' N. ïEsLA.

FREQUENCY METER.
APPL‘CATION FILED DEC. 1B, 1916.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.,

l
 UNITED sfi‘a'rafs> Afr>
NIKOLA TESLÀ, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 WALTEAM WATCH COMPANY, 0F
WALT’HAIE, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATION .OF MASSACHUSETTS.
rnneumïcr marne
1,402,025. i speciacation of Letters Patent. i Patented Jan. 3, i922.
Application ñled December 18, 1916. Serial No. 137,689.-
Toallwhomeltmycofrwem: _ 4 Èiop in its broader. aspects to matters of de 55
Be it known that I, NIKOLA TEsLA, a citi a1 . ` '

zen of the United States, residin at New 5 represents diagrammatically a two-phase

York, in- the county and State of ew York, generator, typifying the machine controlling
have invented certain new and useful Im the frequency to be measured, and having
provements in Frequency Meters, of which suitable connection by wires 6 with the syn co
the following is a full, clear, and exact de chronous-motor element ofi the frequency
scription. ' ’ meter, indicated as a whole by 7. The motor,
In many instances in'practice it Í isè very 8, will of course have field poles and arma
10 desirable and important to ascertain the fre ture bars appropriate to the character'of the
quency of periodic currents or electric oscil current supplied from the `generator 5, the 65
lations and therefrom the speedof rotation motor being of the split-phase, two-phase,
or reciprocationv of the generating or con or other type, as needed._v A frame 10, hav
trolling apparatus. y ing lugs 11, or other means of support, pro
15 The devices commonly used at present for vides a cup-formed shell 12 with a top wall
this‘purpose and designated “frequency me 13 furnished with a central bearing tube 14 70
ters” generally consist of reeds or bars tuned and with suitable supporting means, as 15,
to respond to impulses ofl definite periods, for the stationary field structure 16. A cap 17,
or a direct current dynamo coupled to the screw threaded at 18, ïand suitably packed,
alternatinggenerator or frequency controller hermetically seals one side of the motor cas
and connectedwith an instrument, of volt ing into which the connecting wires. are led 75
meter construction, graduated -to indicate through lany suitable sealing and insulating
the instantaneous frequency of the current. ._ bushings 19.
Both of’these forms'are objectionable from For accuracy andA promptness of response
25 many points )of View, being subject to vari _to frequency-variations, the »armature struc
ous limitations of practical availability and ture 21, as a whole, with its attachments
to disturbing iniiuences, all so well known to should be o_f very light weight and so
experts as to dispense with the necessity of equipped that its work is minimized. Hence
enlarging upon them on this ocpasion. ` it is important both that the construction of
30 My invention has for its object to provide the armature element be designed with ref
a frequency meter of great accuracy, struc erence to smallness and consequent lightness 85
tural simplicity, wide range of use, and low of arts, and that its frequency-indicating
cost, all adequate'to meet the pressing de equipment be of a> character imposing the-
mand for a commercial and scientiiically'sat lightest load on the armature. Specifically,
35 isfactory instrument of improved form. the armature larninae> 22 are carried on a
In the drawings, wherein I have illus light disk 23, -iixed to the vertical shaft 24:, 90
trated a single embodiment of my invention that is supported by ball bearings 25 and 26,
for urposes of`disclosure,- ' in tube 14, and, above the wall 13, carries
Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the driving member of the indicator device
the frequency meter, with diagrammatic ex 28. This appliance comprises, as its pri
tension to indicate Aan available manner of mary element, 29, a non-magnetic disk 30,
connecting it to a two-phase generator; of brass, say, having annul'ar spaced, con
Fig. 2 is an end view; ' centric walls 31, and as its secondary ele
Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the cover in ment, 32, a pivoted part .including very
45 section, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of th light, annular walls 33 interleaved wlth the
instrument from its reading side. - walls 31 and affording extensive smooth fric 100
It will be understood that the specific con tion surfaces, very closely adjacent' to, `but
struction of instruments embodying my in not »contacting with, the kindred surfaces of
vention may be modified in many ways ac the primary member so that through the
50 cording to the demands of the electrical or thin films ofiiuid, preferably air, interven
mechanical environment in which it is to be ing between them, torque may be transmit 105
used, and while I shall describe in detail a ted from the primary to the secondary ele
specific construction, illustrated in the draw ment in substantially linear proportion to
ing, it is without intent to limit my inven the speed of the primary. Posts 35, mounted
 Lacanau

