Patent GB-405052-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to electric control systems utilizing electric discharge devices
IPC: G05F1/34
Filed: 1932-08-12
Abstract: 405,052. Control systems for consuming devices. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd., Crown House, Aldwych, London.-(Assignees of La Roque, H. B. ; 247, Vley Road, Scotia, and Elder, F. R. ; 1100, Palmer Avenue, Schenectady, both in New York, U.S.A.) Aug. 12, 1932, No. 22664. Convention date, Aug. 12, 1931. [Classes 38 (ii) and 38 (iv).] To obtain a cyclic control of the current in a load circuit by means of grid controlled vapour electric discharge devices the grid circuit of each device is supplied with the resultant of a voltage 56, Fig. 2, having a predetermined magnitude and phase and a second voltage, produced by a rotating winding and varying between maxima 57, 58, in opposite directions. The first voltage is obtained from a resistance 42, Fig. 1, and the second from a winding 46 continuously driven in the field of an inductance 44, 45. This inductance is in series with a resistance 39 and the circuit is connected across a portion of a winding 19 supplying the anodes of the discharge devices 14- 17. The resistance 42 is connected to the junction 40 between the resistance 39 and the inductance and to a tapping 43 on a resistance 36 or the winding 19. The magnitude of the first voltage may be adjusted by tappings 50, 69 by which connection is made to the grid transformers and its phase with respect to the anode voltage is determined by the position of the tapping 43 or the adjustment of a fixed or variable condenser in parallel with the resistance 39 or the inductance 44, 45. A number of such grid control circuits may be connected in parallel between the points 40, 43. Fig. 1 shows the invention applied to the simultaneous but contrary control of two lighting circuits 10, 11 wherein the output circuits of the rectifiers 14-17 energize saturating windings of reactors 66, and the adjustments of the first voltage control the proportion of the light cycle during which the lamps are fully brilliant or dark. The length of the light cycle may be changed by varying the speed of rotation of the winding 46, and continuously varying lighting effects in systems having a number of lamp groups or sub-groups may be obtained with different time cycles in the respective groups. A mechanism is described, Fig. 4 (not shown), wherein a single motor drives a number of star-wheels, each driving a winding such as 46 at a speed which may be changed by substituting a different gear train, and providing for manual adjustment of the relative positions of each winding to set the lighting relationships when required. Means is also described in which, by utilizing a mutilated gear wheel, the cycle may be distorted. In a further modification a single rotating winding provides a control which by means of a projection on its driving shaft intermittently closes an actuating circuit for an electromagnetic pawl-driven commutator which transfers the control voltage alternately from the grid circuit of one valve to the grid circuit of another, and wherein a bias voltage derived through rectifiers from the main supply source may be applied to the grid circuits to ensure that the decontrolled lamps are fully darkened. Specifications 360,939 and 361,314 are referred to.