USRE16087E - Switch - Google Patents

Description

L. A. M. PHELAN may 2s, 192s.

SWITCH -Oxjginal Filed Aug. 20. 1920 1 orignial No.' 1,471,199, dated 'l To all 'whom it lmay concern:

l Reimea Maly ze, `1925'. t y Y,

' UNITI-:o srATcs PATENTOFFICE.

LOUIS A. 111. PB ELAN, or BELOIT, WISCONSIN, AssIGNOR `:roljniasontr'rr. coNf'rAc-'ro'nf CORPORATION, A oonrom'rIoNOF ILLINOIS.

reissue led. March 16,

Be it known that LLOUIs A. M. PHEIAN, a citizen of thefUnitedStates, residing in Beloit, vWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates toelectrical switches and it has special reference to electrical con-- tact making devices comprising spaced electrodes that are sealed into a closed hermetically sealed container and are adapted to be brought into electrical contacting relation with one another-through the agency of a movable conducting. body, preferably a fiuid such as mercury, which is also disposed in said container that, uoon.- being tilted, is instrumental in Aperforming the circuit closling and circuit opening functions between the 'electrodes and the mercury comprised in the device. l

More particularly my invention refers to an electrical contactor device of the character indicated which will operate for long periods of time and serve to make and break comparatively large amounts of current at commercial voltage without undergoing dei v terioration.

My present v,invention pertains to an elecf trical contactor device as described above which, if desired, may comprise a cylindrical elongated `tubular member,pr`eferably in i tthe form of a hermetically sealed glass lcgntainer that'serves to house the electrodes and a of conducting fluid such as mercury, the latterf being adapted'to bridge the elec-` trodes within thetubular member. The tubular member isl normally disposed upon a suitable supporting structure so that it may be tilted in' either of-two.` directions and thus y allow the conducting fluid to flow into and out of circuit making and openingpositions with the electrodes.

dicated. means for suppressing or' eliminatk ing thearcing and for preventing deteriora'.'r

tion or corrosion' of the contacting parts. A further object ofthis invention is( to provide a particular lform of container for ai contactor device 4of the" type indicated umher 1e, 192s, serial No. 404,913, mea August 2O. 1920.

in a contactor device of the v.type above iii-- Re. 16,087 i SWITCH.

Application for 1925, Serial No. 16,068. y

form size, of regular configuration, and high heat absorbing capacity, the contactors may lbe subjected to service conditions without deterioration and, moreover, may be reproduced with uniformity lthereby ensuring their interchangeability and'uniform action in the making and breaking of the electric circuit when the contactor is tilted through the same degree.

fro

A still further object of this invention is l. to provide a contactor device of the type'me `dicatedthat will be simple and-.economical to'v construct and which will possess a long life even when subjected to considerable quantities of electric current and relatively high voltages.

An illustrative embodiment of the inventionisshown in the accompanying draw,

ings, in which-- v F ig. lfis a front elevation of an assentiblage of amercury switch mounted on a tilting'lever or. holder within a h ousing receptacle, the cover of which is removed, and

the switch being in its open circuit position.

`sectional Vview along the line v3 is a vertical axial sectional view-of f' Fig. 2 is a one rm ofa mercury switch embodying `-my invention.

Fig. 4 shows `three steps in a process of making one form of large contact-making surface terminals that may be disposed in .the glass mercury tube of Fig; V3. The electrodes are hermetioally sealed'in wallsfof the-tubular cally sealed receptacle 1 having a pair of' spaced terminals or electrodes 2 .and 3 and a liquid conductor 4 which only partly fills the spacewithin the receptacle. The chamvber in the receptacle 1 is'substantially. free "-'of air but contains an atmosphere of inert "gas, "This, in combination with the liquid conductor 4, are -the only contents of the chamber except the electrodes. lhave I found that the inclusion of other materials,

4 \in tubular form with its ends tacle is suitably moved or tilted., The wa `of the receptacle 1 are composed of dielectric material, preferably lass, andcomprise an elongated cylindricalgbod vpart 6 made and 8 'tightly and hermetically sealed and-provided with conductive terminal caps "9 and 10 respectivel that embrace said body'part and from` which 12 extend to the interior of the chamber, said conductors or leading-in wires 11 and leading-in wires being hermetically 'sealed in the glass wall thereby ensurin Vthat the containerwillremain substantial y perma.

nently hermeticallysealed when the con 4'tactoris subjected to service conditions.

