECT CURRENT DYNAMOS.
An interesting method devised by Mr. Tesla for the regulation of direct current dynamos, is that which has come to be known as the "third brush" method. In machines of this type, devised by him as far back as 1885, he makes use of two main brushes to which the ends of the field magnet coils are connected, an auxiliary brush, and a branch or shunt connection from an intermediate point of the field wire to the auxiliary brush.[14]
[14] The compiler has learned partially from statements made on several occasions in journals and partially by personal inquiry of Mr. Tesla, that a great deal of work in this interesting line is unpublished. In these inventions as will be seen, the brushes are automatically shifted, but in the broad method barely suggested here the regulation is effected without any change in the position of the brushes. This auxiliary brush invention, it will be remembered, was very much discussed a few years ago, and it may be of interest that this work of Mr. Tesla, then unknown in this field, is now brought to light.
The relative positions of the respective brushes are varied, either automatically or by hand, so that the shunt becomes inoperative when the auxiliary brush has a certain position upon the commutator; but when the auxiliary brush is moved in its relation to the main brushes, or the latter are moved in their relation to the auxiliary brush, the electric condition is disturbed and more or less of the current through the field-helices is diverted through the shunt or a current is pa.s.sed over the shunt to the field-helices. By varying the relative position upon the commutator of the respective brushes automatically in proportion to the varying electrical conditions of the working-circuit, the current developed can be regulated in proportion to the demands in the working-circuit.
Fig. 253 is a diagram ill.u.s.trating the invention, showing one core of the field-magnets with one helix wound in the same direction throughout. Figs. 254 and 255 are diagrams showing one core of the field-magnets with a portion of the helices wound in opposite directions. Figs. 256 and 257 are diagrams ill.u.s.trating the electric devices that may be employed for automatically adjusting the brushes, and Fig. 258 is a diagram ill.u.s.trating the positions of the brushes when the machine is being energized at the start.
a and b are the positive and negative brushes of the main or working-circuit, and c the auxiliary brush. The working-circuit D extends from the brushes a and b, as usual, and contains electric lamps or other devices, D", either in series or in multiple arc.
M M" represent the field-helices, the ends of which are connected to the main brushes a and b. The branch or shunt wire c" extends from the auxiliary brush c to the circuit of the field-helices, and is connected to the same at an intermediate point, x.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 253.]
H represents the commutator, with the plates of ordinary construction. When the auxiliary brush c occupies such a position upon the commutator that the electro-motive force between the brushes a and cis to the electro-motive force between the brushes c and b as the resistance of the circuit a M c" c A is to the resistance of the circuit b M" c" c B, the potentials of the points x and Y will be equal, and no current will flow over the auxiliary brush; but when the brush c occupies a different position the potentials of the points xand Y will be different, and a current will flow over the auxiliary brush to and from the commutator, according to the relative position of the brushes. If, for instance, the commutator-s.p.a.ce between the brushes a and c, when the latter is at the neutral point, is diminished, a current will flow from the point Y over the shunt c to the brush b, thus strengthening the current in the part M", and partly neutralizing the current in part M; but if the s.p.a.ce between the brushes a and cis increased, the current will flow over the auxiliary brush in an opposite direction, and the current in M will be strengthened, and in M", partly neutralized.
By combining with the brushes a, b, and c any usual automatic regulating mechanism, the current developed can be regulated in proportion to the demands in the working circuit. The parts M and M" of the field wire may be wound in the same direction. In this case they are arranged as shown in Fig. 253; or the part M may be wound in the opposite direction, as shown in Figs. 254 and 255.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 254.]
It will be apparent that the respective cores of the field-magnets are subjected to neutralizing or intensifying effects of the current in the shunt through c", and the magnetism of the cores will be partially neutralized, or the points of greatest magnetism shifted, so that it will be more or less remote from or approaching to the armature, and hence the aggregate energizing actions of the field magnets on the armature will be correspondingly varied.
