US1457902A - Current rectifier - Google Patents

Description

June'5, 1923.

' c. J. GARDEEN CURRENT RECTIFIER Filed May 9, 1921 Patented June 5, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL J. GARDEEN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

CURRENT Application filed May 9,

i To all whom it may concern sion of a simple arrangement for transforming currents of various voltages.

The invention has as an added object the production of an arrangement capable of performin the above feature, in which a liquid conducting substance may be utilized in conjunction with metallic contact making elements, which intermittently contact with the liquid to cause the current to be transformed from that of one character to that of another.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a receptacle for the liquid which will maintain the liquid in a position to be engaged by the contact making elements during the operation of the device.

It is also an object to accomplish these and other advantages in a simple and effective manner.

qThe invention will be explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrates one form of which the invention is susceptible, it being understood however that changes and modifications thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a rectifier constructed according to one embodiment of the invention and diagrammatically illustrates its connections to transform alternating current to direct; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the use of a rotatable container is contemplated. This container is provided for the purpose of confining therein a conducting liquid which may be mercury alone or mercury and oil, the latter being employed to prevent arcing as the contact with the mercury is made and broken, and to prevent oxidation of the mercury. This liquid of mercury and oil RECTIFIER.

1921. Serial No. 468,131.

may be employed when a high voltage is being rectified. Metallic rings are employed and arranged to extend into the liquid when the device is in operation, the liquid being moved with relation thereto by means of the action of centrifugal force during the rotation of the container. A synchronous motor is also employed, the shaft thereof being provided with one or more contacts which intermittently engage the liquid or mercury and in addition is provided with a disc which is constantly in engagement with the mercury, when the device is in operation, the mercury being moved into contact with the disc by the centrifugal force imparted thereto by the rotation of the container. Thus as the container is rotated the conducting liquid will be brought into contact with the rings which lead to the external circuit and includes a transformer. This liquid will also be brought into contact with the disc provided upon the motor shaft and into a position in which it may be engaged by the contacts provided upon this shaft when said shaft is rotated.

The rings which cooperate with the mercury and the contacts rovided upon the shaft are connected to the secondary winding of the transformer and as said contacts are alternately caused to close the circuit in synchronism with the alternating voltage, direct current is supplied to the load circuit which is connected by suitable wiring to the ring with which the disc provided upon the motor shaft cooperates.

In the structure employed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings a rotatable casing 10 is employed. This casing may be driven by a motor 11 or in any other suitable manner, and is designed to provide a receptacle 12 and the enlarged portion 13. The receptacle 12 is employed to confine the liquid when the device is at rest and is arranged with respect to the'enlarged portion 13 so that the liquid conductor may pass from the receptacle 12 to the enlarged portion when the casing is rotated by the motor 11. To facilitate this passage of the liquid conductor from the receptacle to the enlarged portion, those parts communicate with each other which allows the liquid to pass from the smaller receptacle to the enlarged portion when the casing is rotated sufficiently to allow centrifugal force to act thereon and cause this. The rotation of the casing causes the liquid to be maintained in. the larger portion of the casing when the same reaches a predetermined speed of rotation. However, after this rotation of the casing ceases the liquid will again be lodged in the receptacle 12. The uppermost or enlarged portion of the casing 10 is lined with an insulating material 14 which is formed to produce the inwardly projecting annular stepped ledges 15, 16, 17 and 18, and flange 19. This insulator 14 is further provided with the annular recesses 20, 21, 22 and 23, which are arranged between said ledges. These ledges are provided to divide the liquid which in this instance is mercury into separate annular rings or bodies which are successively formed as the mercury passes from the receptacle 12 to the enlarged part. The stepped ledges and recesses cooperate with the centrifugal force to cause the formation of the annular liquid rings, as the casing is rotated by the motor 11 until all excepting the uppermost recess, is filled. This uppermost recess is substantially provided to accommodate any excess of the liquid and to prevent its flowing over the uppermost edge of the casing. A plurality of rings 24, 25 and 26 are employed which are respectfully arranged in the recesses 20, 21 and 22, they being held stationarily with respect to the rotating casing 10 in any suitable manner, as by the bracket 27. These rings are each provided with an extension which provides a terminal to which the conductors which lead therefrom may be attached. The rings 24 and 25 are connected to the secondary winding of the transformer diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings and designated by the numeral 28. The other ring as 26 is connected to load circuit 29.

From the foregoing description itis evident that as the casing is rotated the mercury is caused to flow from the container or receptacle 12 towards the uppermost end of the casing, which causes the mercury to find its way into and be maintained in the annular recesses formed between the ledges above referred to, and as the metallic rings 24, 25 and 26 are also arranged in these recesses these rings and the mercury or liquid conductor will contact with each other.

A synchronous motor 30 is arranged with respect to the casing 10, so that its shaft 31 may project into said casing. This motor shaft is provided with the insulator 32 and carries the disc 33 and the contact elements 34 and 35. This disc and contact elements are respectively arranged adjacent the recesses 20, 21 and 22, so that they may contact with the liquid conductor when the same is arranged within said recesses. The disc 33 is arranged so that it will at all times engage the liquid when the latter lodges in the recess arranged adjacent to it. The contact elements 34 and 35 however, are constructed so that they will intermittently and successively co ntact with the liquid lodged within the particular recesses arranged adjacent or in proximity to them.. As these contact elements engage the liquid the circuit is closed between them and the rings 24 and 25, by the conducting liquid. By permitting these contact elements 34 and 35 to alternately contact with the liquid in synchronism with the alternating voltage at each half cycle of like polarity from the secondary of the transformer, direct current is supplied to the load circuit.