' although suiiicientl The leading-in wires 11 and 12 where they extend through the walls ofthe container are of a relatively small cross sectional area, large to conduct .the electricl current wit ut reaching a danger'- ously `thigh temperature. The leading-in i f wires wheretheyare hermetically sealed in c lgpgs.sectional area, are To 4114@ 'L- .become un uly eatedand thereby crack or the glass' container, by assessing, small fpsmall heatconca aci `gand so the seals will not break. Ihe leading-in wires 11 and 12 support at their inner ends the electrodes 2 and 3 respectively, whichA are spaced from eachv other longitudinaliA -of the containerand are disposed'at oneen thereof. The electrodes l '2 and 3 are positioned in proximity to the longitudinal axis of the container but not n w: rily on the axis .thereof but in the centra] portion of the container.l Thispermits a small quantity of mercur ,4. to be used in thefcontactor which. grea y enhances the lightness of the contactor andpermits it to be used inV conjunction with mechanisms which are operated b stitutesfga concentrated mass which readily absrbsllthe heat generated bythe sparks obtaininggthen the electric circuit is made and broken'thereat.v Moreover, the electrodes 2 and 3- by severally possessing a concentrated mass,limit the area over which sparks may obtain and, therefore, thevelectric sparks' that may occur at the making'nd breaking ofthe electric circuit are confined within a small re 'on because of the limited area possessed y each ofthe electrodes.- AThe electrodes 2, and 3, by-being positioned at small quantities of' energy Each of the e ectrodes 2 and 3 conmoet one end of the container, ensure that both of the electrodes are not under the influence of the body of mercury 4-when the electric circuit through the contacter is opened. Moreover, in this circumstance, the body of mercury` 4 is removed from proximity to the electrodes 2 and 3 thereby ensuring the maximumv insulating strength of ythe contactor when the circult is opened. `For instance, if the contactor is tilted so that the body of mercur 4 is removed from proximit tothe' electro es 2 and 3 that are dispose at one end`of the'container, thebody of mercury will bein theneighborhood of the other end of the container` t ereby completely insulatingthe electrodes 2 and 3 from each other.

B y reason of vthe electrodes 2 and 3 being spaced from eachother longitudinally of the container, as the mercury 4 moves to, circuit closing position, it first contacts with the electrode 3 andthenfwith the electrode 2. The electric circuit is therefore made between the mercury 4 and the electrode 2 which ensures that the electric arc will be confined to at least one electrode andthe mercury, the

action thereby.' minimizing the arc. When the circuit is opened, it is broken again between the mercu y same'condition hhtains, namely, the circuit is broken between one-electrode and the receding body ofmercury which stretches out the arc andextinguishes it. The electrode 2 is spaced a 'sufficient distance from the thin\wall ofthe glass.: container to pre'- clude the-'electric arcs from breaking` the glass wall'. When the circuit-between the electrode is open, both electrodes are free from the influence of the body of mercury which has receded from them and` the full insulating value o f the spark vgap 5 then exists between the two spaced electrodes. y

Each of the end caps 9 and 1() 'is secured to the glass tube bymeans ofl a high-grade and durable cement 13, vwhich preferably may be composdof-litharge and glycerine.

the conductors 11 and 12 bfy the application .t

T he outer ends of may be secured in place of solder 14 at each end heswitch.

In order that theelectrode 3 ma 'beisupported with a `fair degree of rigi ityl at or and one electrode and the I adjacent to the main axis .of the switch-,the

corres onding end' of the tube may be,

forme with'an inward tubular projection 15 and the terminal lead 12 is se ed the closed ,inner end .thereof ,at .16., As thus mounted, the -electrodes2 and 3. are dis? posed in axial alinement concentric with the tube 6 and are e ually's aced' from the walls en all sides.- T e lea mg-in wires 114v and 12dprojectexteriorlyfrom. the tube -at its en s.

'Ihe switchun'it 1 as ai .whole is of a cartridgelike shape and isinterchangeable with similar switches in the supporting structure rac no latter possessing a rectifying or suppressing "l 4 the switch isvhorizontally substantially in the manner b whic cartridge fuses are mounted. W en the switch 1 is placed in service, the end caps 9 and 10 fit into correspondin spi-ing'l clips" 17 'as shown in Figs. l and 2. In one position (Fig. 5) of the switch, the electrodes 2 and 3 are bridged by the lmercury 4, but when positioned (Fig.

3) or is reversely tilted (Fig. 1., dotted lines) l` `removable cover 21. handle or`lever arm 22 projectmgthrough. the casing aperture 23 by which the 'tilting` tend from the clipsA 17 to fixed terminal the mercury flows away from the electrodes and the external circuit is consequently opened. v

Tilting ma be effected and controlled in variouswa s, but in the forni here shown the clips 1 'aresecured to a hard rubber base 18 which in turn is pivoted Vat 19 to the back wall oia protective case 20 having a The base 18 has a is controlled. Flexible leads 24 and 25 exblocks 26. From thence leads '27 extend to the outside of the casing 20 through vanv -aperture28. p

