Nikola Tesla Patents
336 Sub Spec. condenser terminals I also connect the receiver to be operated, in series with a der ice of suitable construction which performs the function of periodically discharging the condenser through the receiver at and during such intervals of time as may be best suitable for the purpose con templated. This device may merely consist of two stetionary electrodes separated by a feeble dielectric layer of minute thickness, or it may comprise terminals, one or more of which are movable ard actuated by any suitable force, and are adapted to be brought into, and out of, contact with each other in any convenient manner. It will now be readily seen that if the disturbances, of whatever nature they may be, cause definite amounts of electricity, of the same si gn, to be conveyed to each of the plates or electrodes above mentioned, either continuously or at intervals of time which are sufficiently long, the condenser will be charged to a certain potential and, an adequate amount of energy being us stored during the time determined by the device effecting the discharge of the condenser, the receiver will be periodically operated by the electrical energy so accumulated. But very often the character of the impulses and the conditions of their use are such that, without further provision, not enough potential energy would be accumulated in the condenser to operate the receiving device. This is the case when, for example, each of the plates or terminals receives electricity of rapidly changing sign, or even when each receives electricity of the same sign but only during periods which are short as compared with the intervals separating them. In such instances I resort to -7
