US1995708A - Electrical compensator for the directional transmission or reception of wave energy - Google Patents

Description

1.935. F. A. FISCHER Mch 26,

U ELECTRICAL COMPENSATOR FOR THE DIRECTIONAL I TRANSMISSION OR RECEPTION OF WAVE ENERGY Filed 001;. 2a. 19 0 3 Sheets-Sheet l ELECTRICAL GOMPENSAIOR FOR THE DIRECTIONAL TRANSMISSION 0R RECEPTIONOF WAVE ENERGY Filed Oct. 728. 1930 3 Sheets-52166122 March 26,1935. F A. FISCHER 1,995,708

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March 26, 1935. F. A.-F|SCHER I 1,995,70Q

ELECTRICAL COMPENSATOR FOR THE DIRECTIONAL TRANSMISSION-OR RECEPTION 0F WAVE ENERGY Filed Oct. 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

latented Mar. 26, 1935 FFICE ELECTRICALv COMPENSATOR FOR THE DI- RECTIONAL TRANSMISSION 0R RECEP-.

TION OF WAVE ENERGY Fritz Alexander Fischer, sign'or to Electroacustic Kiel, Germany, as- Gesellschai't mit beschriinkter Hattung, Kiel, Germany, a firm Application 'October 28, 1930, Serial No. 491,740 In Germany November 21, 1929 14 Claims.

Any arrangement. of oscillators in a plane has, as is well-known, a quite definite directional characteristic, the shape of which depends upon the v geometrical configuration, the ratio of the distances between the oscillators to the wave-length, and the individual characteristic of the oscillator. This directional characteristic is known as the natural characteristic of the oscillator group as distinguished from the artificial characteristic, which arises when the individual oscillators are given certain time lags. In practice, the simplest way of producing these time legs is by means of retardation lines comprising im pedance networks, which uniformly retard all the frequencies 01' the band which it passes. If it is desired to use oscillator group arrangements for purposes of direction determination, it is nec: essary, when using the" natural characteristic, to rotate the group, which is not possible in most cases, for instance, in subaqueous direction determination. In such cases, fixed group arrangements are used in combination with so-called compensators which contain the artificial lines. The characteristics'used for purposes of direction determination usually have ;a pronounced main maximum, and-when determining, direction according to the maximum method it is the purpose of the compensator to vary the retardation of the oscillators in such a way that the main maximum rotates simultaneously with the angle 1 of direction determination.

Various arrangements are already known for eiiecting these variations in retardation, but they either employ several retardationlines or apply only to' special oscillator arrangements. The object of the present invention is to provide a compensating arrangement which works with only a single retardation line, and which is applicable to any arrangement oi oscillators in space. v

v According to the present invention, an electrical compensator for the directional transmission or reception of wave energy bymeans of a group of oscillators is provided, wherein the sections of a retardation line or compensator chain -are connected to a corresponding number of in sulated. contact strips over. which sliding contacts, arranged in suitable geo'metrical configuration and connectedwith the'oscillators, are rotated in"their'conflguration. This may be ac-- complished for instance by arranging the contacts 'in a geometrical configuration similar to' the one in which the conflgurat'ion oi the oscile lators appearsin the plane-in which the wave energy is propagated, and in which the direction is to be determined. For example, in submarine signalling to other'vessels or to shore the wave energy is propagated substantially in a plane which is parallel to the surface of the water and this would be called the plane of transmission or reception, or in short the plane of wave energy propagation. If now in such a case the oscillators appear in a certain geometrical configuration in that plane of propagation, the compensator contacts should according to the inventionbe arranged also in a plane and in a configuration, geometrically similar to the oscillator configuration.

The invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which-'- i Fig. 1 shows the theoretical principle underLving the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a practical form of construction for carrying the invention into efi'ect. and in which a single retardation line serves for compensating these oscillators.

Fig. -3 shows another form of construction of a compensator according to the invention, in

which more than one artificial line cooperates with the sections of the contact strips, and

Fig, 4 shows a compensator according to the invention, partly in vertical section, and designed for anumber oi oscillators which are arranged upon the surface-of a sphere.

