Charles Proteus Steinmetz

Charles Proteus Steinmetz, born Carl August Rudolph Steinmetz, ( born April 9, 1865 in Breslau, † October 26, 1923 in Schenectady ) was a German -American electrical engineer. He developed theories to AC. According to him, the Steinmetz circuit is named, an electrical circuit for electric motors. Furthermore, the usual in electrical engineering designation goes back to him j instead of i for the imaginary unit.

Life and work

Steinmetz studied from 1883-1888 at the University of Breslau electrical engineering. Like his father, he was suffering from dwarfism. 1888, the year of his doctoral thesis, he wrote as an avowed socialist relevant texts, leading to political persecution in the context of socialist laws under Otto von Bismarck. As a result, he fled to Zurich in Switzerland, where he graduated acquaintance with the brothers Gerhart and Carl Hauptmann and their circle. In 1889 he emigrated to the United States to Yonkers in the U.S. state of New York.

He first worked for Rudolf Meyer Eicke and engaged in the field of ferromagnetism, among other things, for which magnetic hysteresis in the range of Transformers plays a role. 1893, the firm of Meyer Eicke was taken over by the then newly formed company General Electric. Further work by Steinmetz concerned arc lamps, which he systematically examined in the operating behavior and used in sequence to the artificial illumination of large areas, like a floodlight.

Steinmetz engaged in Schenectady, where he lived in the city administration. From 1901 to 1902 he was president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers ( AIEE ) and was first vice president of the International Association of Municipal Electricians ( IAME ), a forerunner of the International Municipal Signal Association ( IMSA ).

He has authored 13 books, 60 articles, was the owner of 200 patents and was an honorary member of the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta. He died on 26 October 1923 in Schenectady and was buried in Vale Cemetery.

Working

Awards

  • In 1908, the Certificate of Merit from The Franklin Institute.
  • In 1913, the Elliott Cresson Medal from the Franklin Institute.
  • In 1914, Cedergren Medal.

Publications

Some important publications:

  • Charles Proteus Steinmetz: Theory and calculation of alternating current phenomena, with the assistance of Ernst J. Berg, 1897.
  • Charles Proteus Steinmetz: The Natural Period of a Transmission Line and the Frequency of lightning Discharge From There, The Electrical World, August 27, 1898 pages 203-205. .
  • Charles Proteus Steinmetz: Theory and calculation of transient electric phenomena and oscillations, McGraw publishing company, 1911.

Patents

Some essential patents:

  • Patent US0533244: System of distribution by alternating current.
  • Patent US0559419: Inductor dynamo.
  • Patent US0583950: Three phase induction meter.
  • Patent US0594145: Inductor dynamo.
  • Patent US0714412: Induction motor.
  • Patent US0717464: System of electrical distribution.
  • Patent US0865617: Induction motor.
  • Patent US1025932: Means for Producing light.
  • Patent US1042986: Induction furnace.
  • Patent USRE11576: Inductor dynamo.
Wrocław Schenectady, New York Yonkers, New York Integrated Authority File
179049
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