The Wireless Telegraphy (Control of Interference from Ignition Apparatus) Regulations 1952

Made: 24th November 1952

Laid before Parliament: 27th November 1952

Coming into Operation: 1st July 1953

I, The Right Honourable Herbrand Edward Dundonald Brassey Earl De La Warr, Her Majesty's Postmaster-General, by virtue of the power vested in me by sections ten and sixteen of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 and of every other power enabling me in this behalf, do hereby make the following Regulations, that is to say:—

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• (1) In these regulations, except so far as the contrary is provided or the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them:—

• “ignition apparatus” means equipment assembled for the purpose of providing and conveying electrical energy for igniting gas or vapour in an internal combustion engine;

• “suppressor” means a piece of equipment designed to reduce the field strength of the electro-magnetic energy radiated from the apparatus to which it is fitted when that apparatus is being used, and references to “suppressors” include references to a single suppressor;

and other expressions have the same meaning as they have in the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.

• (2) The Interpretation Act 1889 applies to the interpretation of these regulations as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

Assemblers and Importers

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• (1) This regulation applies to ignition apparatus forming part of an internal combustion engine other than an engine which forms part of an aircraft.

• (2) The requirement referred to in regulation four shall be complied with in the case of any ignition apparatus to which this regulation applies if, on or after the date on which these regulations come into operation, that apparatus is, as being part of a vehicle, vessel or engine, to be sold otherwise than for export, or offered or advertised for sale otherwise than for export, or let on hire or offered or advertised for letting on hire, by any person who in the United Kingdom in the course of business assembles such apparatus as part of a vehicle, vessel or engine, or who in the course of business imports into the United Kingdom such apparatus already assembled as part of a vehicle, vessel or engine.

Users

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• (1) This regulation applies to:—

• (a) ignition apparatus forming part of an internal combustion engine other than an engine which forms part of an aircraft or of a foreign vessel, except ignition apparatus which is proved by the person using it to have been assembled as part of a vehicle, vessel or engine before the date on which these regulations come into operation; and

• (b) apparatus which includes one or more components designed to form part of the ignition apparatus of an internal combustion engine, and which is assembled for the purpose of testing or demonstrating the operation of one or more of those components, and which when used involves sudden changes of current in a high-voltage circuit.

• (2) The requirement referred to in regulation four shall be complied with in the case of any apparatus to which this regulation applies, if the apparatus is to be used within the United Kingdom or the territorial waters adjacent thereto:—

• (a) on land, or

• (b) on the sea or in any estuary, within one hundred yards of any moored vessel or on the landward side of a line one hundred yards to seaward of low water mark, or

• (c) on any water, other than the sea or an estuary:

Provided that the use of any apparatus referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be deemed to comply with the said requirement if the person using the apparatus establishes:—

• (i) that suppressors were fitted to the apparatus by the manufacturer or builder of the vehicle, vessel or engine of which the apparatus forms part or by the importer of that vehicle, vessel or engine into the United Kingdom, and

• (ii) that the suppressors so fitted remained fitted to the apparatus at the time of the use, or that suppressors having the same electrical characteristics had been correctly fitted to the apparatus at that time in substitution for those fitted as aforesaid, and in either case that the suppressors were then in good electrical and mechanical repair and condition, and

• (iii) that the apparatus at the time of the use consisted of the same components as those which were fitted at the time when the vehicle, vessel or engine was manufactured or built, or that any components which had been substituted for those components had the same electrical characteristics and had been correctly fitted.

Requirement

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• (1) The requirement hereinbefore referred to is that the apparatus shall be so designed, constructed, assembled and installed, and that such precautions shall be taken in relation to it (by means of the fitting of suppressors or otherwise), as to ensure that the field-strength, as measured and computed in accordance with the next following paragraph, of the electro-magnetic energy radiated at any frequency between forty and seventy megacycles per second in any direction from the apparatus when it is used, does not exceed fifty microvolts per metre at any distance of not less than thirty-three feet measured as specified in paragraph 4 of Part 3 of the Schedule hereto.

• (2) For the purpose of measuring and computing the field-strength of such electro-magnetic energy, the apparatus shall be tested by means of measuring apparatus of the description and having the physical and electrical characteristics and performance set out in Part 1 of the Schedule hereto, and the test shall be made by the method and under the conditions set out respectively in Parts 2 and 3 of the said Schedule. The field-strength of the electro-magnetic energy radiated as aforesaid from the apparatus shall be computed as provided in paragraph 5 of Part 2 of the said Schedule from the readings afforded by the measuring apparatus while the apparatus being tested is energised.

Short title and Commencement

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• (1) These regulations may be cited as “The Wireless Telegraphy (Control of Interference from Ignition Apparatus) Regulations 1952.”

• (2) These regulations shall come into operation on the first day of July, 1953.

