No. 685,957. Patented Nov. 5, 1901.
WN. TESLA.
APPARATUS FOR THE UTILIZATION OF RADIANT ENERGY.
(Apiction 8nd er, 24, 1901.)
(Ho Model.)
{|e
Figl utr i
FigA ell » fend
Ee 3 vento)
fate. Itiela_ Teal "
Ye vane Syn by [eae Vege Yor dace sing
Witnesses:10
15
25
30
35
40
45
5°.
UNITED STATES
PaTENT OFric
NIKOLA TESLA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.
APPARATUS FOR THE UTILIZATION OF RADIANT ENERGY.
SPECIFICATION forning part of Letters Patent No, 689,957, dated November 5, 1901.
Applicaton fled March 21, 1902, Serial Yo, 62168, Wo model)
To all whom it may concern:
Beitknown that], Nixons Tasta, acitizen
of tho United States, residing at the borough
of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State
of New York, have invented certain now and
useful Improvements in Apparatus for the
Utilization of Radiant Energy, of whieh the
following is a specification, reference being
had to the drawings accompanying and form-
ing a part of the same.
Tb is well known that certain radiations—
such as those of ultra-violot light, cathodic,
Roentgen rays, or the like—possess the prop-
erty of charging and discharging conductors
of electricity, the discharge being particn-
larly noticeable when the conductor upon
which the rays impinge is negatively electri-
fied. These radiations are generally con-
sidered to be ether vibrations of extremely
small wavo lengths, and in explanation of the
phenomena noted it has been assumed by
‘some authorities that they fonize or render
conducting the atmosphere through which
they are propagated. My own experiments
and observations, however, lead ine to con-
clusions more in accord with the theory here-
tofore advanced by me that sourees of such
radiant energy throw off with great velocity
minuto particles of matter which are strongly
electrified, and therefore capable of charging
an electrical conduetor, or, even if not 80,
may at any rate discharge an electrified con:
ductor either by carrying off bodily its charge
or otherwise.
‘My present application is based upon a dis-
covery which I have made that when rays or
radiations of the above kind are permitted to
fall upon an insulated conducting-body con-
nected to one of the terminals of a condenser |
while the other terminal of the same is made
by independent means to receive or to carry
away electricity a current flows into the eon-
denser so long as the insulated body is
posed to the rays, and under the conditions
hereinafter specified an indefinite accumu-
Jation of electrical onergy in the condenser
takes place. This energy after a suitable
time interval, during which the rays are al-
lowed to act, may manifest itself in a pow-
orful discharge, which may be utilized for the
operation or control of mechanical or elec-
trical devices or rendered useful in many
other way:
In applying my discovery I provide @ con-
denser, preferably of considerable electro-
static capacity, and connect ono of its termi.
nals to an instiated metal plate or other eon-
ducting-body exposed to tho rays or streams
of radiant matter, Ttis very important, par-
ticularly in view of the fact that electrical
energy is generally supplied at a very slow
rate to the condenser, to construct the same
with the greatest care, I ase, by preference,
the best quality of mica as dielectric, taking
every possible precaution in insulating the
armatures, so that the instrament may with-
stand great electrical pressures without Ieak-
| ing aud may leave no perceptible electrifi-
cation when discharging instantaneously. Tn
practice I have found that the best results
are obtained with condensers treated in the
manner described in a patent granted to mo
Febraary 23,1897, No. 577,071. Obviously the
‘above precautions should be the more rigor-
ously observed the slower the rate of charg-
jng and the smaller the time interval during
which the energy is allowed to accumulate in
the condenser. The insulated plate or con-
ducting-body should present as large a sur
face as practicable to the rays or streams of
matter, [having ascertained that the amount
of energy conveyed to it per unit of time is
under otherwise identical conditions propor-
tionate to the area exposed, or nearly so
Farthermore, thesurfaceshould be elean and
preferably highly polished or amalgamated.
