UNifrED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE; *_ OF AMÍESBUBY, MASSACÈUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, BY

,.GBEENLEAF -WHITTIEB PICKABD, MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO.‘WIRELESS SPECIALTY APPARATUS COMPANY, OF BOS TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MEANS _FOB RECEIVING _INTELLIGENGE communica-ran BY nnnc'rnic 'wavns _

Speciiication of Beissued Letters Patent.y Reissued Sept, 8, 1914. 13,798.' _ 838,531, dated November 20, 1906, and application Serial lo. 342,465, ñled Division of original Patent No. 401,856.V Application for November 8, 1906. > Original No. 877,451, dated January 21, _1908, Serial No.

reissue illed latch 9, 1912.

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Serial No. 682,829.

operatively7 provided with the usual ad ust le capacity C, inductance L, adjustabl Be it known that I, GREENLEAF Wnrr'rmn abo_tli_ the wave~intercepter and oscillation-re PICKARD, a citizen of theUnited States 0f ceiving circuits, the inductance L', ad'ust

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' - To all whom it may concern:

America, and a resident of the town of able in _the wave-intercepter circuit, an the

5 Amesbury, State of` Massachusetts, have in

cnënëection of the latter circuit' to ground 55A

' vented certain new and useful Impr'ove

ments in Means for Receiving Intelligence

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In Fig. 1, the circuit L, T, J, C'-T, L Communicated by Electric Waves, the prin receives the oscillations enerated in, the ‘ c_iples of which are set forth in the follow-î loop A, ’, the inductance _ 1o ing specification and accompanying draw .wave-intercepting . L bein adjustable 1n the oscillation circuit '60 ing, which discloses the form of the inven

which is well adapted for use with the os- '

tion which I now consider to be the best of cillation receiver ordetector of this inven J the vario-'us forms in which the principles of as-it includes the adjustable condenser i tion,

the invention may be -embodied.A

This invention relates to means forA re

- ceiving intelligence communicated by elec

C’ and the indicating device T in' shunt 'to tliis'condenser. The device is preferabl a

telephone receiver- and may be an other

tric waves, and relates> more particularly to Íorm of device such as a sensitive ga vanom

improvements in detectors of the “rectifier”

eter which will indicate an abrupt ilo'w‘ of A

direct current. The receiver or 4vdetector 2o ìîpThe object of my invention is to provide .should _in use be maintained in good elec# improved commercially useful means for cp trical connection in the >oscillation circuit, erating a devicev for translating into intel i t

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e.

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gible form a relatively great

art of

the '

f nergy of the high frequency oscillatory eur 25 rents, such as generated at a receiving sta

and the contact-'unction- T J should be a

.substantially per

ect electrical contact. ‘ 'The v

lead to the shunt-connected condenser C’ and the 'telephone T is taken from the lower end tion by the transmitted electro-radiant en-> ‘of the inductance L, s_o that the telephone ergy or electric waves. _ and itsparallel connected condenser are in i It-,isvmy object’to convert as much as pos series. between the detector and a part-of the sible -of the energy of the received " oscilla inductance L which is at lower potential

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30 tions into a form 'capable .of operating an with respect to >the ground. 80A , _ vindicating device, such, for exam le, as a The receiver or detector of this invention, telephone receiver, preferably wit out the roughly ¿indicated atTJ in Fig. 1 is shown use of any auxiliary energy; and in any case in- detail in -.Fig. 2. r'Ilo a wooden base L

without recourse to the effect of resistance are secured-an angular metalsupport 2 and 35_ due to >conductor attenuation or -imperfect a metal plate 3, rovided with binding posts st contact; and without recourse to a vacuum 4, 5 Íor‘the lea s of'the oscillating circuit tube. .. ‘ j Y, _ Fig'. 1.- Onecelement of the detectoi- is i Of the drawings,Figure 1 is a diagrammatic of thel chuck which is >removabl screwed into illustration of a well-known form of wire-- the plate'3 by the art 6.