THE SCHEDULE

PART 1 — Description and specification of characteristics and performance of measuring apparatus

Definitions of expressions used in this Schedule

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Voltage and e.m.f.

General description of measuring apparatus

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The measuring apparatus shall be a calibrated radio receiver, covering the frequency range 40 Mc/s–70 Mc/s, designed for the measurement of the field-strength of radio frequency noise. For this measurement the input terminals of the receiver shall be connected to a dipole aerial by a balanced screened feeder. The receiver shall be of the superheterodyne type and comprise a radio-frequency (R.F.) amplifier, a frequency changer, an intermediate-frequency (I.F.) amplifier and an output valve-voltmeter. Attenuators, calibrated in decibels (db), shall be provided in the input circuits of both R.F. and I.F. amplifiers. The indicating meter of the valve-voltmeter shall have a scale provided with zero and full-scale marks and a reference deflection mark at mid-scale. The measuring apparatus shall be calibrated in terms of a known intensity of a continuous wave field in which the associated aerial system is placed. Facilities shall be provided so that, whenever a measurement is to be made, the gain of the receiver of the measuring apparatus may be set to the gain used when it was calibrated.

Performance characteristics

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• (1) Frequency range

The measuring apparatus shall be suitable for use at any frequency in the range 40 Mc/s to 70 Mc/s. The receiver shall be capable of being set, to an accuracy of ± 1 per cent., to receive any desired frequency within its range.

• (2) Field-strength sensitivity and accuracy

Values of field-strength, greater than 20 microvolts per metre at any frequency throughout the range of frequencies from 40 Mc/s to 70 Mc/s, shall be measurable to an accuracy of ±3 db.

• (3) Attenuators

The calibrated attenuators shall be so constructed and disposed that no performance characteristic of the set, apart from gain, is significantly affected by variations in their settings.

• (4) Overload characteristic

With the measuring apparatus adjusted to give reference deflection of the meter for an applied sinewave voltage of any value between 20 microvolts and 100 millivolts, the sinewave voltage measured at the input of the value-voltmeter shall be proportional to the applied voltage within ± 1 db up to a voltage 40 db above that producing reference deflection.

• (5) Overall frequency characteristic

The variation with frequency of an applied sinewave voltage to produce a constant voltage at the input to the valve-voltmeter, when no alteration is made to the tuning of the apparatus, shall not exceed the limits of the marked area of Figure 1.

• (6) Frequency characteristic of radio-frequency amplifier

The increase of an applied sinewave voltage needed to produce a constant voltage at the control grid of the frequency changer valve shall be not less than 6 db when the frequency of the applied voltage is varied from the tuned frequency by ±2.5 Mc/s.

• (7) Spurious responses

The applied sinewave voltage of the tuned frequency which produces reference deflection of the meter shall be at least 80 db lower than the applied voltage at any other frequency which combines with a harmonic and not the fundamental frequency of the local oscillator to produce reference deflection.

• (8) Image frequency response

The ratio of the applied sinewave voltages which produce reference deflection at the image frequency and at the tuned frequency respectively shall be at least 40 db.

• (9) Intermediate frequency response

The ratio of the applied sinewave voltages which produce reference deflection at the intermediate frequency and at the tuned frequency respectively shall be at least 40 db.

• (10) Screening

The overall screening of the measuring apparatus shall be such that when the measuring apparatus is in a field of a strength requiring a setting of 40 db for the R.F. attenuator and at least 30 db for the I.F. attenuator to produce reference deflection, the following requirements shall be met for all orientations of the measuring apparatus excluding the aerial:—

• (a) The decrease in the setting of the I.F. attenuator required to increase the meter reading from reference deflection to full-scale deflection shall not exceed 6.5 db.

• (b) The decrease in the setting of the I.F. attenuator required to return the meter to reference deflection when the setting of the R.F. attenuator is increased from 40 db to 60 db shall be at least 19 db.

The overall screening shall also be such that, with the receiver tuned to any frequency within its range and with the aerial disconnected and the gain of the receiver adjusted to that used for that frequency when the measuring apparatus was calibrated, the change in the I.F. attenuator setting required to return the meter to reference deflection when an external electromagnetic field of that frequency and of a strength of 86 db above 1 microvolt per metre is switched on shall not exceed 1 db. This requirement shall be met for all orientations of the measuring apparatus. For this test screening covers may be placed over the aerial input and voltage input terminals.

Aerial and feeder

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• (1) Aerial

The aerial shall consist of a dipole of a length not greater than 3 metres nor less than 2 metres, which shall be supported so that its centre is not less than 2 metres above the base of the support when a measurement of field-strength is made.

• (2) Feeder

The aerial shall be connected to the aerial input terminals of the apparatus by a twin balanced and screened feeder of a nominal characteristic impedance of 75 ohms. The feeder shall be led at right angles from the dipole for a distance of at least 1 metre.