in the top wall- of the frame, support a vision. The small size, low cost and'ease ’of
bridge piece 36 that carries a bearing yoke maintenance, due to the simplicity of the
37, affording upper and lower jewel bear construction are especially desirable.
ings 38 and 39, the former containedfin a What I claim is: '
bushing 40 threaded for adjustment in the 1. In- a frequency meter, the combination 70
yoke and set by a nut 41, such bear-ings ,re- of` a synchronous motor, and a speed-respon- "
ceiving the spindle 42 from which extends, sive device, having a primary element con
rigidly, 4the arm 43 carrying the annular nected to the armature shaft, and a pivoted
Walls of the secondary element. A spiral torsionally-restrained secondary element, de
10 spring 44, fixed at one end to the shaft 42 flectable in substantially linear proportion l75
and at its other end clamped adjustably in to the speed of the primary and calibrated
the split stud 45 on bracket 37, permits ro in termsof electrical frequency..
tary displacement of the secondary element, , 2. In a frequency meter, the combination
substantially in linear proportion to the of a synchronous motor and a speed-respon
15 force applied. A scale 48, printed on or sive device, said motor havin an armature
otherwise aiiixed to the outermost wall of of light construction and sai >speed-respon
thesecondary element, is graduated in units sive device comprising a primary element
of frequency and its indication- point is de carried in` rotation by said armature, and a
termined by a fixed pointer 49 that is fixed torsionally-restrained secondary element,
20 at the edge of a transparent sealed window these elements having extensive confront 85
50 of the casin shell 5l of cup formation, ing, closely adjacent friction- surfaces, co
that is secured 1n sealed relation to the wall operating through interposed films of a fiuid
_ 13 as by packed screws 52 engaging bosses medium for displacement of said secondary
53 on the bridge piece 36 so to complete the element in substantially linear proportion to
25 hermetic enclosure of the chamber contain the speed of rotationÀ of the primary element. 90
ing the indicating elements. Such hermetic 3. In a lfrequency meter, the combination
closure is not necessary in many instances of a synchronous motor and a speed-respon- v
but may be desirable. sive device, the former havin an -armature
In my 'copending application Serial No. of light construction and the tter compris
30 841,726 filed May» 29th, 1914, Patent No. ing a primary element, carried in. rotatlon 95
1,209,359 I have set forth in detail certain by said armature, and a torsionally-re
laws _the observance of which results in at -strained secondary element, these elements
' tainmentçof rigorous proportionality of de having extensive confronting, closely adja
fiections to‘ speed in an “air drag” instru cent friction surfaces, cooperating through
35 ment, and al1 of such conditions may be ob interposed films> of air for displacement of 100
servedto _advantage in constructing the in said secondary Íelement- in substantially
dicatlon-giving element of 'the frequency linear proportion tothe speed of rotation of
j meter. the primary element, said secondary bearing
It. will be noted that an instrument as a scale calibrated in terms of frequency.
herem?described has many structural and 4. A frequency meter comprising, in com 105
operative advantages. The translatin in bination, a. synchronous induction motor,
st_rument, giving. the frequency - rea ing, having a shell carrying the field, and a rota- ,
when constructed for use of air as the trans table armature within the chamber of said
mittlng medium, may be of size to give am shell having its shaft extended through said
45 ple torque, but if desired the ensealed mech shell; and a speed-responsive device, com 110
anlsm may be operated in air or other, pref prising a -closed casing, a non-magnetic pri
erably inert, gases of more than atmospheric mary element mounted upon -said armature
density for increase of the torque. The air shaft, a separately mountml secondary ele-V
drag instrument is substantially unaffected ment pivoted and torsionally restrained,
50 in accuracy by temperature changes, with said elements having opposed, closely adja 115
' out special compensating mechanism, and is cent non-contacting surfaces, co-operating '
therefore practically insensible to the heat through interposed films of a ñuid medium
ing effect of the subjacent motor, and the through which torque is transmitted to the
double-chamber construction vsegregating the secondary in- approximately linear propor
A55 motor and translatin device prevents-the tion to the speed of the primary member, 120
latter from being a ected by air-currents and a visible scale uniformly graduated in
engendered by the motor-operation. Fur termsl of frequency carried by they second
thermore, the indicator structure may be ary member. , - 1
_ made immune to magnetic iníi'uence and 5. A frequency meter comärising a sealed,
60 'eddy currents, however intense, by making air-containlng casing divide into two com
its secondary element of appropriate non partments, a shaft extending into both com
shrinkable,- insulating material, as com partments, a synchronous motor in one com
`pressed fiber, although in many instances partment adapted to drive said shaft: and an
the partition 13, acting as a shield for the lndicating device in the other, said device
65 indicator obviates the necessity for such pro having a primary rotatable element con 130
 1,402,025 my.