One methodv of constructing the switch is' as follows: The tube 6 having been formed and the electrodes 2 and 3 having been secured iny place by hermetically1 sealing them in the glass and the `bodyjof mercury 4 having been supplied, the tube togetherwith a 4 may be inserted, vhausting the air numberv of smaller tubes each provided with an outstanding tubular steinl .(not shown) and being connected in tree form as understood-inthe artVare exhausted by means of a vacuumi pump, after which an inert gas may be introduced and the tube hermetically sealed, the temporary connection or stein 'being removed. The sealing-off tip isv shown at 29. The bdy of mercury either before or after-expre'ferably before.

inert gas serves o assist in suppressing the sparks'and results in a prolonged Alife of thev terminals. other materials or chemicals are to be con- It is to be understood that no tained within the container except the mercury, the electrodes .and the inert gas, all of which are substantially non-deteriorating in the presence of aware that li uids, such as alcoholydistilled water and ot er liquids have been used in connection with mercuryswitches with the expectation that such liquids would serve,

as a lubricant forI the body .of mercury whereby it would slide with minimum frictional resistance. on the glass Wall of the container or with the expectation that the' liquids would assist in suppressingthe arcs.

'But in such mercury switches the' additional liquids cause deterioration in avery short time, thereby rendering the switchestotallly inoperative under service conditions.

The electrodes' 2 and 3 may be formed as illustrated by the three steps shown in Fig.

The i an electric arc. v'I am 4., One wayvof forming an electrode is to take a piece of suitable wire and first form a spiral lat one end asshown at 30. Then bend back the straight free end and thread it through the coil, as shown at 31. Then place the coil in the die 32 having a cylindrical cup-like aperture 33 with a central perforation 34 at the bottom for the wire. end 35. Then pull the wire end 35 tightly, thereby securely setting the coil he-ad 36 on the end of the wire. y v

It is essential that the electrodes 2 and 3 be of concentrated mass, aswell as of regular configuration in order "that the electrodes will'not deteriorate when the electric sparks obtain, and in order that the contactors, when made; willbeinterchangeable and uniform in their action. Therefore, when the term electrode is mentioned, I mean that the electrode'shall be of concentrated mass, be Iliade of a material havin a high -heat absorptivity, and be *ofl regu ar configuration.

If the electrodes 2 and 3 were enlargements onlyv of the sort that might be provided by fusing melted metal or Vthe like upon the ends ofthe leading-in'wires, these electrodes would not possess a regular conlliguration, nor would they be capable of being produced in uniform sizes. Their ex- 95' posed surfaces would be irregular, Afilled with pits or the likeand be exceedingly rough. The sparks then obtaining at the electrodes would burn oil'- the. 1projections and cause rarid deterioration o the contacter.

' he leading-in wires 11 and 12 may be composed yof a different material than that of-which the electrodes are@ composed, but it is essential that the leading-in wires be made ofsuc'h material that substantiallypermanently hermetical seals with the glass container are ensured throu hout the life of the contactor, because the a mission of air into the contactor would render it useless. I have found that certain nickel iron alloys may be used as leading-in wires which pro- -vide seals of theI aforementioned character.

Therefore, where leading-in wires `are mentioned, it is understood that these must be of such material that substantially. permanentl hermetical seals are ensured throughout t e life of the contactor.

The inert gas being preferably under pressure provides a high resistance gap between the electrodes 2 and 3. In operation, the mercury and inert gas conduct the heataway from the electrodes and dissipate the h'at so that excessiveV concentration of heat at the` electrodes is avoided, even -on moderate overloads. The leading-in wires,- as mentioned above are also ofsinall heat conductingrca pacity inv lorder that the glass seals made therewith will not become 'unduly heated. l

Although but one specific embodiment of 'this inventiony has been herein shown and iii ing from the spirit and scope of this inven-4 tion as defined bythe following claims. li Iclaim:

l 1. An electrical contactor comprisin an hermetically sealed tubular lass contalner, a pair of spaced electrodes isposed at one l"end thereof and between which the electric 1l circuit is adapted vto be made and broken, a leading-in. wire fixed to and independently supportingeach ofsaid electrodes, and-'a body of conducting fluid for bridging said electrodes at predetermined times, said leading-inwires extending to the exterior of said container and being permanently hermetically sealed in the walls thereof, the end of said container furthest from said elec- A trodes being. de ressed inwardly andextend-4 ed in tubular orm towards said electrodes and one of saidleading-in wires extending through said inwardly depressed end and c hermetically sealed in the inner end thereof. 2. An electrical contactor comprising an hermetically sealed tubular glass container, a reentrant integral tubular closure at one 'end of'said container and extending longitudinally toward the other end, thereof, a pair .v of s aced electrodes within-said other end of 30- sai container leadin -in wires for said electrodes, said leading-1n wires being permanently hermetically sealed `in the container wall and one of said leading-in wires extending through said reentrant closure, and

j a pair of metalliccaps fitted upon and cemented respectively to the o posite ends of said container and electrica said -1eading-in wires.

