Electric Motors – Single Phase, Repulsion Induction and Repulsion Motors
An early 20th century, 25 cycle, repulsion induction motor with two historic innovations, a first generation, vibration isolating motor mount, and an inherent overload protector with automatic reset, helping to reduce both noise and the risk of personal and property injury in the Canadian kitchen, built in Canada for Kelvinator of Canada’s cabinet refrigerators introduced in the early 1930’s, Wagner, Circa 1936. [see also ID# 297]
Features:
– Early 4 point, innovative, vibration isolating motor mounts
– Inherent, overload protector with automatic reset
Technical Significance:
– An artifact of Canadian history telling many stories of life and times, including Canadian technological innovation, dissemination and popularization of technology for the Canadian home:
1. An early Canadian made FHP motor for an early Canadian refrigerator manufacturer, marking the optimism of the times, the capital investment made, in spite of a period of marked economic depression
2. A pioneering step in quieting the Canadian kitchen. The 4 point, rubber vibration insulating base would be an historic step of significant proportion in reducing noise in the kitchen, which followed the introduction of electro-motive powered machinery into the home. It would be the first step in an evolutionary sequence which would result, in the complete disappearance of the noisy, hazards, FHP motor, embedding it within the refrigeration system itself, the hermetic refrigeration motor compressor. [see examples classification code 4.01] [see also Note 1]
3. An early historic technology for reducing the risk of personal and property damage due to motor overload, the inherent automatic overload protector – See Note No. 1.
4. A combination compressor drive pulley with condenser fan, a technology widely used in the 1920’s and 30’s, here employed by Kelvinator on a Model J15 condensing unit for a home cabinet refrigerator. The pulley hub performs a dual function, acting also as the drive hub of a four blade, 9 inch propeller style condenser fan blade. Driven at 1440 RPM, the un-guarded blade would represent a significant hazard to the un-wary homeowner [see Reference No. 13, P. 66].
– Repulsion induction motor technology was above all a marvel of its time, a technology born of both science and the consumer market place, a classic formula for the innovation and diffusion of popular technology, throughout the balance of the 20th century and on in to the 21st. Scientifically, the work of Faraday and many others laid much of the theoretical foundations for electromagnetic devices, the marvel of the early 20th century [much in the same way digital devices became the marvel of the early years of the 21st]. The wonders made possible by alternating current energised, rotating magnetic fields and the electric and magnetic circuitry that made them possible would soon be exploited by those interested in their application in applied electro-motive technology, including Steinnmetz and others. [See References especially #I, 2, and 5]
– See also ID# 296
Industrial Significance:
– See also notes ID# 296