US1885652A

US1885652A - Method and apparatus for taking soundings

Info

Publication number: US1885652A
Application number: US221588A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marcel L Touly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Societe de Condensation et dApplications Mecaniques
Priority date: 1926-10-28
Filing date: 1927-09-23
Publication date: 1932-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1949-11-01
Also published as: GB279803A

Description

NOV. 1, 193 2. TQULY 1,885,652

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAKING SOUNDINGS Filed Sept. 23. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1, 1932. M. L. TOULY 1,385,652

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAKING souunmes Filed Sept. 23. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l l l l l l l l UNIT 1.

HARCEL I. TOULY, OF BOULOGNE-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE, ASSI GNOR I SOCIETE DE CON- DENSATION ET DAPPLICATIONS MECANIQUES, OF PARIS, FRANCE, A CORPORATION OF FRANCE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAKING SOUNDINGS Application filed September 23, 1927, Serial No. 221,588, and in France October 28, 1928.

The present invention has for an object the utilization of a glow discharge lamp as a relay in apparatus for sounding or signaling by elastic .waves.

The glow discharge lamps employed have the following necessary properties:

The lamp being extinguished, when the voltage impressed thereupon is gradually increased, a luminous discharge is suddenly produced for a well determined value of said voltage, which will hereinafter be referred to as the upper critical voltage. The lamp being lighted, when the voltage impressed thereupon is gradually reduced, the luminous discharge suddenly ceases for another well determined value of said voltage, which is lower than the value above referred to and which will be called lower critical voltage.

If the lamp is connected to an auxiliary source of potential which impresses thereupon a voltage slightly lower than the upper critical value, the lamp is rendered extremely sensitive to lighting.

In fact, a very weak increase in voltage, produced by the phenomenon to be detected, is sufiicient for releasing an electric discharge so that it will be possible toutilize either the illumination produced by said discharge or the relatively considerable current which flows through it by means of special devices for the desired result as will be subsequently pointed out.

The lamp may also be sensitized to the point of extinguishment, or lower critical value, that is, the lamp being lighted, the auxiliary source of potential is so regulated as to impress upon the lamp a voltage comprised between the upper critical value and the lower critical value. Any suitable temporary fall in the supply voltage brings the voltage of the lamp to a value less than the lower critical value, whereby extinction is produced.

The description which follows, with regard to the annexeddrawings, given by way of example, explains very well the manner in which the invention can be carried into practice.

Fig. 1 represents the electric diagram of a sounding apparatus in which the variations of illumination of a lamp as above described are utilized.

Fig. 1a is a modification of a part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 represents the diagram of an optlcal arrangement of such a sounding apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a side view.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent modifications in the mode of operation of the lamp.

Fig. 6 represents the wa in which a low voltage glow discharge tu e having a plurality of electrodes is utilized.

Fig. 7 represents an arrangement utilizing the relay effect of the discharge current in a sounding apparatus or great depth sounder with an indicator.

Fig. 1 shows a supersonic sounder through which, in a well known manner, a signal is emitted and the echo thereof received.

Within the casingv 1 is a damped waves high-frequency emltting apparatus, of a known type, fed by the direct current source 2'.

2 is a piezo-electric condenser for emission and reception of ultra-audible waves, having one face in contact with the sea-water. It is supplied with electrical energy by the highfrequency emitting apparatus disposed within the casing 1 and it projects into the water a high frequency compressional wave. The latter apparatus is reversible. When compressional waves resulting from the echo strike the condenser 2, the latter enerates, in the electric circuits, a current havlng the same frequency as the signal, but of very small amplitude.

The condenser 2 is connected with an amplifier mounted within a casing 4. The output side of the amplifier 4 is connected by means of the transformer 5 to the circuit of the relay lamp 6; This relaylamp will consist in this case, for example, of a neon lamp of which the electrodes are covered with alkalin earth with a view to diminishin more-accurately determining the critica voltage.

The circuit of this relay neon lamp 6 comprises the transformer 5, a polarizing source 7 with a potentiometer 8 and a relay 9 of which the armature 10 is placed in circuit wlth the lamp whlle the windingllis conand ' char ceding echo, goes out and the echo corresponding to the signal relights it. The mode of operation of the system will be subsequent-- 1y explained. The mode of observing the lamp may be as follows: (Fig. 2).

The'neon lamp is illustrated at 17. The luminous part comprises for example a cylinder 59 of which the horizontal axis isshown at 52-53. The arbor 54 turns at a constant speed and supports a mirror 55 and a lens 56 which turn about the shaft 54. The image 57 of the lamp is cast substantially in the plane of a circular graduated scale 58.

