US1110599A - Means for starting vapor-converters in series. - Google Patents

Description

P. H. THOMAS.

MEANS FOR STARTING VAPOR CONVERTERS IN SERIES A'PPLIOATION FILED DEC. 21. 1910.

1',1 10,599. Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

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MEANS FOR STARTING VAPOR CONVERTERS IN SERIES.

' APPLICATION FILED 13170.21. 1910.

1,1 10,599. Patented Sept. 15, 19m

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WITNE88E8: INVENTOR WW aw BY A M y ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY H. THOMAS, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOIBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR STARTING VAPOR-CONVERTERS IN SERIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

Original application filed March 8, 1907, Serial No. 361,266. Divided. and this application filed December 21, 1910. Serial No. 598,577.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERoY H. THOMAS, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Montclair, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Starting Vapor-Converters in Series, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to methods of starting into operation mercury rectifier bulbs or similar apparatus when operated in series.

The invention is more especially useful where for starting purposes a current from a single source is passed through a plurality ofrectifiers in series through a circuit including only metallic conductors and afterward thrown into the vaporv in the various rectifiers to break down the negative elec trode resistance of the main operating negative electrode. This is often accomplished by utilizing in addition to liquid negative electrodes, starting electrodes in cooperative relation thereto, so adjusted as to be in contact with the main negatives in the nonoperating condition of the apparatus. Current from the starting source may then be passed through a circuit including a number of these cooperating pairs of electrodes and by agitation of the container or otherwise a separation may be produced in one rectifier between the negative and starting electrode which will in a suitable system of circuits cause an initiation of normal operation from the main positive electrodes in this rectifier. Direct current then passes through the remaining part of the original circuit and is in the proper direction to break down the negative electrode resistance of the main negative electrode of each of the other rectifiers when, at any convenient time and in any convenient manner, a separation is produced between its starting electrode and the cooperating negative electrode. In many cases, further, it is'customary to utilize separate keepin' alive currents which enter each rectifier iy one or more supplementary positive electrodes. Such current may be obtained in any suitable manner as by a separate transformer energized from the same source. It will thus be seen that where both the above described starting method and the The present invention may be utilized similarly in connection with other methods of keeping alive which require additional electrodes, the essential condition being that the starting and keeping alive circuits shall have a common electrode and the circuits shall be so disposed as not to disturb each other.

I further show modifications of the invention including means of controlling the starting circuits and keeping alive currents. Referring now more particularly to the drawings; Figure 1 shows two converters adapted to be operated in series and to be started by the method above described and at the same time kept alive by current each from a separate transformer winding, this current being controlled by switches, fuses,

and inductances. In connection with these circuits this figure shows automatic means for discontinuing the starting circuits upon the initiation of current in the work circuit. This figure shows also special means for controlling the starting circuit. Fig. 2 shows three bulbs connected in series with a different means of keeping alive and startin circuits together with various methods 0 discontinuing the starting circuits. Fig. 3 shows constant current devices for the circuits of Fig. .2. Fig. 4 shows a single bulb whose negative is kept alive by still a differ: ent organization of circuits. in connection with means adapting this bulb for starting by the method above described. Figs. 5 and .7 show modifications of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6

shows the position of the converter bulbs before starting.

In Fig. 1 the transformer primaries 48 and 48" supply the secondaries 1 and 1 The primary windings in this case may be taken as representing different sources of difi'erent phase, although a common primary may be used as shown for the secondaries 1, 1, 1"

