US2071958A

US2071958A - Method for producing intermittent

Info

Publication number: US2071958A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1937-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-23

Description

Feb. 23, 1937.

W. W. WATROUS, JR

METHOD FOR PRODUCING INTERMITTENT EFFECTS AND SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 30, 1933 19 lbllllillllllllllll'! n1. n Mir/mus, m.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1937 LIETHOD FOR PRODUCING INTERMITTENT- EFFECTS AND SYSTEM THEREFOR Ward W. Watrous, Jr.; Bloomfield, N. J assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Westinghouse Electrio and Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation oi Pennsylvania Application September 30, 1933, Serial No. 691,637

Claims. (Cl. .250-36) The invention relates to a new method and means for intermittently operating an external means. More particularly the invention is directed to the operation of an external means which requires a relatively high potential for the operation thereof and which operation shall be at a relatively low frequency. One of the fields where my invention finds especial application is that field of sign or other similar type of ilinitially operates the switch determines the time interval between flashes and the time of discharging the condenser that supplies the current in the primary of the transformer determines the length of time of each flash.

An object of my invention is to provide a new method of producing intermittent eifects.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new method of intermittently flashing a light lumination where a gas-filled lamp is generally source.

employed and where the frequency of lighting A further object of my invention is to p v desired is relatively low. i a new method of intermittently flashing a light Warni signals, some advertising d th source requiring a higher electrical potential for signs may be briefly characterized as flashing flashing the same than that provided by the signs. This type of sign depends for its effect initial electrical energy supply.

upon alternate flashing and extinguishing or a, A still further object of my invention is to prosuitable light source, which upon illumination, vide a new electrical system for producing inmay be of any desired-color characteristic. The t tt nt fects. length of time that the light source is flashed and Another Object o my inven o to provide the interval between flashes are not the same 7 a simple and eflioient l i l y m f r nin all flelds, but in each instance depend upon m tte tly flashing a l t source. the particular functions or the flashing. In some A u h object of my v ti n is t p vid beacons for example, the time 01' flashing aswell an easily constructed and rugged apparatus which as the time interval between flashes may be relay e a a directly to a low voltage ptively short, whereas in some advertising signs p y source for intermittently f ashin a hi the time of the flashing may be relatively long Voltage light sourceand the time interval between flashes may be A still further Object of my inv n i D relatively short, vide a rugged system containing no essential My invention may be used in any one of these mOVihE p but which may n in m vin diflerent fields. It also finds utility in other p rts merely for variation p rpo f r in erflelds which I have not mentioned because they mittehtly flashing li Source at a Potential suggest themselves and light flashing appears to higher h the ini potential ppliedbe satisfactory for illustrating my invention. Another Object Of y invention is to P vi e In addition a light flashing circuit is that with a. system for intermittently flashing a light which 1 am particularly concerned, and especialsource, with the frequency of discharge in the ly light flashing wh r hi h potential is r lamp being independent of the frequency of the quired. My invention, however, is not limited to input ent pp high potential flashing or to gas filled tubes, they A further object of my invention is to provide merely serve t (nearly t te my invention an intermittent flashing system which is stable Briefly t t d my invention is directed t a in operation and consumes only a small amount system a d th which includes charging a of current so that it is. practical to employ batplurality of condensers. When one of said con- T195 as the source 0! electrical ydensers has attained a predetermined charge, it other Objects d a v il my ven on initially operates a switching means which allows will be readily pp nt fr m the following dethe other condenser to discharge. The discharge scription d a wherein current of the second condenser passes through Figure 1 r p s nts a n v uit d a am the primary of a transformer and the electrical embodying my nv n; energy i transformed so that th r t in t Figure 2 represents another novel circuit diasecondary oi the transformer is lowerthan that m m dyi y invention and is a modifi- 60. in the prflnary and the voltage germs the seccation Of the circuit illustrated in Figure 1.

