Apparatus for generating an angularly displaceable magnetic field

Claim 2

Apparatus for generating a resultant magnetic field that is angularly displaceable in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, means for generating a constant magnetic field, a plurality of windings having a common junction and axes disposed at predetermined angles to each other, the windings generating magnetic fields when energized that combine with the constant magnetic field to form the resultant magnetic field, a point of reference potential, a power source, means energized by the power source for maintaining the junction at a substantially constant voltage relative to the reference potential point, means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, first control means responsive to the voltage signal and series connected between one of the windings and the reference potential point for variably energizing the winding in accordance with the voltage signal when the voltage signal is below a certain level, second control means responsive to the voltage signal and series connected between another of the windings and the power source for variably energizing said other winding in accordance with the voltage signal when the voltage signal is above the certain level, thereby varying the orientation of the resultant magnetic field in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the resultant magnetic field.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first and second control means are transistors.

Claim 4

Apparatus for generating a resultant magnetic field that is angularly displaceable in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, first, second, and third winding means having a common junction and axes disposed at predetermined angles to each other, energization of the winding means generating magnetic fields which are directed along their respective axes and which combine to form the resultant magnetic field, a power source having a terminal connected to a point of reference potential, voltage regulating means connected between the power source and the junction for maintaining the junction at a substantially constant potential, means connecting the first winding means to the reference potential point effective to maintain the first winding means in a state of substantially constant energization so as to generate a substantially constant magnetic field, voltage generating means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, first control means connected between the second winding means and the point of reference potential for effecting variable energization of the second winding means in accordance with the voltage signal when the voltage signal is below a certain level, second control means connected between the power source and the third winding means for effecting variable energization of the third winding means in accordance with the voltage signal when the voltage signal is above the certain level, therebY varying the orientation of the resultant magnetic field in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the resultant magnetic field.

Claim 5

Apparatus for generating a resultant magnetic field that is angularly displaceable in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, first, second, and third winding means having a common junction and axes disposed at predetermined angles to each other, energization of the winding means generating magnetic fields which are directed along their respective axes and which combine to form the resultant magnetic field, a power source having a terminal connected to a point of reference potential, voltage regulating means connected between the power source and the junction for maintaining the junction at a substantially constant potential, means connecting the first winding means to the reference potential point effective to maintain the first winding means in a state of substantially constant energization so as to generate a substantially constant magnetic field, voltage generating means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, first control means connected between the second winding means and the point of reference potential for effecting variable energization of the second winding means in accordance with the voltage signal when the voltage signal is below a certain level, second control means connected between the power source and the third winding means for effecting variable energization of the third winding means in accordance with the voltage signal when the voltage signal is above the certain level, therebY varying the orientation of the resultant magnetic field in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the resultant magnetic field.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 in which the first and second control means are transistors.

Claim 7

Apparatus for generating a resultant magnetic field that is angularly displaceable in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, a plurality of windings having a common junction and axes disposed at predetermined angles to each other, the windings generating magnetic fields when energized that combine to form the resultant magnetic field, a grounded power source, means energized by the power source for maintaining the junction at a constant voltage, means for connecting one of the windings to ground so as to continuously energize the winding, thereby generating a constant magnetic field, means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, first control means responsive to the voltage signal and series connected between another of the windings and ground for variably energizing at least the other of the windings when the voltage signal is below a certain level, second control means responsive to the voltage signal and series connected between yet another of the windings and the power source for variably energizing the last mentioned winding when the voltage signal is above the certain level, thereby varying the orientation of the resultant magnetic field in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the resultant magnetic field.

Claim 8

Apparatus for generating a resultant magnetic field that is angularly displaceable in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, a plurality of windings having a common junction and axes disposed at predetermined angles to each other, the windings generating magnetic fields when energized that combine to form the resultant magnetic field, a grounded power source, means energized by the power source for maintaining the junction at a constant voltage, means for connecting one of the windings to ground so as to continuously energize the winding, thereby generating a constant magnetic field, means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, first control means responsive to the voltage signal and series connected between another of the windings and ground for variably energizing at least the other of the windings when the voltage signal is below a certain level, second control means responsive to the voltage signal and series connected between yet another of the windings and the power source for variably energizing the last mentioned winding when the voltage signal is above the certain level, thereby varying the orientation of the resultant magnetic field in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the resultant magnetic field.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the first and second control means are transistors.

Claim 10

Apparatus for generating a rotatable magnetic field in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, first, second, and third windings, means connecting the windings to a common junction, a fourth winding series connected with the second winding, a fifth winding series connected with the third winding, the axes of the windings being disposed at predetermined angles to each other, a point of reference potential, a power source for generating a voltage other than that at the reference potential point, means powered by the power source for maintaining the junction at a predetermined voltage relative to the reference potential point, means connecting the first winding between the reference potential point and the junction effective to continuously energize the first winding with a constant current so as to generate a constant magnetic field, means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, a first controlled means having a control terminal and being series connected with the second and fourth windings between the junction and the reference potential point, a second controlled means having a controlled terminal and being series connected with the third and fifth windings between the junction and the power source, means for applying the voltage signal to the control terminals of the controlled means effective to variably energize the second and fourth windings when the voltage signal is below a certain level and variably energize the third and fifth windings when the voltage signal is above the certain level, the energized windings generating varying magnetic fields which combine with the constant magnetic field to form a rotatable magnetic field oriented in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the rotatable magnetic field.

