US1417785A - Relay - Google Patents

Description

PATENT OFFICE.

EDOUARD VEDOVELLI, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

RELAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922'.

Application filed July 16, 1920. Serial No. 396,792.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDOUARD VEDOVELLI, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Relays, (for which I have filed an application in France December 20, 1918, Patent N 0. 524124), of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an apparatus functioning as a relay and designed to produce a contact or to effect a mechanical releasing action when an electric current of suitable intensity has passed through it for a certain time.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, in whic Figure 1 "is aviewpartly in elevation and partly in vertical section, and

Fig, 2 shows a modification of a detail.

Fig. 3 1s a sectional view of the line 33, Fig. 1.

The apparatus comprises essentially a solenoid 1 through which the operating current flows. The current enters through one wire 2 and leaves by way of a small commutator 3 which enables a greater or smaller number of turns to be cut in. v The turns are distributed in such a way that the flux produced is always proportional to the intensity of the current and to the number of turns. Under these conditions the commutator 3 can serve to regulate the intensity at which the control is produced. A soft iron core l works in the solenoid and is capable of number of ampere-turns is suflicient.

Below the core there is arranged a receptacle 5 of cast iron or other material unattackable by mercury. This receptacle communicates with another receptacle 6 in which there is arranged a plunger 7 operated by a regulating screw 8. The bottoms of the two receptacles are filled with mercurv so that the screw 8 when rotated enables the level of the mercury in the main receptacle 5 to be varied at will the receptacles 5 and 6 having a connecting passage 6 through which the mercury flows. Within the interior of the receptacle 5 is arranged a cup 9 of thin sheet iron, fastened to the core by a rigid connecting rod 10. This cup is provided with an opening 11 being attracted when the in its lower portion and the weight of the unit comprised by the core, the connecting rod and the cup 9 is, greater than the hydrostatic pressure of the mercury on the cup so that thelatter is immersed in the mercury, the mercury passing into its interior through the opening 11 and rising to the same level on the inside of the cup as on the outside. The opening 11 is capable of being plugged or partially closed by an iron valve 12 which is elliptical in cross section at its portion which engages the opening 11; but the valve, owing to its lesser density, tends to float and is therefore forced downward by a stem or needle 13 on which is fastened a weight 14 slightly in excess of the pressure exerted by the mercury 0n valve 12. The opening 11, because of its shape is never entirely closed by the valve 12, so that when the valve is seated the mercury may flow in a small jet or stream from the inside of the cup to the outside thereofor vice versa.

The operation. is as follows: Under normal conditions, the number of ampere-turns is insuflicient to effect an attraction of the movable core unit, ,but as the number of turns increases, the core is attracted; however, in order to raise it, it is necessary to dispose of the mercury in the cup. For this purpose mercury flows out through the part of the opening 11 not closed by the valve 12 and, at a given moment, under the double action of the shortening of the lines of force and due to gradual upward movement of the core the diminution of the weight of mercury being raised, the core is completely attracted. Hence, for a certain intensity there is a delay in thecomplete attraction, the delay becoming less as the intensity becomes greater. For a certain intensity, attraction is instantaneous; that is, for-an intensity which corresponds to one suflicient to attract the entire core unit comprising the cup and connected parts. The intensity of the current is controlled by the commutator 8, the coefficient of instantaneous release by the mercury level which is itself-controlled by the plunger 7, and the time by the opening left free at 11, the valve 12 being assumed to be in closed position. The valve 1213- 14 renders it possible to effect the clownward movement of the core unit without delay, the valve 12 being removed from the opening 11 by the increased upward pressure or the mercury due to the release of the weight of the plunger and parts. At this time the mercury {lows through the whole opening 11 and thus permits the rapid downward movement of the cup.

At a certain moment, the core, being undcr the influence of a number of ampereturns, will cease to rise and an equilibrium will exist between the weight of the movable core unit and. the force of attraction. Consequently, it the intensity starts to decrease and drops to normal, the core unit must descend.

