Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Reversing Mechanisms for Rudders or the like by Means of Electrical Waves.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Reversing Mechanisms
for Rudders or the like by Means of Electrical Waves.
We, AXEL ORLING, Electrical Engineer, of No. 7, Engelbrektsgatan, and CARL
GUSTAF GEORG BRAUNERHJELM, Colonel, of No. 19, Engelbrektsgatan (aforesaid),
Stockholm, Sweden do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention relates to a modified and improved construction of our
apparatus described in our Specification accompanying Letters, Patent No. 1865
of 1899 for controlling the reversing mechanisms of rudders etc., by means of
electrical waves emitted from a transmitter and made to influence a receiver
which is located in an electric circuit and the electrical resistance of which is
diminished by the influence of the waves emitted so as to cause an electromagnet
coupled in the circuit to be sufficiently magnetized to attract an armature and
close a secondary circuit belonging to another electromagnet the armature of
which at each fresh attraction reverses a switch connected with two electro-
magnets acting in opposite directions on the reversing-apparatus.
In the apparatus previously described the receiver, after the waves emitted have
ceased to act upon it, continues for some time to oppose so slight a resistance
to the electrical current that the secondary circuit remains closed and the revers-
ing annaratus consequently remains in the same position sideways. This objec-
tion is removed by. the present invention in the manner that when the armature
of the electromagnet belonging to the secondary circuit is attracted, it releases
a clock-work or like mechanism which in some suitable manner communicates
sufficient jar or shock to the objects contained in the receiver to destroy the
polarization and break the secondary circuit, the clock-work being subsequently
stopped by the return of the armature under the influence of a spring, weight,
or the like.
The invention, moreover, includes a special construction of the switch or
circuit-closer, whereby on the closing of one of the circuits controlled by it the
said circuit will be kept closed until the electromagnet located in the secondary
circuit again attracts its armature, a breaking of the circuit then takes place
and the reversing apparatus is automatically returned to its middle position.
When the armature mentioned is again attracted, the other of the circuits con-

page_text: trolled by the switch is closed, to be again broken in the subsequent attraction,
and so forth. As is readily perceived, the advantage is hereby gained that the
reversing-apparatus can be controlled by means of waves of almost instantaneous
action.
The invention is illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification
in which Fig. 1 shews a diagram of the apparatus and circuits, Fig. 2 shews a
side-view of a portion of the apparatus, and Figs. 3 and 4 respectively a plan-
view and a vertical section of the switch or circuit closers.
In the circuit s¹ connected with the battery B₁ are coupled on the one hand
the receiver X for the waves emitted, and on the other hand an electromagnet M¹
which together with an armature a¹, conveniently made springing, forms a relay
for automatically closing and breaking the secondary circuit 2 connected with the
battery B². When the receiver X, which normally opposes a great resistance
to the electric current, is struck by the rays emitted, its resistance to the electric
current will be diminished and the electromagnet M¹, by attracting its arma-
ture, will close the circuit 2 through electromagnet M.
The electromagnet M2 actuates the armature a² which is arranged to revolve
on a shaft o or the like. At its outer end the armature is provided with a pawl
or pusher st acting on a ratchet wheel h (Fig. 2) mounted on the shaft A of tho
switch or circuit-closer. The switch or circuit-closer K consists of two metal discs
or cylinders K', K2 each provided with a contact segment projecting axially at
the circumference and entering in the space between the segments of the oppo-
site coupling disc; the said discs moreover being insulated from each other by
means of an insulating material K³ surrounding the respective segments, so that
a brush dragging on the central portion of the circuit closer will alternately be
brought in contact with conducting and non-conducting segments the former of
which alternately belong to different discs.