`>40 -thìs less .telegraph receiving station apparatus, being t e apparatus with whichl the in

Vsists of- a piece o

4soldered a ymetallic' i plating 'MR such as

Yvention has been actually used. Figs. 2 and copper or silver, `which plating vis deposited 3 are a’side elevation and section respectively on the _material N in order to provide a large . A - , of the present preferred embodiment of the area of> surface contact -between them, Aas 45 detectorv em oyed in the invention i_n` its compared with the area of the contact junc ` " p`

nt`__most eil‘icient form, Fig. 3 being a-_ tion T `J. The dcìpxosition may be b elec modiiìed form, ' . ‘ _ or by- sing a layer 0f e ma In ig.I the genera arrangementisawell tro-plating terial N upon a metallic surface, or other-

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‘slightl'

known. loop formv of wave-intercepter A, A'

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13,798 wise;- and as shown in Fig. 3, it is suilicient to place the material N in a liquefiedl mass of good contact between _the part 7 and the >fusible metal F M in a chuck-cup 18, pro good conducting part 8, and also presses the vided with a screw 17, so that when the good conductin part 8 into good contact metal F M cools and-solidilics, the material with the conducting part l0 which is secured N will be firmly embedded in, and in good to part 2, thus establishing a good electrical' 70 electrical and large-.areaed contact >with the connection between part 7 and its circuit terminal 4. No means for delicate adjust metal F M. . ' ‘ ' They operative contact-junction (,T J 0f ment of the spring-pressure, such as a line screw, is necessary, since operatively the 10 i Fig. 1) is located anale lower' end of the 1101 low metallic sleeve 7 of Fig. 2, which junc spring is such as to always exert suñicient/ 75 tion is of substantially less surface area than pressure to insure a substantially perfect

contact. The spring 1l however, coöpera tively with the movable part 8, permits the 'ection 8, which depends from the metallic selection by manual adjustment of different hall 9, the ball forming a ball-and-socket locations of the contact T J, owing, in this universal joint with the part 10 of thin disclosure, to inequalities of different parts metal, which is stamped to shape and secured of the operating surface of part N, whereby to the metallic support 2 so as to complete the pressure of the spring is slightly` varied that of the contact between N and M- P. The sleeve 7 can slide along the metallic pro

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The member 7 -of the receiver within the limits of perfect contact pressure, may be of any conductor which coöperates -so as to slightly vary tlie area of electrical ‘ , properly with the member N. The member contact and the sensitiveness of operation N may be of the element silicon, which ap lunder differentexternal conditions Aof use. pears to be most useful either in the massive In no case, however, is it lnecessary to con 25 amor hous or graphitic solid#r form; »or`it tinuously move either 7 or N with respect 20 the circuit.

may bev a" suitable equivalent whiäid accom _to each other during operation. The device 'plishes- the objects of the invention, i. e., a is most efficient in the form shown, as to conductor within the scope of the invention

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the lower> end ofl part 7 having a substan tial rounded surface in physical contact of

which possesses high resistivity and which when operatively in substantially perfect considerable area with part N, but having

electrical contact with the other conductor, an extremely small electrical contact there 95 as 7, operates in coöperation therewith to with. In no case need either member 7 or. possess such attentuation as might there- v produce a direct current occurring intermit -N by generate heat. _

„ tently, and charging one side of the con 35

In order to -obtain the best results, the

denser, the discharge-of which is suitable foroperating the indicating device. When above specification should -be carefully fol 10oA

lowed. So ~far I have been able to convert the member h"7_is metallic, as >of copper` in upward of ten percent. of the energy of the accordance with this disclosure, and there fore has low resistivity, there is a very sub oscillations into direct current energy. The stantial'diiference'in the degree of resistiv device is therefore an electrical‘converter or ity\possessed bythe two conductors. When ' rectifier. In the preferred form of> this 105 the member N has high thermoelectromotive> invention the action due> to .the inherent power in coöperation with the member 7, in properties of the silicon member or its equiva _ addition to high resistivity, or when there is lent is of extraordinary vigor, as is indi- 45 a _substantial difference in the resistivity of Icated by the fact that the only energy em the two conductors, a considerable part 'of ployed to commercially operate the tele 110 the ener of the received oscillations is con-_- phone T. is that of the, received oscillations. centrate in the form of Joulean heat, at All resistance-varying action should be re the contact junction, where it may be con duced to a minimum, as lby employing the