Fig. '1will serve for theexpla'nation of the operation of the compensator and the method of rotating the directional characteristic. Let P be the point which is to be chosen at will and about which the system is to be rotated. This center of rotation would preferably be located within the group of oscillators, so that the circumscribed circle around center P passes through the oscillator furthest away from this center. In

the present case let 1 be the one of the relatively fixed oscillators 1, 2, 3 which is at the greatest distance from B. Let the sound beam Q meet the circle with the radius r1 around P at cates in this diagram the wavefront, positioned K. t is the tangent to this circle at K,.and indition of incidence-when the oscillators are rotated as a group around P-in order that the same eifect may be produced for all directions of incidence, can clearly be seen from Fig. 1.

A constructional form of the compensator according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 2. This construction satisfies the object of the invention in providing a compensator which is applicable to any arrangement of oscillators for directional transmission or reception in a plane and in which only a single chain is employed. -Moreover, .the compensator illustrated is very simple in construction. The retardation lineor chain 4 is connected with its individual sections to contact bars which are assembled to form a fiat surface, but are separated from one another by narrow insulating strips 6. The number of bars is equal to the number of chain sections. One end of the chain is connected to the telephone 7, if necessary, through an amplifier, or else to a generator (shown in dotted lines) in case of transmission. At the opposite end, the filter is clwed by'a resistance 8 which is equal to its surge impedance. On these contact surfaces 5 slide contacts 1, 2, 3 which are mounted on a contact carrier 9 and are each connected to one pole of one of the individual oscillators 1,2, 3. The other poles of the oscillators are connected to the common conductor of the chain 4. The connection of the sliding contacts to the oscillators is effected through brushes b1, b2, b3 and slip-rings s1, sz, s:

respectively.

As stated with reference to Fig. 1, also in this case the designer takes a given oscillator configuration (resulting for instance from the arrangement of the oscillators on a vessel or on the sea bottom in parallel to the surface of the water) such as shown at 1, 2, 3 in Fig. 2, and circumscribes any convenient size circle around this group, preferably with the center located Within the group, so as to be able to get along with the smallest possible circle: In such a case one, pos-- sibly several of the oscillators may be located on the periphery of such a circle. Then the designer tran'sposes this configuration in a scale suitable for the size of contact carrier 9 onto this carrier and locates the-sliding contacts :1, 2, 3 on the corresponding corners of this similar geometrical figure, taking care in the transposition that the contacts have the same relation to the rotation center P of the carrier as the oscillators 1, 2, 3 have to the center P of their circumscribed circle. This is an operation fully within the province of a skilled draftsman'. In Fig. 2, purely for.convenience of illustration, the circle including the oscillators 1, '2, 3 is much smaller than the circle including the contacts on carrier 9, while in reality of course the reverse prevails. The oscillator circle may in reality for instance be of the order of six feet in diameter and the carrier circle only 1.5 feet. If the oscillators are not all situated in the plane of direction determination but are distributed in space, the arrangement of the sliding contacts should be made in conformity with the projection of the receivers on the plane of direction determination. The use of-the geometrical projection of the actual configuration of oscillators, arranged on an irregular surface, into the plane of wave energy propagation, and the use of the geometrical configuration producedthereby as a basis for designing a plane and geometrimatter of a copending application Serial No.

544,267,=Patent No. 1,977,974 by Wilhelm Rudolph, and may be used in the present case in combination with the present applicant's novel strip compensator by which the compensation of oscillators mounted on irregular surfaces and the construction of the compensator is very materially simplified. In thev example under consideration, the holder 9 of the sliding contacts is arranged rotatably about P. The area of the contact surface need evidently not be greater than the diameter of the circle which is described by the sliding contact which is at the greatest distance from the point of rotation, in'this case n.

