The Tesla Patents - Action against New England Granite Co.

A decision, considered to be of some importance on the other side of the Atlantic, has been given in the United States Circuit Court of Connecticut with regard to the three Tesla patents, Nos. 381,963, 382,280 and 382,279 of May 1, 1888. The following were the claims at issue in the three patents:—
Patent No. 381,968.

1. The combination, with a motor containing separate or independent circuits on the armature or field magnet, or both, of an alternating-current generator containing induced circuits connected independently to corresponding circuits in the motor, whereby a rotation of the generator produces a progressive shifting of the poles of the motor, as herein described.

3. The combination, with a motor having an annular or ring-shaped field magnet and a cylindrical or equivalent armature, and independent coils on the field magnet or armature, or both, of an alternating-current generator having correspondingly independent coils, and circuits including the generator coils and corresponding motor coils in such manner that the rotation of the generator causes a progressive shifting of the poles of the motor in the manner set forth.

Patent No. 382,280.

The method herein described of electrically transmitting power, which consists in producing a continuously-progressive shifting of the polarities of either or both elements (the armature or field magnets or magnets) of a motor by developing alternating currents in independent circuits, including the magnetising coils of either or both elements, as herein set forth,

Patent No. 382,279.

1. The combination, with a motor containing independent inducing or energising circuits and closed induced circuits, of an alternating-current generator having induced or generating circuits corresponding to and connected with the energising circuits of the motor, as set forth.

2. An electro-magnetic motor having its field magnets wound with independent coils and its armature with independent closed coils, in combination with a source of alternating currents connected to the field coils, and capable of progressively shifting the poles of the field magnet, as set forth.

3. A motor constructed with an annular field magnet wound with independent coils and a cylindrical or disc armature wound with closed coils, in combination with a source of alternating currents connected with the field-magnet coils, and acting to progressively shift or rotate the poles of the field as herein set forth.

The action was brought by the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co., the owners of the Tesla patents, against the New England Granite Co., and the judge declared that the patents were valid, and had been infringed.