Claim 11

Apparatus for generating a rotatable magnetic field in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, first, second, and third windings, means connecting the windings to a common junction, a fourth winding series connected with the second winding, a fifth winding series connected with the third winding, the axes of the windings being disposed at predetermined angles to each other, a point of reference potential, a power source for generating a voltage other than that at the reference potential point, means powered by the power source for maintaining the junction at a predetermined voltage relative to the reference potential point, means connecting the first winding between the reference potential point and the junction effective to continuously energize the first winding with a constant current so as to generate a constant magnetic field, means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, a first controlled means having a control terminal and being series connected with the second and fourth windings between the junction and the reference potential point, a second controlled means having a controlled terminal and being series connected with the third and fifth windings between the junction and the power source, means for applying the voltage signal to the control terminals of the controlled means effective to variably energize the second and fourth windings when the voltage signal is below a certain level and variably energize the third and fifth windings when the voltage signal is above the certain level, the energized windings generating varying magnetic fields which combine with the constant magnetic field to form a rotatable magnetic field oriented in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the rotatable magnetic field.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 in which the first and second controlled means are transistors.

Claim 13

Apparatus for generating a rotatable magnetic fIeld in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, first, second, and third windings, means connecting the windings to a common junction, a fourth winding series connected with the second winding, a fifth winding series connected with the third winding, the axes of the windings being disposed at predetermined angles to each other, a point of reference potential, a battery connected to the reference potential point, a voltage regulator powered by the battery for maintaining the junction at a predetermined voltage relative to the reference potential point, means including a variable resistor for connecting the first winding between the reference potential point and the junction effective to continuously energize the first winding with a predetermined constant current so as to generate a constant magnetic field, means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, a first transistor connected in series with the second and fourth windings between the junction and the reference potential point and having a control terminal, a second transistor series connected with the third and fifth windings between the junction and the power source and having a control terminal, means for applying the voltage signal to the control terminals of the transistors effective to variably energize the second and fourth windings when the voltage signal is below a certain level and variably energize the third and fifth windings when the voltage signal is above the certain level, the energized windings generating varying magnetic fields which combine with the constant magnetic field to form a rotatable magnetic field oriented in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic field and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the rotatable magnetic field.

Claim 14

Apparatus for generating a rotatable magnetic fIeld in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, first, second, and third windings, means connecting the windings to a common junction, a fourth winding series connected with the second winding, a fifth winding series connected with the third winding, the axes of the windings being disposed at predetermined angles to each other, a point of reference potential, a battery connected to the reference potential point, a voltage regulator powered by the battery for maintaining the junction at a predetermined voltage relative to the reference potential point, means including a variable resistor for connecting the first winding between the reference potential point and the junction effective to continuously energize the first winding with a predetermined constant current so as to generate a constant magnetic field, means for generating a voltage signal in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, a first transistor connected in series with the second and fourth windings between the junction and the reference potential point and having a control terminal, a second transistor series connected with the third and fifth windings between the junction and the power source and having a control terminal, means for applying the voltage signal to the control terminals of the transistors effective to variably energize the second and fourth windings when the voltage signal is below a certain level and variably energize the third and fifth windings when the voltage signal is above the certain level, the energized windings generating varying magnetic fields which combine with the constant magnetic field to form a rotatable magnetic field oriented in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic field and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the rotatable magnetic field.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 9 in which the transistors are of opposite conductivity types.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10 in which the first transistor is a PNP transistor, the second transistor is an NPN transistor, and the negative terminal of the battery is grounded.

Claim 17

Apparatus for generating a resultant magnetic field that is angularly displaceable in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, means for generating a constant magnetic field, a plurality of windings having a common junction and axes disposed at predetermined angles to each other, the windings generating magnetic fields when energized that combine with the constant magnetic field to form the resultant magnetic field, a point of reference potential, a power source, means energized by the power source for maintaining the junction at a constant voltage relative to the reference potential point, voltage generating means including a voltage divider having a diode in series with variable resistance means that are varied in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, a transistor having a predetermined range of conductivity bounded by certain limits, means connecting the voltage divider to the transistor effective to vary the conductivity of the transistor in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, first control means responsive to the conductivity of the transistor and series connected between one of the windings and the reference potential point for variably energizing the winding when the transistor is nearer one limit than the other limit of its conductivity range, second control means responsive to the conductivity of the transistor and series connected between another of the windings and the power source for variably energizing said other winding when the transistor is nearer said other limit than said one limit of its conductivity range, thereby varying the orientation of the resultant magnetic field in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the resultant magnetic field.

Claim 18

Apparatus for generating a resultant magnetic field that is angularly displaceable in accordance with conditions at a remote location comprising, in combination, means for generating a constant magnetic field, a plurality of windings having a common junction and axes disposed at predetermined angles to each other, the windings generating magnetic fields when energized that combine with the constant magnetic field to form the resultant magnetic field, a point of reference potential, a power source, means energized by the power source for maintaining the junction at a constant voltage relative to the reference potential point, voltage generating means including a voltage divider having a diode in series with variable resistance means that are varied in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, a transistor having a predetermined range of conductivity bounded by certain limits, means connecting the voltage divider to the transistor effective to vary the conductivity of the transistor in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, first control means responsive to the conductivity of the transistor and series connected between one of the windings and the reference potential point for variably energizing the winding when the transistor is nearer one limit than the other limit of its conductivity range, second control means responsive to the conductivity of the transistor and series connected between another of the windings and the power source for variably energizing said other winding when the transistor is nearer said other limit than said one limit of its conductivity range, thereby varying the orientation of the resultant magnetic field in accordance with the conditions at the remote location, and means positioned in the magnetic fields and rotated thereby to an angular position related to the orientation of the resultant magnetic field.