US1983124A

US1983124A - Electric switch

Info

Publication number: US1983124A
Application number: US650784A
Authority: US
Inventors: Adiel Y Dodge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-01-09
Filing date: 1933-01-09
Publication date: 1934-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1951-12-04

Description

1934- A. .Y. DODGE 1,983,124

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TbR.

Dec. 4, 1934. A. Y. DODGE 1,983,124

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filedv Jan. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 51, 1934 ELECTRIC swrron Adlel Y. Dodge,

South Bend, nc.

Application January 9, 193s, Serial No. 650,784

13 Claims.

' This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to a mercury tube switch comprising r'neans for opening and closing two separate circuits.

One object ofthe present invention is the provision of an improved envelope andliquid separator and, more particularly, the provision of a generally improvedland simplified envelope for making selectively one of two contacts and breaking both contacts, which may be formed more economically and expeditiously.

Another object is to reduce the operations and labor involved inthe formation of these envelopes and to provide an envelope structure permitting the use of heavier glass than heretofore practicable in the manufacture of single contact tubes.

Furtherobjects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan "wiew. partly in section ofone form of my double contact switch;

Fig. 2 shows the'same tube front elevation when level;

Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of the tube when tilted;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line IV-IV of Fig. 3, showing contact made on the lower. side and broken on the upper side;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the tube tilted in the opposite direction to Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line VIVI of Fig. 5 showing the lower contact made and the upp r contact broken; 1

35 Fig. '1 shows a sectional view of an optional I construction described later;

Fig..8 shows a sectional elevation of a tube having a different structural arrangement;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line IXIX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a modified form of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the tube showing the tube tilted to the right;

so when cury separates to open the circuit.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6, 20 indicates the bulb or enclosing envelope-which is shown as a general 6 shaped formation. In general these envelopes consist of bent glass tubing with go; the ends sealed around a suitable electrode. In

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line XfIL-XEII referring to the tube as c shaped. it is intended to bring out the fact thatit has along and generally straight central section, preferably having .one terminal 1 at its center, and which is looped around at both ends so that the two ends of the tube are in alinement and in close juxtaposition,

preferably with the other two

terminals

2 and 3 arranged therein.

. In the preferred form these tubes are bent in the side view so that when lyinglevel, as shown in Fig. 1, the mercury is separated into three bodies, thus breaking electric contact between

terminals

1 and 2 and

terminals

1 and 3. However, in another form, this same shaped tube may lie fiat in the side view and at the bends be provided with an indentation or hump as shown at 4 in Fig. 7. Ordinarilythis tube is supported in a manner so thatit may be tipped to the left about an axis-extending through the center of the tube and between the ends of the tube, 1. e. through contact 1 and between.

contacts

2 and 3 as shown in Fig. 3, or, tipped to the right as shown in Fig. 5, or, held in an intermediate position as shown in Fig. 2. When tipped to the left as shown in Fig. 3 electriccontact is made by the mercury between electrodes 1 .and 3 and broken between 1 and 2. When moved into the position shown in Fig. 5; i. e.,.tipped to the right, electric contact is made between

terminals

1 and 2 and broken between

terminals

1 and 3; whereas, when moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 contacts are broken between

terminals

1 and 2 and

terminals

1 and 3 as shown in Fig. 1. It is common practice in thermostat devices and humidity control devices to use two separate tubes, one completing electric contact at some upper predetermined limit of temperature or humidity; the other tube completing electric contact at some predetermined ILW limit of temperature .or humidity. I propose to accomplish this with one tube by tilting it one way or the other about i a central axis. This tube will also be found useful .in' connectionwith devices other than those mentioned.

In Figs. 8 to 15 is shown of radically different construction accomplishing this same purpose. This improvement consists of means for constructing a mercury contact tube which embodies a porcelain or similar material 14 (Fig. 8) enveloped in a glass chamber 13. Part 14 has a channel for conducting mercury between electric terminal points in such manner that one electric circuit may be closed shortly after the opening of another on the'opposite side. To this extent this construction accomplishes the'same results as does the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inc.