Let us now assume that contact carrier 9 is in the position shown in dotted lines, so that the position of contacts 1, 2 53 and the orientation of their'configuration corresponds exactly with that of oscillators 1, 2, .3. Let us assume first that a sound beam strikes the oscillators 1, 2, 3 from the right in the direction of the single feathered arrow. a. Then it will be clear that receiver 3 is first encountered by the beam and the two receivers 1 and-'2' are encountered later, butsimultaneously. If now all three receivers are connected to the same telephone 7 as shown, and if it is desired that the sound impulses arriving at all three receivers should be perceived simultaneously in the telephone in order 'to there produce a' maximum sound, it is obvious that between receiver 3 and the telephone the greatest number of sections of the artificial line must be connec while between receivers 1 and 2 and the "telep one smaller, but equal numbers of chain sections must beconnected. This accomplished by the sliding contact position 1, 2 3"- in Fig. 2. It will be seen that in this position the receiver line runs from receiver 3 by way-of the pertaining brush b3 and slip ring .83

to the brush 3a and thence over the contact strip 5 on which it rests-to the sixteenth section of the artificial line. Thus sixteen sections of this line are connected between that receiver and the telephone 7. The lines, from receivers 1 and 2 lead respectively by way. of brushes 1 and 2 to the same contact strip 5 on which they rest and which is' connected to the fourth section of the artificial-line 4. Thus, between these receivers and the telephone only four line sections are connected. The difference 16-4=12 chain sections corresponds with the sound path from the receiver 3 to-the receivers 1 and 2 taken in .the di- -noted that the sound strikes receiver 1 first, then receiver 2, and last the receiver 3. With the rotation of the sound beam by 90 counterclockwise corresponds a rotation of the contact car rier 9 clockwise by 90, (in this and the following sound-beam position only the contact brushes of the carrier are shown in the differentpositions without showing the carrier itself turned in order to simplify the illustration). The contact brushes are now in the positions 1, 2 3. It will be noted that in this position sixteen chain sections haxfl: been switched between the receiver 1 and the telephone, and according to the corresponding brush position 2 twelve chain sections have been connected between the telephone and receiver 2, and in accordance with the position 3 of the pertaining brush eight chain sections are connected between the receiver 3 and the telephone. These difierences in the number of chain sections correspond approximately with the relative distances of the receiver 2 from 1,

V and 3 from 2 measured in the direction of the clockwise into the direction indicated by the triple feathered arrow c it will be obvious that now oscillators 1 and 2 are first encountered simultaneously, i. e. they both must be provided with an equal but large number of sections. "Oscillator 3 is encountered last, and thus should have only a small retardation. when the sound beam has moved in the last-named position the contact bridge 9 must be turned clockwise by another 90, so that am brushes now are in the positions 1, 2*, 3, i. e. between each of the re-' ceivers 1 and 2, and the telephone are now inserted fifteen chain sections, while between the receiver 3 and the telephone only three sections are inserted. r This proves qualitatively that when the sound beam rotates and .the contact bridge is rotated accordingly, the number of chain sections switched between the telephone and the respective receivers is always proportional to the relative values of the retardation in the individual receivers, i. e. in all positions which correspond to a maximum in the telephone the correct compensation for the individual receivers in order to bring about the desired retardation is attained. In order not to obscure the drawings, only comparatively few compensator chain sections, and correspondingly few contact bars 5 .are shown 'in Fig. 2. It will be obvious to the skilled person that'the more contact bars with their corresponding chain sections are provided, the

more exact will be the observation of the direction. In practice for instance 60 contact bars with their appertaining individuah chain sec- .tions have been used successfully for directional observations exact within three degrees of the compass circle.

Quantitatively and retardation" value Vx (such as for example Fig. 1) of any receiver 2:, the value of VsTr-l-E 173:1; cos. 0:

or Va=1'1+1'a cos. c: or Q Vx=Tl+ x cos. a In these foregoing-equations n represents the radius of the largest circle. drawn through the outermost receiver of the group (Fig. 1), 1'; the radius of the circle drawn through. the receiver a:

under consideration (in this case receiver 3), and

cos. 0: represents the angle whichthe sound beam forms with-the radius of receiver under consideration. In the accompanying sketch the sound direction is represented by the arrow. Q.