Beyond the shaft on which it is supported the armature a² has an extension
which in the position of the armature shewn in Fig. 1 of the drawing, by means
of a projection p or the like, prevents the arm connected with the clock-work U.
from rotating with the shaft q. When, however, the armature a² is attracted
by the electromagnet M², the projection p will be moved out of the path of the
arm, and the clockwork which is then set in motion will rotate the arm v (left-
handed rotation). At the same time the hammer H is withdrawn from the
receiver X until on having arrived at a certain distance therefrom it is released
and falls back on the receiver, thus communicating to it the jar needed for
depolarisation. The armature can now no longer be held attracted by the electro-
magnét M¹, and therefore the circuit, S2 is broken and the armature a² is returned
by the spring to the position shewn in the drawing. The motion of the clock
work continues until the arm is stopped by the projection 2 of the armature ².
It is evident that the clock work must be so arranged that the hammer blow on
the receiver will not occur until the armature a² has been fully attracted by the
electromagnet M². Each time the armature a² is attracted the pawl or pusher st
advances the ratchet wheel H one tooth, so that the brush 6 will be made to bear
on the next segment of the central portion of the circuit closer. The brushes 61, 62
each drag on one of the discs K, K³ which are thus always each electrically
connected with the coils of its respective electromagnet M3, M4, when the brush b
bears on one of the non-conducting segments, evidently no current traverses
the wires connected with the battery B3, but as soon as the brush is brought into
contact with one of the contact segments projecting from the discs K', K² a
current will be closed through one of the circuits 3, and the correspon.ling
electromagnet M³, M4 will attract the part which is pivoted on a più or the
like and which consequently will actuate a movable slide in the valve chamber S
in one direction or the other. When neither of the electromagnets M³, M* acts on
the part g, the slide in the valve chamber is returned automatically by some
suitable device to the middle position.
By moving the slide in one direction or the other, compressed air is caused to

page_text: act in known manner in a motor for moving the rudder of the vessel to one
side or the other.
.
The apparatus described may be modified in various ways, while still retaining
the features essential to the invention. Thus, for instance, for the hammer H
there may be substituted some other suitable device for depolarising the objects
contained in the receiver. In Figures 5 and 6 two modified arrangements for
depolarising the receiver X are shewn, in which the hammer actuated by the
clockwork has been replaced by a contact piece H¹ movable to and fro and
adapted in a certain position to connect electrically two contacts kk and thus
close a current from a battery B or the like so as to depolarise the receiver by
the action of said current. For this purpose, the circuit connected with the bat-
tery B may either be so arranged that when the circuit is closed a current will
traverse the receiver in an opposite direction to that stated before (see Figure 5),
or the said circuit, as shewn in Figure 6 may be entirely independent of the
receiver and act, for instance, on one or more electromagnets M so arranged that
when magnetized they will change the state of polarisation of the receiver, for
instance by polarising the receiver perpendicularly to the direction of current in
the circuit s or by attracting the receiver, the latter being journalled in some
convenient manner, and thus communicating to it a mechanical jar or shock.
Dated the 4th day of April 1899.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co..
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Reversing Mechanisms
for Rudders or the like by Means of Electrical Waves.
We, AXEL ORLING, of Engelbrektsgatan 7, Stockholm, Sweden, Electrical
Engineer, and CARL GUSTAF GEORG BRAUNERHJELM, of Engelbrektsgatan 19,
Stockholm, Sweden, Colonel, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to a modified and improved construction of
apparatus for controlling the reversing mechanisms of rudders and the like, by
means of electrical waves emitted from a transmitter of such waves such as an
induction coil or the like and made to influence a receiver (coherer) which is
located in an electric circuit and the electrical resistance of which is diminished
by the influence of the waves emitted so as to cause an electromagnet coupled
in the circuit to be sufficiently magnetized to attract an armature and close a
secondary circuit belonging to another electromagnet the armature of which at
each fresh attraction reverses a switch connected with two electromagnets acting
in opposite directions on the reversing-apparatus.
In the apparatus previously described in our Specification accompanying
Letters Patent No. 1865 of 1899 the coherer after the waves omitted have ceased
to act upon it, continues for some time to oppose so slight a resistance to the
electrical current that the secondary circuit remains closed and the reversing
apparatus consequently remains in the same position sideways. This objection
is removed by the present invention in the manner that when the armature of the
electromagnet belonging to the secondary circuit is attracted, it releases a clock-
work or like mechanism which in some suitable manner communicates sufficient
jar or shock to the objects contained in the coherer to destroy the polarization
and break the secondary circuit, the clock-work being subsequently stopped or

page_text: locked by the return of the armature under the influence of a spring, weight, or
the like.