‘Phe second terminal or armature of the con-
denser may be connected to one of the poles
of a battery or other source of electricity or
to any conducting body or object whatever of
such properties or so conditioned that by its
means electricity of the required sign will be
supplied to the terminal. A simple way of
supplying positive or negative electricity to
‘the terminal is to connect the same either to
an insalated conductor supported at some
height in the atmosphere or toagrounded con-
ductor, the former, as is well known, furnish-
ing positive and the latter negative electric-
ity. As the rays or supposed streams of mat-
55
60
65
70
85
9°
952 698,067
ter generally convey a positive charge to the | devieo d bo of such character that it will op-
first condenser-terminal, which is connected | erate to close the eireuit in'which it isin.
to the plate or conduetor above mentioned, I | eluded when the potential in the condenser
; usually eonneet the second terminal of the | hasreached a certain magnitude, the accumu. 70
5 condenser to the ground, this being the most | lated charge will pass through the elreuil,
convenient way of obtaining negative elec- | which also includes the receiver R, and oper
tricity, dispensing with the necessity of pro-| ate the latter,
viding an artificial source. "Tn order to util- | In illastration of a particular form of ap-
ize for any useful purpose the energy acou- | paratus which may be used in carrying ont 75
7 malated in the condenser, I furthermore con- | my diseovery I now refer to Pig. 2.” Tw this
nect to the terminals of the samea eirenit in- | figure, which in the gonoral arrangement of
cluding an instrament or apparatus which it | the elements is identical to Fig. 1, the devieo
is desired to operate and another instrament | d is shown as composed of two very thin con
or device for alternately closing and opening | ducting-plates ¢¢, placed in close proximity 86
35 the circuit. ‘This latter may be any form of | and very mobile, éithor by reason of extroine
cirenit-controller, with fixed or movable parts | flexibility or owing to the character of their
gr electrodes, which may be actuated either | support. Toimprove theiraction,they should
by the stored energy orby independent means, | be inelosed in a receptacle, from which the
My discovery will be more fully understood | air may be exhausted, ‘The plates {2 are 85
20 from the following deseription and annexed | connected in sories with a working clreult,
Grawings, to whieh referenceisnow made, and | including a suitable receiver, whieh in thig
in whieh caso is shown as consisting of an electromag-
Figure 1 is a diagram showing the general | net M, a movable armature a, 1 relractile
arrangement of apparatus, as ‘usually em-| spring’ b, and a ratchet-wheel w, provided 90
25 ployed. Fig. 2 isa similar diagram illustrat- | with a spring-pawl r, which is pivoted to-ar-
ing more in detail typical forms of thedovices | mature a, as illustrated. When the radia.
or elements used ia practice, and Figs. 8 and | tions of the sun or other radiant souree fall
4are diagrammatical representations of modi- | upon plate P, a etirrent flows into the con-
fed arrangements suitable for special pur- | denser, as above explained, until the poten. 9
30 poses. tial therein rises sufficiently to attract and
As illustrative of the manner in which the | bring into contaet the two plates f/f, and
several parts or elements of the apparatus in | thereby close the cirenit connected to the two
one of its simplest forms are to be arranged | condenser-termivals. ‘This permits a flow of
and connected for useful operation, reference | current whieh energizes the magnet M, eaus- 100
35 Ismnde to Fig. 1, in which C is the condenser, | ing it to draw down the armature a and im,
P the insulated plate or conducting - body | part a partial rotation to the ratehet-wheel
which is exposed to the rays, and P’ another | w. As the current ceases the armature is
plate ov conductor which is gronnded, all be- | retracted by tho spring b, without, however,
APpdoined inseries, asshown. The terminals | moving the wheel 1. With the stoppage of 105
40 TT’ of the condenser are also connected to a | the current the plates £ # coase to beatiracted
clrenit which ineludes a devico R to be oper- | and separate, thus restoring the cireuit to its
ated and a cirenit-controlling device d of the | original condition,
character above referred to. Fig. 3 shows a modified form of apparatus
The apparatus being arranged as shown, it | used in connection with an artilicint soures. 110
45 will be found that when the radiations of the | of radiant energy, which in this instance may
aun or of any other sonree capable of pro- | beanarcemitting copiously ultra-violet rays,
Gucing the effects before described fall upon | A suitable reflector may be provided for ean.
