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Aug. 22, 1944. G. F. GARDNER 2,356,579

ZERO RETURN FOR GALVANOMETERS
Filed Aug. 27, 1943

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Patented Aug. 22, 1944 2,356,579

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,356,579
ZERO RETURN FOR GALVANOMETERS
George F. Gardner, Alplaus, N. Y., assignor to
General Electric Company, a corporation of
New York
Application August 27, 1943, Serial No. 500,234
4 Claims. (C. 171-95)
My invention relates to galvanometers, and ing system has negligible drift and tends to re
in particular, to means for returning the mov main in any position to which deflected.
able element of the galvanometer to a zero posi Nineteen (9) represents a flux search coil to
tion following a measurement deflection. which coil O may be connected by the Switch
Suspension type galvanometers are known in 20. When so connected, any change of flux
which the suspended element has the torque of through search coil 9 will result in a deflection
the Suspension nullified in all positions so as to of the galvanometer, the extent and direction of
have negligible drift. Such a galvanometer is the deflection representing a measurement Of
described in detail in application Serial No. the magnitude and direction of flux change in
372,778, filed January 2, 1941, Theodore A. Rich, O the search coil. This measurement is indicated
Galvanometer, now Patent No. 2,326,252, granted by a light-beam from a light source 2f reflected
August 10, 1943, and assigned to the same as from the galvanometer mirror 5 onto a scale
signee as the present invention. In this type of 22. A portion of the light-beam as reflected
galvanometer it is desirable to return quickly from mirror 5 to scale 22 is cut off by a mirror
the movable element of the galvanometer to a 5 23 and reflected to a divided photocell-device
zero or central position following a measurement having photocell parts 24 and 25. The light
deflection in either direction from zero, and the sensitive means are suitably protected from other
present invention relates to a means for accom light. When the galvanometer is in its central
plishing this result. zero deflection position shown, the light-beam
The features of my invention which are be 20 falling On the photocell device falls upon the
lieved to be novel and patentable will be pointed dividing line between the two photocells 24 and
Out in the claims appended hereto. For a better 25, as represented. When the galvanometer de
understanding of my invention, reference is flects to the right of center, the beam which is
made in the following description to the accom directed toward the photocell falls on photocell
panying drawing which illustrates a suspension 25 25. When the galvanometer deflects to the left
galvanometer of the light-beam indicating type of center, the photocell beam is directed onto
equipped with a divided photocell onto which a cell 24. It is understood that a portion of the
portion of the deflected light-beam is directed beam from mirror 5 continues to Scale 22 and
and which, when connected differentially and in indicates such deflections. Cell 24 is connected
series relation with the moving coil of the 30 across a resistance 26 with its positive terminal
galvanometer, returns the same to a zero posi at the top, and cell 25 is connected across a re
tion. Fig. 2 represents a modification using sep sistance 27 with its positive terminal at the top.
arate galvanometer mirrors for the scale and The upper sositive terminals of the resistances
light cells. - are connected together, and the lower terminals
Referring to the drawing (Fig. 1) I have repre 35 are connected to stationary terminals of the
sented a galvanometer used as a fluxmeter. Ten double-pole, double-throw switch 20, as repre
(0) represents the moving coil suspended by sented.
torsion wires and f2, which also serve to con It is now seen that when the Switch 20 is closed
duct energizing current to the moving coil 0. to the left, the galvanometer coil O is connected
Thirteen (3) and 4 represent the upper and 40 in series with resistances 26 and 27, and the
lower Suspension Supports. The suspension also photocells in parallel with the two photocells
carries a mirror 5 and a no-drift magnet 6. connected differentially or in opposition. In the
As described in the above-mentioned Rich appli central Or Zero deflection position the voltages,
cation, the tiny permanent magnet f6 is polarized if any, of the two photocells will be equal and
to oppose the leakage flux from the main sta 45 Opposite, and no current will flow in the circuit
tionary permanent magnet field system, the of coil O. When the light falls all on photo
north and South poles of which are represented cell 24, the galvanometer will be energized in
at 7 and 8. The suspension system is repre Such a direction as to defect toward zero and
Sented in its zero central position. When it is return the light-beam to center position. If the
turned either way from such position in response 50 light falls all on cell 25, the galvanometer will
to current flow in its moving coil, the torsion of be energized but in a direction reverse to that
its Suspension wires is neutralized substantially just previously mentioned, and again the gal
Over the deflection range by the torque of the vanometer will be deflected toward zero and
