US960626A - Electric switch for incandescent-lamp circuits. - Google Patents

Description

W. B. CROSSLAND. ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR INCANDESCENT LAMP CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1909. 960

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented June 7, 1910.

A are I 4 v 9W 1 w tlmmm l v vbvwaaw W. B. GROSSLAND. ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR INGANDESOENT LAMP CIRCUITS APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1909.

960,626. Pa ented June 7, 1910.

I 3 S.HEETSSEEBT 2.

IHHH M' g wane sow W. B. CROSSLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR INCANDESCENT LAMP CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1909.

Patented June 7, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3f 5 t Willlamli. C7088 Q qbi/tneoow Lamp Circuits, of which the following is a current up to normal voltage or gradually ment, 'due to the sudden expansion, incident of these violent jerks and UruTEr) STATES P T NT OFFICE.

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Specification of To allwhom it-may concern:

Be it known that I, 'W-I'LLIAM B. Cross lamina citizen ofthe United States, residing at De Soto, in the county of Jefferson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Electric 'Switch for Incandescentspecification.

This invention relates to'an electric switch of that type which, after being set in motion, with automaticall cut resistance into 'or out of circuit so 5 to gradually bring the reduce it to zero. 1

The principal objectof the present inven-' tion is the revision of a novel switch of this t pe wiich is especially adapted for incan escent lamp circuits whereby the full voltage of the lighting-circuit cannot be sud-' denly impressed upon the lamps but, on the contrary, the voltage is gradually brought up to normal to thereby permit the filaments of the lamps to more or less slowly heat, with the result that l'helife of the filament and the brilliancy thereof is maintained to the greatest possible extent.

In the operation of tungsten incandescent lamp circuits, I have noticed the overshot in the lamps, and found, upon investigation, that the filament, when cold, is of very low resistance and the sudden throwing on of the normal one hundred and ten volts causes a very sudden jerk or movement of tlie'filato the heating effect of the. current. The filaments, if imperfect, cannot stand many soon become broken, and, even with perfect filaments, the life and brilliancy are greatly reduced after a short term of service. Therefore; by a switch as herein oroposed, the current is gradually increase( in voltage in bringing the lamp'circuit into service, and consequently the jerking movement or vibration of the filaments is avoided. The voltage is also gradually reduced from normal to zero when cutting the lamp circuit out of service, which-has the effect to prolon the life and maintain the brilliancy of the amp. v

such and other objects in "iew, as willappear as thedescriptioii proceeds, the

t r P Patented J mi e 7, 1910.

Application am August 9, 909. Serial). 511,994.

parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set ,forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, Figure l is a vertical section of the switclrwithparts in elevation and showing the same in open circuit position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the parts in closed circuit position. Figs. 3 and at are sectional .views of different modified forms of the switch. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a further modified construction. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectionon line 6-6, Fig. 5.

to'designate corresponding parts throughout the views. w

In carrying out the invention, I employ two telescoping receptacles which form ter- "minals between which current is-conducted by a body of liquid contained in the outer receptacle and the inner receptacle is arranged to be gradually submerged bythe entrance of the liquid through an opening "in the bottom, whereby a larger area of the inner vessel is exposed to the liquid during the submerging "movement to increase the conductivity and allow more current to flow through the switch, the principle of the rhcostat butspecifically ditl'erent therefrom in construction. i

In the first form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2,1 designates an enter metallic vessel which is open at its. top and contains a bodyof liquid 2 such .asavater, and movableverticallyin this vessel Lis an inner inetallic'vessel 3 which can be gradually sunken in orraised out ofithe body of water .3. The metallic vessels are connected, respectively, with, condnctors 4 and 5, the latter of which is flexible. so as to permit the inner vessel to rise and fall. These conductors are connected by a terminal block'G with a lighting circuit 7 having tungsten or other lam s 8 and a source of current 9. Thus, as the inner cylinder is submerged, the current flowing thrt ugh zero to maximum voltage without the injurious eii'e'cts following from the'full voltage turgs ctr-construction and arrangement ofn [being suddenly thrown on he lamp circuit,

switch being similar to an ordinary water the circuit can be gradually brought ironi Similar reference characters are employed .105 according'to the common method ,now'in .use. The inner cylinder is so constructed as to slowly submerge to effect a gradual cutting out of the resistance. For this purpose, the bottom of the inner vessel has an openin 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, throug which the water 2 enters the receptacle and allows the latter to sink, the upper end of the vessel being open to allow theair displaced by 'theentering water to escape.