'.hermetica'lly sealed container`,`fa pair of electrodes positioned at onejend of said con- "tainerand spaced from each other longitudinally of the container, leading-in wires .hermetically sealing the container and con nectedv-to said electrodes, and a body of mei'- an breakv the electric circuit thereat atpre rdetermined times,said electrodeseat ration, and `said leading-in wires where sealed in the walls of said container possessring relatively small cross sectonsand small eat conducting capacities.

4. An electrical contactor Qomprisin air evacuated hermeticall a pairof electrodes of substantial mass positioned centrallyat one end of said container and spaced from each other longitudinallyof' the container, leading-ih wires lhermetcally sealing the container andvconnected tor said electrodes `at points .spaced from the walls of saidoontainer, said leading-in wires having cross sectional areas relatively small with -res'pect to said electrodes,

in said container'nnt occupied by said electrodes and'mercury, said inert gas servlng to y connected to 3. An'electrical contactonncomprising an .tainer and an enlarged head of regular concur forJbridging said electrodes t'o make "of- A'asubstantial,concentrated mass, of `high absorbing capacity and of regularconfigusealed container,

manently hermetically sealed in the wa ofl `concentrated mass Vand re a body of mercury movable'in said container for making and breaking the circuit at said electrodes, and aninert gas filling the 'space I0 conduct -heat awayfromsaid electrodes.

5. In a device of the character described, an elongated hermeti'cally sealed receptacle containing a body of mercury, an electrode member near one end thereof, said electrode member comprising an enlarged head of sub,- stantial concentrated mass, lof high heat absorbing capacity and of regular configuration. at which said body of mercury serves to make and break an electric circuit at predetermined times, said head` being spaced centrally inthe container and from the walls thereof, and a relatively thin leading-in wire for said enlarged head which is hermeticall sealed in thewall of the ,container and of re 85 small cross sectional'area. i

fluid type contactorswitch comprising a body o conducting, liquid, -and electrode terminals formaking and -breakin ,an electrical circuit with said body of contlct-v V ing liquid at predetermined times, one of the terminals comprising a wire, having an enlargement at thev end thereof formed by tightly eoiling a portion of said Wire.

` 7. mercury switch comprisin a tubular glass container that is hermetic'a y sealed a body of mercury Vin said container, an' leading-in wires hermetically sealed in the wallsof said container, said leadin -in wires having tight set coils of wireon t eir innery 10( ends which coils constitute electrodes havf f ing large'fconcentrated mass, high Iheat absorbing capacity -andlregular configuration.

mercury electric Vswitch comprising an hermetically sealed tubular contamerha 105 body -of .mercury thereixn electrodes sealed in said container and each comprising a f relatively small leadin -infportion that is x j hermetically sealed in t ye wall of said cons 116 heads providing contact-making areas for lsaid body of mercury which is. adapted to make andbreak electrode heads. v

9. A mercury electric switchy comprising an hermetica'lly sealed tubulary container, co-

o erating electrodes at one end thereof the electric circuit at sa/id -w ch are severally provided with. a rela-v I tively small leading-in portion that is r` 85 said container and a terminal"- head of large ar configuration the cooperating terminal eads being s ace from feach other longitudinally of sai convtainer and centrally thereof; a body of lmer- 13 20 terminal head cury movable to and from said terminal.

heads for making and breakin the circuit at said terminal heads, and an lnert gas filling saidcontainer that serves to preclude eX cessive concentration vof heat atisaid terL minal heads. Y

" 10. A mercury electric switch comprising an elongated hermetically sealed glass container, cooperating electrodes disposed at i one end thereof and spaced-from each other lon itudinally of said container and hermetically sealed therein, said electrodes being' provided with terminal heads of large concentrated mass and regular configuration, a body of mercury movable to and from contact with said terminal heads whereat the electricy circuit is made and broken, and an inert gas filling-said container, one of said electrodes being supported adjacent to its a glass shank formed intecontainer.

b l grally with sai 11. Anelectic switch comprising' an hermetic'allyv sealed tubular glass container, a

body of mercury therein, electrodes disposed at one end of said container and spaced from each other longitudinally thereof and from the walls of said container, leading-in wires extending cfrom said electrodes and hermetically sealed through the wall of said container, the terminal heads of said elec trodes being of substantially largeA concentrated mass and of regular configuration to provide electric contact-making areas at said heads and said leading-in Wires for said v heads being of relatively small diameter and low heat conducting capacity, saidbody of mercury being movable to and from contact Withv said terminal heads for making and breaking the electric circuit thereat.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed 40 my name this 13 day of March, 1925.`

Louis A. M. PHELAN.

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