Nikola Tesla - Free-Energy Devices

314 1A' VJHNTION8 OF NIKOLA TESLA.rotation of the pulley. Experiments were also carried on withliquids of different insulating power with the view of reducingthe loss in the arc. When an insulating liquid ismoderatelywarmed, the loss in the arc is diminished.A point of some importance was noted in experiments withvarious discharges of this kind.whereas the conditionsIt was found, for instance, thatmaintained in these forms were favorablefor the production of a great spark length, the current so obtainedwas not best suited to the production of light effects. Experienceundoubtedly has shown, that for such purposes a harmonicrise and fall of the potential is preferable. Be it that asolid is rendered incandescent, or phosphorescent, or be it that energyis transmitted by condenser coating through the glass, itquite certain that a harmonically rising and falling potential producesless destructive action, and that the vacuum is more permanentlymaintained. This would be easily explained if it wereascertained that the process going on in an exhausted vessel is ofan electrolytic nature.In the diagrammatical sketch, Fig. 165, which has been alreadyreferred to, the cases which are most likely to be met with inpractice are illustrated. One has at his disposal either direct oralternating currents from a supply station. It is convenient foran experimenter in an isolated laboratory to employ a machine G,such as illustrated, capable of giving both kinds of currents. Insuch case it is also preferable to use a machine with multiplecircuits, as in many experimentsit is useful and convenient tohave at one's disposal currents of different phases. In thesketch, D represents the direct and A the alternating circuit. Ineach of these, three branch circuits are shown, all of which areprovided with double line switches s s s s s s. Consider first thedirect current conversion ;m represents the simplest case. Ifthe E. M. F. of the generator is sufficient to break through a smallair space, at least when the latter is warmed or otherwise renderedpoorly insulating, there is no difficulty in maintaining avibration with faireconomy by judicious adjustment of thecapacity, self-induction and resistance of the circuit L containingthe devices II m. The magnet N, s,can be in this case advantageouslycombined with the air space. The discharger d d withthe magnet may be placed either way, as indicated by the full orby the dotted lines. The circuit la with the connections and devicesissupposed to possess dimensions such as are suitable foris