Fig. 3 shows the graduated scale 58. At 57 is the image of the lamp. The signal emltting device is so adjusted that the emission of a signal coincides always with the same position of the rotary optical system.

The image of the lamp is displaced about the scale, disappears at the position where the signal is emitted and reappears at the return of the echo for another position determining upon the graduated scale a dark sector following a light sector which dark sector is proportional to the depth or distance to be measured. a

The mode of operation of the arrangement is as follows:

The relay 9 is closed and the potentiometer 8 is adjusted on the battery 7 in such wise that the voltage at the terminals of the lamp will be slightly below the upper critical voltage and above the lower critical voltage.

The lamp is supposed to have been lighted by a preceding echo. The relay 9 is closed, the switch 3 is open. The condenser 12 is charged by the source 2. The charging current passes through the polarized relay 9 and the generator 1. The relay coil is wound in 5 such a direction that the charging current tends to close the relay and as this latter is already closed by magnetic polarization the charging current produces no action.

At the moment of emission, the switch 3 is closed, the condenser 12 is discharged in the relay 9 connected to switch'3. The relay 9 breaks the circuit of the lamp and extinguishes said lamp. This circuit remains open'as long as the condenser 12 remains c arged and the charging factor of the condenser is so designed that the time for disglng condenser 12 will be greater than the time of emission. In other words said condenser. 12 is so chosen that 10 will close the circuit of the lamp at a predetermined time after the signal is sent out.

When the condenser 12 is discharged the rela 9 closes but as the voltage furnished by the attery 7 and the potentiometer 8 is un- 5 der the upper critical voltage of the lamp,

the latter is not relighted. When the echo returns it is amplified by the amplifier 4 and acts on the circuit of the relay lamp through the transformer 5.

The connections are such that they ive an increase in voltage which lights the amp 6 anew. There has been extinguishment of the lamp during the time between the emission of the signal and the return of the echo and the lamp will remain lighted until the emission of the following signal.

The position of the obscure sector on the graduated scale will be determined by suitable inscriptions which will indicate the depth or distance sought.

If desired the operation may be reversed,

that isv to say, a luminous sector may be em-' ployed for determining the depth. In this case (Fig. 1) the voltage of the battery 7 will be regulated by 8 so that it is slightly above the lower critical voltageand the phenomenon to be detected will produce a temporary decrease voltage. The circuit is then completed by a wire which connects one of the electrodes of 6 to the extremity of battery 7 through a resistance 7 The operation is as follows:

The preceding echo puts out the lamp. During emission the relay opens, but instead of opening the lamp circuit the electrode remains connected to the extremity of the bat- ,tery 7 and the lamp is lighted. When the relay closes the voltage on the lamp 6 is that of thev potentiometer. When the echo arrives it produces a decrease of voltage which extinguishes the lamp. In order that the device may give good results the decrease of voltage must last an appreciable time. This time will be diminished if instead of the transformer 5a a resistance couple such as shown in Fig. 4 be utilized and which willv be described further on.

Any suitable apparatus may be utilized for causing the emission to take place simultaneously with the operation of-the armature of relay 9. In particular, the principle of my invention would not be changed if the switch 3 and the relay 9 were controlled mechanically by the same device; for example, by two cams fixed to the shaft of the motor which rotates the optical arrangement, above described.

This principle of inversion may be applied to the following figures without changingthe principle of the invention.

Instead of producing an extinguishment of the lamp at the time of the emission and a lighting at the time of the echo, a flash could be very well obtained at the time of the emission and then a second flash at the time of the echo, the two flashes determining on the graduated scale a sector proportional to the distance to be sounded.

In this case the flash of the lamp is produced by the'phenomena to be observed, that is to say either by the emission of the elastic signal or by the reception ofthe echo by the condenser 2. But in this case it is necessary to provide means by which, if the lamp is lighted, it will tend to be extinguished, so that only one flash-of the lamp is obtained.

Fig. 4 shows by way of example an arrangement of a mechanical opening.

condenserslfi and 16. This resistance 14 is' connected in the circuit of the lamp 17 The polarizing battery is here indicated at 18 and the potentiometer at 19. A relay is likewise connected in series in the circuit of the relay lamp. Its winding 20 is shunted through condenser 21 and its armature 22 stops the current which passes through the winding. If the relay is rapid and sensitive in action the condenser 21 may be eliminated.