The fundamental diiferenceof the compensator according to the present invention compared with compensators used before and its considerable advantage lie in the fact that for widely different arrangements of oscillations one and thesame type of compensatorlmay beused and only the position 'of the sliding contacts the holder (9 generally speaking for any individual configuration of oscillators in space. Since it has been found that, especially on board of ships, only very few'places exist, in which for instance noise receivers can be mounted with any hope of success (mostly only in the bow of the ship) and since, consequently, it has been necessary to accommodate the respective position of the oscillators to the possibilities of mounting "them on board ships, the importance of this invention is evident, because in any other constructions of compensator for each individual distribution of oscillators an individual construction of the whole compensator (including artificial line and contact holder) had to be worked out.

With such single chain compensators, however,

in Fig. 2) has to be chosen according to each drawbacks arise due to the reduction in intensity of the sound arriving at the telephone, caused. as will be more fully explained, by reflection and absorption due to the several receivers connected to the chain. A further object'of the present invention is to remove or decrease this disadvantage. To this end the contact strips are sub-divided in transverse direction and the groups of-strips thus formed are connected to diflerent retardation lines.

Referring to Fig. 3, the three sound receivers are assumed to be arranged similar to Fig. 2, 11 and are the contact strips ofthe compen sator which are separated by insulating strips, 9 is the contact carrier, 1, 2 3 are thesliding contacts for the receiver lines of the receivers similar'to Fig. 2, and 41 to 49 are compensating resistances. The energy supplied in this case from each individual receiver to the compensator .are situated between 'thereceiver under consider- 7 ation and the telephone. A further consideration of the conditions shows that this sound intensity is directly proportional to the number of receivers. Therefore, if only a definite sound intensity loss through the compensator is permissible the number of receivers islimited, if only one single contact path is employed. If'it isdesired to use several compensator chains, a special strip contact patli must be allotted to each chain and thus a'la-rge and expensive compensator is the result.

In order to avoid this drawback the present invention further consists in, an-arrangement which allows of distributing the receivers with a single contact path simultaneously over several chains. It isconceivable to accomplish this bysplitting the single strip compensator transversely to the direction of the strips. By this means, several strip compensators are formed, to each of which a compensator chain is connected, 'The.

energy at the telephone is now increased not only due to the'fact that fewer receivers run on each chain, but also due to the fact thatthe individual chains are connected in series.

,This beneficial result arises from. the following contemplation: Let us assume that we have a definite number N of receivers; In an article published by me in the Zeitschrift fuer technische Physik XII year No. 6, 19 31, pages 292 to 298, I have shown (see page 297) that the voltage E at the end of a proportional to the number compensator chain is inversely proportional to the square root of the number of receivers N, and

amounts to D Now if all receivers N are connected to one chain, the voltage at the end of the chain is i=7fll and thus the sound intensity L1='y.N

If the same number of receivers N is distributed over two chains, the individual voltage at the end of each chain amounts to Since both chains are connected in series, the total voltage which is supplied to the telephon amounts to and thus the sound intensity I If the same number of receivers N is distributed over three chains, the individual voltage at the end of each chain Since all three chains are connected in series, the total voltage supplied to the telephone Ea=3-'v- Y m 5 and thus the sound intensity Therefore with respect to voltages gained by for the emissionof a. directed sound beam. The

strips of the compensator are denoted 11-20, while 41- -49 and 81-89 are compensating resistances for thepurpose of compensating the variations of the chain resistance corresponding to the t E varying positions of the sliding contacts. The other reference characters correspond to those in Fig. 2.

The greater the number of oscillators becomes,-

the more numerous should be the transverse di- 1o vision of the strip compensator and thus the greater the increase in the numbers of chains. Furthermore, the idea of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 for the direction determination in a single plane of transmission is not 15 limited to strip compensators of the illustrated 'type in which straight parallel strips located in a single plane are used, but may be applicable to strip contact surfaces arranged in a continuous surface oi? a higher order, so long as the geo- 20 metric configuration of the'contacts sliding over such a contact surface corresponds directly with.

the configuration of the oscillators or indirectly with the projection of this configuration into the plane oi energy transmission.

