US3342965A - Positionally independent mercury contact arrangement - Google Patents

Positionally independent mercury contact arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
US3342965A
US3342965A US601665A US60166566A US3342965A US 3342965 A US3342965 A US 3342965A US 601665 A US601665 A US 601665A US 60166566 A US60166566 A US 60166566A US 3342965 A US3342965 A US 3342965A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
space
mercury
pressure
drop
disposed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US601665A
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English (en)
Inventor
Bosch Werner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens AG
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens AG filed Critical Siemens AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3342965A publication Critical patent/US3342965A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H29/00—Switches having at least one liquid contact
    • H01H29/28—Switches having at least one liquid contact with level of surface of contact liquid displaced by fluid pressure
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H29/00—Switches having at least one liquid contact
    • H01H29/004—Operated by deformation of container
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
    • H01H50/64—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact
    • H01H50/72—Driving arrangements between movable part of magnetic circuit and contact for mercury contact

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a positionally independent contact arrangement with a mercury drop located in a spherical hollow space, deformable by an electromechanical final control element. It is a known fact that contact arrangements with mercury operate fundamentally free from chattering. Its use, however, is possible only under certain conditions as often an independence of position and high switching speeds are required, which characteristics cannot be attained in view of the relatively large amount of mercury necessary in known liquid contacts. It has already been proposed to avoid these advantages by the utilization as switching liquid only a small quantity of mercury in the form of a mercury drop. In this case, as a result of the large surface tension of the mercury, the drop, in opposition to the force of gravity, always endeavors to reassume its original spherical shape after deformation in any of its possible operating positions.
  • a development of the invention provides, for the separation of the pressure liquid from the mercury drop, a flexible intermediate layer, preferably an insulating sheet or foil, such intermediate layer being embedded in the wall of the spherical hollow space adjacent the connection channel.
  • a flexible intermediate layer preferably an insulating sheet or foil, such intermediate layer being embedded in the wall of the spherical hollow space adjacent the connection channel.
  • radially extending slots are provided in edges of the circular opening of the connecting electrode encircling the mercury drop for the compensation of excessive pressure resulting from an over actuation of the electromechanical final control element.
  • an electromagnetic system acting upon the membrane serves as final control element for the movement of the pressure liquid and therewith for the deformation of the mercury.
  • an electromagnet system any other electromechanical driving method can be employed, such as are customary in switches operating in relay-like manner.
  • FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a contact arrangement according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line A-A of FIG. 1.
  • a body 3 of insulating material which serves as a carrier for a drop of mercury, the body being formed with a spherically-shaped hollow space 311 for the reception of the mercury drop.
  • the bottom of such hollow space is closed by a plate-like connecting electrode 7 so that the mercury is continuously in physical connection with such electrode.
  • a further connecting electrode 5 is located approximately at the height of the maximum transverse cross section of the mercury drop, such electrode being provided with a circular recess 5a which encircles the mercury drop -8, with the maintenance of a certain minimum distance.
  • connection channel 3b extends to a cone-shaped pressure space 30, such pressure space being filled with a pressure liquid 1.
  • a membrane 2 seals the pressure liquid with respect to the exterior. If the membrane 2 is moved in the direction of the arrow by a final control element, for example by an electromagnet system, a deformation of the mercury drop 8 occurs and portions of the mercury flow into the opening 5a of the connection electrode 5 whereby an electrical connection is effected between this electrode and the electrode 7, closing the spherical hollow space 3a.
  • the electrical lead connection points to these electrodes are designated a and b.
  • the mercury can flow into such radially extending slots in the event of an excessive travel of the final control element. If the final control element is again returned into the rest position and therewith the membrane 2 likewise resumes its rest position, the mercury drop 8, because of the high surface tension, likewise resumes its original spherical shape, whereby the contact connection between the connecting electrodes 5 and 7 is broken.
  • they may be physically separated by an intermediate flexible layer 4.
  • such intermediate layer preferably constructed in the form of an insulating sheet or foil, is embedded in the wall of the spherical hollow space 3a, facing the connection channel 3b.
  • a positionally independent contact arrangement utilizing a mercury drop located in a spherical hollow space and deformable by an electromechanical final control element comprising a body of an insulating material having an approximately spherical hollow space therein, a drop of mercury disposed in said space, a plate-like connecting electrode disposed to form a closure for said space, a second connecting electrode, disposed approximately at the level of the maximum transverse cross section of the mercury drop and having an opening therein the edges of which encircle the mercury drop but spaced a certain minimum distance therefrom, said body having a pressure space for an actuating pressure liquid disposed therein, said body further having a connection channel therein operatively connecting said pressure space with 3 said hollow mercury containing space, whereby pressure on said liquid is operative to eflect an operating deformation of the mercury drop, and operative connection thereby of the respective electrodes, and a membrane forming a vflexible closure of said pressure spacewith respect to the exterior, and through which the liquid pressure in said pressure space may.
  • a contact arrangement according to claim 1 comprising in further combination, a flexible intermediate layer disposed in said hollow mercury containing space adjacent to said connection channel and operatively separating said mercury drop from said pressure liquid.
  • a contact arrangement according to claim '1 wherein said membrane is acted upon by an electromagnet system which serves as the final control element for the movement of the pressure liquid and therewith the deformation of the mercury drop.
  • a contact arrangement according to claim l wherein said pressure space is comically-shaped and diverges from said connection channel.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)
  • Micromachines (AREA)
  • Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
US601665A 1965-12-22 1966-12-14 Positionally independent mercury contact arrangement Expired - Lifetime US3342965A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DES0101104 1965-12-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3342965A true US3342965A (en) 1967-09-19

