430 M. W. Holtz on a new Electrical Machine. 



rents will, as before, traverse e and /. For even if two conductors 

 are now opposite the lengthened coating, the disk will only be 

 charged by that which precedes it in the direction of the rotation. 

 It is only if the resistance between e and/ becomes greater that 

 gradually begins to act, and the primary current will finally 

 only pass between e and g. If now the electrodes are removed, 

 the action of the machine undergoes thereby no interruption. 

 From a certain point the secondary current will indeed disappear, 

 but on the conductors a constant quantity of free electricity will 

 be retained. It is, moreover, not even necessary to prolong the 

 coating, if only that point of the glass opposite the conductor g is 

 touched as often as the machine is set in motion. In this case, or 

 when the rotation is interrupted for a short time, e and / need not 

 be joined; the electrified object must then be approached to the 

 coating marked -f in order that the current may be set up im- 

 mediately between e and g. The machine gives in this form the 

 longest sparks if e and g are in connexion with the ground and 

 /is connected with a large conductor. 



In order to increase the quantity, without at the same time 

 heightening the velocity of rotation, the points at which the disk 

 can charge and discharge itself must be increased. If we call 

 the entire arrangement by which this is effected an element, the 

 quantitative performance will be proportional in general to the 

 number of such eleruents. It is here presupposed that they do 

 not disturb one another, which in general will be the sooner the 

 case the greater the intensity of the free electricity, the greater 

 therefore at the same time the striking- distance in the circuit. 

 The maximum will therefore more or less diminish with the 

 number of elements. 



Fig. 3 shows how four such elements can be arranged on the 

 machine ; the conductor s is supposed to be fastened in the place 

 of the conductor g, while p is supported by a prolongation of the 

 same frame. To work the machine in this form, all the con- 

 ductors must first be connected with each other. If then one 

 coating is electrical, all of them are alternately oppositely elec- 

 trical. To have the greatest quantitative effect, p and s must 

 be connected with one, and q and r with the other support of 

 the discharging-arrangement. r and s may, however, be left con- 

 nected, and only p and q used ; a smaller quantity is thus ob- 

 tained, but a greater tension. Or p and s may be connected 

 together, and q and r connected with the coatings ; free electricity 

 is then soon obtained of considerable tension, which cannot, 

 however, be conducted away without impairing the activity of 

 the apparatus. In regard to the first two connexions, what I 

 said as to the treatment in the first mode holds good ; I must 

 only remark that if the rotation is interrupted, the electricity 

 escapes much more readily from the glass surfaces. In moist 