`conductors in substantially massive form operative thermo-electromotive power of the and in vsubstantially perfect contact with two conductors. The junction betweenthe each other, because the energy of the oscil

50 verted into a vdirect current owingto the co

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massive conductors 7 and N should be a sub lations -should- not be wasted without con substantially to elfective action. stantially perfect electrical contact„and this i tributing The energy required to commercially ,op-e 1s secured by the spring 11, which presses erate Vthat is; to Aproduce in it a izo lthek two conductors together with suíiicient clearly'a telephone, defined dot, in, -for example, the . force to exclude substantially all contact re

code, is approximately one millionth sistance and action of a'loose-contactor co Morse (1><10"’) erg. The energy received in long herer nature arising from the resistance of eo an imperfect contact, such as to cause the distance wireless communication is, vat the contact to be"v a _substantially perfect one. minimum, of the order of magnitude of 125 Such a perfect contact not only accomplishes one-thousand'th of an erg per dot. ` The elli the objects of the invention, but avolds the ` ciency of the apparatus of this invention, ás l uncommereial instability of imperfect con demonstrated by trial under commercial conditions, is upward- of ten percent. There ' tacts. The 11 serves to "make is thus ample margin for commercial opera 130

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18,798

tiveness for the least sensitive form of this resistivity, atl least one- of said conductors invention in the case of >the present longest having high resistivity; in combination with distance wireless telegraphy.

a mass of fusible metal supporting said high resistance conductor, and a supporting re

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’ The speed of reception with this inven

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ceptacle for said fusible metal.

tion is unlimited, since it is not only self

2. Means for receiving intelligence com- »

' restoring to its sensitive- state, but this res

by electromagnetic waves, which toration is practically instantaneous be-v municated comprises two substantially massive individ cause, so far as the thermo-electromotive ac ual electrical conductors of different degrees tion is concerned, the small quantity of heat of resistivity, and coöperatively having> high which is generated by the received oscilla~

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resistivity, at least one ofl which conductors

tions comprising a signal is rapidly con

ducted away, partly by thermal conduction possesses high resistivity; in combination

a spring -which operatively holds the to` the metal portion 7 , and the nemainder with said conductors `in substantially perfect bv the conversion into an electric current' small-areaed electrical contact with each 80 which finally expends its energy in the indi other; and a freely movable, non-threaded cating device. , The advantages of the new detector are support for said spring to ermit a varia tion of contact pressure >witliin widelimits as follows. It fulfils all requirements of of substantially perfect Contact pressure, and commercial wireless telegraphy as to sensi thereby slightly vary the area of the minute tiveness, speed, stability and freedom from

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delicate adjustments. ‘ I have found that the ’ l continued .sensitiveness of the detector is -in

no wise impaired by severe static discharges. It is also simple and cheap in construction.

electrical contact.

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3. Means `for receiving -intelligence com municated by electric waves, which com

prises'a rectifying member in contact with

V‘conductor of different material, in combi It is not affected by changes-in atmospheric anationV with a mass of readily fusible metal temperature or humidity. Its sensitiveness in which said rectifying member ‘is firmly so far has not been impaired bycontinuous 'embedded and in good electrical and large-

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and continued use.