But, in addition to the above, the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 15 provides means for closing one or two electric circuits when the tube is in a double contact tubenoeams and 10 (Fig. 11) outside of the mercury bath when the tube is level by placing them more nearly the crest of hump 11 (Fig. 11) The pln'pose of this hump or rise in the mercury channel is to cause the mercury to break or separate in their proximity'when the tube is level and to cause a more rapid break at the time mercury separates as tube is tipped from the contact position in question.

It is to be understood that the embodiments oi the invention herein set forth are presented for the purpose of illustration only, and various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mercury switch having a tiltable member having formed therein a curved reservoir containing mercury and having its ends in alinement and in close juxtaposition, and at least three contacts extending into said reservoh and adapted to be immersed in the mercury therein and two of which are arranged in said ends, said member being arranged for tilting movement about an axis extending midway between two of the contacts.

2. A mercury switch comprising a c-shaped reservoir containing mercury and having a central section looped around at both ends and having its ends in alinement and close juxtaposition, and having a contact in each end and one in said central section approximately at its center, and mounted to be tilted about an axis extending through the center contact and substantially midway between the end contacts.

3. A mercury switch comprising a C-shaped reservoir containing mercury and having a central section looped around at both ends and having its ends in alinement and in close juxtaposition, and having a contact in each end and one in said central section approximately at its center, and which is constructed and arranged when level to break up the mercury into three.

disconnected bodies in which the three contac are immersed respectively.

4. A mercury switch comprising a C-shaped reservoir containing mercury and having a central section looped around at both ends and having its ends in alinement and in close juxtaposition, and having a contact in each end and one in said central section approximately at its center, and which is bent upwardly where it is looped around to connect the ends to said central section so that when level the mercury breaks up into three disconnected bodies in which the three contacts are immersed respectively.

5. A mercury switch comprisingAa C-shaped reservoir containing mercury and having a central section looped around at both ends and having its ends in alinement and in close juxtaposition, and having a contact at each end and one in said central section approximately at its center, and having indentations between the centercontact and the end contacts respectively, such that when the reservoir is level the mercury is broken up into three bodies in which the contacts are immersed respectively.

6. A mercury switch comprising a c-shaped sealed glass tube containing mercury and having a central section looped around at bothends and having its ends in alinement and in close juxtaposition, and having a contact at each end and one in said central section approximately at its center, and having constrictions between the center contact and the end contacts respectively, such that when the reservoir is level the mercury is broken up into three bodies in which the contacts are immersed respectively.

2. A mercury switch comprising a tiltable sealed tube, an element mounted in said tube and having in its upper face a curved hori-' zontal groove containing mercury, and contacts projecting into said groove, in combination with means for oscillating the tube to cause the mer- 8. A mercury switch comprising a tiltable sealed tube, an element mounted in said tube and having in its upper face a circular groove containing mercury, and two pairs or contacts projecting into said groove and selectively electrically connected by tilting said tube.

9. A mercury switch comprising a tiltable member having a curved groove in its upper face and having humps inthe bottom of said groove to break up the mercury into separated bodies when said member is level, and contacts beside said humps.

10. A mercury switch comprising a tiltable member having a curved groove in its upper face and having humps in the bottom or said groove to break up the mercury into separated bodies when said member is level, and contacts adjacent and on opposite sides of said humps and which are immersed in said separated bodies 01' mercury when the tiltable member is level.

11. A mercury switch comprising a tiltable member having a curved groove in its upper face and having humps in the bottom 01. said groove to break up the mercury into separated bodies when said member is level, and contacts passing through the ends of said humps out of the mer-" cury when said member is level and immersed in I the mercury when said member is tilted to cause the mercury to flow over the hump.

12. A mercury switch comprising a sealed tube containing a non-conducting member formed in its upper face with a ring-shaped groove containing mercury, and having contacts extending v