US1658618A - Liquid-flow switch - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1928.

v W. R. WALKER LIQUID FLOW SWITCH Filed Aug- 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l SUPPLY INVENTOR Feb. 7, 1928. 1,658,618

W. R. WALKER LIQUID FLOW SWITCH Filed Aug. 26, 1924 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 INVENTOR aw wfi Q/zw WHEY Patented Feb. 7. 1928.

" outrun srnrss ear WARREN Ft. WALKER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW .vnnsnr, AS$IGNR T (JUMPER mwrnr ELECTRIU (COMPANY, OF HOBOKFN, NEW mIltSF'll', A CORPORATION @F' NEW JEFQFEY.

niacin-arrow SWITCH.

My present invention relates to electric switches of the liquid flow type which are.

adapted "for making and breakin a circuit with a predetermined interval ot time bea tween successive makes and breaks and a predetermined interval of time between successive breaks and makes. This application is a continuance'in part of my co-pending applications Serial Numbers 722,425; lll 722,426 and 722,427. This invention further relates to systems such as electric sign systems in which the switch of my invention is incorporated and which is controlled therel Heretoiore in electric systems such as sign flashing systems in which current is alternately cut ed from the load for a predetermined length ottime and then applied to the load for a predetermined length of time switches of the liquid flow type have been used requiring auxiliary'apparatus such as dash pots for injecting a time la or interval into one phase of the operation of the switch. It is a urpose or my present' invention to provide a switch or this type which by virtue of its contsruction will when properly mounted as hereinafter tully described operate with a time lag before both the make and the break operations in- 39 herently.

A. further object of my invention is to provide a suitable electric circuit embody ing the switch of my invention and a load which is alternately and for predetermined as lengths of time energized and deenergized.

Tn the drawings forming a part of this application Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view inelevation of a switch embodying my invento tion showing an electrode entering from be low into a chimney or cup having an opening therefrom whichis intermediate of the top and bottom of the main body of the switch in a closed position thereof and a bathe t5 electrode adapted to control the. flow of mercury in the switch both into a circuit making position and into a circuit breaking position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2' 0t Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar diagrammatic view of the switch of Fig. 1 in an open circuit position and incorporated in a circuit compris- I ing a solenoid adapted to operate the switch.

lg. .4 is a diagrammatic view of the switch of my invention in a sign flash or load circuit comprising the switch operated solenoid connected in series with the switch and load.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a s stem similar to that of Fig. l but with a so enoiol connected in parallel with the load.

Fig. 6 is'a diagrammatic representation of the switch of Fig. 1 in a closed circuit position.

Fig. 7 is companion to Fig. 6 and shows the switch thereof immediately after being tilted into the circuit opening position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 7 showing the mercury immediately after circuit has been broken between the part of the main body of mercury and the mercury in the electrode containing cup.

Fig. 9 is a view of the switch in theclosed circuit position of Fig. 6 substantially immediately after it has been moved thereinto from the complete open circuit position of Figs. 7 and 8.

lln the drawings the sealed envelope 1 which is of suitable glass or other vitreous material'encloses a body of mercury 2 which til til

- extends above the upper limits of the cup of chimney 3 formed in said envelope ,1 and closed to the outside and to the interior of said envelope 1 except at its to The electrode l sealed into said cup 3 om the outside terminates in said cup below the edge of the opening thereof positioned near said cup 3 and extending'substantially across the full cross section of-the envelope 1 is the bafie electrode 5 which connects with the lead 6 which enters said envelope 1 through a seal at one end thereof and extends longitudinally thereof to said bafie electrode 5. At the bottom of said baflle electrode 5 is formed a small opening or notch 7 in the "form of a V which serves as a restricted passageway for said mercury 2 from a closed circuit position intoan open circuit position thereof and vice versa. At the topof said baffle electrode the opening 8 therethrough allows the passage of gas from one part of the switch to another to equalize the efl ect of the flowof mercury from one position to another. The bafile electrode 5 extending 5 across the switch chamber divides it into two sub-chambers in one of which, 9, is po- .sitioned said cup 3. The size of sub-chamher 9 is determined by the-time limits in which the switch can be made to operate in he the closed circuit position after it has been tilted therefrom into a corresponding open circuit position, that is, it is determined by the amount of mercury which in said open circuit position can be held in said chamber 9 back of said bafiie electrode 5 while said mercury is flowing through said opening 7 to a level below the lower limit of the edge of' said cup 3 at that point at which time circuit through the switch will of course be disconnected. In predetermining the size of said chamber 9.the height of said cup 3 and the size of openings 7 and 8 must of course be considered. The size of the other subchamber 10, is determined by the amount of mercurywhich it is required to hold in the open circuit position of the switch.

