US1911371A - Light source control system - Google Patents

Description

.May30,1933. ,w,. 'E G 1,911,371

LIGHT SOURCE CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed June 7, 1926' INYENfQR J0 sap/7 MLeyy, fleceas'ed,

ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE i .Tosmn w. mace, nncnssnn, Lara or winnnsnuna, rnmzsnvanra, BY E's-rims. L. mass, anmnrsraurnrx, or woacns'rna, mssacnusn'r'rs, ABSIGNOB 'ro wiser; monousn announce ugmurac'runme oouram, a oonrona'rrox or rmmvama Original application am June 7, me,

This invention relates to oscillographs and particularly to means for controlling the light sources thereof.

- One object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the light source of an oscillograph or similar device that shall permit of instantaneous illumination of the instrument.

-Another object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining the filaments of light sources for oscillographs at a desired temperature after being heated instantane-' ously.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for suddenly applying an ab:

normal voltage to an electro-responsive de vice and for immediately thereafter maintaining a reduced voltage across said device.

7 intensity to permit the instrument to func A still further object of the invention is to provide control means for an oscillograph that shall condition the same for instant response durin long periods of time to record conditions 11 a commercial transmission line when a short circuit orlike phenomenon occurs.

In the prior art, the light sources of electrio indicating devices, such as oscillographs, are not supplied with any means for accel crating the heating thereof, and, therefore, an appreciable length of time is required before enough energy is supplied to the light source to cause it to emit light of sufiicient tion. v

The time consumed in bringing a light source, such as the filament of an incandescent lamp, to the required degree of incandesoence isso great that it is necessary to await the energization of the light source and make photographs by employing it shutter. 'This complicates the apparatus and Lrcn'r sounor: con'rnor. srs'rau lamp is heated to a high elements;

temperature in a very brief eriod of time by the dischargethrough it o a quantity of electrical energy stored in an inductance coil,

and the filament is subsequently maintained at a desired temperature by means of another energy supply, The time consumed to provide the illumination necessary for the operation of the instrument is so brief as to be almost negligible, and no shutter need be utilized. Furthermore, the filamenticomes to incandesoence so rapidly that the first part I of a transient may be recorded...

This application is a division of copending application, Serial No. 114,187, filed-June 7 V Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following de-. scriptlon, taken in connection with the ac companying drawing the; single'figure of which illustrates diagrammaticall an embodiment of the invention in whic Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises, in general, an incandescent lamp 1, a transformer 2, a storage battery 3,- a rectifier ,4 shunted by resistance 5 and a control relay :6. The incandescent lamp 1 and the control role, 6 are of usual types The control relay 6 1s a quick-acting relay which is normally closed and so connected to a transmission line 7 that'it will be opened when a-short circuit occurs on the line.

a trans-' former supplies the stored electrical energy.

Serial No. 114,1 87 pivided and this application ill e11 Tune 8, I

1829. serial No. 867,977. 1

The transformer 2, which ma be of the conventional type, isso design asto step down the alternating current supplied -.to the input thereof to a proper value for lighting the incandescent lamp 1, durin the period that photographs are being ma e, by the oscillograph. 'The transformer comprises an iron core 8, a prima coil 9 and a secondary coil 10, the primary coil having many more turns than the secondary coil.

. The rectifier 4 is a one-way rectifier of conventional design adapted to rectify alternating current flowing therethrough and to supply the rectified current to the storage battery 3.

When the control relay 6 is closed,;thrce circuits are provided by the above-described a pulsatingrcurrentcircuit 11, a

continuous-current circuit 12 and a circuit 13 which carries current only'when the instrument is in operation.

The pulsating-current circuit 11 extends from terminals 14 which are connected to a source of alternating current (not shown) through the upper portion of the resistor 5, through the rectifier 4, the contact members of the control relay 6, the battery 3 and back to the other terminal 14. A relatively large quantity of current flows in the pulsatingcurrent circuit 11 to cause a large drop of potential in the upper portion of the resistor 5, the rectifier 4 being connected across a suiiiciently long portion of the resistor 5 to provide an easier path for the pulsating current, with the result that virtually all of the current flows through the rectifier 4 and is rectified to pass through the battery 3 and maintain it in charged condition.

