US1023286A - Vapor electric apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

W. R. WHITNEY.

VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001231.19.

1,023,286, Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

WITNESSES:

INVENTORZ i|liSP\.\ hi l3'ney,

- I v WWW Maiz- Am UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS B. WHITNEY, OE SGHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

vnron ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed October 31,-1904. Serial No. 230,684.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIS R. VHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new is to prevent the liquid in such a vesselfrom cracking or breaking the walls thereof when the envelop or containing vessel is moved more or less violently about, as during transportation. so as to cause impact between the fluid and the walls of the vessel.

The features of novelty which characterize my invention I have pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its details of construction and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which represent, partly in section, a mercury vapor rectifier embodying my invention.

The rectifier shown in the drawings is of a well known single-phase type provided with three main working electrodes and a starting electrode. These electrodes -are each mounted or carried in branches or arms of a highly exhausted retaining vessel or envelop. This envelop, in the particular form shown, has lateral branches or chambcrs l and 2, containing respectively the anodes 3 and 4: and a depending tubular chamber 5 filled with a body of mercury 6 constituting the negative electrode or oathode. Directly above the cathode the envelop of the rectifier is of relatively large diameter and of considerable length as at 7. This portion of the envelop constitutes a condensing chamber for the surplus mercury vapor generated during the operation of the apparatus.

For the purpose of starting, a depending pocket is formed in the rectifier envelop and opens into theimain envelop adjacent to the cathode 6. This pocket is located, in the present instance, at the rear side of the rectifier and opens into it as indicated at 8.

This pocket is filled with mercury which, when caused to flow temporarily into contact with the cathode, serves to start the apparatus in a well known manner. It is evident that if the apparatus be suddenly inverted or otherwise roughly handled, as during transportation, the mercury in the envelop will run rapidly from one end to the other and bring up with violence against the walls thereof. The shock thus caused is very apt to crack the envelop and particularly so if a contracted or other weak point in the vessel be thus subjected to the treatment mentioned. To overcome this I provide the envelop with devices for overcoming the difliculty. Thus in the depending tubular member 5 I place a buffer or shock receiving device consisting of a rather long helical spring 9 preferably of iron. This spring is completely submerged in the body of mercury 6 and is provided at its upper end with a cap 10 which nearly fills a sect-ion of the tube 5 but is movable freely therein. This spring and the cap 10, being of lower specific gravity than the mercury, tend to float therein, so that in order to keep them submerged I provide stops consisting of indentations in the glass as at 11 and 12.

If the apparatus be roughly handled so as to cause the mercury 6 to flow outof and then violently back toward the mouth of the tube 5, it will be received by the resiliently mounted platform or cap 10, the force of impact being largely destroyed, damage to the receptacle at this point is thus prevented.

In order to prevent damage to the walls of the chambers 1 and 2 coiled metallic ribbons Band-14, consisting of metal strips coiled on edge, are held in place in the respective chambers by suitable stops or indentations in the glass as at 15 for example. At the upper end of the condensing chamber 7 I provide a similar helicoidal metal strip 16 for receiving the shock of any mercury that may be precipitated into this end of the chamber.

In order to lessen, if not entirely prevent the flow of mercury bodily into the condensing chamber, I provide, near the mouth thereof, a retaining lip or member 17 This member may be of metal such as iron and is of tubular shape so as to fit the condensing chamber. It is held in place by indentations in the walls of the chamber as at 18,

19, 2O and'21. The upper edge of this tubuthe condensed mercury trickles down thewalls of the condensing chamber Ordinarily the loose fit between the trough and the glass is such as to afford sufficient passageway for the mercury. This condensed mercury then is afforded a passage through the openings such as 21 in the member 17 back to the cathode 6. The force of the flow of the condensed mercury is thus greatly broken and the disturbing eflect upon the cathode is thus obviated.

'- If,.by roughhandling ofthe apparatus,

' the mercury forming the cathode 6 tends to flow into the condensing chamber, it is immediately stopped by the lip 17, and pracfrom its normal position.

ticallyalldanger to the condensing cham-e,

ber thereby prevented. Under unusual conditions, however, if the mercury'gets by the barrier aflorded by the lip or member 17 it is taken care of by the resllient shock-receiving device'16.

What I laim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. "The combination of a fragile receiving or containing vessel, a body of fluid therein,

"a trough or lip for intercepting the fluid,

and one or more or lip. I

2. he combination of a fragile receiving or containing vessel, a body of fluid therein, and a resilient member carrying a plate or openings in said trough platform for intercepting the flow of fluid In wltness whereof'I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of October, 1904.

WILLIS R. WHITNEY.

Witnesses: BENJAMIN B. HULL,

' HELEN ORFORD.

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