XXVI. On the dynamo-electric current, and on certain means to improve its steadiness

Abstract

On the 14th February, 1867, I communicated a short paper to the Royal Society, describing the accumulative or dynamo-electrical principle of action, the conception of which I attributed to my brother Dr. Werner Siemens. When the paper was read, another paper followed by Sir Charles Wheatstone (sent in on the 24th February) also describing this principle of action, thus showing that the same line of thought had occupied that eminent philosopher. In illustration of my paper I exhibited a machine of my design, embodying the accumulative principle of action, which furnished abundant evidence of the powerful nature of the current that could be thus produced. It consisted of two horseshoe electromagnets, between the poles of which a Siemens armature could be made to rotate, the machine being furnished with a handle or pulley for that purpose. A commutator was provided, by which the alternating currents set up in the rotating coil (after a first impulse had been given) were directed through the coils of the stationary electromagnets in a continuous manner, and proceeded thence outward to ignite a platinum wire of some 12" in length, or to perform other work.