US2451107A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 12, 1948..

l. E. MCCABE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 9, 1945 IN VEN TOR. IRA E. M 5 CASE ATTORNEY Patented Qct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nnnc'raic swrrcn m E. McCabe, Chicago, 111.

Application March 9,1945, Serial No. 581,747

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-152) The present invention relates to'irn-provementsin electric switches and more particularly to the construction of tilting electric mercury tube switches.

Switches 01 the type to which this invention is directed find many uses and are particularly adapted for use in torches for life rafts, doughnut lii'e preservers, buoys, and the like, and for other uses where the same are subject to roll. pitching, or other similar movement. The same are used in connection with electric lamps and are included in a circuit having one or more batteries so that the same upon movement into operative closed position close the circuit to the electric lamp which will cause the same to be continually illuminated, even during the pitching or swinging movement imparted by waves, and which may be carried, for example, aboard ship in a life raft or life preserver, or the like. Also, it is desirable when placed in the open circuit position that such pitching or rolling of the ship will not cause the lamp to flash. Various types of switches have been used for such purposes, but in each instance certain deficiencies have been discovered which make them unsuitable for conditions under which the present type of switch can be used; For example, in certain types of switches used for the purposes indicated when assuming a normal open circuit position, the pitching or rolling of the ship causes the mercury contained within the switch to be splashed, or by impact, thrown out of the bottom of the switch into the portion of the container in which the contacts are located, thus causing momentary closure or the switch and consequent flashing of the lamp. This is particularly undesirable tor the reason that where such flashing operation occurs not only is battery energy being used up against the time when it is needed but at night unwanted attention may be drawn to ships which carry them.

Other types of switches embody a barrier structure forming a part of a trap to maintain the mercury in closed circuit position and which structure, while fulfilling such function with a high degree of eiliciency, nevertheless renders such switch impractical for the uses above indicated for the reason that when such switches are suddenly inverted from an open circuit position to the position which they normally assume upon closing the circuit, the mercury may in the suddenness oi! the operation so cover the barrier as to form a seal against the escapement of gas or air from the contact confined space so as to prevent the flow of mercury into it and the closing of the circuit under such conditions.

An object or the present invention is to provide an improved switch or the type herein disclosed which is so formed and constructed as to eliminate such defects as presented above and 2 which are characteristic of known forms of switches of the same general character.

The present invention is directed to the provision or a novel form of container including an elongated chamber into which spaced electrodes project and an enlarged off-set chamber in communic-ation therewith, the latter chamber providing means for retaining a body of mercury when the switch is in its open circuit condition and the same being so constructed as to prevent the body of mercury from being thrown into the re duced portion of the container leading to the contacts when the switch is in certain of its positions.

A further object oi! the present invention is to provide a switch characterized as immediately above described in which the bottom wall for the enlarged chamber is provided with means for causing the body of mercury, when disposed in said chamber,-to lay against the outer wall of the enlarged portion of the container so that displacement or the body of mercury upwardly is arrested by the upper wall of said enlarged portion, thus further reducing the possibility of mercury being displaced upwardly into engagethe lamp connected in the switch circuit.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide baiiie means operatively associated with the enlarged chamber to act as a further barrier preventing movement of the mercury into the restricted chamber and into contact with the electrodes.

The present invention further embodies the novel idea of so constructing the baiiie means as to assure proper flow of mercury from one part of the switch to the other, such results being accomplished by the provision of means in association with the baiile means providing a space which, upon the rapid inverting of the switch, from an open to a closed position, prevents the closing 01! by the mercury of the space into which the same is to pass so that gas or air disposed therein may escape to allow the proper movement of the mercury into its intended position with respect to the container.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel baille means functioning as above set forth and including as a part thereof oppositely disposed fingers spaced with relation to the adjacent wall of the container to assure escapement passageways to prevent blocking of the mercury at any point in the switch and the attendant disadvantages caused thereby,

The present invention further contemplates the provision of such fingers in association with the baille means having a curved formation longitudinally thereof and which, when the fingers are in engagement with the adjacent wall surfaces of the container, form definite and distinct pasair in that part of the chamber of the container into which the mercury is intended to flow.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring now to the drawings- Flgure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an electric torch for use as hereinabove set forth illustrating the position of the lamp and the improved switch formed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the improved switch in the vertical or closed position and when tilted to the right or left of the vertical to the open position;

Figure 3 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the position assumed by the improved switch when opened by rotating it to the inverted vertical position and the amount of tilt necessary from that position to the right or left to close the switch;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank used in forming the bailie incorporated in the switch structure;

Figure 5 is a view in cross section of a baflie formed from the blank shown in Figure 4 of the drawings;

Figure 6 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented by line 6-6 of Figure 2 of the drawings; and

Figure '7 is a view in cross section similar to Figure 6 showing a modified form of construction for the baiile.