nected with the shaft, a separately mounted, posed gaseous films for displacement'of the
indication-controlling element and a spring secondary, approximately in linear propor
restraining the latter, said elements having tion to the speed of the primary element.
extensive, confronting, closely adjacent, non 8. In a frequency meter, the combination
contactin surfaces cooperatlng through the of a synchronous motor and a speed-respon
interposed air films~ for displacement of the sive device, said motor having a light arma
secondary, at all ordinarytemperatures, ap ture and a shaft, and said speed responsive
proximately in linear proportion to the device comprising a primary element of non
speed of the primary element. ‘ magnetic material carried‘by the armature 45
10 6. In a frequency meter, the combination shaft and a torsionally-restrained secondary
of a synchronous motor having an arma element, these elements having extensive,
ture of light construction, a speed-respon confronting, closely adjacent, non-contact
sive device comprising a primary element ing surfaces cooperating through interposed
carried in rotation by the said armature films of a fluid medium for displacement o-f 50
15 and a torsionally-restrained secondary ele-- the secondary element in approximately
ment, said elements having extensive oon linearA proportion to the speed of thepri
fronting closely adjacent friction surfaces mary e ement, and a containing structure
cooperating through interposed films of air ensealing the speed responsive device.
for displacement of said secondary element 9. In a frequency meter, the combination 55
20 in substantially linear proportion to the of a synchronous motor having an armature
-speed of rotation of the primary element, of light construction, a speed-responsive de
and a wall interposed between the armature vice comprising a primary element carried
of the motor and the speed-responsive device in -rotation by the said armature and a4 tor
for shielding the latter from air disturb sionally-restrained secondary element, said 60
25 ance caused by rotation of the former. elements having extensive confronting, «
7.' A frequency meter comprising a casingl closely adjacent friction surfaces’cooperat
divided into two compartments, a shaft ex ing through interposed films of air for dis
tending into both- thereof, a synchronous placement of said secondary element in sub 65
motor in one compartment adapted to drivel stantially linear proportion to the speed of
30 said shaft and a speed-responsive device lin rotation of the primary element, and means
the other having a primary element con interposed between the armature of the
nected for rotation with said shaft, a sepa motor and the speed-responsive device for
rately mounted, torsionally-restrained indi shielding the latterv from air disturbance
eating element, said elements having exten caused by rotation of the former. 70
35 sive confronting, closely adjacent, non-con In testimony whereof l aflix my signature.
tacting surfaces cooperating through inter. NIKOLA. TESLA.