The continuous-current circuit 12/ extends from one terminal of the battery 3 through the primary coil 9 of the transformer and across the contact members of the control relay 6 to the other terminal of the battery 3. The continuous current, maintains a strong electro-magnetic field in the core of the transformer 2.

The circuit 13 comprises the secondary winding 10 of the transformer and the light source 1.

The control rela 6 is so connected to the transmission line f, by means of a transformer 15, that, when current of abnormal value appears on the line, the contact points of the relay 6 will be opened.

The disturbances which occur on the transmission line 7 are recorded on a photographelement 18.

When the control relay 6 is actuated in response to a disturbance on the transmission line, the relay contacts are opened, and the circuit 12, which carries the current maintaining the electro-magnetic field in the core of the transformer 2, is broken, and the stored electric energy in the core discharges instantaneously through the secondary coil 10, thereby providing suflicient current to heat the filament of the lamp 1 to a high degree of brilliancy in a very short time.

The opening of the contact members of the control relay 6 also breaks the pulsatingcurrent circuit, and the alternating current which is supplied to the terminals 14 takes a new course which includes the entire length of the resistor 5, the primary coil 9 of the transformer and the conductor 19.

Oscillographs without a shutter or with the shutter open and supplied with a continuously rotating photographic film may be so electrically connected to a commercial transmission line as to automatically record the current pulsations when any short circuit sufficient to operate the control relay occurs. By this means, records may be obtained of the actual phenomena of a commercial circuit without entailing the risk and expense incidental to an experimental short circuit which is required at the present time because the oscillograph of the prior art requires an appreciable t me for the light source to heat up to full brilliancy.

Various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are shown by the prior art and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. Electrical apparatus com rising an electro-responsive device, a trans ormer having a primary and a secondary, said electroresponsive device being connected to said secondary, a storage attery, means for charging said battery through a charging circuit, means for passing a continuous flow of direct current from said battery through said primary while said battery is being charged, and means for suddenly interrupting the flow of direct current through said primary and for simultaneously breaking said charging circuit.-

2. In combination, an electro-responsive device, a transformer having a primary and a secondary, said electro-responsive device being connected to said secondary, a storage battery, means including a charging circuit for normally passing a charging current through said battery, means including a portion of said charging circuit for connecting said battery to said primary whereby a continuous flow of direct current is normally maintained therethrough, and means for interrupting said portion of the charging circuit whereby the flow of direct current through said primary is interrupted.

3. Electrical apparatus comprising an electro-responsive device, a transformer having a primary and a secondary, said electro-responsive device being connected to said secondary, a storage battery, means including a rectifier for charging said battery, an impedance unit connected in shunt to said rectifier, means for passing a flow of direct current from said battery through said primary, means for interrupting said flow, and means including said impedance unitfor maintaining a flow of alternating current through said primary immediately after the interruption of said flow of direct cur rent.-

4. Electrical apparatus comprising a transformer having a primary and a secondary, an electro-responsive device connected to said secondary, means for passing a flow of direct current through said primary, means for interrupting said flow of direct current, and means for passing a continuous flow of alternating current through said primary in response to the interruption of said flow of direct current.

5. Electrical apparatus com rising a transformer having a primary an a secondary, an incandescent lamp connected to said secondary, means for passing a flow of direct current through said primary, means for interrupting said flow of direct current in response to an electrical disturbance, and means for passing a continuous flow of alternating. vcurrent through said primary in response to said interruption.

6. Electrical apparatus com rising a transformer having a primary an a secondary, a light source connected to said secondary, means for passing a flow of direct current through said primary, and means for inducing a continuous flow of alternating current in said secondary in response to the interruption of said flow of direct current.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of May 1929.

ESTHER L. LEGG, Administratrim 0f the Estate of Joseph W.

Legg, Deceased.

Images