GB192704A - Improvements in rotary mercury electric switches - Google Patents

Abstract

192,704. Soc. C. Ropiquet, H. Hazart, et H. Roycourt. Feb. 3, 1922, [Convention date]. Mercury-jet apparatus.-To obtain a rapid break, blades of insular material or of insulated conducting material are placed in the path of a mercury stream, serving to interconnect two electrodes, thereby forming multiple spaces in the stream. As shown in Fig. 1, the centrifugal pump 2 is driven by a shaft 1 in a bearing 3 and dips into mercury 20. The pump has two conduits 6, 6<1> and nozzles 7, 7<1> and carries also members 8, 8<1>, 10, 10<1>, which also carry conduits 21, 21<1>, 22, 22<1> and nozzles 9. 9<1>. 11. 11<1> through which the mercury stream is projected to connect the electrodes 13, 13<1> together. The rapid-breaking means comprise blades or the like 14, 14<1>, 15, 15<1> adjustably mounted on the bearing 3, and blades 12, 12<1> on the electrode supports 18, 18<1>. These interrupt the stream as it leaves the electrodes 13, whose edges are curved inwards. In a modification, Fig. 4, the blades 40, 40<1> are so placed as to stop the supply to the conduits 42, 42<1>, so producing breaks at e, f, e<1> f<1>. The electrodes 44, 44<1> are used with troughs 45 or comprise a set of apertures 46 to allow the mercury to escape. In another modification, the pump has only two nozzles 7. These arrangements, besides diminishing the time of break, also split up the arc formed into a number of smaller ones.