• (3) Balance/Unbalance ratio

The balance/unbalance ratio at the aerial end of the feeder shall be not less than 20 db when measured as follows:—

A generator of internal impedance R, where R is not greater than 5 ohms, shall be connected to the feeder and measuring apparatus as shown in Figure 2(a) and as shown in Figure 2(b) in turn. The ratio e₁/e₂ of the generator e.m.f.'s which produce reference deflection of the meter in the unbalanced connection, (e₁ figure 2(a)) and the balanced connection (e₂ figure 2(b)) respectively, shall be taken as the balance/unbalance ratio.

Input circuit

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The impedance at the input terminals of the measuring apparatus shall be balanced and shall have a value of 75 ± 15 ohms and a phase angle within the limits ± 20° at any frequency within the range of the apparatus.

Output circuit (Value-voltmeter)

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• (1) Linearity

The performance of the rectifier and of any associated circuits of the valve-voltmeter shall be such that the current through the indicating meter is linearly related to the sinewave voltage input to the rectifier, to within ± 10 per cent. of that voltage, for all values of input voltage from 0.5 to 2.5 times the value producing reference deflection.

The application to the input of the rectifier of the sinewave voltage which produces reference deflection shall cause an increase of 1.75 volts ± 10 per cent. in the steady voltage across the rectifier load.

The increase in the sinewave voltage at the input of the rectifier required to increase the meter reading from reference deflection to full-scale deflection shall be not less than 5.5 db, nor more than 6.5 db.

• (2) Charge time-constant

A sinusoidal voltage of frequency equal to the intermediate frequency, which when continuously applied to the input terminals of the intermediate frequency amplifier produces reference deflection, shall, when suddenly applied at the same point, cause the change of voltage across the output circuit of the rectifier to reach 0.63 times the final value of the change of voltage in not less than 0.8 milliseconds and not more than 1.2 milliseconds.

In this test, the input terminals of the I.F. amplifier shall be disconnected from the preceding circuits of the measuring apparatus.

• (3) Discharge time-constant

The time taken for the current in the meter circuit to decrease by 0.63 times its initial value after an applied voltage as specified in 6 (2) above is suddenly removed shall be not less than 450 milliseconds and not more than 550 milliseconds.

• (4) Indicating meter

The indicating meter shall be of the permanent magnet moving-coil type in which the deflection of the needle is directly proportional to the current passing through the meter. Under the conditions of use of the measuring apparatus the damping of the meter shall be such that when a current of a value which produces a final steady full-scale deflection is suddenly applied to the meter, the time of rise to 80 per cent. of full-scale deflection is not less than 240 milliseconds and not more than 360 milliseconds and the overswing is less than 5 per cent. of the full-scale deflection.

General requirements

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• (1) Gain setting

The accuracy of adjustment of the measuring apparatus shall be such that two successive measurements of any given input voltage (having a value within the range of measurement of the apparatus), between which any adjustment of the operating controls may be made, shall not differ by more than 1 db.

• (2) Monitoring

Provision shall be made for aural presentation of the receiver output for monitoring purposes.

PART 2 — Method of measurement

PART 3 — Conditions of testing

Signed

De La Warr — Her Majesty's Postmaster-General — Dated this 24th day of November, 1952

Explanatory note

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations prescribe the requirement to be complied with in relation to certain ignition apparatus, for the purpose of ensuring that the apparatus will not cause undue interference with wireless telegraphy.

Regulation 2 applies to ignition apparatus forming part of an internal combustion engine (except an engine forming part of an aircraft), which, on or after the 1st of July, 1953, is to be sold or offered or advertised for sale (except for export) or let on hire or offered or advertised for letting on hire by an assembler or importer in the course of his business. In respect of such ignition apparatus, the assembler or importer is required, from the date stated, to comply with Regulation 4.

Regulation 3 applies to ignition apparatus (except ignition apparatus of engines in aircraft or foreign vessels) which is first assembled as part of a vehicle, vessel or engine on or after the 1st of July, 1953. Users of such apparatus in the area referred to in paragraph (2) are required to comply with Regulation 4; but the user is deemed to comply with Regulation 4 if the manufacturer or builder of the vehicle, vessel or engine fitted suppressors and these remain fitted and in good condition and the ignition apparatus has not been altered, and in certain other circumstances also. Regulation 3 also applies to apparatus which is used for testing or demonstrating the operation of components of ignition systems.

Regulation 4 prescribes the requirement, in terms of the maximum permitted field-strength of the electro-magnetic energy radiated from the apparatus when in use. The Schedule sets out the method by which the field-strength is to be measured, the conditions under which tests are to be made, and the description and specification of the measuring apparatus.