The outer part or the cup has been represented as having; a cylindrical shape, but this is not essential; it can even be given a shape such as modifies at will the shape or the curve traced by taking as abscissas the times of releasing and as ordinates the intensities. For example, by giving. the cup the form indicated in Fig. 2, the release will be initially facilitated, since the layer of mercury 15 is weaker than the layer 16; and the reverse can be effected.

The armature 4c and the cups 9 rise, as is above stated, when the intensity of the current is increased for a predetermined time and a predetermined current and when they are so raised the upper portion 15 of the cup 9 engages at opposite sides with downwardly extending contact points 16 of binding posts 1.7 which are mounted in the receptacle 5 and which are insulated therefrom as at 18. These binding posts are connccted to an auxiliary circuit indicated by wires 19 so that when the cup 9 is in a predetermined raised position. the circuit will be closed.

I claim as my invention 1. A relay comprising a solenoid; a re ceptacle filled to apredetermined level with a dense fluid and located adjacent said solenoid: a vessel mounted within said receptacle and secured to the moving part of the solenoid to be raised thereby when a predetermined current passes through said solenoid, said vessel having restricted opening); at its lower enl through which fluid may flow from the interior of the vessel to the interior of the receptacle and vice versa,

means within said vessel for enabling the enlargement oi": said. opening when the vessel is decending nto the fluid contained in the receptacle to permit a rapid descent of the vessel and. the solenoid part with which it is connected; and contacts mounted on said receptacle and adapted to be closed when the vessel is in raised. position.

2. A time controller for an electric circuit closer comprising a receptacle filled to a predetermined level with a dense fluid; a vessel mounted in said receptacle for vertical, movement and having a passage at its lower end whereby the interior of the vessel communicates with the interior of the receptacle and permitting the flow oi the fluid contained. in the receptacle to and from the vessel; secured directl to the vessel for imparting vertical movements thereto; and means within the vessel for partially closing; said opening. said means being effective when the vessel is ascending to reduce the flow or fluid from said vessel to said receptacle and. being rendered ineffective by an upward thrust imparted thereto by the luid in the receptacle when th vessel is descending to permit a rapid descent of the vessel.

3. A time controller for an electric circuit closer comprising a receptacle filled to a predetermined level with a dense fluid; a vessel mounted in said receptacle for vertical movement and having a passage at its lower end whereby the interior of the vessel communicates with the interior of the receptacle and permitting the flow of the fluid contained in the receptacle to and from the vessel; means for partially closing said opening, said means being effective when the vessel is ascending to reduce the flow of fluid from said vessel to said receptacle and being rendered ineffective when the vessel. is descending to permit a rapid descent oi? the vessel; and means for adjustably varying, the level of the dense fluid in said receptacle.

l. A time controller for an electric circuit closer comprising a receptacle filled to a predetermined level. with a dense fluid; a vessel mounted in said receptacle -for vertical movement and having a passage at its lower end whereby the interior of the vessel. communicates with the interior of the receptacle and permitting the .low of the fluid contained in the receptacle to and from the vessel; means tlior partially closing said opening, said means being elliectivc when the vessel is ascending to reduce the low of fluid from said vessel to said receptacle and being rendered ineffect ve when the vessel is descending to permit a rapid descent of the vessel; a tank for the dense fluid adjacent said receptacle and communi i 1 there with; and a plunger in said tank for forcing said fluid into the receptacle to increase the level. thereof in the receptacle.

5. time controller lcr lectric circuit closer comprising a receptacle filled to a predetermined level with mercury; a vessel mounted. in said receptacle for vertical movement and having a passage at its lower end whereby the interior of the vessel com municates with the interior of the receptacle: and a weighted float located in said vessel and adapted to partially close said opening when the vessel is ascending in the receptacle to reduce the flow of mercury through said opening and retard the upward movement 0 l': the vessel.

tacle; a tank for the mercury adjacent the receptacle and communicating therewith; and means for forcing the mercury from the 10 tank into the receptacles for increasing the level of the mercury in the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDOUARD VEDOVELLI.

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