To cause the operation of the device the motor 11 is actuated and by virtue of the fact that the casing is secured thereto it is caused to rotate therewith. As the casing is brought to a certain speed of rotation the mercury confined in the receptacle 1O gradually moves upwardly towards the enlarged part of the casing successively, entering the recesses 20 to 23, within which it will be held, forming it into rings substantially corresponding to the recesses. The rings such as 24, 25 and 26, being arranged so that a portion thereof extends into their respective recesses, they will therefore contact with the conducting liquid arranged in said grooves, and as the contact elements 34 and 35 alternately contact with the conducting liquid in the recesses 21 and 22, in synchronism with the alternating voltage flowing from the secondary Winding of the transformer 28 the current is transformed. This transformed current flows through the shaft 31 to the disc 33 which is also in contact with the fluid contained in recess 20 which closes the circuit between the disc and the ring 26 and carries the transformed, or as in the present structure, direct current to the load circuit 29.

From the foregoing description of the device it is evident that a simple, inexpensive arrangement is produced for transforming current from that of one character to that of another, which utilizes a liquid conductor with which the contact elements alternately engage in synchronism with the alternations of the current to be rectified.

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

1. In a current rectifier, the combination of a member in which a conducting fluid is confined provided with a portion in which the fluid collects during rectification, contact making elements, means for driving said contacts and member with relation to each other, said contact making elements being supported in said portion, and means acting through the agency of centrifugal force on said fluid to cause said fluid to move into said portion and into engagement with said contact making elements.

2. In a current rectifier, the combination the agency of centrifugalforce on said fluid to' cause said fluid to move into said portion and into engagement with said contact making elements.

3. In a current rectifier, the combination of a fluid container in which a conducting fluid is confined and a portion into which the fluid collects during rectification, contact making elements supported in said portion, means acting through the agency of centrifugal force on said fluid to cause said fluid to move into said portion and into engagement with said contact making elements, and means for driving certain of said contacts in synchronism with an alternating current supply.

4. In a current rectifier, the combination of a member having communicating portions, a conducting fluid which collects in one portion during rectification, fixed and movable contact making elements supported in said portion in which the fluid collects, means for driving said movable contacts and member with relation to each other, and means acting through the agency of centrifugal force on said fluid to cause said fluid to move into said portion in which the contact elements are supported.

5. In a current rectifier, the combination of a member having communicating portions, a conducting fluid arranged to move from one portion to the other during rectification, said portion into which the fluid is moved being provided with an annular trough, contact making elements extending into said trough, means acting through the agency of centrifugal force on said fluid to cause said fluid to move into said trou h and into engagement with said contact ma ing elements.

6. In a current rectifier, the combination of a rotatable casing having communicating portions, a conducting fluid which collects in one portion during rectification, contact making elements rotatably supported in said portion in which the fluid collects, means for driving said contacts and member relatively vto each other, and means acting through the agency of centrifugal force on said fluid to cause said fluid to move into said portion in which the contact elements are supported.

7. In a current rectifier, the combination of a motor, a plurality of contact elements arranged upon the shaft of said motor, a transformer, conductors connected with the secondary winding of the transformer, said contact elements being operable to respectively cooperate with said conductors, a conducting liquid operable through the agency of centrifugal force on said fluid to move said fluid into engagement with said contact elements and said conductors, and means for arresting the flow of said liquid when it reaches said contacts and conductors.

8. In a current rectifier, the combination of a plurality of contact elements, conductors adapted to be connected with the secondary winding of a transformer, a conducting liquid operable through the medium of centrifugal force acting thereon to cause said fluid to settle between said contact elements and said conductors, a wall for arresting the movement of said liquid when it reaches said contacts and conductors, said contact elements being movable into engagement with the conducting liquid in synchronism with the alternations of the current to be rectified.

9. In a current rectifier, the combination of a rotatable member having communicating portions, a conducting fluid which 001- lects in one portion during rectification, contact making elements supported in said portion in which the liquid collects, and means acting through the agency of centrifugal force on said fluid to cause said fluid to move into said portion in which the contact elements are supported and into engagement with said contactmaking elements, certain of said contact elements being movable with respect to the first mentioned rotatable member.

10. In a current rectifier, the combination of a rotatable member having communicating portions, a conducting fluid which collects in one portion during rectification, contact making elements supported in said portion in which the fluid collects, said contact making elements including contacts which intermittently engage said fluid, and means acting through the agency of centrifugal force on said fluid to cause said fluid to move into said portion in which the contact elementsare supported and into engagement with said contact making elements.

11. In a current rectifier, the combination of a rotatable member, a conducting fluid therein, contact making elements arranged in the rotatable member, one or more of the contact making elements being rotatable with-respect to said rotatable member, and means acting through the agency of centrifugal force upon said fluid when the first mentioned member is rotated to cause said fluid to move into engagement wit said contact making elements.

12. In a current rectifier, the combinacasing, said casing providing a receptacle ,within which the liquid is confined when said casing is at rest, a plurality of recesses arranged above the receptacle for the reception of the liquid upon the rotation of the casing, metallic conductors arranged in the recesses, and rotatable contacts arranged with respect to said recesses to permit them to intermittently engage the liquid in said recesses, another contact also arranged to contact with the liquid in said recesses, said first mentioned contacts being arranged to alternately engage said liquid in synchronism with the alternation of the current to be rectified.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto su'bscribe my name this 30th day of April, A. 1)., 1921.

CARL. J. GARDEEN.

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