When there is no current flowing, the armature is urged to its closed position. The current which passes through the winding 20 when the lamp 17 is lighted is sufficient for.

operating the relay armature. The operation of the device .is as follows:

The voltage of the battery 18 controlled by the potentiometer 19 is adjusted to be slightly below the upper critical voltage of lamp 17.

. Suppose thatthere is no current flowing in the circuit and that armature 22 of relay 20 is in its closed position.

If a variation in current is produced in the resistance 13, said variation once being established either by the emission of the signal or by the echo, the variation in voltage is transmitted to the resistance 14 through condensers and 16. This variation in voltage becomesadded'to the voltage of the battery 18 and causes a luminous discharge to be started in lamp 17. Current first of all flows through the capacity 21 and it is only after a time determined by the value of this capacity and of the inductance of relay winding that current is established in said winding.

The relay is then operated. Armature 22 opens the circuit. The lamp goes out but condenser 21 which was charged by the terminals of the winding 20 is discharged across said terminals and maintains the circuit open for a certain time. The armature 22 again makes contact, closes the circuit and the whole device is ready for receiving a new over voltage.

In Fig. 4 is shown a- Fig.5 indicates,by way of example, another arrangement in which the current of the lamp instead of being arrested mechanically by itself through a relay, is arrested electrically.

In this arrangement, as a modification, the connection between the lamp circuit and that of amplifier 4. is obtained through an autotransformer 23. The battery 24 feeds through potentiometer 25, acondenser 26, through an impedance 27. The condenser 26 feeds the neon lamp 28 through the autotransformer 23. In the absence, of signals to besent the voltage of battery 2f]: is regulated below the upper-critical voltage bythe potentiometer 25.

As soon as an increase in voltage is produced in autotransformer 23 the lamp is lighted. Condenser 26 is discharged through lamp 28 and impedance 27 is sufiiciently high as to not be able to maintain the discharge through lamp 28.

The voltage at the terminals of the condenserdiminishes and when it reaches the lower critical value the lamp goes out.

' Condenser 26 is then recharged by battery 24 through resistance 27 and at the end of a relatively short time the whole device is ready to function anew.

' For more generality a neon or other lamp of lower pressure gas could be employed and which could have a plurality of electrodes interior and exterior of the tube. Fig. 6 indicates the arrangement in the case of such a lamp.

A 29 indicates the neon relay lamp in which I there are two

electrodes

30 and 31 always on the interior of the tube which may be fed through an impedance 32 by a battery 33. The voltage of this battery is regulated by a potentiometer 34 to be-below the critical voltage of the lamp. 1

An auxiliary electrode 35, outside the lamp for example, is associated with the transformer 36 of which the primary is connected to the amplifier 4, Fig. 1. The end of this circuit is led to a potentiometer 37 connected to the battery 33.

The inventor has ascertained that a variation in voltage on the electrode will bring about excitation of lamp 29 if it is extinguished and sensitized, that is, close to its upper critical point. Inversely if the lamp is sensitized close to its lower critical point extigigguishment may be produced by acting on All of the devices disclosed in connection gith the preceding figures may be employed ere.

Likewise the action ofa magnetic field on the discharge may be employed and the sensitizing of one or more electrodes may also be obtained by a continuous or periodic voltage.

In Fig. 7 is shown an arrangement employing the relay effect of the current of discharge in a .sounder of great depths by ultra sounds with an indicator.

As shown in Fig. 1 here 1 represents the emitter of'high frequency current operated' by an ultra-audible waves projector 2. The

necessary 'current for the transmitter 1 is furnished by a source 2 and the circuit can be opened by means of a switch 3. The echo amplifier is shown at 4. k r

The circuit of the neon lamp 6 is connected to the amplifier 4 by the transformer 5. The polarizing source of the lamp is at? and may be regulated by the potentiometer 8. The winding of a first relay 38 is placed 1n series in the lamp circuit with the armature of relay 9. The armature 39 of relay' 38 can arrest the current furnished by the battery which operates an electric timing device- Suppose the lamp to be lighted by a preceding echo. The relay 9 is closed. as well as the relay 39. The current of battery 40 passes through the timing device and blocks it.- The needle of the timing device is then placed on the zero position.

In order to send out a signal, switch 3 is closed and as in Fig. 1, relay9 is opened during the whole'time of the emission producing the extinguishment of the lamp 6 and the stopping of relay 38. The circuit of battery described, a signal transmitter for emitting 40 is opened, the electric timing. device 41 is released and the needle which was primarily on the zero point is displaced at a constant speed along the graduated scale.