J;
1
The invention; moreover,' includes a special construction of the switch or
circuit-closer, whereby on the closing of one of the 'circuits controlled by it the
said circuit will be kept closed until the electromagnet located in the secondary
circuit again attracts its armature, a breaking of the circuit then takes place
and the reversing apparatus is automatically returned to its middle position.
When the armature mentioned is again attracted, the other of the circuits' con-
trolled by the switch is closed, to be again broken in the subsequent attraction,
and so forth. As is readily perceived, the advantage is hereby gained that the
reversing-apparatus can be controlled by means of waves of almost instantaneous
action.
The invention is illustrated in the drawings left with the Provisional Specifica-
tion, in which Fig. 1 shews a diagram of a suitable apparatus and circuits
according to this invention, Fig. 2 shews a side-view of a portion of the appa-
ratus, and Figs. 3 and 4 respectively a plan view and a vertical section of the
switch or circuit closers.
In the circuit s¹ connected with the battery 'B' are coupled on the one hand
the colierer X for the waves emitted, and on the other hand an electromagnet M
which together with an armature a, conveniently made springing, forms a relay
for automatically closing and breaking the secondary circuit 2 connected with the
battery B2. The coherer is connected in circuit in any suitable manner with a
radiation receiving device. Thus one terminal may be connected' in series with
a radiation receiving rod F the other terminal of the coherer being connected to
carth E as indicated in the drawings on Fig. 1. When the receiver X, which
normally opposes a great resistance to the electric current, is struck by the rays
emitted, its resistance to the electric current will be diminished and the electro-
magnet M by attracting its armature, will close the circuit 2 through the
electromagnet M².
The electromagnet M² actuates the armature a² which is arranged to oscillate
on a shaft o' or the like. At its outer end the armature is provided with a pawl
or pusher st acting on a ratchet wheel h (Fig. 2) mounted on the shaft. A of the
switch or circuit-closer. The said switch or circuit-closer K consists of two metal
discs or cylinders K1, K2 each provided with a contact segment projecting axially.at
the circumference and entering in the space between the segments of the oppo-
site coupling disc; the said discs moreover being insulated from each other by
means of an insulating material K³ surrounding the respective segments, so that
a brush dragging on the central portion of the circuit closer will alternately be
brought in contact with conducting and non-conducting segments the former of
which alternately belong to different discs.
1:"
...: *U
Bevond the shaft on which it is supported the armature a² has an extension
which in the position of the armature shewn in Fig. 1 of the drawing, by means
of a projection p or the like, prevents the arm attached to the shaft g of
the clock-work U from rotating. When, however, the armature a² is attracted
by the electromagnet M2, the projection p will be moved out of the path of the
arm, and the clock work which is then set in motion will rotate the arm (left-
handed rotation). At the same time the clockwork withdraws the hammer H
from the receiver X until on having arrived at a certain distance therefrom the
'hammer is released and falls back on the receiver, thus communicating to it the
jar needed for depolarisation. The waves having ceased, the armature a² can
now no longer be held attracted by the electromagnet M¹, and therefore the
circuit S2 is broken and the armature is returned by the spring to the posi-
tion shewn in the drawing. The motion of the clock work continues until the
arm is stopped by the projection p of the armature a².
20
It is evident that the clock work must be so arranged that the hammer blow on
the receiver will not occur until the armature a² has been fully attracted by the
electromagnet M². Each time the armature a³ is attracted the pawl´or pusher st

page_text: advances the ratchet wheel H one tooth, so that the. brush will be made. to, bear
on the next segment of the central portion of the circuit. closer. The brushes b¹, b²
each drag on one of the discs K1, K2 which are thus always each electrically
connected with the coils of its respective electromagnet M³, M³, when the brush b
bears on one of the non-conducting segments, evidently no current traverses
the wires connected with the battery 13, but as soon as the brush b is brought into
contact with one of the contact segments projecting from the discs K¹, K² a
current will be closed through one of the circuits 3, sand. the corresponding
electromagnet M³, M" will attract the part g which is pivoted on a pin or the
like and which consequently will actuate a movable slide in the valve chamber S
in one direction or the other in the well known manner. When neither of the
electromagnets M³, M* acts on the part g, the slide in the valve chamber.is
returned automatically by some suitable device to the, middle position:
..
