From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Analysis of spark behavior and electrostatic effects in high tension wires connected to a coil.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61b\4\ scan0194 | |
| Date | 22th May 1919 | |
| EFCl/AT22.5.19. -2- Contd. connected to the coil. When in condition (1) above it is possible to get very tiny sparks on the subsidiary gaps if these gaps are shortened down to a small enough distance. We find that we can brighten up the small spark, on any one gap, by placing the high tension wire corresponding to this gap, alongside the high tension wire corresponding to the principal gap. When under condition (2) above the little spark is somewhat brighter and larger than in condition (1), but not so bright as if only the two wires were bunched together as explained above, the effect being that the greater the number of wires laid alongside a principal wire the smaller the intensity of the subsidiary spark corresponding to any one subsidiary wire. The effect is of an electrostatic nature almost entirely. This we proved to be the case by opening out the principal gap until sparking ceased, in which case the subsidiary sparks are quite unaltered in intensity. The effect on an increased number of wires alongside the principal wire would be increased electrostatic capacity of the latter, therefore a somewhat reduced potential of all the wires. If the effect had been electromagnetic induction of high frequency oscillations it should cease when the principal spark goes out. In condition (3) above we find the effect very much more enhanced and also we find that the tube itself behaved like a wire, and has a high potential electrostatically | ||