In the form indicated in Fig. 253 the regulation is effected by shifting the point of greatest magnetism, and in Figs. 254 and 255 the same effect is produced by the action of the current in the shunt pa.s.sing through the neutralizing helix.
The relative positions of the respective brushes may be varied by moving the auxiliary brush, or the brush c may remain stationary and the core P be connected to the main-brush holder A, so as to adjust the brushes a b in their relation to the brush c. If, however, an adjustment is applied to all the brushes, as seen in Fig. 257, the solenoid should be connected to both a and c, so as to move them toward or away from each other.
There are several known devices for giving motion in proportion to an electric current. In Figs. 256 and 257 the moving cores are shown as convenient devices for obtaining the required extent of motion with very slight changes in the current pa.s.sing through the helices. It is understood that the adjustment of the main brushes causes variations in the strength of the current independently of the relative position of those brushes to the auxiliary brush. In all cases the adjustment should be such that no current flows over the auxiliary brush when the dynamo is running with its normal load.
In Figs. 256 and 257 A A indicate the main-brush holder, carrying the main brushes, and C the auxiliary-brush holder, carrying the auxiliary brush. These brush-holders are movable in arcs concentric with the centre of the commutator-shaft. An iron piston, P, of the solenoid S, Fig. 256, is attached to the auxiliary-brush holder C. The adjustment is effected by means of a spring and screw or tightener.
In Fig. 257 instead of a solenoid, an iron tube inclosing a coil is shown. The piston of the coil is attached to both brush-holders A A and C. When the brushes are moved directly by electrical devices, as shown in Figs. 256 and 257, these are so constructed that the force exerted for adjusting is practically uniform through the whole length of motion.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 255.]
It is true that auxiliary brushes have been used in connection with the helices of the field-wire; but in these instances the helices receive the entire current through the auxiliary brush or brushes, and these brushes could not be taken off without breaking the circuit through the field. These brushes cause, moreover, heavy sparking at the commutator. In the present case the auxiliary brush causes very little or no sparking, and can be taken off without breaking the circuit through the field-helices. The arrangement has, besides, the advantage of facilitating the self-excitation of the machine in all cases where the resistance of the field-wire is very great comparatively to the resistance of the main circuit at the start--for instance, on arc-light machines. In this case the auxiliary brush c is placed near to, or better still in contact with, the brush b, as shown in Fig. 258. In this manner the part M" is completely cut out, and as the part M has a considerably smaller resistance than the whole length of the field-wire the machine excites itself, whereupon the auxiliary brush is shifted automatically to its normal position.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 256.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 257.]
In a further method devised by Mr. Tesla, one or more auxiliary brushes are employed, by means of which a portion or the whole of the field coils is shunted. According to the relative position upon the commutator of the respective brushes more or less current is caused to pa.s.s through the helices of the field, and the current developed by the machine can be varied at will by varying the relative positions of the brushes.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 258.]
In Fig. 259, a and b are the positive and negative brushes of the main circuit, and c an auxiliary brush. The main circuit D extends from the brushes a and b, as usual, and contains the helices M of the field wire and the electric lamps or other working devices. The auxiliary brush c is connected to the point x of the main circuit by means of the wire c". H is a commutator of ordinary construction. It will have been seen from what was said already that when the electro-motive force between the brushes a and c is to the electromotive force between the brushes c and b as the resistance of the circuit a M c" c A is to the resistance of the circuit b C B c c" D, the potentials of the points x and y will be equal, and no current will pa.s.s over the auxiliary brush c; but if that brush occupies a different position relatively to the main brushes the electric condition is disturbed, and current will flow either from yto x or from x to y, according to the relative position of the brushes. In the first case the current through the field-helices will be partly neutralized and the magnetism of the field magnets will be diminished. In the second case the current will be increased and the magnets gain strength. By combining with the brushes at a b c any automatic regulating mechanism, the current developed can be regulated automatically in proportion to the demands of the working circuit.
