Nikola Tesla U.S. Patent 1,119,732 - Apparatus for Transmitting Electrical Energy Patent Wrapper Page 32

728 low pressure, there are disadvantages met with in many cases when the capacity of the terminal is made too large. chief of these are to be found in the fact that the increase 1 of capacity generally results in a lowering of the frequency of the impulses or discharges and in a diminution of the energy of vibration. This will be understood when it is borne in mind that a circuit with a large capacity behaves as a slack spring, whereas one with small capacity acts like a stiff spring vibrating more vigorously. In order to attain, there fore, the highest possible frequency, which for certain purposes is advantageous and, irrespective of that, to develop the greatest energy in such a transmitting circuit, 1 employ a terminal of relatively small capacity, which 1 charge to as high a pressure as practicable. complish this result 1 have found it necessary to so construct the elevated terminal that its surface, on which the electrical charge accumulates, has a large radius of curvature, or is entirely composed of elements having large radii of curvature, since the smaller the curvature the greater will be the electrical density and consequently, the . lower the limiting pressure to which the terminal may be charged without electricity escaping into the air. Such a terminal 1 mount upon an insulating support which 1 secure to its inner or under surface only, and 1 also connect the circuit to the same surface at a point. where the electrical density is small. This plan of supporting a highly charged conductor 1 have found to be of great practical importance, and it may be usefully applied in many ways, as will be seen from the accompanying drawing, 371-3 in which 32 -2The To ac