Nikola Tesla Patents
} bearings at the stem of the boat and carrying the rudder 3¹. Pin The apparatus, by means of which the operation of both the propelling and steering mechanisms is controlled, involves, primarily, a receiving circuit which, for reasons before stated, is preferably both adjusted and rendered sensitive to the influence of waves or impulses emanating from a remote source, the adjustment being so that the period of oscillation of the circuit is either the same as that of the source or a harmonic thereof. P The receiving circuit proper, diagrammatically shown in Figs. 3 and 10, comprises a terminal E¹, conductor C¹, a sensitive device A' and a conductor A" leading to the ground, conveniently through a connection to the metal keel B¹ of the vessel. The terminal E' should present a large conducting surface and should be supported as high as practicable on a standard D, which is shown as broken in Fig. 2, but such provisions are not always necessary. It is important to insulate very well the conductor C', in whatever mamer it be supported. The circuit or path just referred to forms also a part of a local circuit, which latter includes a relay magnet a and a battery a, the electro-motive force of which is, as before explained, so determined that although the dielectric layers in the sensitive device A¹ are subjected to a great strain, yet normally they withstand the strain and no appreciable current flows through the local circuit. But when an electrical disturbance reaches the circuit, the dielectric films are broken down, the resistance of the device A' is suddenly and greatly diminished -12265