In Figs. 264 and 265 some of the automatic means are represented that maybe used for moving the brushes. The core P, Fig. 264, of the solenoid-helix S is connected with the brush a to move the same, and in Fig. 265 the core P is shown as within the helix S, and connected with brushes a and c, so as to move the same toward or from each other, according to the strength of the current in the helix, the helix being within an iron tube, S", that becomes magnetized and increases the action of the solenoid.
In practice it is sufficient to move only the auxiliary brush, as shown in Fig. 264, as the regulation is very sensitive to the slightest changes; but the relative position of the auxiliary brush to the main brushes may be varied by moving the main brushes, or both main and auxiliary brushes may be moved, as ill.u.s.trated in Fig. 265. In the latter two cases, it will be understood, the motion of the main brushes relatively to the neutral line of the machine causes variations in the strength of the current independently of their relative position to the auxiliary brush. In all cases the adjustment may be such that when the machine is running with the ordinary load, no current flows over the auxiliary brush.
The field helices may be connected, as shown in Fig. 259, or a part of the field helices may be in the outgoing and the other part in the return circuit, and two auxiliary brushes may be employed as shown in Figs. 261 and 262. Instead of shunting the whole of the field helices, a portion only of such helices may be shunted, as shown in Figs. 260 and 262.
The arrangement shown in Fig. 262 is advantageous, as it diminishes the sparking upon the commutator, the main circuit being closed through the auxiliary brushes at the moment of the break of the circuit at the main brushes.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 259.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 260.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 261.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 262.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 263.]
The field helices may be wound in the same direction, or a part may be wound in opposite directions.
The connection between the helices and the auxiliary brush or brushes may be made by a wire of small resistance, or a resistance may be interposed (R, Fig. 263,) between the point x and the auxiliary brush or brushes to divide the sensitiveness when the brushes are adjusted.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 264.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 265.]
The accompanying sketches also ill.u.s.trate improvements made by Mr. Tesla in the mechanical devices used to effect the shifting of the brushes, in the use of an auxiliary brush. Fig. 266 is an elevation of the regulator with the frame partly in section; and Fig. 267 is a section at the line x x, Fig. 266. C is the commutator; B and B", the brush-holders, B carrying the main brushes a a", and B" the auxiliary or shunt brushes b b. The axis of the brush-holder B is supported by two pivot-screws, p p. The other brush-holder, B", has a sleeve, d, and is movable around the axis of the brush-holder B. In this way both brush-holders can turn very freely, the friction of the parts being reduced to a minimum. Over the brush-holders is mounted the solenoid S, which rests upon a forked column, c. This column also affords a support for the pivots p p, and is fastened upon a solid bracket or projection, P, which extends from the base of the machine, and is cast in one piece with the same. The brush-holders B B" are connected by means of the links e e and the cross-piece F to the iron core I, which slides freely in the tube T of the solenoid. The iron core I has a screw, s, by means of which it can be raised and adjusted in its position relatively to the solenoid, so that the pull exerted upon it by the solenoid is practically uniform through the whole length of motion which is required to effect the regulation. In order to effect the adjustment with greater precision, the core I is provided with a small iron screw, s". The core being first brought very nearly in the required position relatively to the solenoid by means of the screw s, the small screw s" is then adjusted until the magnetic attraction upon the core is the same when the core is in any position. A convenient stop, t, serves to limit the upward movement of the iron core.
To check somewhat the movement of the core I, a dash-pot, K, is used. The piston L of the dash-pot is provided with a valve, V, which opens by a downward pressure and allows an easy downward movement of the iron core I, but closes and checks the movement of the core when it is pulled up by the action of the solenoid.