The opening is of restricted area as compared with the cubical contents of the inner cylinder, so that water will enter slowly to effect gradual diminution in the buoyancy of the cylinder. The dead weight of the inner cylinder is constant at all times, and

hence as the buoyancy decreases, the cylinder will gradually submerge more and more. By properly adjusting the size of the opening, the time required for the submerging of the inner vessel can be varied as desired,

according to the requirements. In order to prevent contact of the inner with the outer vessel during the opening and closing of the switch, a guide rod 11 is fixed in the outer cylinder in the axial or 'cent er line thereof and this guide rod passes through the inlet opening 10 to thereby prevent lateral movement of the inner vessel to such an extent as to preventshort-circuiting by direct con tact between the vessels. The two vessels are provided attheir upper ends with contact rings 12 and 13 whlch engage when the switch is completely closed so that current will not have to pass through the water. The inner vessel has a bail 14 to which is connected a suspending cable 15 that passes over guide .pulleys loand is equipped with a weight 17. This weight is slightly heavier than the inner vessel, sothat it will gradually raise the latter out of I the water during the owning movement of the switch. The switch is held open by the weight 17, and when it is desired to close theswitch, the pull of the weight is removed from the movable element of the 'switch by placing the weight on a hook l8, the-weight aving an eye 19 for receiving the hook. When the weight is thus hooked up, the movable element is adapted to fall and lowers into the liquid at a rate depending upon the rate of the flow of the water into the movable eleinent through the opening thereof, until the element reaches closed circuit position, as shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that the .efiective submerging weight of the movable element as compared with its dead weight, gradually increases in accordance with the increasing buoyancy and hence causes the closing of the switch, while the pull oi" the weight 17, when exerted on the cord or cable 16, opens the switch. This pull cannot raise the element suddenly out of the vat-.1 because the counterbalance weight is so proportioned to the combined weight of the inner cylinder and the water -that is held therein, that it can exert only a gradual pull on the inner cylinder, and this pull-exerted bythe counterbalance weight uniformly increases because the waterin the inner cylinder becomes less and less, and

hence the total weight uniformly diminishes.

It. will thus be seen that the inner cylinder constitutes, in a unitary structure, a resistance element or conductor of'current and a device for retarding the movement in-bot-h directions, so that the switch can'be neither suddenly opened nor closed. When it is desired to close the lamp circuit, which is open when the switch is 1n the positionshown in Fig. 1, it is merely necessary to )lace the weight 17 on the hook 18. The inner vessel 3 at the same time moves downwardly in thevessel 1 until it encounters the water, when its movement is retarded. As soon asthe contact with the water is made, a weak 'curi-ent passes through the circuit, but not suiiicient to cause excessive expansion or Vibration of the lamp filaments. The inner vessel continues to descend as the water enters through the opening 10 thereof, whereby a greater surface contact is produced between the said vessel I and water to thereby gradually increase the flow of current. \Vhen the descending movementot the vessel 3 ceases, the contact rings 12 and 13 will be in engagement as shown in Fig.2, so that current of normal voltage will pass through the lighting circuit. In this manner, the filaments are allowed to gradually heat and glow' until the normal brilliancy is attained. Vhen the circuit is to be opened, the weight is removed from' the hook 18 and allowed to hang by the cord 25, whereby a tension is exerted on the latter to raise the inner vessel out of the water.- lhis tension, however, is not much greater than the resistance offered by the inner vessel and water, so that the upward movement of the latter is gradual, with the result that the conductivity is more and more decreased until finally the circuit is opened by the inner vessel leaving the water. Of course, during this upward movement of the inner vessel, the water therein flows out through the opening or port 10.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, the' movable element 3' of the switch is provided with a coating oi porcelain, enamel or other non-conducting material 20 which is so applied as to leave a V-shaped portion 21 of the metal vessel 3 exposed to contact with the water contained in the outer vessel 1. The vertex of this V-shaped portion is at the bottom, so as to make initial contact with the water, and as the inner vessel descends, more and more area is exposed to the water and greater conductivity is provided. Thisarrangement provides for a finer gradation in the cutting out of the resistance from the circuit. The enamel 21 prevents short-circuiting of the: switch by accidental contact between the 'tw o vessels, and the guide rod 11 in the first form of the invention can be dispensed with.