permanent magnet 6 which tends to reverse its return the light-beam to the center position.
position from that shown. As a result, the mov 55 Thus at any time switch 20 is closed to the left,
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2 2,856,579
the galvanometer, if not in a Zero central posi deflection, such light distribution being equal On
tion, Will be returned to such position by current the two light-sensitive means at zero deflection.
furnished by one or the other of the two photo 2. An electrical deflecting instrument of the
cells 24 or 25. Thus I have provided a simple direct current type having a moving elément ar
but effective means for quickly returning the ranged to have a negligible drift over its range of
galvanometer to the zero central position from deflection. When the instrument is deenergized
any other position effective upon the closing of and means for returning said movable element
switch 20 to the left. The resistances 26 and to a predetermined position from either direction
27 are selected to have the proper value relative 0
of deflection therefrom comprising a direct cur
to the voltages generated by the photocells and rent circuit with means for connecting said cir
the Sensitivity of the galvanometer to accom cuit to energize said instrument at will, and means
plish the desired result quickly but without responsive to the defecting position of the mov
shock to the galvanometer. ing element of Said instrument for controlling
The apparatus is used as follows: When a 5 the direction and magnitude of current in Said
circuit so that the moving element will be auto
Hist the Switch 20 is closed
to the right to connect the search coil to the matically returned to said predetermined deflect
galvanometer. Any change of flux through coil ing position when the instrument is energized
9 will now be indicated on scale 22 which may from Said circuit.
be read With leisure. The light-beam on the 3. A fluxmeter comprising a galvanometer hav
photocell device will now be off-center but the 20 ing a stationary permanent magnet field and a
zero return is not effective until switch 20 is Coil mounted for ion about its axis
closed to the left, which is done whenever it is within said field, a Search a pair of photo
desired that the galvanometer be returned to the cells, a mirror rota proportional to the angul
Zero center position. It is apparent that the lar deflection of said coil, a light source, a scale
zero return feature here described may be read 25 onto which a bean of light is reflected from said
fly added to existing galvanometers with small Source by said mirror to indicate the measure
expense. In Fig. 2 a separate galvanometer mir ment defection of Said galvanometer, a reflector
ror 5a is used to reflect light directly to the between the mirror and Scale cutting off a por
photocells. tion of the Eight refected from Said nirror toward
In accordance with the provisions of the pat 30 said scale and reflecting Such portion toward
ent statutes, I have described the principle of said photocells such that light strikes both cells
operation of my invention together with the ap equally When the coil is at the center of its de
paratus which I now consider to represent the flection range, strikes one cell only when at the
best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it extremity of its deflection range in one direction
35 and the other cell only when at the extremity of
understood that the apparatus shown is only ill
lustrative and that the invention may be carried its deflection in the opposite direction, and means
out by other means. for alternately connecting said moving coil to
What I claim as new and desire to secure by the Search coil and in series relation with said
Letters Patent of the United States is: photocells with the cells in opposing voltage re
1. A galvanometer having a moving element 4) lation.
4. An electrical measuring instrument having
suspended by a torsional suspension and arranged
for deflection in opposite directions from a cen a moving element for producing a measurement
deflection and means for causing said moving
tral zero deflecting position where the torque of element
the suspension is zero, means for Substantially not beingto used
assume a predetermined position when
for measurement purposes com
neutralizing the torque of the suspension in other
deflecting positions, and means for returning the prising an auxiliary energizing circuit for Said
movable element to the center Zero deflecting instrument, means for connecting and discon
position from either direction therefrom compris necting Said circuit to said instrument, and photo
ing a normally open energizing circuit for Said electric current control means in said circuit di
50 rectly responsive to the deflection of said instru
galvanometer including a pair of light-sensitive
means for generating opposing voltages in Said ment from such predetermined position for de
circuit, a light source, a mirror on the moving termining the direction and magnitude of the cur
system for directing light rays from said source rent in said auxiliary energizing circuit when con
onto said light-sensitive means and inversely nected to energize said instrument.
55
varying the distribution of light between Said pair GEORGE. F. GARDNER.
of light-sensitive means in accordance with the

A.