Family

ID=7523512

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US601665A Expired - Lifetime US3342965A (en) 1965-12-22 1966-12-14 Positionally independent mercury contact arrangement

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3342965A (xx)
AT (1) AT261715B (xx)
BE (1) BE691625A (xx)
CH (1) CH448212A (xx)
DE (1) DE1540620A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR1505976A (xx)
GB (1) GB1114968A (xx)
NL (1) NL6616662A (xx)
SE (1) SE309802B (xx)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4135067A (en) * 1976-03-30 1979-01-16 Fifth Dimension, Inc. Tilt switch and holder
US4138600A (en) * 1977-04-22 1979-02-06 Ozols Karlis V Force-responsive device
FR2402292A1 (fr) * 1977-09-06 1979-03-30 Mo Inzh Fizichesky Dispositif de commutation de circuits electriques
EP0068133A2 (de) * 1981-06-12 1983-01-05 Wilhelm Ruf KG Schaltanordnung mit einem elastischen Schaltelement
EP0084331A1 (en) * 1982-01-18 1983-07-27 Mechanical Enterprises, Inc. Controlled floating contactor switch

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3184693A (en) * 1962-01-12 1965-05-18 Lantronics Inc Liquid displacement electric circuit forming device

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3184693A (en) * 1962-01-12 1965-05-18 Lantronics Inc Liquid displacement electric circuit forming device

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4135067A (en) * 1976-03-30 1979-01-16 Fifth Dimension, Inc. Tilt switch and holder
US4138600A (en) * 1977-04-22 1979-02-06 Ozols Karlis V Force-responsive device
FR2402292A1 (fr) * 1977-09-06 1979-03-30 Mo Inzh Fizichesky Dispositif de commutation de circuits electriques
EP0068133A2 (de) * 1981-06-12 1983-01-05 Wilhelm Ruf KG Schaltanordnung mit einem elastischen Schaltelement
EP0068133B1 (de) * 1981-06-12 1985-08-14 Wilhelm Ruf KG Schaltanordnung mit einem elastischen Schaltelement
EP0084331A1 (en) * 1982-01-18 1983-07-27 Mechanical Enterprises, Inc. Controlled floating contactor switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1505976A (fr) 1967-12-15
DE1540620A1 (de) 1970-01-08
NL6616662A (xx) 1967-06-23
BE691625A (xx) 1967-06-22
SE309802B (xx) 1969-04-08
CH448212A (de) 1967-12-15
GB1114968A (en) 1968-05-22
AT261715B (de) 1968-05-10

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