the plate Pan accumulation of electrical | centrating and directing tle radiations. A
energy in the condenser C will result. ‘This | magnet R and cireuit-controller d ‘are. at- 115
50 phenomenon, I believo, is best exp | ranged as in'th previous figures; but in the
Jollows: Tho san, as well as other sources of | present case the former instead of performing
radiant energy, throws off minute particles of | itself the whole work only serves the purpose
matter positively electrified, which,impinging | of alternately opening aud elosing/n, local
upon the plate P, communicate continuously | circuit, containing a source of current Band 120
55 an electrical charge to the same. ‘The op- |a receiving or translating device D. ‘The
posite terminal of ‘the condenser being con- | controller d, if desired, may consist of twe
hected to the ground, which may be consid. | fixed electrodes separated bya minuto alr,
red as avast reservoirof negativoelectricity, | gap or weak dielectric film, which breaks
& Leche current flows continuously into the | down more or less suddenly when a definite. 125
60 condenser, and inasmuch as these supposed | difference of potential is reached at the toc
Particles are of an inconceivably small radius | minals of the condenser and returns to ite
or curvature, and consequently charged to a | original state upon the passage of the dis.
relatively very high potential, this charging of | charge.
the condenser may continue, as I have ac-| Still another modifieation is shown in Fig. 130
65 tally obsorved, almost indetinitely, even to | 4, in which the source 8 of radiant energy is
the polut of rupturing the dielectric, If the | a'special form of Rocutgen tube devised by15
35
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
—
685,957 3
me, having bat one terminal k, generally of
alaminium, in the form of half a sphere, with
{Plain polished snrface on the front side,
from which the streams are thrown of. Th
nay be excited by attaching it to one of the
{orminals of any generator of sufiiciently high
gleotromotive foree; but whatever apparatus
be used it is important that the tube bee,
hausted to a high degree, asotherwiseitmight
Drove entirely ineffective. ‘The working or
Aischarge circuit connected to the terminals
‘TT’ of the condenser inelades in this c
the primary p of a transformer anda circuit,
controller comprising a fixed terminal oy
brush # anda movable terminal in the shape
of @ wheel, with conducting and inswlating
segments, which may be rotated at an arbe
trary speed by any Suitable means, Tn ins
Quctive relation to tho primary wire or coil p
is 4 secondary s, usnally of a much ereater
number of tuins, to the ends of which is eon,
nected a receiver R. The terminals of tho
fondenser being connected, as indicated, one
toan insulated plate P and the other’ to «
grounded plate P", when the tube Sis excited
Tays or streams of matter are omitted from
{he samo, which convey a positive charge to
the plate P and condenser-terminal T, while
{grminal T’ is continuously receiving’ nega-
{ive electricity from the plate P'. ‘This aa
bofore explained, resultsin an accumulation
of cleetrical energy in the condenser, which
oes on as long as the cireuit including the
primary pisinterrupted. Whenever the cis,
cuit is closed owing to the rotation of the
ferminal ?' the stored energy is discharged
through the primary p, this giving rise in the
Secondary s to indueed currents, whi
ate the receiver R.