ondary is high r tha th t across th pr1mary One aspect of my invention is the novel cir The electrical energy in the secondary is em- 0111b alflmlemeht illustrated in u e 1- The played to operate any-desired mechanism such invention comprises an pu circuit consisting as a lamp, depending upon what is desired, Th of a plurality oi batteries Ill connected in series, ll length of time for charging the condenser that a variable condenser II and a variable resistance l2 all in electrical series relationship. Instead of the train of batteries, I may employ a direct current derived directly from a direct current generator or. by rectifying alternating current. However, because the amount of current required from the source of electrical energy is relatively low, I have found that it is possible to employ batteries.

A conductor l3 has one end thereof connected to one side of the condenser H and its other end connected to the end positive terminal of the train of batteries. A conductor l4 has one end connected to a negative terminal of said train of batteries and its other end connected to one side of the resistance |2. The other end of the resistance I2 is not permanently connected to any conductor, but a movable contact I5 is adapt ed to slide over said resistance. The contact I5 is connected to one end of a conductor I6 and the other side of said condenser II is connected to the other side of said conductor. The ohmic value of said resistance |2 depends upon the voltage between said-positive andnegative terminals of said train of batteries as well as the rate at which it is desired to charge the condenser II. The resistance l2 has the additional functions of preventing excessive current drain from the batteries and also permitting the potential of the condenser to' fall when the condenser is discharged.

Cooperating with said input circuit is a discharge circuit including the condenser l as one of the elements thereof; The discharge circuit comprises the condenser H, a switch I! and a primary winding l8 0! a transformer I9 all in electrical series relationship. Although a mechanical switching means or some other type of electrical switching means may be employed in the discharge circuit,some of which may readily suggest themselves, I employ a tube compris ing an anode 20, a cathode 2| and a starting tip 22 all located within an envelope containing a suitable quantity of a rare gas. The tube may the anode 20 and the cathode 2| is decreased so that the predetermined potential applied therebetween is suilicient to cause a discharge therebetween. Thus the tube embodies an anode 26 and starting tip 22 which act as an initiator or trigger for the switch so that the main switching may be accomplished by a discharge between the anode 29 and the cathode 2|.

A conductor 23 has one end connected to the anode 20 and its other end to that side of the condenser connected to the end positive plate of the train of batteries In. ,A conductor 24 has one end connected to the other side of said condenser and its otherend connected to one end of the primary l8 0! the transformer I9. A conductor 26 has one end connected to-the other end or the primary i8 and its other end to the cathode 2|.

In order that the trigger comprising the anode 20 and the starting tip 22 may operate so that the main switching between the anode 20 and the cathode 2| may take place, I provide a trigger circuit including the switch l1, anda'variable condenser 26 in electrical series relationship. A conductor 21 has one end connected to the anode 20 and its other end to the condenser 26. A conductor 28 has one end connected to the other side of the condenser 26 andits other end to the starting tip 22.

The condenser 26 is an element of a charging circuit including the entire train of batteries in, the condenser 26 and a variable resistance 29 allin electrical series relationship. One side of the condenser 26 is connected to the end positive plate of the train of batteries Iii through the conductors I3, 23, and 21. The other side of the condenser is connected to one end of the variable resistance 29 by a conductor 30. A conductor 3| has one end connected to the end negative terminal of the train of batteries l0 and its other terminal to the movable contact 34 of the resistance 25).

A secondary 32 is employed in the transformer i9 which is electromagnetically coupled with the primary winding it for transforming the electrical energy in the discharge circuit when current flows therethrough. The ratio of the number of turns in the primary to the number of turns in the secondary of the transformer depends upon the voltage required at the terminals of the secondary, across which is applied a load as for example, a gas filled lamp requiring a thousand or more volts to operate the same. I find that in operating a gas-filled lamp with cold electrodes better results are obtained by employing a variable condenser 33 set at appropriate capacity across the terminals of the primary winding l8.

