US517401A - Circuit-closer - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

G. E. ALLEN.

GIRGUI'T CLOSER. v No. 517,401. Patented Mar. 27, 1894.

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wimm y%%%- electric circuit closing devices, and it has for its ob ect the provision of a simple, compact 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ELMER ALLEN, Oh SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,401, dated March 27, 1894.

Application filed December 29, 1893. Serial No. 495,097. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES ELMER ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Closers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specificaion.

This invention relates to improvements in and reliable circuit closing device; and the lnvention consists essentially of a key or push button and a mercury contact therefor, whereby a continuous and uninterrupted metallic circuit can be obtained, and it consists of such construction as to be operated by a very slight touch of the finger, yet alwaysinsures a perfect metallic path for the current, uninterrupted by dirt, dust or other defects common to electric keys, such as loose joints and sliding contacts.

The invention further consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawing and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. I

In the drawing the figure is a vertical section of the device showing the relative positron and arrangement of the several parts. A is a receptacle or casing made of cast iron, orany other suitable metal, and is deslgned to hold a small quantity of mercury for a purpose hereinafter described.

b is a piece of hard rubber or other insulating material, and has at one end thereof a flange 1) extending around it, as shown. This hard rubber piece b fits tightly in the receptacle A and is supported therein by the flange b which rests upon the sides or walls a, a, of the receptacle A, as shown. The said rubber piece I) has in it centrally thereof a cylindrical chamber or recess B, and an opening B extending from the said recess through the block, thus making a passage through the said piece I), as shown. Into this chamber or recess is placed a key or push button, the stem of which extends down below the under side of the hard rubber piece into thereceptacle A. When this stem is in its normal position it rests just above the surface of the mercury in the receptacle A, and only enters the mercury when the button to which it is secured is depressed.

The construction of the key is as follows: K is a suitable head made of any non-conducting material, and is provided with a suitable flange or collar is for a purpose hereinafter described. In the under side or bottom of this button is secured a stem 7', preferably of Bessemer steel or copper wire. Surrounding this stem 0" is a spiral spring 8 the upper end of which is passed through an opening in the button and stem and is tightly bound or secured therein by means of a pin 1' in the hole Z. The lower end of the spring is secured to a metallic collar t by means of a binding screw w, or otherwise. This collar fits tightly in the open end of the chamber or recess B, and is provided with a central opening of such size as to permit a free reciprocation of the stem 1' therethrough, and yet be sufficiently tight to prevent the escape of the mercury into the chamber B. On the under side of this collar is a binding screw '0 for securing one end of a wire or other conductor 2 which passes up through a proper opening or channel in the hard rubber and is connected to a binding post 0 on the outer surface thereof, as is apparent.

c is a binding post that passes through the flange 1) down into the wall of the receptacle A, as shown.

This key or push button is fitted into the chamber B, the head k fitting in the opening B and is prevented being pushed out by the flange k which limits its upward movement. The collar 15 is fitted into the end of the chamber B, as described.

M isa suitable quantity of mercury in the bottom of the receptacle A.

The operation of this device is as follows:

A slight pressure on the head of the key causes the stem to enter the mercury in the bottom of the receptacle, thus establishing a metallic circuit without joints or sliding contacts. In this device the metallic circuit would be through the binding post 0, the

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walls or sides a, a, of the receptacle A, mercury M, stem r, pin Z, spring 3, collar 15, wire 2 to the binding post 0'.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination of an electric key or push button consisting of a head, a stem secured therein, a spiral spring surrounding said stem and secured in an opening in the upper end thereof, a collar surrounding said stem and to which the lower end of said spring is secured, whereby the stem, spring and collar become part of one and the same unbroken and continuous metallic circuit, and a contact co-operating with the lower end of the stem as set forth.

2. A circuit closer of the character described consisting of an insulating support or block,

a chamber therein, a key in said chamber consisting of a head, a stem secured therein, a spiral spring surrounding said stem and secured in an opening in said head and the up per part of the stem, a collar surrounding

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