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Electro-Magnetic Battery
Over a hundred and thirty years ago Daniel McFarland Cook of Mansfield,
Ohio patented an "Electro-Magnetic Battery" that he stated
"produces a constant current without the aid of a galvanic battery".
His patent number 119,825 was issued on October 10, 1871. Did he really
make something that continuously produced electricity? This was eight
years before Edison invented the light bulb. Did he actually build this,
or was it just an idea that in reality does not work?
This is of his patent:
United States Patent Office
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Daniel McFarland Cook, of Mansfield Ohio
IMPROVEMENT IN INDUCTION-COILS
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Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,825, dated October
10, 1871
To Whom It May Concern:
Be it known that I, Daniel McFarland Cook, of Mansfield, in the county
of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented an Electro-Magnetic Battery,
of which the following is a specification:
My invention relates to the combination of two or more simple or compound
helices and iron cores or magnets in such a manner as to produce a constant
electric current without the aid of a galvanic battery.
Figure 1 represents the different parts of a compound helix and iron
core. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention.
In carrying out my invention I do not confine myself to a particular
mode of constructing a helix or helices, or to any particular size of
wire, observing only that the quantity of wire in the several helices
is sufficient to produce the results, using less or more wire in the
helices to suit the purpose for which they are designed; also using
such material for insulating the helices as will secure a proper action.
I prefer, however, in common , to use the same size of wire in the construction
of either simple or compound helices. In the use of the simple helices
for convenience, and to favor the insulation in the resistance to obtain
a sufficient tension and quantity of current for action, it is desirable
to use a long iron core, A, Fig. 1, say two, three, or even six feet
in length, and two, three, or more inches in diameter; also a large
copper wire: tigood conductive quality, the wire being well insulated
with silk, shellac, or paraffin only, the latter being objectionable
as it is liable to be melted by the heating of the helix while in action.
The iron core A may be a solid bar or a bundle of iron wire, the latter
giving higher tension to the current with equal length and fineness
of wire. In any event the wire may be fine or coarse; but I prefer to
use No. 16, or even heavier wire, as the result is powerful in proportion
to the size and length of the wire. In the use of the compound helices
it is preferable, in some cases, to use a small wire, say No.30, or
even less, for a primary helix, and No.16, or even larger, for a secondary
helix. By this combination the initial secondary current of the primary
helix being very small in quantity in comparison to the terminal secondary
current of the secondary helix offers but little resistance to the terminal
secondary, hence a quicker action is secured; or the primary helix may
be made of un-insulated wire coiled into a solid helix, being insulated
only between the coils, in which case there is but little or no opposing
initial secondary current. Helices alone with large quantities of wire
will produce similar results. A ribbon spiral may be substituted for
the secondary helix, say of three, six, twelve, or twenty-four inches
in width and of any convenient length, but always of sufficient length
to raise the tension of the terminal current to a degree necessary to
reproduce itself by its action on the primary helix. In the use of compound
helices it is important that the secondary coil should be wound on in
the same direction as the primary coil, and that the poles or wires
should be connected to the opposite poles of the primary coil B. The
action will then be as follows: The terminal secondary current of the
secondary helix C will circulate through the opposite primary coil B,
while at the same instant a terminal secondary current from the primary
helix B will be developed and circulate through the opposite secondary
helix C, both currents flowing in the same direction in the opposite
helices B C, and produce a combined magnetic action upon the iron bar
A in the center; the opposing initial secondary currents of the two
helices B C being overpowered do not manifest themselves in the main
circuit D of the battery, there being eight distinct currents developed
in the action of one entire circuit of the two pairs of helices, two
terminal and two initial secondary currents to each pair of helices,
the four initial secondaries constantly opposing the circulation of
the four terminal secondary currents; but the initial secondaries being
of much lower tension and less in quantity than the terminal secondary
are consumed or taken up by the terminal, leaving a sufficient surplus
terminal to overcome the resistance of the primary wire and charge the
bar A to a degree necessary to reproduce itself in an opposite secondary
coil. By this means a constant current is kept up in the several helices.