The operation of the apparatus illustrated in- Figure 1 is as follows: Electrical energy is supplied to the condenser H by the batteries Ill through the variable resistance I2. The variable resistance does serve to some extent to determine the time required to fully charge the condenser However, although this function is of major importance other primary functions oi. the resistance i2 are to prevent excessive current drainvfrom the batteries and to permit the potentialto fall sufficiently when the condenser II is discharged. When the condenser H-is fully charged,

the potential between the anode 29 and the oath-- ode 2| of the switch His insuiiicient to cause a discharge therebetween. charging at the same time that condenser H is charging. The condenser 26 is charged by the train of batteries l0 through the resistance 29. The resistance 29, like the resistance |2, prevents excessive drain from the batteries iii. The resistance 29 also determines the time of charging of the condenser 26. When the condenser 26 has attained a predetermined charge, the potential between the anode 20 and the starting tip 22 is sufdcient to cause a discharge therebetween.

' The resistance 29 and the capacity of the condenser 26 are so chosen that the condenser II is fully charged before the condenser 26 has acquired a potential sufficient to cause a discharge between the anode 20 and starting tip 22. When the discharge occurs between the anode 20 and starting tip 22, the gas within the tube i1 is ion ized so that the resistance between the anode,

andthe primary winding l8 oithe discharge cir- The condenser 26 is.

cuit. The electrical energy through the primary winding I6 is transformed so that the potential between the terminals of the secondary 22 may be a thousand volts or. more to operate a load, as for example, a cold electrode gas filled lamp.

Discharge between the anode 26 and starting tip 22 is maintained for a period of and until the extinction voltage between these two electrodes is reached upon discharge of the condenser 26. The resistance 29-permits the potential between these electrodes to fall to a value equal until a time period after discharge between anode ,when the charge from the condenser II is dissipated to the extent that the extinction voltage of the tube is reached, the lamp discharge terminates and there is an interval of time during which there is no discharge in the lamp or any current flow in the discharge circuit.

During this time the condensers l and 26 are again being charged. Again, when the condenser 26 reaches a predetermined charge, discharge is initiated in the switch l1 which discharge allows a discharge of the condenser II in the discharge circuit.

When the condenser II has been discharged the potential between the anode 20 and the oathode 2| has been considerably reduced so that it is not high enough to maintain a discharge therebetween. The discharge is, therefore, ended and in order that it may not always have a potential greater than the extinction potential and so that the discharge may not be continuous the resistance I2 is provided to limit the rate of charging. The resistances I2 and 29 are so chosen that the rate of charging the condenser II is greater than the rate 01 charging thecondenser 26, but the rate of charging the condenser 26 is not so high that once the discharge is started between the anode 20 and cathode 2|, it will be maintained continuously. Since the discharges between the anode 20 and cathode 2| are for limited times only, it is evident that the time required to charge the condenser 26 to a predetermined potential is at least as great and preferably greater than the time required to fully charge the condenser The discharge of the condenser depends upon the trigger action caused by the discharge of the condenser 26 and the time interval between discharges of the condenser II depends upon the time required to charge the condenser 26.

The system illustrated in Figure 2 is essentially the same as that illustrated in Figure 1. Instead of employing the switch I! shown in Figure 1, there is employed a switch 40 comprising a main anode 4|, a cathode 42 and a starting anode 43. The switch is the same as that described in the United StatesPatent 1,871,279 issued to Harvey C. Rentschler, August 9, 1932. The anode 4| and cathode 42, and the starting anode 43 are connected respectively to the

conductors

26, 23 and 26.

The end positive terminal, a positive terminal and the end negative terminal oi the train of batteries III are connected respectively to the conductors 3|, I4 and I8. In this system disanode 48 and the cathode 42 whereupon the condenser discharges between the main anode 4| and cathode 42.

