The Standard Electrical Dictionary Part 83

Fig. 198. HUGHES' INDUCTION BALANCE.

Hughes' Induction Balance.

An apparatus for determining the presence of a concealed ma.s.s of metal.

The apparatus is variously connected. The cut shows a representative form; a and a' are two primary coils, each consisting of 100 meters (328 feet) of No. 32 silk covered copper wire (0.009 inch diameter) wound on a boxwood spool ten inches in depth; b and b' are secondary coils. All coils are supposed to be alike. The primary coils are joined in series with a battery of three or four Daniell cells. A microphone m is included in the same circuit. The secondary coils are joined in series with a telephone and in opposition with each other. The clock is used to produce a sound affecting the microphone. If all is exactly balanced there will be no sound produced in the telephone. This balance is brought about by slightly varying the distance of one of the secondaries from the primary, until there is no sound in the telephone. If now a piece of metal is placed within either of the coils, it disturbs the balance and the telephone sounds.

292 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY.

To measure the forces acting a sonometer or audiometer is used. This is shown in the upper part of the cut. Two fixed coils, c and e are mounted at the ends of a graduated bar. A movable coil d is connected in the telephone circuit; c and e by a switch can be connected with the battery and microphone circuit, leaving out the induction balance coils. The ends of the coils c and e, facing each other are of the same polarity.

If these coils, c and e, were equal in all respects, no sound would be produced when d was midway between them. But they are so wound that the zero position for d is very near one of them, c.

a.s.sume that a balance has been obtained in the induction balance with the coil d at zero. No sound is heard whether the switch is moved to throw the current into one or the other circuit. A piece of metal placed in one of the balance coils will cause the production of a sound. The current is turned into the sonometer and d is moved until the same sound, as tested by rapid movements of the switch, is heard in both circuits. The displacement of d gives the value of the sound.

A milligram of copper is enough to produce a loud sound. Two coins can be balanced against each other, and by rubbing one of them, or by breathing on one of them, the balance will be disturbed and a sound will be produced.

Prof. Hughes has also dispensed with the audiometer. He has used a strip of zinc tapering from a width of 4 mm. (.16 inch) at one end to a sharp edge or point at the other. The piece to be tested being in place in one coil, the strip is moved across the face of the other until a balance is obtained.

As possible uses the detection of counterfeit coins, the testing of metals for similarity of composition and the location of bullets in the body have been suggested. Care has to be taken that no ma.s.ses of metal interfere. Thus in tests of the person of a wounded man, the presence of an iron truss, or of metallic bed springs may invalidate all conclusions.

The same principle is carried out in an apparatus in which the parts are arranged like the members of a Wheatstone bridge. One pair of coils is used, which react on each other as primary and secondary coils. One of the coils is in series with a telephone in the member of the bridge corresponding to that containing the galvanometer of the Wheatstone bridge. The latter is more properly termed an induction bridge.

Synonyms--Inductance Bridge--Inductance Balance--Induction Bridge.

293 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY.

Hydro-electric. adj.

(a) A current produced by a voltaic couple or the couple itself is sometimes thus characterized or designated as a "hydro-electric current"

or a "hydro-electric couple." It distinguishes them from thermo-electric.

(b) Armstrong's steam boiler electric machine (see Hydroelectric Machine) is also termed a hydro-electric machine.

Hydro-electric Machine.

An apparatus for generating high potential difference by the escape of steam through proper nozzles.

It consists of a boiler mounted on four gla.s.s legs or otherwise insulated. An escape pipe terminates in a series of outlets so shaped as to impede the escape of the steam by forcing it out of the direct course. These jets are lined with hard wood. They are enclosed in or led through a box which is filled with cold water.

Fig. 199. ARMSTRONG'S HYDRO-ELECTRIC MACHINE.

This is to partly condense the steam so as to get it into the vesicular state, which is found essential to its action. Dry steam produces no excitation. If the boiler is fired and the steam is permitted to escape under the above conditions the vesicles presumably, or the "steam" is found to be electrified. A collecting comb held against the jet becomes charged and charges any connected surface.

294 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY.

The boiler in the above case is negatively and the escaping "steam" is positively charged. By changing the material of the linings of the jets, or by adding turpentine the sign of the electricity is reversed. If the water contains acid or salts no electricity is produced. The regular hydro-electric machine is due to Sir William Armstrong.

Faraday obtained similar results with moist air currents.

Hydrogen.

An element existing under all except the most extreme artificial conditions of pressure and cold as a gas. It is the lightest of known substances. Atomic weight, 1; molecular weight, 2; equivalent, 1; valency, 1; specific gravity, .0691-.0695. (Dumas & Boussingault.)

It is a dielectric of about the same resistance as air. Its specific inductive capacity at atmospheric pressure is: .9997 (Baltzman) .9998 (Ayrton)

Electro-chemical equivalent, .0105 milligram.

The above is usually taken as correct. Other values are as follows: .010521 (Kohllrausch) .010415 (Mascart)

The electro-chemical equivalent of any element is obtained by multiplying its equivalent by the electro-chemical equivalent of hydrogen. The value .0105 has been used throughout this book.

Hygrometer.

An instrument for determining the moisture in the air. One form consists of a pair of thermometers, one of which has its bulb wrapped in cloth which is kept moist during the observation. The evaporation is more or less rapid according to the dryness or moisture of the air, and as the temperature varies with this evaporation the relative readings of the two thermometers give the basis for calculating the hygrometric state of the air. Another form determines the temperature at which dew is deposited on a silver surface, whence the calculations are made.

Hysteresis, Magnetic.

A phenomenon of magnetization of iron. It may be attributed to a sort of internal or molecular friction, causing energy to be absorbed when iron is magnetized. Whenever therefore the polarity or direction of magnetization of a ma.s.s of iron is rapidly changed a considerable expenditure of energy is required. It is attributed to the work done in bringing the molecules into the position of polarity.

295 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY.

The electric energy lost by hysteresis may be reduced by vibrations or jarring imparted to the iron, thus virtually subst.i.tuting mechanical for electrical work.

On account of hysteresis the induced magnetization of a piece of iron or steel for fields of low intensity will depend on the manner in which the material has been already magnetized. Let the intensity of field increase, the magnetization increasing also; then lower the intensity; the substance tends to and does retain some of its magnetism. Then on again strengthening the field it will have something to build on, so that when it attains its former intensity the magnetization will exceed its former value. For a moderate value of intensity of field the magnetization can have many values within certain limits.

Synonym--Hysteresis--Hysteresis, Static--Magnetic Friction.

Hysteresis, Viscous.

The gradual increase or creeping up of magnetization when a magnetic force is applied with absolute steadiness to a piece of iron. It may last for half an hour or more and amount to several per cent. of the total magnetization. It is a true magnetic lag.

I.

A symbol sometimes used to indicate current intensity. Thus Ohm's law is often expressed I = E/R, meaning current intensity is equal to electro-motive force divided by resistance. C is the more general symbol for current intensity.

Ideoelectrics or Idioelectrics.

Bodies which become electric by friction. This was the old definition, the term originating with Gilbert. It was based on a misconception, as insulation is all that is requisite for frictional electrification, metals being thus electrified if held by insulating handles. The term is virtually obsolete; as far as it means anything it means insulating substances such as scaling wax, sulphur, or gla.s.s.

Idle Coils.

Coils in a dynamo, in which coils no electro-motive force is being generated. This may occur when, as a coil breaks connection with the commutator brush, it enters a region void of lines of magnetic force, or where the lines are tangential to the circle of the armature.