If direction determination or transmission of energy in space is required, i. e. in three dimensions, the arrangements shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or their modifications do no longer sufiice. Such a direction determination requires the arrangement 30 of the oscillators on a spherical, surface. Correspondingly the contact strip surface and the contact bridge cooperating therewith must have spherical form.

the sub-division of the compensator we have the and with respect to sound intensities we have the relations 2 L, 2 respectively The conditions are shown in Fig. 3 for the simplest case of the division of a flat strip compensator into two partsI, II with two compensator chains 21 and 25 connected to them respectively. The course of the dividing line L is optional and is preferably arranged in such a way that, with the desired contact, arrangement. on an average approximately the same number of contacts cooperatewith each of the compensator halves. I and If during the whole revolution of the contact carrier. The chains are closed at one end by ohmic resistances 73 and 74 respectively which are equal to the pertaining compensator surge impedance, whilst transformers '71 and '12 respectively are connected to the other end of larity on passing over from oneto the other half of the path. 23 is a telephone, 95 an alternating current generator which can be switched in place of the telephone when the arrangement is used For example, if one desires to determine the di- 35 rection of wave energy arisingfin' space (such as the direction of sound from an airplane) .an arrangement must be used, such as is shown in Fig. 4, in which the receiving oscillators $31 to Sat are distributed over the surface 145v of a skeleton sphere, standing elevated above ground as shown. correspondingly the contact strips of the compensator are arranged in horizontal zones 101 to 125 of a sphere as shown at 220. Similarly-to the manner shown in and for the purpose described with reference to Fig. 3, this strip sphere maybe divided, if necessary, for instance into two separate halves at right angles to the strip zones along the dividing line L. According to the spherical shape of the contact surface the sliding contacts 50 which, are connected to the oscillators $31 to S15 must be arranged on a spherical carrier as also shown in Fig. 4. As will be seen from this figure,

- the spherical carrier 140 surrounds the strip sphere 220, which latter-is supported at one end of its equatorial axis H by a hollow axle 13'1 fixed on a hollowstanchion 136. The conductors from the individual sections of the two compensators'K are united into a cable 92 andconducted through hollow stanchion 136 and hollow axle 137.

into the interior of the strip sphere where they are connected respectively to the individual strip zones as shown at 139. The spherical carrier 140 is carried by a shaft 132 journalled at 133 in a semi-circular bail 134 which in turn is journalled at one of its ends on axle 137 and at the other end on axis 91 of stanchion 135. Thus the ball with shaft 132 can in Fig. 4 swing onequatorial axis 6-0 in a direction at right angles to the sectional plane in which Fig. 4 is shown. in this manner rotation can and on an imparted to carrier 140 on its polar uatorial axis to make respectively azimuth and elevation adjustments of the carrier.

The contacts Car to C76 are distributed on the carrier corresponding with the distribution of oscil- 45 comprising oscillators by way of individual conductors joined into a cable 138. This cable terminates near 5 shaft 132; where the conductors are connected to individual brushes 131 mounted on a brush holder 131 which is carried by' bail 134. These brushes slide on individual insulated slip rings 130 mounted on shaft 132, each ring having a lead (shown in 10 dotted lines) passing through hollow shaft 132 to its appertaining sliding contact on the carrier. In order to permit rotation of the carrier on its polar axis nearly 180 ineither direction, an equatorial slot 90, extending early around its circumference, is provided in the carrier through which hollow axle 137 extends.- When, in making the observation the operator, in adjusting the elevation and azimuth angles until he observes for instance a sound maximum in the telephone 23 (Fig.

2 4-),- has found the directional angles in'sp'ace of the object sought, he may read these two adjusted angles on the device by any suitable means known in the art, and not shown here, by reading the degreesby-which the two axes have been hifted from an assumed normal position.

