CHAPTER VIII.

Single Circuit, Self-Starting Synchkonizing Motors.

In the first chapters of this section we have, bearing in mindthe broad underlying principle, considered a distinct class of mo-tors, namely, such as require for their operation a special genera-tor capable of yielding currents of differing phase. As a matterof course, Mr. Tesla recognizing the desirability of utilizing hismotors in connection with ordinary systems of distribution, ad-dressed himself to the task of inventing various methods andways of achieving this object. In the succeeding chapters,therefore, we witness the evolution of a number of ideas bearingupon this important branch of work. It must be obvious toa careful reader, from a number of hints encountered here andthere, that even the inventions described in these chapters to fol-low do not represent the full scope of the work done in theselines. They might, indeed, be regarded as exemplifications.

We will present these various inventions in the order whichto us appears the most helpful to an understanding of the subjectby the majority of readers. It will be naturally perceived thatin offering a series of ideas of this nature, wherein some of thesteps or links are missing, the descriptions are not altogether se-quential; but any one who follows carefully the main drift ofthe thoughts now brought together will find that a satisfactorycomprehension of the principles can be gained.

As is well known, certain forms of alternating-current machine,s-have the property, when connected in circuit with an alternatingcurrent generator, of running as a motor in synchronism there-with ; but, while the alternating current will run the motor afterit has attained a rate of speed synchronous with that of the gen-erator, it will not start it. Hence, in all instances heretoforewhere these “ synchronizing motors,” as they are termed, havebeen run, some means have been adopted to bring the motors upto synchronism with the generator, or approximately so, beforethe alternating current of the generator is applied to drive them.