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arcaed contact. 4. 'Means for receiving intelligence com 95 by electric' waves, which com pair of conductors which coöperatively have municated afrectifyingmember in contactwith high resistivity, or in'whi'ch atleast onevhas 4aprises conductor of different material, 'in combi high resistivity, and in which suchI con~ nation with a mass of readily fusible metal ductors are held in _substantially perfect in which rectifying memberl is ñrmly 100 small areaed contact with each other. An embedded said> in good electrical and large-areaed -' example of such a rectifier detector is that

I am aware of the existence in the prior 30 art of a rectifier detector consisting of a

and a receptacle for. receiving the of Hughes comprising _carbon _in small contact, liquefied mass`of fusible 'metal and holdingV areaed perfect contact`with steel as setv

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forth in “ a history‘of wireless 'telegraphy”

by Fahìe, 1901 Editionfpage 313.y A fur

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the same -after it has cooled and solidified.

v5. Means for receiving intelligence Icom

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ther prior disclosure of a rectifier detector municated by electro-magnetic waves, which comprises the combination with a rectifying

is in U. S. lPatent No. 763,894 to Hogg, -where the pair of conductors consists of conductor havin a contact surface consist of a substantially plane area, of a Lmanu steel or other metal in perfect smalllareaed _ing allyl movable contact-point-_carrier, having

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contact with selenium, annealed selenium or

an end which is directed toward said contact selenids of metals, selenium in anyv conduct surface, but which is structurally independ ing form and selenìds of metals having high ent thereof, and has free transverse move ' resistivity. These rectiñers of thev prior art may be;used either with or without a local ment relative thereto; a. guide with which said carrier has movable relation under said y _ y 50 source of energy.

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said guide being movably While> my invention relates to, a detector manual control, point remote from the free ' supported at a I of the rectifierclass, examples of which are whereby the guide and ' end of the earner, « referred' to above, my invention residesin

carrier may be bodily moved,`and said free ` improvements having the advantages here ' end >of the carrier be moved into various dif 55 inbefore set forth, and having a novel and ferent positions relative to said> contact sur -useful structure and association with other face; and a- helical spring operatively _ parts as set forth in the appended claims. What I claim is:

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mounted between said guide and carrier to press the latter toward said contact surface,

l. Means ’for receiving intelligence com springV being carried with said guide municated lby electromagnetic waves, which said and carrier into their’various different po comprises two substantially .massive individ ual electrical conductors operatively in sub or rectifier for-feeble alï stantially4 perfect contact with each other, - 6. In a converter the combi ternating or oscillatory said conductors having different degrees of nation withl a _rectifyingcurrents, of a dif conductor, resistivity, and _coöperatively having high_

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sitions.

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18,798 ferent conducto;` in Contact therewith, means - carrier having an end directed toward said for supporting one of said members `to per-v contact surface; a guide with which said car mit manual movement of it to select contacts rier has sliding relation,_s`aid guide being between the two members on different parts plvoted to permit- the movement of the car

of the rectifying member, and a helical spring mounted coaxially with said manual member Íand bodily 'movable therewith. 7. Means for receiving intelligence- _com municated by electro-magnetic waves, which comprises the combination with -a rectifying

«rier'lnto various different positions relative

conductor having a contact surface consist ing of a substantially plane area, of a manu

when the carrier is manuallyv permitted to return toward said surface.~

an >end-Which is directed toward said con

11. Means for~receiving intelligence com municated _by electro-magnetic waves which comprises the combination Withfa rectifying

ally movable contact-point-carrier, having

t0 ,the rectiñercontact surface; and a helical spring mounted between said guide and said carrier, permitting the carrier to `be slid away from -the irregular contact surface, and

pressing the contact> against said surface

tact surface, but which is structurally inde pendent thereof, and has free transverse -conductor having a contact surface consist movement relative thereto; a guide with ing substantially of a plane area; of a co which said carrierhas movable relation un operating contact mem-ber therefor; means der said manual control, said, guide having .20

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-a ball joint remote vfrom the free end of the carrier whereby said free end may be manu ally moved into all positions relative to said Contact surface; and a helical ‘spring oper atively mounted between said guide and oar rier to press the latter _toward said contact

surface, said spring being carried with said guide and carrier into their various differ ent positions. 30

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for movably vsupporting one of said members to permit the manual selection ofthe con tact junction between them; and a helical

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spring, combined with said means, and bodily movable with one of said members and acting to press them intongood contact with -each other.