The coils may be composed of from five hundred to one thousand feet
or more primary coil, and less or more secondary coil, in any event
the more coil and the better the insulation the more powerful the result.
In the use of simple helices, or two coils only, any size wire may be
used, only so that the insulation is effectual and the quantity of wires
is sufficient. The longer and the larger the wire or coil the more powerful
the result, one thousand or more feet being preferable. The poles of
the two helices being connected the action is the same as in the compound
helices, there being but four currents developed, two initial and two
terminal currents, the latter flowing constantly in the same direction
– in effect there being but one current in the same direction.
The mode of producing or starting the action in the helices consists
in the use of a steel or electromagnet, or a helix, around one of the
helices, and causing a secondary current in the enclosed helix by means
of a battery current in the outer one; the action then in either the
simple or compound helices increases in quantity to the maximum capacity
of the wires to conduct with the existing tension of the current. If,
now, the circuit is broken the current instantly ceases, and can only
be restored by the same means that it was first produced; hence to allow
the use of the main circuit for common purposes I introduce a rheostat
or resistance of any kind into the circuit, so that a small portion
of the current only will flow along the resistance, by which means the
action in the helices is feebly maintained when the main circuit is
broken, and instantly restored when it is closed to its full force.
By this means the action becomes in effect the same as the common battery
currents, and may be used for similar purposes. For the purpose of preventing
the heating of the helices caused by the intensity of the action, and
to prevent circulation of the initial secondary currents in the main
circuit, a rheostat of any convenient form may be made to constitute
a part of the main circuit D. The alternate changes of the iron cores
or magnets may be used for producing electro-magnetic motion, or motion
to a wheel of any suitable device.
Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure
by Letters Patent, is –
The combination of two or more simple or compound helices, in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.
DANIEL McFARLAND COOK,
Witness:
A. J. Mack
J. W. Jenner
After reading Mr. Cook’s patent, this is my interpretation of
how to build his device. Comparing a full scale copy of the patent to
the dimensions in the patent, and assuming the dimensions mentioned
are both bigger and smaller than what Mr. Cook may have build, it appears
that the patent drawings were made at about 1/10 scale. By scaling the
patent drawings, the following dimensions are my reconstruction of Cooks
device. Start with a 33-1/2 inch long by 1-1/2 diameter rod of 8620
steel, or use steel wires bundled together. Wrap with 30 inch wide Kraft
brown paper until 3 inches diameter. Dilute some white paper glue with
water and use in a spray bottle to glue the Kraft paper while wrapping.
The primary is then wrapped using about 800 feet of 22awg (.027 inch)
magnet wire, one layer, for a length of 27-1/2 inch. Then wrap with
24 inch wide Kraft paper until 5-3/4 inch diameter. To make the secondary,
take 600 feet of 12awg copper wire and flatten between rollers until
it measures about .12 wide by .04 thick ribbon. If the rollers are cone
shaped it may be possible to flatten and coil the wire at the same time.
Coat the wire with a spray-on insulation. When dry, slide the wire coil
into place and glue in place with more spray on insulation. Or wrap
using 14awg house wire? Make two coil assemblies.
Now wire the two coil assemblies as shown below. Try to start the device
by swiping a powerful magnet along the coils or the core. Try different
resistor values. Try shorting the outputs. Try putting light bulbs across
each of the two outputs. Test with meter.
These plans were drawn up on 8-12-01. I have not built
this. I do not know what it will do. I have a feeling this just might
work as Mr. Cook says. Why would he spend the time and money for a patent
if it did not work?
An electric current flows thru the wire producing a magnetic field.
Then the electric current goes around the circuit and flows thru the
wire again producing more magnetic field. The back EMF stops the flow
of current. Then the magnetic field collapses driving the electric current
backwards thru the second coil going around the circuit again and again.
Once again the magnetic fields builds up. The back EMF stops the flow
of current, then reverses it. And we start all over again. The electricity
is used over and over. The more it is used, the stronger it gets. It
only stops when the circuit is broken.
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