After the emission relay 9 closes but as the voltage of battery 7 is lower than the upper critical voltage of the lamp, the lamp does not relight and the electric timing device continues to function.

Whenthe echo arrives it is amplified by the amplifier 4 and acts by means of transformer 5 on theneon lamp. 7

- The connections of this transformer 5 are such that the echo gives a temporary increase of voltage and the lamp is relighted. The current which passes through the lamp operates' the relay 38, the lamp circuit is closed and the timing device 41 is stopped. The needle is arrested then along the graduation and if the scale has been suitably graduated the depth sought may beread directly thereon.

In this device, as in Fig. 1 reverse operation may be obtained, that is to say, the lamp may be lighted at the emission and put out at the receptio'nof the echo. The same slight modification employed in connection with Fig. .1 is likewise necessary here for this reverse operation.

a The form of the lamp and the electrodes may be such that the discharge takes place between "two electrodes.

maybe arranged to varythe flash or displace the discharge, all of these phenomena being The effect of the, auxiliary electrode and the magnetic field -enon produced.

In the resent invention the arrangement of these evices in receiving apparatus for signaling by elastic waves is likewise anticipate What I claim is:

1. In a sounding apparatus of the type described, electrical means for transmitting and receiving elastic waves through water,

a low tension glow discharge tube in said means, means for bringing this tube at a tension near the tension at which a change occurs in its lighting state, means in series with said tube and adapted to out off and close the circuit of said tube, means to op crate said last mentioned means at the time at which an electrical signal is sent but, means adapted to maintain open.the circuit of the tube during the time of ,the emission signal, and to cause said circuit to be closed a predetermined time after the signal has been transmitted, means in series with said tube and adapted for altering the excitation thereof, means for electrically connectin said last mentioned means to the electrica means for receiving the echo signals whereby the tube is again lighted and caused to glow as'long as another signal is not transmitted.

2. In a sounding apparatus of the type waves into water, means for transforming incoming elastic waves transmitted through water into electrical oscillations, an amplifier connected to the last-mentioned means,

tube to be brought back to a value within the above mentioned limits a predetermined time after the signal has been transmitted, means for coupling said output circuit ofthe amplifier to said circuit of the tube so arranged that the reception of an echo will produce avariation of the voltage of said tube to a value outside of the above mentioned limits but in a direction opposed to that of the vaan output circuit for said amplifier, another riation resulting from the emission of a signal, and means for recording the interval of time between the variations in the luminous state of the tube.

4' 3. In a sounding apparatus of the type described, a signal transmitting for emitting elastic waves into water, means for trans forming incoming elastic waves transmitted through water into electrical oscillations, an amplifier connected to the last mentioned means, an output circuit for said amplifier, another circuit, a low voltage glow discharge tube in the second mentioned circuit, a source of potential in said second mentioned circuit, said source being of such a voltage as to normally impress upon said tube a tension comprised between its upper critical voltage and its 'lower critical voltage, a switch for operating said transmitter, means 0 eratively connected to said transmitter switc for causing the tension of said tube to suddenly take a value outside of the above mentioned limits when a signal is emitted through said transmitter, means for causing the tension of said tube to be brought back to a value within the above mentioned limits a predetermined time after the signal has been sent out, means for coupling said output circuit of the amplifier to said circuit of the tube so arranged that the reception of the echo will produce the variation of voltage of said tube to a value outside of the above mentioned limits but in a direction opposed to that of the variation resulting from the emission of a signal, and means for recording the interval of. time between the variations in the luminous state of the tube.

4. In a sounding apparatus of the type described, a signal transmitter for emitting elastic waves into water, means for transforming incoming elastic waves transmitted throu h water into electrical oscillations, an ampli er connected to the last mentioned means, an output circuit for said amplifier, another circuit, a low voltage glow discharge tube in the second mentioned circuit, a source of potential in said second mentioned circuit, said source being of such a voltage as to normally impress upon said tube a tension comprised between its upper critical voltage and its lower critical voltage, a

switch for operating said transmitter, a relay in series with said transmitter switch and adapted t6 break and make the circuit of said tube a source of. current and a condenser in series with said switch and said relay for causing said relay to suddenly operate in such manner as to cause the tension of said tube to suddenly take a value outside of the above mentioned limits when a signal is emitted through said transmitter, said condenser being so chosen as to cause said relay to return to its initial position a predetermined time after a signal is sent out, whereby the tension of said tube is brought back to a value within the above mentioned limits, means for coupling said output circuit of the amplifier to said circuit of the tube so arranged that the reception of the echo will produce a variation of the voltage of said tube to a value outside of the above mentioned limits but in.

a direction opposed to that of the variation resulting from the emission of a signal, and

means for recording the interval of time between the variations in the luminous state of the tube.

