GB566156A - Improvements in or relating to circuits for counting electrical impulses - Google Patents

Abstract

566,156. Counting impulses. STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES, Ltd., BRAY, F. H., and BROWN, L. R. June 11, 1943, No. 9421. [Class 40 (iv)] [Also in Group XL] A chain of cold-cathode discharge tubes break down in succession in response to impulses and each tube when ionised extinguishes the preceding tube. The chain is arranged in closed form so that it may be used to generate make-and-break impulses at the rate of 10 per second, say, from 50 cycle alternating current. Positive battery is applied to the anodes of all the tubes over a resistance R19, and the anode circuits of two of the tubes include the windings of a polarized relay P. Alternating current is fed over a transformer TA to an additional tube T6 which breaks down on each positive half-cycle and applies a voltage surge to condensers C1-5. To start the operation, a key is actuated to connect an ionising potential to the control electrode of T1, whereupon the anode current, which energizes P, charges condenser C6 and builds up a bias on the control electrode of T2. On the return of the key, A.C. is applied and the voltage surge resulting from the first positive half-cycle ionises T2 and its anode current builds up a bias on the control electrode of T3, the preceding tube T1 being shunted out since C6 is fully charged. The tubes therefore break down in succession at each positive half-cycle. As shown, relay P changes over when T3 breaks down to provide impulses with 40 per cent make, 60 per cent break. Other ratios are obtainable by operation of keys K1-3. The chain may be used for counting impulses by connecting a relay in the anode circuit of each tube. When employed for generating impulses, the arrangement may be common to a number of register-controllers. Specifications 436,420 and 555,392 are referred to.