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12. Means' for receiving intelligence com

municated by/electro-magnetic waves, which comprises the combination with a rectifying

8. Means for receiving intelligence com- ` conductor having a‘ contact surface consist

municated by electro-magnetic waves, which >ing substantially of a plane ayrea; 'of a co-' comprises the combination with a rectifying operating contact Amember operatively- lo conductor having a contact surface consist cated substantially at right angles to said ing of a substantially plane area and possess surface, one of said members being movably ingslight irregularities, of a contact point and resiliently mounted, whereby such mem therefor, having an end which is directed ber may'be removed from contact with the 100 toward said contact surface, butA which 4¿is other, and replaced with a different contact structurally independent thereof; a helical junction, and in good- contact therewith. vspring constructed and arranged to press the 13. Means for receiving intelligence com

contact point against. the contact surface; municate'd by electro-magnetic waves, which -

40 and means, combined with the spring, to per- ,

comprisesthe combination with a rectifying los

mit the manual alteration of the contact conductor, having a contact surface consist junction from one-point to another of the ir- - ing of a substantially plane area; of a co regular contact Lsurface

of the -rectifying operating contact p01nt therefor having an end which is directed toward said plane sur 9. Means for receiving intelligence co1n-` face and which is structurally independent municated by electro-'magnetic'waves, which thereof to permit free relative transverse 119 comprises .the combination witha mass of movement; and means to permit the manual fusible metal, vof a rectifyingA conductor alteration -of theA location - of the contact . mounted therein and having exposed there junction of the two conductors in the lane conductor.

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50 from a contact surface consisting of a _sub

` -stantially plane area; and a cooperating con

of the contact surface of ,the rectiijying

conductor.

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tact directed toward said contact surface; 14. Means for receiving intelligence com said fusible -metal mass and said coöperat municated by electro-magnetic waves, which

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ing contact having relative' movement per comprises the combination with a rectifying> mitting the manual alteration‘of the con conductor having a contact surface consist 12D tact between the coöperating contact and the> ing substantially of a plane area; of a co-surface of the rectifying'conductor. . operating contact making small areaed elec ‘ 10. Means Afor receiving intelligence com trical contact therewith; means for ‘fixing

' municated by electro-magnetic waves, which. one of said contacts from movement toward comprises’the combination _with a mass of the other; and means, including a spring, to ' 125 fusible metal, of a rectifying conductor em permit the other conductor to move to and

bedded therein, but,V having exposedV there

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from a contact surface consisting of a sub stantially plane area possessin . slight ir regularities; a manually mova le contact

from and transversely of the other. 15. Means for receiving intelligence com

municated by electromagnetic waves, which comprises two individual massive electrical

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13,798 ñrst detector member having a surface conductors of'dit'I'e-rent de rees of resistivity said exposed toward second detector member, and cooperatively having igh resistivity, at.

for pressing saidv detector members least one of which conductors having igh A means into substantially perfect Contact, and means. - resistivity; yin. combination with a support movement of said second de-> ing member having a telescopic joint with permitting one of said conductors; a spring operatively tector member to any part of said exposed , located within >the telescopic joint to hold surface of said first detector member. I In testimony whereof I have hereunto the two conductors in substantially perfect . Ñ contact with each other; and means to per 'affixedl my signature in the presence of the two subscribingwitnesses. . 10 mit the manual alteration of the location of the contact junctionv of the two conductors. `> l GREENLEAF WHITTIER I’ICKARD. 16,; In a detector device of the character described, a cup, a detector member, con 15

ducting material holding said detector mem ber in said cup, a second detector member,

À Witnesses:

A. H, TEABURY,

ÑVILLIAM J. BRÈSLIN.

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