As is, well known, it is customary to provide life rafts, dough-nut life preservers, buoys, and the like, with various means of illumination including battery supplied electric lamps that will remain inactive until placed in the water. .When battery supplied lamps are employed, it is necessary'to preserve the life of the battery and prevent the switch from closing until the illumination of the lamp is necessary. Such life rafts and preservers are usually stored on the outer side of the vessel until launched and it is obvious that the torch must be prevented from flashing by the roll or pitching of the vessel. Such torches have other uses, such, for example, as to indicate areas where water may be believed to exist and are, under such conditions, dropped from planes to make such determination. Torchesare likewise used aboard ship where electric lighting systems may become out of order and are further used to mark the presence of survivors of sunken ships. In all such instances the torch must be provided with a suitable switch to prevent its flashing or rendered operative until it is desired to use the same in the manner intended.

As illustrative of a torch used under the conditions above enumerated, reference is made to Figure 1 disclosing torch structure equipped with one or more batteries 2 and a switch 4 made in accordance with the invention which is interposed in circuit between the battery 2 and an electric lamp 6. A torch of this type is usually so pivotally mounted on a raft or life preserver that the same may be inverted or rotated into the plane of the raft orlife preserver until launched and then will automatically assume a vertical position with the electric lamp positioned above the surface of the life raft or buoy.

The switch 4- as shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 is more particularly disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 and, as there shown, comprises a con- 4 talner 8 formed to provide an elongated chamber l0 and an enlarged off-set chamber I2 communicating therewith. Sealed within the base I of the containerand projecting into the chamber it are the spaced electrodes l8 and I8 adapted to be incorporated in an electrical circuit in-- cluding, for example, the battery 2 and the elec-' tric lamp 6. Disposed within the container 8 i: a body of mercury 20 which, when the container 8 is in a vertical position as shown in Figure 2. of the drawings, is adapted to contact the electrodes l6 and I8 to close the electric circuit and to cause operation of the torch.

Figure 2 further diagrammatically illustrates the amount-of movement of the switch from its vertical position, either to the right or left, which is necessary to open the circuit in which the same may be placed. As is clearly apparent, such two positions of open circuit are substantially greater than degrees from the vertical, thus assuring a structure adapted to maintain closed position under all normal pitching or rolling of a ship, life preserver, raft or the like, which would be encountered in the use of a torch of the type herein disclosed. While two positions are shown, it is obvious that the same results obtain upon the movement of the switch in any direction away from its vertical position.

When the switch 4 is applied to a life raft or life buoy torch, or the-like, and the raft or buoy is carried on the outer sides of the vessel, the torch .will be preferably carried in an inverted vertical position so that the switch will assume theposition shown in the bottom of Figure 3. In order to close the circuit, it is necessary to rotate the switch from its inverted vertical position either to the right or left as viewed in that figure to the positions shown in the upper part of the figure, which positions are substantially degrees from the open circuit position of the switch. It is accordingly clearly apparent that under normal operating conditions unwanted closing of the circuit cannot be readily eifected.

As herein suggested, there are certain conditions which tend to cause the mercury, when the switch is in the position shown at 'the bottom of Figure 3, to be splashed or, by im act, thrown out of the chamber I2 into chamber Ill to cause momentary closure of the circuit and consequent flashing of the lamp 6. The present improved switch structure embodies an enlarged chamber l2 off-set in respect to chamberlll and which has its wall 2| disposed in opposed relation to chamber l0 inwardly'and centrally raised, thus forming an annular storage space 22 between such raised wall 2| and the outer wall 24 for such chamber whereby the body of mercury is caused to be positioned against wall 24 and substantially in opposed relation to the upper wall 26 for said chamber I2. This structure is highly desirable in that the upper annular wall 26 serves to prevent movement of the mercury into the chamber l0 when the same is caused to be thrown upwardly by pitching of the ship or by impact or the like in various positions of the switch.