Thus it is apparent that both of my novel systems may be employed where light flashes are to be produced at intervals, which intervals between flashes are determined by the capacity of the condenser 26 and the resistance 29.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and is to be limited only by the prior art and not by the exact system shown and described.

What is claimed:

l. A system for producing high-voltage intermittent eflects comprising a condenser and means connected thereto for accumulating an electrical charge therein 01! a predetermined value, a gaseous conduction device having a plurality of electrodes therein, two of said electrodes being connected to said condenser and having such a space relationship that when the charge in the condenser reaches the said predetermined value a discharge is initiated between said two electrodes in said gaseous conduction device, a

second condenser, means for accumulating a' greater charge in said second condenser than in said first condenser, one of said first mentioned electrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseous conduction device being connected to said secondcondenser, said last mentioned electrodes having such a space relationship that the accumulated charge in said second condenser is insuflicient to produce a discharge therebetween in said gaseous conduction device when no discharge occurs between said first two electrodes but sufiicient to produce a discharge therebetween when a discharge takes place between said first two electrodes.

2. A system for producing high-voltage intermittent effects comprising a condenser and means connected thereto for accumulating an electrical charge therein of a predetermined value, means for varying the rate of charging of said condenser, a gaseous conduction devicehaving a plurality of electrodes therein, two of said electrodes being connected to said condenser and having such a space relationship that when the charge in the condenser reaches the said predetermined value a discharge is initiated between said two electrodes in said gaseous conduction device, a second condenser, means for accumulating a greater charge in said second condenser than in said first condenser, one of said first mentioned electrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseous conduction device being connected to said second condenser, said last mentioned electrodes having such a space relationship that the accumulated charge in said second condenser is insufilcient to produce a discharge therebetween in said gaseous conduction device when no discharge occurs between said first two electrodes but suiilcient to produce a discharge therebetween when a discharge takes place between said 7 charge is first initiated between the starting value a discharge is initiated between said two electrodes in said gaseous conduction device, a second condenser, means for accumulating a greater charge in said second condenser than'in said first condenser, means for varying the rate of charging said second condenser, one of 'said first mentioned electrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseous conduction device being connected to said second condenser, said last mentioned electrodes having such a space relationship that the accumulated charge in said second condenser, is insuflicient to produce a discharge therebetween in said gaseous conduction device when no discharge occurs between said first two electrodes but ,sumcient to produce a discharge therebetween when a discharge takes place between said first two electrodes.

4. A system for producing high-voltage intermittent effects comprising a condenser and means connected thereto for accumulating an electrical charge therein of a predetermined value, a gaseous conduction device having a plurality of electrodes therein, two of said electrodes being connected to said condenser and having such a space relationship that when the charge in the condenser reaches the said predetermined value a discharge is initiated between said two electrodes in said gaseous conduction device, a second condenser, means for accumulating a greater charge in said second condenser than in said first condenser, means for varying the rate of charging said second condenser, one of said first mentioned electrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseous conduction device being connected to said second condenser, saidlast mentioned electrodes having such a space relationship that the accumulated charge in said second condenser is insufilcient to produce a discharge therebetween in said gaseous conduction device when no discharge occurs between said first two electrodes but sufficient to produce a discharge therebetween when a discharge takes place between said first two electrodes.

5. A system for producing high-voltage intermittent effects comprising a condenser, a battery that when said condenser is charged to the predetermined potential a discharge in said gaseous conduction device is initiated between said certain electrodes; a second condenser connected to said battery for accumulating a greater charge in said second condenser than in said first condenser, one of said first mentioned electrodes and the remaining electrode in said gaseous conduction device being connected to said second condenser, said last mentioned electrodes having such a space relationship that the accumulated charge in said second condenser is insufilc'ient to produce a discharge therebetween in said gaseous conduction device when no discharge occurs between said first two electrodes but sufilcient to produce such a discharge therebetween when a discharge