Abstract
LONDON. Physical Society, October 28.—Mr. Shelford Bidwell, F.R.S., President, in the chair.—A paper was read by Mr. W. R. Pidgeon on an influence machine. The machine, which was exhibited, consists of a pair of glass discs, rotating in opposite directions upon a spindle. They are partially covered on one face with narrow radial sectors of tin-foil, each provided with a small brass knob. This face of the disc, including its sectors, is then coated with insulating wax, leaving only the knobs projecting through the wax. Two earthing-brushes pass through two insulated fixed inductors, and support them. The inductors are kept charged by exploring-points connected to each, and placed so as to Collect electricity from the revolving discs. By means of brushes, the sectors on each of the discs are successively earthed at the moment they pass the fixed inductors, i.e. at the moment that their capacity is a maximum; and they are made to deliver up their charge to the main collecting brushes at the moment when they are electrically farthest from the inductors, i.e. when their capacity is a minimum. Hence, if there is no loss of electricity in the process, the potential at the collecting brushes is proportionately high.
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Societies and Academies. Nature 59, 46–47 (1898). https://doi.org/10.1038/059046b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/059046b0