In order to assure against the possibility of any portion of the mercury being thrown into engagement with the electrodes I6 and i8, the present switch embodies in its structure a baflie 28 connected as at 30 to the electrode i8. This baflle in one of its forms is fabricated from a blank such as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings which includes spaced baflle members 32 and 34 apertured as at 36 and 38, respectively, and which baflle member are interconnected by a central part consisting of baflie member 45 and the tie elements 42 and 44, the said baiile member 40 having uninterrupted surfaces for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth. Projecting in opposite directions from baiile members 32 and 34 are the fingers 49 and 48. The baffle blank as shown in Figure 4 is bent to form the baffle 28 as more particularly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings whereby the baiile member 49 is interposed between and in spaced relation to the baffle members 32 and 34 and in opposed relation to the openings 35 and 33.

The baiile 29 is positioned within the chamber Ill and is secured by either the finger 48 or 48 to the electrode I! as shown at 30, the width of the bailles 32 and 34 being slightly less than the width of chamber iii to provide for a passage between the baffle and the wall forming the chamber III or the container. The baiile as disclosed provides a barrier preventing splashing oi the mercury into engagement with the electrodes l5 and II and cooperates with the formation of chamber I! to prevent such contact of the mercury with the electrodes under all normal operating conditions that would be experienced in the use of a switch of the type herein described.

Fingers 45 and 49 are incorporated into the baiiie structure in order to assure proper flow of mercury into and out of chamber Hi, the said fingers being spaced from the adjacent wall surfaces of chamber iii to provide escapement ways for passage of gas or air from that portion of the chamber l0 into which the mercury is intended to flow. Furthermore. baiiie 28 is of such a construction as to break up the mercury as the same moves through chamber M to prevent its becoming blocked and such structure in combination with the fingers 45 and 49 assures proper operation of the switch under all conditions.

If desired, the fingers 49 and 43 may be curved longitudinally as shown at 50 in Figure 7 of the drawings and disposed so as to contact the adiacent'wall of the container to form a definite passageway 52 which at all times provides an air or gas vent to prevent blocking of the mercury within the environment of the baille.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions. arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switching device comprising a container, spaced electrodes sealed therein including a body or mercury adapted to bridge said electrodes when said container is in a predetermined position to close an electric circuit. said mercury being disposed in spaced relation to said electrodes when said container is in other predetermined posltions to open said circuit, and

baiile means disposed within said container including at least an apertured bailie member and a bame member spaced therefrom having an uninterrupted wall disposed in opposed spaced relation to said aperture and being in spaced relation to the adjacent wall of said container, oppositcly disposed fingers projecting perpendicularly from the baille means into the container spaces on both sides thereof, and said fingers being spaced from the adjacent wall of the container to provide therebetween passageways adapted to serve as a vent for each of said container spaces into which the mercury is desired to flow.

2. An electric switching device according to claim 1, wherein the oppositely disposed fingers are each formed to provide a longitudinally extending recess which together with said adjacent wall of the container form said passageways respectiveiy.

3. An electric switching device according to claim 1, wherein the oppositely disposed fingers are each curved to provide a longitudinally extending recess which together with the adjacent wall of the container form said passageways respectively.

4. An electric switching device comprising a container, spaced electrodes sealed therein including a body of mercury adapted to bridge said electrodes when said container is in a predetermined position to close an electric circuit, said mercury being disposed in spaced relation to said electrodes when said container is in other predetermined positions to open said circuit, and baille means disposed within said container comprising a member formed to provide spaced apertured walls and an intermediate wall therebetween having an uninterrupted surface disposed in opposite and spaced relation to said apertures and being in spaced relation to the adjacent wall of said container, said member being provided with oppositely disposed fingers projecting perpendicularly from the baiiie member into the container spaces on both sides thereof, and said fingers being spaced from the adjacent wall of the container to provide therebetween passageways adapted to serve as a vent for each of said container spaces into which the mercury is desired to flow.

IRA E. MCCABE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die of this patent:

NITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,391,243 Carpenter Sept. 20, 1921 1,778,439 Walker Oct. 14, 1930 2,182,218 Btaley Dec. 5, 1939 2,355,013 Rochestie Aug. 1, 1944

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