Re: On the fly tuning of a TC

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <FutureT-at-aol-dot-com>

In a message dated 4/16/01 10:23:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, FutureT writes:

Jason, 

I forgot to mention it below, but I suggest not using any type of computer
to control the motor for my suggestion below.  Just use a gear motor and
operate it from a source of power, such that the motor direction is
reversable, for tuning in or out.  I suppose a fiber optic thingy could
be used for remote control of the motor for safety.

John Freau

> Jason,
>  
>  A good way to tune the primary is to build a metal roller that contacts
>  the primary copper tubing.  THen you make the whole primary so that
>  it can rotate around the center when driven by a gear motor.  As the
>  primary rotates to a new position, the roller will roll along the primary
>  copper tubing, and the tuning will change gradually.   As you can
>  see, the roller always contacts the tubing with this method, so there
>  will be no showers of sparks as the tuning changes.  The roller 
>  has to be build as an arm
>  mechanism that can move in or out as it follows the primary spiral.
>  The arm could be something like the arm on a record player (phonograph).
>  
>  John Freau
>