Nikola Tesla Patents
274 73 to the insulating segment 23. But since the head L carrying the segments is geared to the rudder, the position of the latter is in a general way determined by observing the lights. Both of the lights may be colored, and by flashing them up whenever desired, the operator may guide at night the vessel in its course. For such purposes also the standards r I are provided, which should be painted in lively colors so as to be visible by day at great distances. By opening and closing the circuits of motor F a greater number of times, preferably determined beforehand, the lever m" is brought in contact with post n', thus closing the circuit of the main battery through a device o and bringing the latter into action at the moment desired. By similar contrivances, or such as will readily suggest themselves to mechanicians, any number of different devices may be operated. Referring now to Fig. 9, which illustrates diagrammatically the system as practised when directing the movements of a boat: In this figure S designates any source of electrical disturbance or oscillations, the generation of which is controlled by a suitable switch contained in box T. The handle of the switch is movable in one direction only and stops on four points t t' uu', so that, as the handle passes from stop to stop, oscillations are produced by the source during a very short time interval. There are thus produced four disturbances during one revolution, and the receiving circuit is affected four times, but it will be understood from the foregoing description of the controlling devices on the vessel, that the rudder will be moved -21This page retyped from microfilm for better readability - Ed.]