' with the supplementary electrode 9 in Fig. 3. These secondaries supply current to the mercury vapor rectifier bulbs 2 and 2, 3 and 4, and 3 and 4, are positive electrodes, respectively for the bulbs 2 and 2, 7 and 7 are, respectively, their negative electrodes, and 8 and 9, 8 and 9", are, respectively, supplementary electrodes for the bulbs 2 and 2. The transformer secondaries 5 and 5 supply energy for keeping the negative electrodes alive by the method now well known in the art, namely, by passing current alternately through the electrodes 8 and 9 or 8 and 9, with the varying alternations, such current being returned through the electrode 7 to an intermediate point of the secondaries 5 and '5'. The primaries 49 and 49 respectively supply the transformer secondaries 5 and 5, and may themselves be supplied from any suitable alternating source. Current controlling devices such, for example, as impedance coils are shown at 6, 6, 6, 6", for controlling the separate keeping alive current while inductances 12 and 12, maintain the operation over the natural zero point of the supply. ' Fuses 10, 10 and 10, 10, are introduced in the leads to the supplementary electrodes for protection against overloads and switches 11, 11 and 11, 11 for opening these circuits. The two bulbs are connected in series through the coil 15 which is connected by one terminal to the negative electrode of the bulb 2, by the other to the middle point of the transformer secondary 1*. A short-circuiting switch 16 is provided to suppress the action of the coil 15. A resistance 21 through a cut-out 20, controlled by a spring 22, connects the lead of the positive electrode 4 with the supplementary electrode 9, and carries the usual starting current. The resistance 17 in series with the cut-out 19 connects the electrode 7 of the rectifier 2 The switch 18 is provided for short-circuiting the, resistance 17 when the latter is not required. The coil 13 is shown connected by one terminal to the negative electrode 7, of the converter 2" and by the other'electrode/to the work circuit 27. A switch 14 is provided for suppressing the action of the 13. The coils 13 and 15 may either or bot htperform the function of maintaining the flow of current uniform thus bridging the zero tion of the lead devices more uniform. A short-circuiting conductor 40 including a plug switch 23 and switch 26 bridges the load 27 By opening the switch 26 the resistance 24 and inductance 25 are introduced in this circuit. Either the resistance or the inductance may be given a negligible value.

The operation of the circuits of this figure is as follows: In the initial non-operating position bulbs 2 and 2, which are movably mounted, rest in such a position that the mercury in the electrodes 7 and 9 and 7' and 9' make contact. The cut-outs 20 and 19, are closed, since the coil 15, whose magnetism controls these cut-outs is denergized. The right hand half of the transformer secondary 1, upon the application of electrical supply, passes an alternating current through the circuit including the resistance 21, the cut-out 20, the electrode 9, the electrode 7, the cut-out 19, the resistance 17, or the switch 18 according to whether 18 is open or closed, the electrode 9, the electrode 7, the coil 13 or the switch 14, according as 14 is open or closed, the switch 26, or the resistance and inductances 24 and 25, according as 26 is open or closed, the plug switch 23, the conductor 40, back to the I then the transformer secondary 1 will pass current through the positive electrodes 3 and 4, and deliver over the rest of the original starting circuit direct current from the negative electrode 7 in the usual manner in such rectifiers, the operation being maintained over the zero points of the supply by the coil 15 or the coil 13 or by both coils, or sometimes by the coil 25. Now, upon moving the rectifier 2 until a separation occurs between the electrodes 9 and 7, the negative electrode resistance of 7 will be broken down by'the direct current just described which evidently must pass in the right direction for accomplishing this operation, and together with the transformer secondary 1 establish the normal flow of current. Thereupon, the coil 15 energizes the cut-outs 19 and 20 and opens the auxiliary starting con- 5;, be energized, the separate keeping alive appgratus will give stability to the operapoints of the wave and rendering the opera-v .t on."

If the apparatus be suitably designed the switches 11, 11 and 11, 11", may be left in during the starting of the rectifiers, if so desired. Should by an chance the normal current which passes through the negative electrodes 7 and 7 become transferred to 8 or .thefull operating current pas es through the keeping alive transformer which may I then be protected by the fuses. Such transfer is more likely to take placeduring the starting conditions.