It is clear from What has been stated above
{hat if the terminal 1’ fs connected to a plate
supplying positive instead of negative elec,
tricity the rays should convey negative elec,
Preity to plato P. The source § may be any
form of Roentgen or Lenard tube; but it
obvious from the theory of action that in
order to be very effective the electrical im
pulses exeiting it should be wholly or at least
Praponderatingly of one sign. If ordinary
Symmetrical alternating currents are on.
ployed, provision should be made for allow.
ang the rays to fall upon the plate T only
during those periods when they are produc),
ive of the desired result, Evidently if tho
radiations of the source be stopped or inter.
cepted or their intensity varied in any man.
ner,as by periodically interrupting orrythii
aay varying the enrrent exciting the source,
there will be corresponding changes in. the
action upon the receiver R, and thus signals
may be transmitted and many other useful
effects produced. Furthermore, it will be ni
derstood that any form of cireuit-oloser which,
will respond to or be set in operation when g
predetermined amount of energy is stored in
thecondensermay be used in lien of thedevice
b oper-
Specifically described with reference to Fig, 2
andalso that thespecialdetailsof construction
and arrangement of the several parts of the
apparatas may be very greatly varied with
out departure from the invention.
Having described my invention, what T
claim is—
J. An apparatus for utilizing radiant on-
ergy, comprising in combination a condenser,
ene armature of which is subjected to the ac
tion of rays or radiations, independent means
for charging the other armature, acireultand
apparatus therein adapted to be operated or
Controlled by the discharge of the condenser,
as set forth.
2. An apparatus for ati
ergy, comprisingin combination, acondenser,
one armature of which is subjected to the ac.
tion of rays or radiations, independent means
for charging the other armatare, a local eit,
cult connected with the condenser-terminals,
selrenit-eontroller therein and meansadapted
to be operated or controlled by the discharge
of tho condenser when the local circuit Gs
closed, as set forth.
3. An apparatus for ulilizing radiant en-
egy, comprising in combination, a condenser,
one terminal of which is subjected to the ae:
tion of rays or radiations, independent means
for charging the other atmature, a local eit,
cult connected with the condonser-terminals,
acireuit-controller therein dependent for op-
gration on agiven rise of potential in the eon.
Genser, and devices operated by the discharge
of the condenser when the local cireuit is
closed, as set forth.
An apparatus for utilizing radiant en-
ergy, comprising in eombination, acondenser,
one terminal of which is subjected to the ae:
tion of rays or radiations, and the other of
which is connected with the ground, a eirenit
and apparatus therein adapted to be operated
by the dischargo of the accumulated energy
in the condenser, as set forth.
5. An apparatus for utilizing radiant en-
ergy, comprising in combination,a condenser,
one terminal of which is subjected to the ac.
tion of rays or radiations and the other of
which is connected with the ground, a local
clreuit connected with the condenser-tormi-
nals, a cireuit-controller therein and means
adupted to be operated by the discharge of
the condenser when the local cizeuit is closed,
as set forth.
6. An apparatus for utilizing radiant en-
ergy, comprising in eombination,a condenser,
one terminal of which is subjected to the ae,
tion of rays or radiations and the other of
which is connected with the ground, a local
ciroult connected with the condenser-tormi-
pals, a cireuit-controller therein adapted to
bo operated by a given rise of potential in the
condenser, and deviees operated by the dis,
harge of the condensor when the local etreuig
is closed, as set forth.
7 Au apparatus for utilizing radiant en-
ze
80
85
90
95
100
105
no
5
125
130Ea 685,957
ecay, comprising n condenser, having one ter- | adapted to be operated By 8 es rise of po-
ergy, comprising f eorth and the other to an | tential in the condenser, ns set forth
elevated conducting-plate, which is adapted f ‘i
fo receive the rays from a distant source of NIKOLA TESLA.
5 radiant energy, «local circuit counected with | Witnesses:
the condonsor-terminals, a receiver therein, M. Lawson DyER,
and a cireuit- controller therefor which 18! RicHaRp Donova’
Motion Picture Operation, Stage Electrics and Illusions: A Practical Hand-book and Guide for Theater Electricians, Motion Picture Operators and Managers of Theaters and Productions
Induction Coils - How To Make, Use, And Repair Them: Including Ruhmkorff, Tesla, And Medical Coils, Roentgen, Radiography, Wireless Telegraphy, And Practical Information On Primary And Secodary Battery