Scientific American Supplement, No. 794, March 21, 1891

by Various

INDUCTION COIL.

By placing both coils, A, upon the bundle of soft iron wires, G, connecting one of them with the terminals of the battery, as shown in Fig. 12, and holding the terminals of the other coil in the moistened thumb and fingers of the two hands, when the battery circuit is opened and closed by touching one of the wires to the battery, and removing it, a slight shock will be felt from the coil which is disconnected from the battery. By placing a coarse file in the circuit and drawing one of the terminals along the file the circuit will be rapidly interrupted. This shock is due to the current induced in the detached coil by the magnetism of the bundle of wires.

FIG. 12.—INDUCTION COIL.

EXTRA CURRENT.

An experiment showing the extra or self-induced current consists in arranging the motor as shown in Fig. 6, and connecting wire with each conductor leading from the battery to the motor, as shown in Fig. 13. If these wires are grasped one in each hand while the motors is in motion, a slight shock will be felt, providing the hands are moistened.

FIG. 13.—EXTRA CURRENT.

TELEGRAPH SOUNDERS AND KEYS.

The cabinet contains material for two telegraph sounders and keys which will enable the user to establish a short telegraph line with a single cell of battery. The armature, m, may be lifted from its pivot so as to permit of slipping one of the coils, A, on to the round magnetic core of the sounder. The armature is then replaced, as shown in Fig. 14, and the small retractile spring at the rear of the instrument is arranged to draw down the shorter arm of the armature lever. One of the terminals of the coil, A, is connected with the turned up pivoted end of the telegraph key, o, on the same base. The other terminal is connected with one pole of the battery and the contact point of the key is connected with the other pole of the battery, as shown. By swinging the key laterally, so as to remove it from the contact point, it will be found that every touch of the key produces a movement of the sounder lever. To connect the two instruments together upon a line, it is only necessary to connect the two keys with one wire and the terminals of the two coils with another wire, cutting one of these wires and inserting the battery.