To balance the opposing forces, the weight of the moving parts, and the pull exerted by the solenoid upon the iron core, the weights W W may be used. The adjustment is such that when the solenoid is traversed by the normal current it is just strong enough to balance the downward pull of the parts.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 266.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 267.]
The electrical circuit-connections are substantially the same as indicated in the previous diagrams, the solenoid being in series with the circuit when the translating devices are in series, and in shunt when the devices are in multiple arc. The operation of the device is as follows: When upon a decrease of the resistance of the circuit or for some other reason, the current is increased, the solenoid S gains in strength and pulls up the iron core I, thus shifting the main brushes in the direction of rotation and the auxiliary brushes in the opposite way. This diminishes the strength of the current until the opposing forces are balanced and the solenoid is traversed by the normal current; but if from any cause the current in the circuit is diminished, then the weight of the moving parts overcomes the pull of the solenoid, the iron core I descends, thus shifting the brushes the opposite way and increasing the current to the normal strength. The dash-pot connected to the iron core I may be of ordinary construction; but it is better, especially in machines for arc lights, to provide the piston of the dash-pot with a valve, as indicated in the diagrams. This valve permits a comparatively easy downward movement of the iron core, but checks its movement when it is drawn up by the solenoid. Such an arrangement has the advantage that a great number of lights may be put on without diminishing the light-power of the lamps in the circuit, as the brushes a.s.sume at once the proper position. When lights are cut out, the dash-pot acts to r.e.t.a.r.d the movement; but if the current is considerably increased the solenoid gets abnormally strong and the brushes are shifted instantly. The regulator being properly adjusted, lights or other devices may be put on or out with scarcely any perceptible difference. It is obvious that instead of the dash-pot any other r.e.t.a.r.ding device may be used.
CHAPTER x.x.xIX.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DYNAMOS AND MOTORS.
This invention of Mr. Tesla is an improvement in the construction of dynamo or magneto electric machines or motors, consisting in a novel form of frame and field magnet which renders the machine more solid and compact as a structure, which requires fewer parts, and which involves less trouble and expense in its manufacture. It is applicable to generators and motors generally, not only to those which have independent circuits adapted for use in the Tesla alternating current system, but to other continuous or alternating current machines of the ordinary type generally used.
Fig. 268 shows the machine in side elevation. Fig. 269 is a vertical sectional view of the field magnets and frame and an end view of the armature; and Fig. 270 is a plan view of one of the parts of the frame and the armature, a portion of the latter being cut away.
The field magnets and frame are cast in two parts. These parts are identical in size and shape, and each consists of the solid plates or ends A B, from which project inwardly the cores C D and the side bars or bridge pieces, E F. The precise shape of these parts is largely a matter of choice--that is to say, each casting, as shown, forms an approximately rectangular frame; but it might obviously be more or less oval, round, or square, without departure from the invention. It is also desirable to reduce the width of the side bars, E F, at the center and to so proportion the parts that when the frame is put together the s.p.a.ces between the pole pieces will be practically equal to the arcs which the surfaces of the poles occupy.
The bearings G for the armature shaft are cast in the side bars E F. The field coils are either wound on the pole pieces or on a form and then slipped on over the ends of the pole pieces. The lower part or casting is secured to the base after being finished off. The armature K on its shaft is then mounted in the bearings of the lower casting and the other part of the frame placed in position, dowel pins L or any other means being used to secure the two parts in proper position.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 268.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 269.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 270.]
In order to secure an easier fit, the side bars E F, and end pieces, A B, are so cast that slots M are formed when the two parts are put together.
This machine possesses several advantages. For example, if we magnetize the cores alternately, as indicated by the characters N S, it will be seen that the magnetic circuit between the poles of each part of a casting is completed through the solid iron side bars. The bearings for the shaft are located at the neutral points of the field, so that the armature core is not affected by the magnetic condition of the field.
The improvement is not restricted to the use of four pole pieces, as it is evident that each pole piece could be divided or more than four formed by the shape of the casting.