' Instead of moving the sliding-contacts, they may also be arranged stationary and the contact ,strips may be movable with regard to them.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the reception of sound waves or other waves crimpulses, but can also be used with the same advantage for the transmission of such waves where, of course, instead of the measuring or registering a apparatus (forinstance, the telephone illustrated) 35 a wave or impulse generator, for example, an alternating current generator 95, must be .used. -By waves or impulses are also meant electromagnetic waves and, generally speaking, all types'of energy in waveform. Iclaim:

1. An electric wcompensator for a plurality of electric oscillators arranged to define an imaginary surface, and being arranged in suitable geometrical configuration relatively to one another,

cial retardation line, a plurality of insulated par- "allel contact strips arranged to form a surface similar to that of the oscillator arrangement, re-. 'spective successive strips being individually cOn- 50 nected to corresponding successive individual sections of the artificial line, a contact carrier having a plurality of contacts'equal in numberto that of the oscillators and forming a figure geometrically similar to that formed by the 55 oscillators, respective contacts being connect'd'te correspondingly positioned oscillators-and means for rotating said carrier and said strip surface relatively to one another on at least one pivotal I center to slide said contacts over the surface 60 formed by said contact strips, the area formed by said strips covering the largest circle described by said contacts. g

2. An electric compensator for a plurality of "electric'oscillators arranged to define an imagi- 65 nary surface, and beingarranged in a. desired geometrical configuration relatively to one another and to a common central axis, compris; ing in combination 'a sectionalized'artificial retardation line, a plurality of insulated parallel contact strips arranged to form a surface similar to that of the oscillator arrangement, respective successive strips being individually connected to correspondingly successive individual sections of the artificial line, a contact carrier having a plu- 75 rality of sliding contacts equal in number to that sliding contacts,

n combination a sectionalized artifiof the oscillators and forming a figin-e geometrically similar to that formed by the oscillators, re-

spective contacts being connected to correspondingly positioned oscillators, and means for rotating said carrier on at least one axis coinciding with the corresponding common central axis of the geometrical contact figure, to slide said contacts over the. surface formed by said contact strips, the area formed by said strips including the area covered by the rotation of said geometrical contact figure.

3. An electric compensator for aplurality of electric oscillatorsin a desired geometrical arrangement relatively to'one another, comprising in combination a sectionalized artificial retarda- -tion line, a plurality of insulated contact strips spaced side by side to form a plane continuous surface, said strips being insulated from one another and respective successive strips being individually connected to corresponding successive individual sections of the artificial line, a contact carrier having a plurality of sliding contacts equal in number to that of the oscillators, and forming a figure geometrically similar to that formed by the oscillators, respective contacts being connected to correspondingly positioned oscillators, said strip surface being of sufiicient size to include the entire group of and means for operating said carrier to rotate said contact figure over said contact strips on a pivotal center located on the strip surface so as tomaintain all contacts on the surface during the rotation of said figure. 4. An electric compensator for a plurality of electric oscillators arranged vto define an imaginary surface, and being arranged in suitable geometrical configuration relatively to one another,,comprising in combination a plurality of sectionalized. artificial retardation lines, a plurality of insulated parallel contact strips forming a surface, similar to that of the oscillator arrangement, said surface being divided in a di rection substantially transversely to said strips into a number of sections equal to the number of artificial lines, respective successive contact strips of each surface section being individually connected to correspondingly successive individual sections of one of said artificial lines, a contact carrierfhaving a plurality of sliding contacts equal in number to that of the oscillators and forming a geometrical figure geometrically similar to that formed by said oscillators, respective contacts being connected to correspondingly positioned oscillators, carrier on a pivotal center located substantially symmetrically to said strip surface sections to slide said contacts over the several sections of said gcontact strip surface, the latter surface having a total area at least equal to the area covered by said sliding contacts.