Referring to Rig. 4, the movable element 3" is provided with a.winding of insulated wire'22 wrapped around the outside thereof and which ,has its lower end connected with a fixed teri' inal piece 23 that is spaced from another fi. ed terminal piece 24 which, like the other, fis secured to the bottom of the vemel 3' The terminal piece 24 is con.- nected with the flexible conductor 25 which has'its outer end connected with the binding post 26 for the wire 4. This fleirible conductor 25 is of sufficient length to permit the inner vessel to descend into the outer vessel without'interference. The wire 22 has its upper end connected with the binding post 27 to which the wire 5'is attached. This resistance is cutinto circuit prior to the metallie vessel 3 because the terminal ieces 23 are nearest the water. Hence, as t 1e inner vessel 3" descends, the water between the terminal. pieces 23 and 24 will form a bridgin conductor-and the initial flow of current wil take place through the resistance wire 22. As the vessel descends into contact with the water, current will flow through the vessel also, and when the switch is finally.

closed, the wire and vessel will be short-circuited, because of the current passing through the contact rings 12 and 13. By the use of the resistance coil 22, the range of the switch can be increased. The vessel 3" is constructed with" a bottom opening for admitting water and for receiving the guide rod 28 secured within the outer casing 1.

In Figs. 5 and (3', which show a construction that in some cases might be the preferred form of the invention, the currentconducting liquid 30 is arranged in a jar 31 which 18 preferably of glass so that the' liquid can-be observed to notethc evaporation from time to time, and thus enable the attendant to replenish the liquid as needed for maintainingthe normal level. The submergible metallic vessel 32, which forms one element of the switch, carries the. other element 33. The vessel 32 is constructed of inner and outer cylindrical shells forming an annular chamber which is closed at the bottom except for one or more ports 34 through which the liquid enters for gradually sink: ing the vessel. The element 33 is insulated from the shells of the vessel 32 in any suitable manner, as for instance, by blocks of insulation 35. The inner element is connected by a flexible conductor 36 with the binding st 37 on a contact ring 38 supported on-the ar 31. The vessel 32 is in electrical connection with a contact ring 39 to which a flexi ble conductor 40 is connected. These conductors 36 and 40 are connected with'opposite sides-of an'eleetric circuit and current passes from one element of the switch to the other through the liquid when the vessel is submerged therein. By lowerin the vessel 32 into the liquid, the vessel gradually sinks by reason of'the liquid entering the .port 34, and as soon as the liquid contacts with both elements, a weak current flows through the circuit and this' current becomes stronger and stronger, as more and more surface of the element is exposed to the liquid. \Vhen the vessel is fully submerged, the ring 39 will engage the ring 38 and thereby short-circuit the liquid and elements. The 'essel is suspended by a cord &1 guided on p'u1leys42 and provided with a counterbalancing weight 43. .This weight is insuh'icient to raise the .vessel out of the jar 31, and in order to do this,'a supplemental weight 44 is attached to the weight weight t t is suspended by a. cord 4'5' froma...hook 46. When it is desired to open the switch, the

weight 44 is suspended on the weight 43 so that.both' will besufiicient to gradually lift the vessel 32 out of the jar 31. When the switch is closed, the weight 44; is, of course, detached and can hang on its own cord or be suspended on the book 47,

- From the :foregoing description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings,

the advantages of the oonstructionand of the method of operation willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I havedescribed the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shownis merely illustrative,

and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Ina switch of the class described, a. combined current resistance and device for retarding the opening and closing movement of the switch, such resistance and device consisting of a hollow structure havin a restricted opening through which liquid passes into or out of the structure during the closing 9r opening of the switch.

2. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a circuit, with a resistancevarying device connected therewith, said device including a receptacle adapted to hold vessel t rough the said opening. 15

-- structure movable intoand out of'the liquid structure formed of metal to serve as a redecreasingthe buoyancy and cause submerging of the structure. 3. In a variable resistance switch, the combination of a vessel adapted to hold a current-conducting liquid, a'combined movable switch element and retarding device comprising a l IOllOW structure open at its top and having a restricted opening in its-bottom'to permit liquid to pass into and out of the structure as the same moves into and out i of the vessel, and a device for gradually lift- 1 ing the structure out of the vessel while the liquid asses out of the structure into the 4. In a variable resistance switch, the combination of a liquid-containing vessel, :1 conductor movable into and out of the liquid for varying the currentflow through the circuit to which the switch is connected, said conductor constructed to automatically retard the submerging movement, and -a weight which is inactive during the submerging movement of the conductor and is operatively connected with the latter to withdraw it from the liquid automatically to open the switch.

-5. A variable resistance switch comprising a liquid-containing vessel, a chambered and having .an opening to permit liquid to pass into and out of the chamber, contacts arranged to engage each other when the structure is submerged to its fulles't extentto shortecircuit the liquid in the vessel, and a weight adaptedto exert a pull sufficiently greater than the combined weight of the structure and liquid therein as to gradually remove the structure from the liquid.

6. A switch of the class. described, comprising vessels open at their tops and mount ed for relative movement one within the other, the-inner-vessel having an opening for admitting liquid contained in the outer vessel during-the submerging of the inner "essel, conductors connected with the vessels; and contacts arranged one on the inner vessel and one on the outer vessel to engageeach other when the switch is closed to short-circuit the current from the vessel.

7. A variable resistance switch comprising a vessel containing a current-miniucting liquid, a hollow vesselof greater specific gravity than the liquid-and serving as a current resistance, said vessel having an opening for permitting liquid to enter therein at a. predetermined rate for submerging the vessel, and a device brought into operation to open the switch and arranged to exert an upward pull on the inner vessel of" such power as to efl'ecta gradual withdrawal of the vessel from the liquid.

8. A variable resistance switch comprising a. liquid-containing vessel, a chambered sistance and having a restricted opening in its bottom to permitli uid to pass mto and out of the structure, said structure being of for supporting the weight to relieve the pull thereof from the structure in the closing of the switch.

. 9.A variable resistance switch comprising aliquid-containing vessel, a resistance movable into and out of the vessel and.having a buoyancy which automatically. decreases as the resistance moves automatically into the vessel, and a device manually set into operation for exerting a pull of gradually increasing strength to solely withdraw the resistance from the liquid.

10. A variable resistance switch comprising a liquid-containing vessel, a chambered resistance movable into and out of -the liquid and having an opening through which liquid passes into and out of the chamber, and a counterbalance device consisting of separate weights, one of which is less than the weight of the resistance and both of which are greater than the weight of the resistance and the water contained therein when the resistance is in closed circuit position for 11. A switch of the class described comprising separate elements connected with the opposite sides of a circuit and adapted to be brought. into conducting relation by a body .of current-comlucting liquid, one of the elements being in the form of a hollow ing a hollow metallic element submergible.

in a body of currcnt-conducting liquid and having a restricted port through which the 'llqtlld enters or discharges for permitting the gradual sinking or raising of the element, and a circuit connected with the switch and through which it gradually increasing or decreasing current flows during the movement of the element.

13. A switch of the class described. including a hollow metallic element. opcnat. its

top andhaving a permanently open port of restricted area compared wit-lithe cubical contents of the element in its bottom, a container for a cuwent-conducting liquid in which the element gradually sinks as liquid enters the port, and means for connecting the switch with an electric circuit.

14. A switch of the class described, includarranged to engage each other when the eleing a hollow metallic element open at its ment has reached the limit of its submerging a port in its bottom and movement for short-circuiting the liquid.

- constructed-of inner and outer shells spaced In testimony, thatl, claim the foregoing 5 from each other, a container for a currentas my'own, I havehei'eto ifiixed my signaconducting liquid in which the element. ture in the presence of two witnesses. gradually sinks as liquid enters the port, WILLIAM BLAGKNELL-CROSSLAND, means for connecting the switch. with an Witnesses: electric circuit, and contacts carried respec- Roii'r. B. MUNROE,v

1o tively by the said element and container and top 4 and havin FRANK L. LONG.

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