Disassembly of a Wommelsdorf machine

   By November 2013 I received these photos from Frank Jones, showing the disassembly for restoration of a classical Wommelsdorf condenser machine, of which I had already made  a version. The photos show all the details of the construction and even allow an exact reproduction of the machine. This particular machine was originally poorly assembled, with base holes incorrectly aligned, and so probably never worked properly, a possible reason for its survival in so good conditions.


Front view
Back view


Neutralizer support
Top of neutralizer support
Lateral supports

Lateral supports with brushes and insulators
  Charge collector brushes and plugs for the Leyden jar switches.
Vertical support with insulators

Neutralizer bar
Blocks under the lateral supports
Top horizontal insulator

Upper pulley

Insulators

Screws that fix the top horizontal insulator

Main support and axles
Crank
Inductor brush assembly

Discharger
Inductor plates. Paper over metal strips
Inductor covers

Disk, with internal metal sectors accessed through the edge
Tubes where the dischargers slide


Base

Leyden jar switch

Leyden jar mount rotated

Leyden jar mount in place

Main support
Disk axle and nut
Lower inductor support

Screws that fix the inductors to the top horizontal insulator
Switches that go to the Leyden jars
Leyden jar support

Leyden jar support balls

Partial disassembly

Partial disassembly

Details about the parts and their dimensions can be found on these notes, by Mr. Jones.

Below are pictures of another Wommelsdorf machine belonging to Mr. Jones' collection. It has a box for transport and a different structure.


Box closed
Machine in the box

Front view
Back view


Created: 5/7/2014
Developed and maintained by Antonio Carlos M. de Queiroz
Return to Electrostatic Machines

Lamento informar que o Prof. Antonio Carlos Moreirão de Queiroz faleceu há algum tempo.
Sei que esta página é visitada constantemente. Assim, gostaria de saber se temos algum visitante (interessado) que seja da UFRJ. Se for, por favor, envie um e-mail para watanabe@coe.ufrj.br.
Comento que é impressionante ver o que Moreirão foi capaz de fazer. Ele não só projetou os circuitos, mas também fez todo o trabalho de marceneiro (melhor que muitos que já vi e eram profissionais).
Segundo Moreirão contou em uma palestra, ele só levou choque uma vez. Sem querer encostou o dedo médio em um capacitor com alta tensão que se descarregou através do dedo. A corrente ao passar por uma das articulações a danificou e doía sempre que dobrava esse dedo. Mas, segundo ele, já tinha acostumado.
E. Watanabe (ELEPOT)