The resistance 17 serves the purpose of controlling the startin current which flows after the initiation 0 operation from the electrodes 3 and 4. In some cases this resistance may be dispensed with. Similarly, the resistance 24 and the inductance 25 can be made to control the total starting current and may serve to protect the work circuit 27. In certain cases the resistance 17 performs important functions. When. aplurality of bulbs are operated in series supplying direct current to a work circuit from an alternating current source, including some device for maintaining current constant, there is a tendency for an excessive starting current under certain conditions, for example, after the starting of the first bulb, which evidently short circuits the original starting resistance and withdraws its current controlling power. A constant current alternating supply is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. With such an arangement, adapted to the operation of a plurality of bulbs, the devices depended upon for producing constant current are adjusted to give a certain current with all bulbs operating. If now a single bulb be started alone, the constant current devices will produce therein a current greater than the normal current by a factor equal to the total number of bulbs. Thus, during the starting operation if only one starting resistance be used and this in connection with the firstbulb to be started there may be a considerable excess current flow through the starting circuits beforethe establishment .of normal operation in" the other bulbs. Thus in Fig. 1, resistance 17 is adapted to control starting currents even after the resistance 21 has been cut out by the starting of the bulb 2. The same principle may be applied to three or more bulbs, the temporary starting connection on each bulb including a starting resistance. The resistance 24 may serve the same general purpose as the resistance 17 in certain cases.

It may sometimes be convenient to have the controlling switches 11, 11 and 11 11, open during the initial starting conditions and to have the same automatic apparatus which discontinues the starting connections close these switches and thus apply the supporting power of the keeping alive circuits after the starting period is completed since deleterious action in the keeping alive currents is more likely to happen at this time. This arrangement is shown in Figs. 5 and 7 where coil 15 of Fig. 1, at the same time that it operates the cut-out 19, closes the cooperating pairs of contacts 46 and 47, which take the place of the switches 11 and 11, being connected, respectively, to the electrodes'8,

9, and 8, and 9, and the fuses 10, 10, 10, 10, through the lead wires 45.

In Fig. 2, the transformer secondaries 1, 1 and 1", which may be energized from any suitable primary, normally pass current through the positive electrodes 3 and 4, 3 and 4, 3 and 4 and the coil 13 to the work circuit 27 as described in connection with Fig. 1, while the coils 28, 28, 28, 28, 28, 28 serve to store energy from the supply and discharge the same through the nega-. tive electrodes 7, 7, and 7", for the purpose of steadying the operation of the rectifiers 2, 2, and 2 The resistances 27, 27, 27 27 27 27", serve to control the energy sup-f plied from the transformer secondaries to the coils just mentioned, while the electrodes 8 and 9, 8 and 9 8 and 9? provide a short path for the discharge of these coils during periods of low supply voltage. Since these coils must discharge at the time when the supply is low they bridge the periods when there is a tendency for'the apparatus to cease operating and steady the system. In the starting of this system, which is carried out according to the method described in connection with Fig. 1, current is assed from the right hand half of the trans ormer; secondary 1 through the resistance 27 the electrodes 9 and 7, the cut-out 30 and the conductor 32, the electrodes 9 and 7, the conductors 31 and the plug switch 29, the electrode 9 and 7 the coil 13 through the load back to the transformer secondary 1. In the start-ing condition the rectifiers must be in such a position that the mercury between the pairs of electrodes 7, 9, 7 9, 7 9" are in contact.

The starting position of the rectifiers is shown in Fig. 6, in which as a result of the tilted position of the. container, the electrodes 7 and 9 are joined by the mercury therein. In starting, the containers may be put into the starting position by hand, all but one being held there while the starting of the other is accomplished, and then being allowed to return to the operating position. In this case, the restoring forcemight well be gravity. As before, the repeated movement of the rectifier 2, causing separation between the electrodes 7 and 9 will ultimately start a direct current through the electrode 7 in the manner already described. The other rectifiers may then be started upon direct current. By introducing the coil 41 in the lead to one ofthe positive electrodes, as 4, of the bulb 2", the cut-out 30 may be opened upon the initiation of normal current flow through the bulb 2; thus, deenergizing the starting means for this bulb. Similarly, with any bulb, as, for instance, 2.