In Fig. 3 is shown the switch of Fig. 1 mounted on apanel 11 which is movable about a pivot 12 near one end thereof. The arm 13 connects the panel 11 to the armature 14 of solenoid 15 through a slotted pivot joint 16. Said switch 1 and solenoid 15 are connected in series to current supply mains 17 and 1 8. The pivot 12 and armature and solenoid 14 and 15 are positioned with respect to said switch 1 and panel 11 so that said solenoid upon energization through said mains 17 and 18 will actuate said switch to move it into the open circuit position, and so that the weight of said switch 1 and panel 11 will act to move the switch into a closed circuit position.

The solenoid 15 depending upon the load, source of supply, and other operative conditions is connected in circuit either in parallel or in series with said load. In Fig. 4 the solenoid 15 is shown as being connected in series with load 19. In Fig. 5 the solenoid 15 is shown connected in parallel with load 19.

In the operation of the switch of my invention, to secure a delay in the breaking of the circuit therethrough from the time it is moved into a circuit breaking position and to secure the delay in the breaking of a circuit therethrough when it is moved into an open circuit position the following phases of operation are gone through.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the switch being in a closed circuit position as in Fig. 6 and the mercury 2 therein forming a continuous body and connecting said electrode 3 to said bafiie electrode 5 to secure a delayed opening of the circuit through the switch it is moved, for example, into the position shown in Fig. 7 in which the main body of mercury 2 held by said bafiie 5 and flowing through a restricted opening 7 occupies an appreciable and predeterminable period of time in flowing from a position in said subchamber 9 at a level above the lower limit of the edge of on 3 to a level below said lower limit of the e ge of cup 3 below which point the mercury is divided into two bodies one of which 2' is within said cup 3 and the other part 2 is without the limits thereof as shown in Fig. 7. The said body 2 will of course maintain its equilibrium entirely within said sub-chamber 10. In securing an establishment of current path through the switch at a predetermined interval after the switch is moved from an open circuit position to a closed circuit position the switch is moved from the position with the mercury as shown in Fig. 8 into the position shown in Fig. 9, in which the main body of mercury 2 is banked up in said sub-chamber 10 back of baflie 5 where it flows through said restricted opening 7 into sub-chamber 9 whereupon it attains a level above the lower limit of the edge of said cup 3 and communicating with the mercury 2 in said cup a circuit path is established through the switch, equilibrium of mercury in said position being shown in Fig. 6.

In the operation of the switch in the circuit shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and starting from the open circuit position,'the weight of the switch and panel will cause the switch to be moved to the closed position thereof as shown in Fig. 9 in which position the 1ncrcury will through a predetermined period of time flow from the circuit making position to a circuit making level as indicated in Fig. 6. Upon the establishment. of circuit through the switch energization of solenoid 15 and load 19 by current supplied from mains 17 and 18 takes place. Upon energizetion of said solenoid 15 the armature 14 which is moved therein on a circuit breaking movement of the switch, the switch and panel will be actuated thereby and move together into the position shown in Fig. 3 (see also Fig. 7) in which the mercury in said switch 1 assumes a position in sub-chamber 10 and back of baflie electrode 5 from the level of which it will flow through a prede termined period of time through said restricted opening 7 to disconnect the circuit through the switch upon attaining a level be low the lower limit of the edge of said cup 3 at which the main body of mercury 2 is disconnected from the body of mercury 2 contained in said cup. Upon the opening of circuit through the switch and the conscquent deenergization of the solenoid 15 the switch through its weight and that of the panel 11 and other parts connected thereto will again move into the circuit closing position whereby a cycle of the switch operation is completed which cycle will continue.

in this form of my invention as long as current is supplied through mains 17 and 18. As disclosed in my said applications 722.425 and 722.427 the electrodes 3 and 5 will be protected from any arcing which may occur in the making or breaking of circuit through the switch by the mercury bodies 2 and 2' between which said making and breaking ooltl intents curs, the material of the envelope ot the switch 1 will be protected from such', arcing by the position thereot away from said envelope of the rim ct said cup 3 which rim, as disclosed in said co-pending applications, is itself protected by being made of material which is resistant to temperatures upon such arcing.

The switch envelope is when desired provided with an atmosphere of gas such as hydrogen and nitrogen which serves to quench any such arcing and to conduct heat resulting therefrom rapidly from the interior to the exterior ot the switch.

While I have shown and described the bafie 5 as being of metal, it is to be understood that where desired the bathe 5 is made of insulating material such as fused silica, porcelain, hard glass, etc., and mounted on i the lead wire 6, in such away that the said lead wire connects with the mercury on the appropriate side ot. said bafie 5 essential to the proper functioning of the switch, or said battle 5 may be mounted on the wall ot the container and the lead .wire '6 connecting with the mercury in any well known manner.

