Cathode-ray synchroscope and automatic synchronizer

Two new electronic apparatus are introduced, in which the main element is a cathode-ray tube. The first is a synchroscope. The bus-bar voltage causes the beam to trace a circle, while the incoming machine voltage gives a pulse every cycle. The pulse is either applied to the Y-deflection plates or to the grid of the tube. In the first case it appears as a “pip” rotating round the circle, while in the latter case a luminous spot is seen to trace a circle. The behavior of both the pip and the spot is similar to that of the pointer of an ordinary synchroscope. The second apparatus is an automatic synchronizer. It is based on the same principle as the synchroscope, but uses a special cathode-ray tube in which the fluorescent screen is replaced by two collecting electrodes. When the pulse is applied to the grid of the tube, the beam current flows to one electrode or the other, and when it flows to the proper electrode, it causes a relay to operate which in turn causes the synchronizing circuit breaker to close. Both apparatus are discussed, and a description including the design data of an actual experimental synchroscope is given.