5. An electric compensator for a plurality of and means for rotating said electricvoscillators arranged to define an imaginary surface, and being arranged in suitable geometrical configuration relatively to one another, comprising in combination a plurality of sectionalized artificial retardation lines, a plurality of insulated parallel contact strips forming a surface similar to that of the oscillator arrangement, said surface being divided in a direc-' tion substantially transversely to said strips intoa number of sections equal to the number of artificial' lines, respective successive contact strips of each surface section being'individually connected to correspondingly successive individualsections of one of said artificial lines, a contact carrier having a plurality of sliding contacts equal in number to'that of the oscillators and forming a geometrical figure geometrically similar to that formed by said oscillators, re-

stantially symmetrically to said strip surface sections to slide said contacts over the several ,sections of said contact strip surface, the dividline forming said surface sections being arranged so that substantially the same number of sliding contacts cooperate with each surface section, said contact surface having a total area at least equal to the area covered by said sliding contacts.

6.'An electric compensator fora plurality of electric oscillators arranged on a continuous surface in suitable geometrical configuration "relatively to one another, comprising in combination a plurality of sectionalizedartificial retardation lines, a plurality of insulated parallel contact strips forming a continuous surface similar to that of the oscillator arrangement, said surface being divided in a direction substantially transversely to said strips into a number of sections equal to the number of artificial-lines, respective successive contact strips of each surface section ,being individually connected to correspondingly cally shaped successive individual .sections of one of said artificial lines, a contact carrier having a plurality of sliding contacts equal in number to that of the oscillators and forming a geometrical figure geometrically similar to that formed by said oscillators, respective contacts being connected to correspondingly positioned oscillators, and means for rotating said carrier on an axis extending through the center of the smallest circle which includessaid geometrical contact figure to slide said' contacts over the several sections of said contact strip surface, the-latter surface having an area at least equal to the area of said smallest circle.-

7. An electric compensator for a plurality of,

electric oscillators arranged in space'on a curved area and disposed in suitable geometrical arrangement relatively to one another and to at least one common central axis, comprising in combination a sectionalized artificial retardation line, a plurality of insulated parallel contact strips arranged to form together a continuous surface similar in contour to said curved area, respective successive contact strips being individually connected to corresponding successive individual. sections of said artificial line, a contact can'ier having a plurality of sliding contacts equal in number to that of said oscillators and forming a geometrical figure similar to that formed by saidoscillators, respective contacts being connected to correspondingly positioned ascillators, and means for rotating said carrier on at least one axis coinciding with the corresponding common central axis of said similar figure to slide said contacts over said strip contact surface, the 'latter surface having an area. at least equal to the area covered by said rotating similar geometrical figure.

8. An electric compensator for a plurality of electric oscillators arranged to define a spherisurface and in suitable geometrical relation to one another, comprising in combination a sectionalined artificial retardation line, a plurality of insulated parallel annular contact strips, arranged to form together a spherically shaped surface similar to that of the oscillator arrangement,'respective successive contact strips being individually connected to corresponding successive individual sections of said artificial line, "a hollow 1 contact carrier adapted to the configuration of and surroundmg said spherically shaped strip surface and having a plurality of sliding contacts equal in number tothat of the oscillators and being arranged to contact with said strip surface, said contacts forming a geometrical figure on said carrier geometrically similar to that of the oscillators andhaving the same relation with respect to the vertical axis of said carrier as the corresponding oscillators have to thevertical axis of the oscillator arrangement, respective contacts being connected.

to correspondingly positioned oscillators, means for rotating said hollow carrier on its vertical axis to move said contacts over-said strip surface, and means for moving said hollow carrier over said strip spherealso on a horizontal axis through the strip sphere to vary the angle of elevation of the vertical rotary axis of said carrier with respect to the ground.

9. An arrangement for the determination of.

direction of wave energy in space by means of the interference method, comprising a plurality of wave energy receivers arranged in spaced relation to. define an imaginary sphere, an indicator connected to all of said receivers, and an adjustable time lag means having a plurality of constituent time lag elements, and means for interposing simultaneously a suitable number of said elements between each receiver and said indicator, the values of said numbers being inversely related to the different relative positions of said receivers to the wave frontpfor rendering thewave energy of all receivers simultaneously effective in the indicator, irrespective of their different relative positions to the 'wave front.

