US2227041A

US2227041A - Mercury switch breaker

Info

Publication number: US2227041A
Application number: US223625A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph H Staley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-08-08
Filing date: 1938-08-08
Publication date: 1940-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1957-12-31

Description

Dec. 31, 1940. J. H. STALEY MERCURY SWITCH BREAKER Filed Aug. 8, 1958 [771/677 207" do 6 6 0 L7 /7 /1 Sin/ex mm 'z'fiorneys Patented Dec. 31, 1940 PATENT orrics MERCURY swrrorr BREAKER Joseph H. Staley, Columbus, Ind.

Application August 8, 1938, Serial No. 223,625

4 Claims.

' This invention relates to the art of mercury switches and particularly to that type employing a refractory member through or over which a column of mercury is severed to break the 5 circuit, the refractory member being employed to control the location and quenching of the ensuing arc. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a refractory member for the purpose indicated which will have a form lending itself to insertion within a tubular member in conjunction with an iron or metal wall chamber at one end and an electrode at the other end, the structure being so arranged that a pool of mercury may be maintained in contact with the electrode without after spill so that once the circuit is broken, it will not be made by subsequent flow of mercury from that pool which might otherwise result upon further tilting or rocking of the switch.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood by those versed in the art from the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through a structure embodying the invention, in the closed circuit position;

Fig. 2, a similar view in open circuit position, and

Fig. 3, a view in perspective of the refractory member.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Reference is made to my co-pending U. S.

patent application Serial Number 708,844, filed January 29, 1934, of which the present application is a continuation in part.

Referring to the drawing, in the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated,

a metallic tubular body It] is employed with a closed end H and a cap I2 is telescoped over the end of the body it to have an intervening, insulating sleeve IS. The cap 12 forms one electrode and the body it the other. A refractory member l4, hereinafter called a breaker for convenience, is formed to have a generally cyiindrical shape so as to be frictionally engaged within the end of the sleeve l3 to be between the cap l2 and'the body IS in respect to flow of mercury therebetween. This breaker I4 is made out of any suitable material which will withstand the tremendous heat of the electric are without any appreciable deterioration 55 and particularly as will not deteriorate to such an extent as will cause any breaking down thereof to have particles or materials therefrom, mixing with the mercury. I Theparticular arrangement of the breaker is important. It has a major internal bore 15 opening into the chamber of the body Iii. It also has a minor bore l6 co-axial with the bore 15. This smaller bore it is at that end of the breaker M which is nearest to the end wall of the cap l2. There is the further important feature in connection with this breaker M of the extending boss ll that has an external diameter less than that of the major portion of the breaker, and through which boss 5'! the bore I5 is carried. This structure provides an abrupt annular shoulder It at the junction of the minor bore It with the major bore l5, this shoulder being well back within the breaker at the internal end of the bore 15. The other important feature of this structure is that by reason of the extending boss E1, the open end of the bore l6 may be carried in close proximity to the end wall of the cap l2 and at the same time there will be left between the breaker and the cap I2 a chamber l9. around the boss H, in which chamber a sufficient quantity of mercury 2i] may be retained regardless of the angle of tilting of the entire switch which will carry the current between that mercury and the cap l2 without heating beyond a predetermined amount. Also, as indicated in comparing Figs. 1 and 2, when the switch is tilted from the closed position in Fig. 1 to the open position in Fig. 2, there will be no subsequent flow from this body of mercury 20 to the major body 2| since further tilting will only cause the mass of mercury 20 to extend further around the periphery of the boss ll.

The present application is directed toward this breaker M in its general association with a twopart metallic switch irrespective of the sealing electrode employed in conjunction with the tubular body Ill, this sealing electrode in the present instance being in the form of the telescoping cap although the invention is not intended to be limited to that particular form.

As indicated in my co-pending application, Serial Number 708,844, above referred to, the bore I5 is so proportioned as to length, diameter, and spacing from the electrode [2 as to properly define the location of the break between the minor and major masses of mercury 20 and 2| whereby the ensuing arc will occur, within this smaller bore l6 and thereby be subject to the quenching effects produced.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that there may be structural variations without departing from the spirit of theinvention and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a mercury switch having a quantity of mercury and a pair of electrodes, one of which forms a tubular metallic chamber, a breaker positioned between the electrodes and in which the mercury flows to complete and break a circuit between the electrodes, said breaker having a cylindrical bore of substantially the same size of and leading from the said electrode chamber, an extension on the breaker of external diameter less than that of the breaker and having a second cylindrical bore of less diameter co-axially leading from the larger bore through said extension and opening concentrically of and toward the,

other electrode.

2. In a mercury switch having a quantity of mercury and a pair of electrodes, one of which forms a tubular metallic chamber, a breaker positioned between the electrodes and in which the mercuryflows to complete and break a circuit between the electrodes, said breaker having a cylindrical bore of substantially the same size of and leading from the said electrode chamber, and having a second cylindrical bore of less diameter co-axially leading from the larger bore and opening concentrically of and toward the other electrode, said breaker further having a boss extending from that end having the smaller bore, which bore continues through the boss, the boss having an external diameter less than that part of the breaker having the major bore, said boss'being proportioned in relation to the other electrode to extend therein in spaced relation.

3. For a mercury switch, an insulating and arcresisting member having a major cylindrical bore open from one end and terminating at its other end at a transverse wall, said member further having a minor cylindrical bore concentric of the major bore axis through said wall and opening at its end removed from the wall, said transverse wall being planer and normal to said axis defining a sharp shoulder about the minor bore orifice through the wall, and a boss having an external diameter reduced from that of the breaker and through which said boss said minor bore extends.

4. For a mercury switch, an insulating and arcresisting member having a major cylindrical bore JOSEPH H. STALEY.