US889566A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

A. A. WOHLAUER. ELECTRIC SWITCH- APPLICATION FILED mm: 25, 1907.

i g a4, A TTOHNEYS 1 fa /i %NTOH L T ALFRED A. WOHLAUER, OF NEW YORK, N. -Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

v No. 889,566.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed June 85, 1007. Both-l No. 880,785.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED A. Won- LAUER, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing in New York, in the borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a s ecification.

This invention re ates to an im roved electric switch or cut-out by which t e spark on. breaking contact is confined in a vacuumtube so that danger of fire and the wearing out of the metallic contacts is prevented and an effective and quickly operated switch obtained. I w

With this end in view, the invention consists in an electric switch or cut-out which embodies contacts mounted so that they 0 pose one another, and a vacuum-tube part y lled with mercury mounted to turn between said contacts and to electrically connect and disconnect thesame.

The invention consists further in other novel features of construction, as will be hereinafter pointed out in the description and claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 re resent front-elevations of my improved e ectric switch or cut-out, showing the samerespectively in position'for closing the circuit, and when the same is broken,

.Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the same through the vacuum-tube, on line 3, 3, Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 4, 4,- Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a detail sideview of the vacuum tube.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresp onding parts throughout the several figures. Referring to the drawings, a represents the foundation-plate of my improved electric switch or cut-out. The foundationplate a is preferably made of orcelain or other suitable insulating materia It is provided with a central depression I) and a raised rim b concentric thereto. At diametrically-op osite points of the rim 1) are arranged, flus with the inner circumference of the rim, metallic contact-plates d, d which are fastened'to the rim by screws (1 or other suitable fastening devices. Across the depression b is placed a vacuum-tube e, which is made of glass, and rovided with metallic caps e at the ends, saig caps having the same curvature as and forming close contact with the contact-plates d, d.

The vacuum-tube e is closed at both ends and provided at each end with an electrode f of c'arbon,tungsten or other suitable material, the electrodes being sealed-in in a manner similar to the electrodes in the wellknown mercury-lamps. The vacuum-tube is partly filled with mercury, after which it is exhausted and sealed in the usual way, the "small tip tin the glass-tube indicating the proper place for the pump-connection. The vacuum-tube e is swiveled at the center by means of ametallic ring e which is insulated from the tube by, a rubber ring 0 The ring c has a thumb-piece h at its upper side for operating the switch while its 0 posite or lower part is provided with a stu or pin h which enters a central socket h in the foundationplate a. Thestud or pin it serves as a pivot and the socket h as a step-bearing for the same.

When the vacuum tube is placed in position in the foundation plate a and its metallic-caps e in contact with the metallic contacteplates d, d, as shown in Fig. 1, the mercury establishes contact between the two terminal electrodes f, so that the circuit is closed. VlThen the vacuum-tube is turned into inclined or vertical position, out of con- .tact' with the diametncally-disposed contact-plates, the up ermost electrode or termina is first move out of the mercury and thereby the contact with the contact-plates interrupted and the circuit 0 ened as no current can then fiow through the unsubmerged electrode. When the vacuum tube is partly turned into inclined position, a small arc 's formed between one electrode at the po'in This,-however, immediately disappears with currents below 0.75amperes, as the vacuum in the'glass-tube prevents the keeping up 'of the arc and neutralizes the spark.

sition, the contact with the contact-plates is entirely interrupted, no current passing through. the vacuum-tube owing to the entirev interruption of the contact of the caps with thecontact-plates on the foundationlate. When the switch is turned back into oriz'ontal position the contact of the caps the mercury and e1ectrodes,'is established, and thereby the circuit closed again with little, if any, sparkin ta 'n'g place.

The advantages 0% m improved electric switch or cut outare where themercury recedes from the electrode.-

with the contact-plates, as well as betweenthat sparking is reduced to a minimum owing to the gradual When the vacuum-tube is in a vertical pobreaking or closing of the circuit,,.and that a verfefiective and easily-operatlng swltchis obtained, es ecially for high tension purposes.

Having t us described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an electric switch or cut-out, the combination, with the opposing contacts, of a mercury-containing vacuum-tube swiveled intermedi'ately of its length to move in the plane of said contacts and arranged to engage at its ends with the latter.

2. In an electric switch or cut-out, the combination, with the opposing contacts, of a swiveled vacuum-tube to establish electrical communication between said contacts, said vacuum-tube being partly filled with mercury and provided with sealed in electrodes, and metallic end-caps to coact with said contacts.

3. In an electric switch or cut-out, the combinatiomwith the o posing contacts, of a vacuum-tube swiveled between the same, said tube being artly filled with mercury f and rovided wit sealed in electrodes, and

meta lic end-caps to coact with said contacts.

4. In an electric switch or cut-out, the combination of a foundation-plate having a socket, contacts mounted at either side of said socket, a mercury-containing vacuumtube to establish electrical communication between said contacts, and a ring embracin said tube and having a pivot turning in said socket and a thumb-piece by which said tube may be turned.

5. In an electric switch or cut-out, the

combination of a foundation-plate having a depression and an upstanding rim encirchng the same, contacts ap lied to the inner surface of said rim at -ametrically opposite points,v and a mercury-containing vacuumtube to electrically connect said contacts swiveled to said plate within said depression.

6. In an electric switch or cut-out, the combination of a foundation-plate, a rim forming a depression at the upper surface of said plate, contacts a plied to the inner surface of said rim, an a mercury-containing vacuum-tube swiveled to said plate within said depression and having end-caps to engage sald contacts.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED A. WOHLAUER.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, FANNIE FlsK.

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