او
By moving the slide in one direction or the other, compressed air, is caused to
act in known manner in a motor for moving the rudder of the vessel.ito. one
side or the other.
.:
The apparatus described may be modified in various ways, while still retaining
the features essential to the invention. Thus, for instance, for the hammer H
there may be substituted some other suitable device for depolarising the objects
contained in the receiver. In Figures 5 and 6 two modified arrangements, for
depolarising the receiver X are shewn, in which the hammer actuated by the
clockwork has been replaced by a contact piece H¹ movable to and fro and
adapted in a certain position to connect electrically two contacts kk and thus
close a current from a battery B or the like so as to depolarise the receiver by
the action of said current. For this purpose, the circuit connected with the bat-
tery B may either be so arranged that when the circuit is closed a current will
traverse the receiver in an opposite direction to that stated before' (see Figure 5),
or the said circuit, as shewn in Figure 6 may be entirely independent of the
receiver and act, for instance, on one or more electromagnets M so arranged that
when magnetized they will change the state of polarisation of the receiver, for
instance by polarising the receiver perpendicularly to the direction of current in
the circuit-s or by attracting the receiver, the latter being journalled in some
convenient manner, and thus communicating to it a mechanical jar or shock.
It is obvious also that wherever one magnet is shown and described several
such may used and that solenoids or the like may be used in place of magnets.
In the like manner the other details may be replaced by their equivalents as well
understood by any person skilled in the art to which this invention appertains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In an apparatus of the class described, a device for imparting a shock to
the coherer after the electrical waves have ceased to act, consisting of, a clock-
work or the like adapted to be released by an electromagnetic device in the
secondary circuit each time the same is closed and again locked by said device.
and a hammer, switch or the like actuated by said mechanism so as to shake or
polarize the said coherer, substantially as described.
2. In a controlling apparatus of the class described, a circuit closer adapted
to be actuated each time a secondary circuit is closed, and when so actuated to
close one or two tertiary circuits when once operated, to open the same in the
next operation, to close the other of said tertiary circuit in the third operation,
open the same in the fourth operation, to again close the first mentioned circuit
in the fifth operation and so on, substantially as and for the purposes described
in the specification.
3. In a controlling apparatus of the class described, the combination with a
primary electric circuit including a coherer and a relay. a secondary electric
circuit adapted to be closed by the said relay, two tertiary electric circuits adapted

page_text: to operate the controlling mechanism, and means such as an electromagnetic
device for alternately closing one of the said tertiary circuits, of a hammer, switch.
or the like adapted to be actuated by a clockwork or the like which is released
by the said electromagnetic device each time the said coherer is exposed to the
electrical waves, and subsequently stopped or locked by the said electromagnetic
device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth in the specification.
4. In a controlling apparatus of the class described, the combination with a
primary electric circuit including a coherer and a relay, a secondary circuit
adapted to be closed by the said relay, two tertiary circuits one of which includes
an electromagnetic device adapted to operate the controlling apparatus in one
direction and the other of which includes electromagnetic mean's adapted' to
operate the controlling apparatus in the other directions, of a circuit closer or
the like adapted to be actuated each time a secondary circuit is closed, and when
so actuated to close one of two tertiary circuits when once operated, to open the
same in the next operation, to close the other of said tertiary circuit in the
third operation, to open the same in the fourth operation to again close the first
mentioned circuit in the fifth operation and so on, substantially "as and for the
purposes described in the specification.
J..
5. The combination and arrangements of parts constituting the controlling
apparatus, as described in the specification and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 1st day of January 1900.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham.