In the past year or so, we’ve posted countless articles about specific types of electric motors, how VFDs prolong the life of electric motors, how to predict when they fail, and simply how important they are to manufacturing. What we haven’t  written about is from whence they came.

Did you know that the history of electric motors traces back nearly 200 years? It’s hard to imagine something 50 years younger than the United States that is vital to modern manufacturing.

A History of Electric Motors

The history of electric motors all began after the foundations have been set such as the invention of the battery, the discovery of the electromagnet and the use of electric current to generate a magnetic field. Also, the inventors involved in the process developed their original inventions independently, with the hopes of contributing something significant to humanity. Advancements in motors continue at present, although the basics were laid during the 1800s.

1822: Early Beginnings of Electric Motors

Peter Barlow, an English inventor, developed the very first rotating device in 1822. Electromagnetism was used to operate the device, and it was called the Barlow’s Wheel. Barlow’s Wheel preceded a series of attempts by other inventors, each of them aiming to reciprocate or surpass the performance of the one made by Barlow.

1834: First Rotating Electric Motor

However, it was not until 1834 when Moritz Jacobi invented the first actual rotating electric motor. His creation was capable of generating a strong mechanical output power, which garnered a world record for its impressive features. Four years after, he improved his invention, and it was able to power a boat that has 14 people in it.

In 1833, Heinrich Friedrich Emil Lenz wrote an article describing magneto-electric and electromagnetic phenomena’s law of reciprocity. Lenz’s article was published the same year, and it also featured the reversibility of the electric motor and generator. By 1838, he presented his experiments with a detailed description of how he completed his works. He used a Pixii generator that served as a motor to his experiments.

Sibrandus Stratingh and Christopher Becker, inventors from the Netherlands, created an electric motor with sufficient power to run a small model car in 1835. The model car was the first recorded practical application of electric motors.

1834: First Patent

However, it was Thomas Davenport, an American inventor, who received the first patent for an electric motor in 1837. Although these early inventions were significant enough to make their way in electric motor’s historical background, these did not result in the kind of motors that are used in this present time.

For instance, the DC motor, which was not invented from these early works, was developed by dynamometers, or power generators. In 1832, however, inventors Hippolyte Pixii and William Ritchie laid the foundations for the DC motor when they invented the commutator. Two other inventors who can be credited for providing the basics for DC motor were Werner Siemens, who created the Double T-anchor, as well as Friedrich Hefner-Alteneck for his drum armature. In this modern era, DC motors remain dominant in low voltage and low power range.

1885-1889: Three-Phase Power System

In 1885 up to 1889, the 3-phase electric power system was invented. The 3-phase system served as the basis for the advanced models of electric motors and the modern electrical power transmission. There are also several scientists involved in the development of the three-phase power system, although the most famous ones who had the greatest impact in these inventions include Ferraris, Tesla, Haselwanter, Dolivo-Dobrowolsky, and Bradley.

Friedrich August Haselwander first developed the three-phase synchronous motor in 1887. This type of motor is used in electric cars and robots, among other dynamic applications. In 1889, an inventor named Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrowolsky built a three-phase cage induction motor. His creation was noted to be one of the most successful ones, and it has become a very useful machine in power ranges from 1 kW and over.

Electromagnetic Devices

The 1800s was the start of numerous inventions of electromagnetic devices, and it all began when Allesandro Volta was able to produce a continuous amount of electrical power instead of a mere spark of electricity. He used a stack of zinc and silver plates to come up with this significant development in the history of electric motors.

By 1820, a Danish inventor named Hans Christian Oersted discovered a means to generate magnetic field using electric currents. He was inspired by observing a compass needle’s deflection. Electric current was able to produce mechanical movement, and his study inspired other inventors in this era.

In the same year, a French designer, Andre-Marie Ampere discovered solenoid or the cylindrical coil. The following year, Michael Faraday conducted two experiments to demonstrate electromagnetic rotation. He used a vertically suspended wire that revolved around a magnet.

1834: The Invention of First Electric Motors

In 1834, Moritz Hermann Jacobi began with his experiments on electromagnets. He used an electromagnet shaped like a horseshoe during his early studies, which was in 1833. After his initial success with electromagnets, he became interested in building an electric motor. His work was completed in 1834, and it was capable of lifting an object weighing 10 to 12 pounds at a speed of one foot per second; similar to at least 15 watts worth of mechanical power.

Later that year, he submitted a report of his discoveries to the Academy of Sciences (Paris), which granted him an honorary doctorate. However, he claimed that he was not the only one who invented electromagnetic motor. He was the first inventor who built a rotating electric motor that is highly functional and successful.

In 1833, Thomas Davenport bought a solenoid to conduct his experiments on electric motors. He worked with Orange Smalley, and their experiments were performed in Forestdale, in Vermont. By 1834, Davenport and Smalley were able to complete their very first rotary machine. Before giving a public demonstration of their invention in December 1834, they made a series of improvements to it for further enhancements of features.

In 1835, the two parted ways, and Davenport decided to have this machine registered at the patent office in Washington, D.C. However, he lacked funds for registration, so he was not able to accomplish his goals and traveled back home.

That same year, another invention was being completed by a British inventor named Francis Watkins. His goal was to create an electrical rotating machine made of magnetic needles. His work was greatly inspired by Joseph Saxton’s electromagnetic machine. Watkins may also be considered as one of the first inventors who had a full understanding of the principle of reversal of generator and motor.

