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Fig. 2,600.—General Electric moving coil oscillograph. The moving elements consist of single loops of flat wire carrying a small mirror and held in tension by small spiral springs. The current passing down one side and up the other, forces one side forward and the other backward, thus causing the mirror to vibrate on a vertical axis. The vibrator elements fit into chambers between the poles of electro-magnets, and are adjustable, so as to move the beam from the mirror, both vertically and horizontally. A sensitized photographic film is wrapped around a drum and held by spring clamps. The drum, with film, is placed in a case and a cap then placed over the end, making the case light, when the index is either up or down. The loading is done in a dark room. A driving dog is screwed into the drum shaft, and which, when the drum and case are in place, revolves the film past a slot. When an exposure is to be made, the index is moved from the closed position, thus opening the slot in the case and exposing the film to the beam of light from the vibrating mirrors when the electrically operated shutter is open. The slot is then closed by moving the index to "Exposed." A slide with ground glass can be inserted in place of the film case or roll holder to arrange the optical system when making adjustments. The shutter operating mechanism is arranged so as to hold the shutter open during exactly one revolution of the film drum. There are two devices connected to the shutter operating mechanism; one opens the shutter at the instant the end of the film passes the slot; the other opens immediately, at any part of the film, and both give exposure during one revolution. The first is useful when making investigations in which the events are either recurring, or their beginnings known or under control, and the second when the time of the event is not under control, such as the blowing of fuses or opening of circuit breakers.

The instrument is much used in wireless telegraphy, as it is capable of showing the characteristics of currents of very high frequency.

Fig. 2,601.—General Electric moving coil oscillograph with case removed, showing interior construction and arrangement of parts. The oscillograph is furnished complete with a three element electro-magnet galvanometer, optical system, shutter and shutter operating mechanism, film driving motor and cone pulleys, photographic and tracing attachments, 6 film holders, and the following repair parts, for vibrators: 6 extra suspension strips; 6 vibrator mirrors; 1 box gold leaf fuses; 1 bottle mirror cement; 1 bottle damping liquid.

Fig. 2,602.—Oscillogram showing the direct current pressure of a 25 cycle rotary converter (below), and (above) the pressure wave taken between one collector ring and one commutator brush. The 12 ripples per cycles in the direct current voltage are due to a 13th harmonic in the alternating current supply.

Glow Light Oscillograph.—This device consists of two aluminum rods in a partially evacuated tube, their ends being about two millimeters apart. When an alternating current of any frequency passes between them a sheath of violet light forms on one of the electrodes, passing over to the other when the current reverses during each cycle. The phenomenon may be observed or photographed by means of a revolving mirror.

Fig. 2,603.—Curves by Morris, illustrating the dangerous rush of current which may occur when switching on a transformer. The circuit was broken at F and made again at G. The current was so great as to carry the spot of light right off the photographic plate due to the fact that a residual field was left in the core after switching off, and on closing the switch again the direction of the current was such as to tend to build up the full flux in the same direction as this residual flux. The dotted lines have been drawn in to show how the actual waves were distorted from the normal.

Moving Iron Oscillograph.—This type is due to Blondel, to whom belongs the credit of working out and describing in considerable detail the principles underlying the construction of oscillographs.

Fig. 2,604.—Siemens-Blondel moving coil type oscillograph. The coil is in the shape of a loop of thin wire, which is suspended in the field of an electro-magnet excited by continuous current. The current to be investigated is sent through this loop, which in consequence of the interaction of current and magnetic field, begins to vibrate. The oscillations are rendered visible by directing a beam of light from a continuous current arc lamp onto a small mirror fixed to the loop. The light reflected by the mirror is in the form of a light strip, but by suitable means this is drawn out in respect of time, so that a curve truly representing the current is obtained. The loop of fine wire is stretched between two supports and is kept in tension by a spring. As the spring tension is considerable, the directive force of the vibrating system is large, and its natural periodicity very high. The mirror is fixed in the center of the loop, and has an area of 1 square mm. In order to protect the loops from mechanical injury they are built into special frames. The mirrors are of various sizes, the loop for demonstration purposes (projection device) being provided with the largest mirror and the most sensitive loop with a mirror of the smallest dimensions.

Moving Coil Oscillograph.—The operation of this form of oscillograph is based on the behaviour of a movable coil in a magnetic field.