Furthermore, the described barrier effect obtained with the battle 5 is obtained in an other embodiment, useful in the arts generally, by simply constricting the tube 10, as by drawing out the said tube, at the point where the said barrier or battle etlect is re quired to cause the necessary restriction of the flow of the mercury in its ascent or descent ot the wall of the cup to secure the desired time interval make and break cl the circuit throughthe switch, the usual gas bypass tor the constriction between the chambers being provided where necessary.

lln the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the armature M is of the balanced type and ex tends through the coil so that when it is energized it litts the switch panelll about the pivot 12.1

ln those cases where minimum energy in the operating solenoid is desirable ll prefer to pivot the panel adjacent to the bar 13 and reverse the switch 1 on said panel and mount the solenoid as shown. llnthis arrangement the moving system is so balanced about the pivot 12 that small amounts only ct electrical energy are sequired to move the till armature lt into the solenoid 15 to operate the switch.

l claim: I s 1. ln anelectric switch of the liquid flow type, a sealed vitreous envelope, a bafie mountedsubstantially across the interior of said envelope and dividing it into two chamhere, a restricted opening near the bottom of said heme and connecting the two chambers, said bafle being separate from said envelope, means for supporting said bafie, an

electrodesealed through the wall of said container, a second electrode sealed through said envelope, a wall ofvitreous material sealed to said envclo e about and terminatmg above said secon electrode, mercury in said envelope connecting with first said elec: trode and extending between the limits of said wall about second said Ilectrodc and connecting with said second electrode in a closed circuit position of the switch, and in an open circuit position of the switch positioned at a level below that of the upper limit out said wall about second said electrode, I

2. ln an electric switch of the liquid flow type, a sealed vitreous envelope, a battle mounted substantially across the interior of said envelope and dividing it into two chamhers, a restricted opening near the bottom of said bafie and connecting the two chambers, said baflle being separate from said envelope, means for supporting said hams, an electrode sealed through the wall of said container into one of said chambers, a second electrode sealed through said envelope in the other chamber, a wall ct vitreous mate rial sealed to said envelope to term a cup about and terminating above said second electrode, mercury in said envelope connecting with first said electrode and extending between the limits of said wall about second said electrode and connecting with said second electrode in a closed circuit position of the switch, and in an open circuit position ot the switch in the main part thereof positioned in the main body ot the switch at a level below that of the upper limit of said cup with the remainder thereof in said cup and. extending above said second electrode.

3. ln an electric switch of the liquid tilow type, a sealed vitreous envelope, a heme mounted substantially across the interior ct said envelo e and dividing it into two chambers, said attle being separate from said envelope, means for supporting said home, a restricted opening near the bottom of said baths and connecting the two chambers, an electrode sealed. throu h the wall of said container. into one of it e chambers at said battle, a second electrode sealed through said envelope in the other. said chamber, a wall of vitreous material sealed'to said envelope to torm a cup about and terminating above said second electrode, mercu in said envelope connecting with first sai electrode and en:- tending between the limits of said wall about second said electrode and connecting with said second electrode in a closed circuit position of the switch, and in an open circuitposition of the switch in the main part thereof positioned in the main body of the switch at a level below that of the upper limit of said cup with the remainder thereof in said cup andextending above said second electrode.

4. In an electric switch of the liquid flow llld type, a sealed envelope having mercur therein, a bafile of conducting material d1- viding the interior thereof into two chambers, said bafiie having formed therein at its bottom a restricted opening for the flow of said mercury th-erethrough and at its top a gas passage, a lead sealed through the wall of said envelope and connected with and supporting said bathe-electrode, 'a continuous Wall having one of its limits near said baffle extends to a limit intermediate the bottom and top of said envelope to form a cup or enclosure opening through its top into said envelope and closed to the exterior, and an electrode sealed from the exterior into the interior of said cup and terminating below the limits of the opening of said cup.

5. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, a a sealed envelope having mercury therein, a bafiie of conducting material dividing the interior thereof into two chambers, said bafile having formed therein at its bottom a restricted opening for the flow of said mercury therethrough, a lead sealed through the wall of said envelope and connected with and supporting said baflle electrode, a continuous wall having one of its limits near said baflle extends to a limit intermediate the' bottom and top of said envelope to form a cup or enclosure opening through its top into said envelope and closed to the exterior, and an electrode sealed from the exterior into the interior of said cup and terminating below the limits of the opening of said cup.

6. In an electric switch of the liquid flow type, a sealed envelope having mercury therein, a baflie of conducting material dividing the interior thereof into two chambers, said baflle having formed therein at its bottom a restricted opening for the flow of said mercury therethrough and near its top a re stricted opening for the flow of gas therethrough for attaining equilibrium in said switch, a lead sealed through the wall of said envelope and connected with and supporting said bafile electrode, a continuous Wall having one of its limits near said bafiieextends to a limit intermediate the bottom and top of said envelope to form a cup or enclosure opening through its to into said envelope and closed to the exterior, and an electrode sealed from the exterior into the interior of said cup and terminating below the limits of the opening of said cup;

Signed at Hoboken, inthe county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, this 25th day of August, A. l). 1924.

' WARREN R. WALKER.

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