Various Tesla book cover images

Nikola Tesla Books

Books written by or about Nikola Tesla

Colorado Springs

June 3, 1899

Various modifications of a principle consisting in accumulating energy of feeble impulses received from a distance and utilizing magnified effect for operating a receiving device. Several modes of carrying out the same, generally considered:

Resonance

Condenser Commutating currents and charging
Directing currents by batteries
gas valves
and charging
Using direct current of high tension
Magnet Commutating currents for relay
Directing currents through relay batteries
valves
 
  Dynamo
principle
Commutating currents field
Directing batteries
valves
direct
Using direct currents current
Low frequency currents in field
High frequency currents
in armature
Direct currents
in armature
heating device
electromagnet
condenser, etc.
relay, field magnet
dynamo,
condenser, etc.

27

June 3

During the year 1899 Tesla filed applications for four patents{8, 9, 10, 11) which made use of the principle of “accumulating energy of feeble impulses”. It may be seen from these patents that the function of the capacitor was to store energy from the commutated (in fact rectified) HF current. The condenser is connected to the receiver (a relay) which periodically makes contact(8, 10) when the condenser charges up enough. Both these patents were filed 24th June 1899(9, 10). The other two(9, 11) were filed 1st August 1899. They also refer to a method of accumulating energy but the way the incoming signal controls the charging of the condenser is different: here it causes variations in the resistance of a “sensitive device” which controls the current charging the condenser from a battery. The condenser discharges periodically through the receiver as in the previous case.

Tesla developed the magnet method while he was in Colorado Springs.


June 3

During 1899 Tesla submitted four patents{8, 9, 10, 11) in which he uses the "weak impulses energy accumulation" method. It can be seen from the mentioned patents that the capacitor serves the purpose as the device for accumulation of energy, achieved by commutated (actually rectified) high frequency currents. The receiver (relay) is connected to the capacitor. The receiver is switched on so that the accumulated energy in the capacitor is sufficient for successful receiver operation(8,10). Both patents(8,10) were submitted on June 24, 1899. The other two patents(9,11) were submitted on Aug. 1, 1899. These patents are related as well to energy accumulation method, but another approach is applied to incoming signals for the charging of capacitors. The received signal now varies the resistance of the "sensitive device" and regulates the capacitor charging current from the auxiliary battery. Periodical discharge of charged capacitor through the receiver is the same as in the previous receiver.

The methods with the magnet Tesla developed during his stay in Colorado Springs.

Glossary

Lowercase tau - an irrational constant defined as the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its radius, equal to the radian measure of a full turn; approximately 6.283185307 (equal to 2π, or twice the value of π).
A natural rubber material obtained from Palaquium trees, native to South-east Asia. Gutta-percha made possible practical submarine telegraph cables because it was both waterproof and resistant to seawater as well as being thermoplastic. Gutta-percha's use as an electrical insulator was first suggested by Michael Faraday.
The Habirshaw Electric Cable Company, founded in 1886 by William M. Habirshaw in New York City, New York.
The Brown & Sharpe (B & S) Gauge, also known as the American Wire Gauge (AWG), is the American standard for making/ordering metal sheet and wire sizes.
A traditional general-purpose dry cell battery. Invented by the French engineer Georges Leclanché in 1866.
Refers to Manitou Springs, a small town just six miles west of Colorado Springs, and during Tesla's time there, producer of world-renown bottled water from its natural springs.
A French mineral water bottler.
Lowercase delta letter - used to denote: A change in the value of a variable in calculus. A functional derivative in functional calculus. An auxiliary function in calculus, used to rigorously define the limit or continuity of a given function.
America's oldest existing independent manufacturer of wire and cable, founded in 1878.
Lowercase lambda letter which, in physics and engineering, normally represents wavelength.
The lowercase omega letter, which represents angular velocity in physics.