Fig. 3 represents the supply circuit for the transformer secondaries 1, 1 and 1 of Fig. 2, the secondaries 1, 1 and 1 pf Fig. 3 represent the similarly numbered arrangements of 2, the primary of these three secondaries is shown at 50. At 51 is shown a variable choke coil which, when controlled by current in 50-and the counter weight 53 through the variable radius lever arm 52, serves to maintain constant current from the supply. This general system is applica ble to the operation of series are lamps and and serves to store energy in the core of the winding 36 from current passing from the supply to the electrode 9 which energy can be dischargedthrough the coil 36 and the electrode 9 to the electrode 7 as already described. By this means, the current taken through the resistance 39 can be much less than by the arrangement of Fig. 2, since by properly proportioning the coils 36'and 37 the current in 37 may be made less than that in 36 which has a minimum effective value in virtue of the qualities of the negative electrode 7. Otherwise, the apparatus of Fig. 4 operates as described in connection with Fig. 2. The means whereby the containers are 7 made movable are indicated in several figures by the knife edges 54, 54, or the trunnions 55 and 55.

It is not intended that this invention shall be limited to the specific organization of circuits shown in connection with the figures, but is applicable to any modifications thereof involving the central idea of a common use of electrodes for starting series operated bulbs with the alternating and direct current and for separate keeping alive purposes.

This application is a division of my Patent 984,248, February 14, 1911.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination with three serially connected mercury vapor rectifiers, a work circuit, an alternating supply, and connections between said rectifiers and between said rec-' tifiers and said work circuit, ofastarting circuit for one of said rectifiers connecting the cathode of a second rectifier to a starting electrode in said first'named rectifier, a shunt around the third rectifier and a starting electrode with connection to the supply in each of said first named and said third named rectifiers.

2. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination with three serially connected mercury vapor rectifiers, a work circuit and connections between said rectifiers and between said rectifiers and said work'. circuit,

of a starting circuit for one of said rectifiers connecting the cathode of a second rectifier to a startin electrode in said first named rectifier, a shunt around the third rectifier and a starting electrode with connection to the supply in each of said first named and said third named rectifiers and cut-outs in said starting circuits.

3. In a system of electrical distribution the combination with a plurality of serially connected rectifiers, each comprising an exhausted container, main anodes, a cathode and a starting anode therein, an alternating supply for each rectifier and a connection from said source to said starting anode, of starting means comprising shunts to all but one rectifier and means for interrupting said shunts in succession.

4. In a system of electrical distribution the combination with a plurailty of serially connected rectifiers, each comprising an exhausted container, main anodes, a cathode and a starting anode therein, an alternating source for each rectifier and a connection from said supply to said starting anode, of starting means comprising shunts to all but the first of the rectifiers and automatic means for opening said starting shunts.

5. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination of a plurality of vapor electric rectifiers, each comprising an exhausted container, main anodes and a main cathode therein and a starting electrode, a work circuit, connections between said rectifiers and between said rectifiers and said work circuit, a connection between a starting electrode of one rectifier and its source of current and a shunt on another rectifier connecting the cathode of said first named rectifier to the starting electrode of said second named rec-- 6. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination with a plurality of vapor rectifiers, each comprising an exhausted container, main anodes and a cathode therein and two supplementary electrodes therein, an alternating source 'for each rectifier, connections from the source to the main anodes and from the main anodes through resistances to the supplementary electrodes and connections between said supplemental electrodes and said cathode, serial connections between said rectifiers and a work circuit fed thereby, of starting means consisting of means permitting separate tilting of the several rectifiers producing contact between the cathode and one of the supplemental electrodes, shunts around all but one of the rectifiers connecting one of its contacting supplemental electrodes with the cathode of the prior rectifier and means for opening said shunt-s.

7. In a system of electrical distribution in combination with a plurality of serially operated mercury vapor rectifiers, each comprising an exhausted container, main anodes and a cathode, and supplemental anodes therein, an alternating source for each recti: fier, a Work circuit and connections between said work circuitand said rectifier, keeping alive circuits for said rectifiers individually and a separate starting circuit for a rectifier comprising a connection between the supply and a supplemental anode separate from 10 and in addition to the keeping alive circuit for said rectifier and a cut-out in said additional circuit.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 20th day of December, A. D. 1910.

PERCY H. THOMAS.

\Vitnesses:

\VM. H. CAPEL, THos. H. BROWN.

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