In some texts, Thomas Davenport was regarded as the inventor of the electric motor, largely because he created the first usable electric motor. His work was also granted a patent in the year 1837. However, in Europe, advanced technologies in electric motors were already being implemented during that time. In fact, Jacobi’s highly powerful motor was invented in 1834. There was also the invention of a motor by Strating and Becker in 1835, which could be used in running a small electric model car.

Improvements in Electric Motors

Early designs of electric motors had one significant problem, which was the high cost of galvanic elements that produced electric current. In fact, a report featured in the British Philosophical Magazine in 1850 presented a study that claimed electrical power was still 25 times more expensive, as compared to a steam engine. The cost of electricity was a constant issue faced by inventors of electric motors, although was eventually resolved with the continuous development of the dynamo or electric generator.

1856: Werner Siemens

In 1856, German inventor Werner Siemens created an electric generator that comes with a double T-armature winding. In fact, he was the first person who placed a winding into the slots, and this design served as an important turning point in electrical machine designs. At present, windings in slots are found in nearly all electric motors. So, older designs became obsolete in the next decades after his invention.

Siemens also produced these devices for building the Bavarian railways. About 50 of these were made, which served a significant impact in these modern times. Initial machines were operated manually to deliver pulses, and these lacked a constant supply of electrical energy.

By 1866, he used the double-T armature design as the basis for his newly developed dynamo-electric machine. This powerful electric generator had numerous functions, and it was created in a timely manner with the availability of electricity.

However, there was one limitation to Siemen’s creation. It was not capable of generating pulsating direct current. This problem was resolved by Zenobe Teophil Gramme, a Belgian inventor, who created the anchor ring. It could produce a smooth and steady amount of DC voltage, and his machines became as popular as Siemens’ creation. Gramme’s invention is no longer being used in this era.

1882: Nikola Tesla and the Three-Phase System

In 1882, Nikola Tesla conducted some studies on the multi-phase system. This Croatian inventor was already interested in this voltage system while he was in Austria during his schooling. When he emigrated to the United States in 1884, he started his very own development laboratory and small company to conduct further studies and experiments on the said system. His company was based in New York.

Although a two-phase induction motor was built in 1885 by Ferraris, Tesla was not aware of such developments. He was working on his own inventions when he reinvented the induction motor by Ferraris. Several functional models were also created by the Croatian inventor, although he momentarily stopped in 1886 when he decided to work as a laborer for two years. By 1887, Tesla decided to have his inventions patented, which was the two-phase AC power system with four electrical power lines. This said invention had a multi-phase motor, transmission system, and a generator.

Tesla eventually became a consultant for George Westinghouse’s company. His speech, which he delivered in Pittsburgh in 1888, impressed Westinghouse and decided to buy over 40 of Tesla’s patents for a million dollars. At this time, Tesla was still focused on the single- and two-phase induction machines with high frequencies of 125 and 133 Hz. However, he was not able to create a reliable induction motor, and he soon decided to leave Pittsburgh. He also left the Westinghouse company, which also caused Westinghouse to discontinue the development of induction motors.

In 1885, the Italian inventor Galileo Ferraris worked on the first induction motor. He incorporated two phases in his motor, just like what Tesla did. Ferraris, however, was not convinced that this type of motor can go beyond 50% efficiency. This has led him to lose interest in continuing further with this invention, so he stopped working on his machines due to this false belief.

Continued Developments in Electric Motors

As mentioned earlier, the high cost of electricity even at best conditions was the main problem faced by inventors of electric motors. However, Dobrowolsky eradicated this issue with his discovery. He realized that if is possible to use only three power lines with a three-phase system once it is connected in delta or star. So, it is far less costly, even when compared with a two-phase system that had four lines. He continued working further on this project, and he successfully received a patent for his three-phase transformer that has a three-legged design. So, this started the popularity of the three-phase AC system throughout the world.

Dolivo-Dobrowolsky initiated the building of the three-phase electric power transmission line, which he worked with Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, along with Charles E.L Brown, who was the chief engineer of the company. AEG built this power line in the year 1891. It was able to generate an impressive efficiency of 96 percent, and it delivered as much as 220 kW worth of output power. The line was also operated at voltages with a maximum of 25 kV.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the very first American electric power line was built in 1896, and Tesla and Westinghouse created it. The line was from the Niagara Falls and extended to Buffalo, in New York. It covered 22-mile distance, and this was a three-phase power system. Also, there were three single phase transformers incorporated at both ends of the power transmission line since Dobrowolsky had the patent for the three-legged transformer. Meanwhile, the Niagara Falls was capable of delivering a total of 750 kW output with voltages that go up to 11 kV.

Further developments continue to contribute to the development of electric motors, but these events are among the ones with significant impact up to this present time. With the combined efforts of different inventors throughout history, the electric motor that we use today has reached numerous improvements and greater efficiency in making our life easier and more convenient.

On a related note, created by Epic Packaging Systems, is an infographic that provides a good illustration of the history of manufacturing in the United States.

$1.87 trillion, that’s how much manufacturing contributed to US economy in 2012. Manufacturing is the backbone of the United States, and something our nation was built on. As a system integrator, we work with manufacturers everyday and are impressed by their can-do spirit & dedication to constant improvement.

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