5. In a sounding apparatus of the type described, a signal transmitter for emitting elastic waves into water, means for transforming incoming elastic waves transmitted through water into electrical oscillations, an amplifier connected to the last mentioned means, an output circuit for said amplifier,

another circuit, a low voltage glow discharge tube in the second mentioned'circuit, a source of potential in said second mentioned circuit, said source being of such a voltage as to normally impress upon said tube a tension very slightly lower than the upper critical voltage of said tube, a switch for 0 rating said transmitter, a relay in series wit said switch and adapted to'break and make the circuit of said tube a source of current, and a condenser in series with said switch and said relay for causing said relay to suddenly break the circuit of said tube when a signal is emitted through said transmitter, said transmitter being so chosen as to cause said relay to return to its initial position a predetermined time after the sign 1 is sent out, whereby the tension impresse upon said tube is brought back to its initial value, means for coupling said output circuit of the amplifier to said circuit of the tube so arranged that the reception of the echo will produce a variation of the voltage off said tube to a value outside of the above mentioned limits but in a direction opposed to that of the variation resulting from the emission of a signal, and means for recording the interval of time between the variations in the luminous state of the tube.

6. In a sounding apparatus of the type described, a signal transmitter for emitting elastic waves into water, means for transforming incoming elastic waves transmitted through water into electrical oscillations, an amplifier connected to the last mentioned means, an output circuit for said amplifier, another circuit, a low voltage glow discharge tube in the second mentioned circuit, a source of potential in said second mentioned circuit, said source being of such voltage as to normally impress upon said tube a tension very slightly higher than the lower critical voltage of said tube, an auxiliary source of potential, a switch for operating said transmitter, a relay in series with said switch and adapted to insert said auxiliary source of potential in said circuit of the tube or to remove it therefrom, a source of current and a condenser in series with said switch and said relay for causing said relay to suddenly insert said auxiliary source of potential in said circuit of the tube when a signal is emitted through said transmitter, said condenser being so chosen as to cause said relay to return to its initial position a predetermined time after the signal is sent out, whereby the tension of said tube is brought back to its initial value, means for coupling said out ut circuit of the amplifier to said circuit the tube so arranged that the reception of the echo will produce a variation of the voltage of said tube to a value outside of the above mentioned limits but in a direction opposed to that of the variation resulting from the emission of a signal, and means for recording the interval of time between the variations in the luminous state of the tube.

7. In a sounding apparatus of the t e describc i, a signal transmitter for emltting elastic waves into water, means for transforming incoming elastic waves transmitted through water into electrical oscillations, an amplifier connected to the last mentioned means, an output circuit for said amplifier, another circuit, a low voltage glow discharge tube in the second mentioned circuit, a source of potential in said second mentioned circuit, said source being of such voltage as to normally impress upon said tube a tension comprised between its upper critical voltage and its lower critical voltage, means operatively connected to said signal transmitter for causing the tension of said tube to suddenly take a value outside of the above mentioned limits when a signal is emitted through said transmitter, means for causing the tension of saidtube to be brought back to a value within the above mentioned limits a predetermined time after the signal has been sent out, means for coupling said output circuit of the amplifier to said circuit of the tube so arranged that the reception of the echo will produce a variation of the voltage of said tube to a value outside of the above mentioned limits in the same direction as that of the variation resulting from the emission of a signal, means for causing the tension of said tube to be brought back to a value within the above mentioned limits a predetermined time after the echo has been received, and means for recording the interval of time between the variations in the luminous state of the tube.

.8. In a sounding apparatus of the type described, electrical means for transmitting and receiving elastic waves through water, a stationary glow discharge tube in said means, means for bringing the tube at a tension near the tension at which a change occurs in its lighting state, means in series withsaid tube and adapted to cut OE and close the circuit of said tube, means to operate said last mentioned means at the time at which specification.

MARCEL L. TOULY an electric si nal is sent out means ada ted to maintain open the circuit of the tube during the time of the emission signal and to cause said circuit to be closed a predetermined time after the signal has been transmitted, means in series with said tube and adapted for altering the excitation thereof, means for electrically connecting said last