10. Anarrangement for the determination of direction of wave energy in space by means of the interference method, comprising a plurality of wave energy receivers arranged in spaced relation to define an imaginary sphere, an indicator electrically connected to all of said receivers, and an electrical adjustable time lag means having a plurality of constituent time lag elements, and means for interposing simultaneously a suitable number of said elements between each receiver and said indicator, the values of said numbers being inversely related to the different relative positions of said receivers to the wave front, for rendering the wave energy of all receivers simultaneously effective in theindicator, irrespective of their different relative positions to the wave front. 1

11. An arrangement for the determination of direction of wave energy in space by means of the electrical interference method, comprising a ceivers and the indicator, for-rendering the wave energy of all receivers simultaneously effective in the indicator, irrespective of the relative positions of the receivers to the wave front.

12. An elmtrical compensator adapted to be connected to a plurality of electrical oscillators arranged in spaced relation to define an imaginary sphere, for receiving wave energy, said 15 spaced spherical .oscillator oi insulated parallel contact stripsarranged on the suri'ace or asphere and dividing said sphere into a plurality of zones,' and being connected successively to successive individual sections oi the artificial line, a spherical contact carrier surrounding said strips, and 'a plurality of sliding contacts mounted on said content carrier in spaced relation, geometrically similar to said arrangement, each contact being connected to the oscillator corresponding to its own position, said contacts being arrangedto slide over the saidcontact strips to connect varying numbers of line sectionsrto said contacts at an inverse ratio tothe dis-.

tancs of the pertaining oscillators from the wave front, to compensate for the time lag due to the different distances of said oscillators from the wave front.- I I a 13. An electrical compensator adapted to be connected-to a plurality oi-electrical oscillators arranged in spaced relation todefine an imaginary sphere, i'or receivingtwave energy, said compensator comprising in combination a sectional-, ized artificial retardation line, a plurality of insulated parallel contact strips arranged on the surface of a sphere and dividing said sphere into a plurality of zones, and being connected succ ssively to successive individual sections of tlie artificial line, a contact bridge of spherical form having two axes ofrotation disposed at right angles to one another and being rotatable about said strip sphere on said two axes, and a plurality of sliding contacts mounted on said bridge in spaced relation geometricallysimilarto said "spaced spherical oscillator arrangement, eachcontact being connvccnted to the oscillator corresponding to its relative position on the spherical bridge, said contacts being arranged to slide over said strip sphere to connect varying I numbers or line sections to said contacts at an inverse ratio to the distances of the pertaining oscillators from the wavefront, to compensate for the time lag due tc the diflerent distances of said oscillators from the wave front. 1

14. In a'rec'eiving arrangement for space wave energy including a plurality of spherically spaced wave energy receivers, and a common indicator,

an electrical compensator comprising an electrical time lag chain divided into a plurality of sec- Jzions and a switch gear for said sections consisting of a plurality of insulated parallel contact strips arrangedon a sphereto divide the latter into va'plurality of zones, saidpstrips being connected successively to successive chain sections, ,a hollow spherical contactbridge surrounding said strip'sphere and \carrying contacts arranged in spaced relation geometrically similar tosaid spaced spherical receiver arrangement to slide on said strip sphere, ariork surrounding said bridge and being pivoted on an equatorial axis through said strip sphere, a hollow shaft pivotally disposed in the stem of said fork and carrying said hollow contact bridge at its inner end to rotate the bridge on its polar axis, a collector on the outer end oi said shaft, having a pluralityof slip rings each connected through said hollow shaft with one of said bridge contacts, brushes sliding on said rings and being each connected to the receiver corresponding jn geometrical position with the bridge contact to which the pertaining slip ring is connected, whereby through the rocking movements of said fork and rotary movements of said shalt varying numbers of chain sections canbe connected simultaneously between the several neceivers and the indicator in 01 each receiver accordance with the distance from the wave fronts,

mscnna.

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