US1676753A - Liquid-flow switch - Google Patents

Description

July 51o, 1928i. 1 1,676,753

' W. R. WALKER LIQUID FLow swIT'cH v Filed April 21, i925 INVENTOR ns ATTORNEY Y I switches of the liquid flow type and particu- Patented July 10, 414928.

UNITED STATES PTNT, 1

WARREN R. WALKER, 0F GREAT KILLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

LIQUID-mow SWITCH.

Appnation mea prix 21, 1925. serial' No. 24,753.

My present invention relates to electric larly to such a switch -wherein is provided means for protecting the wall of the switch envelope proper from the effects of any areing yproduced during the operation of the switch.

In the switch described and claimed below are combined features which permit the making of a compact and durable switch capable of makingY and breaking current paths carrying high amperages and inductive loads.y

In the drawing forming part. of this application:

lFig. 1 is a vertical elevation view in section taken longitudinally through the center of a mercury switch embodying my invention having an outer envelope of vitreous material such as glass and electrodes sealed thereinto at each end, one of which terminates within a cup of vitreous material formed integral with the wall of said cnvelope with vitreous insulating material ex tending over and actually covering the electrode between said cup and the envelope wall, and asleeve of highly. refractory vitreonsmaterial such as fused silica and ada-ptcd io shield the envelope wall from any arcing which occurs during the operation of the switch.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an elec- 'trodecup for the switch and the electrode and cup stem therefor and showing the cup stem proper as being made of a material suitable for the sealing therethrough of the electrode and a cup of mort` highly rc fractory materia-l to withstand the arcing occuring durin the operation of the switch and a grade seal between the stem proper and .the electrode cup, and,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing an electrode cup preferably of the sanie material 'as that of the switchV envelope but having formed along the edge of the opening thereof a rim having an outward drag and a ferrule of highly refractory material such for example as fused quartz formed as an annular chanel with an inward drag or curve on the outer member thereof, the ferrnle being held on the rim of the cup by means of a lsuitable cement between the outwardly drag member of -the cup and the inwardly drag member1 of the ferrule. i

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the sealed envelope 1 as of a boro-silicateglass, has

Y sealed therethrough at one end the electrode 2 asvoftungsten which is covered on that portion thereof which extends into vthe switch and to within a short distance of the inner end by a coating 3 as of a boro-silicate glass which coating is made integral with the wall of the envelope. As shown in the drawing this electrodev preferably extends ydownwardly toward the interior of the switch. The similarly mounted and inclined electrode 4 is'sealed in through the opposite end of the switch and has over the surface of its inner portion a coating 5 of the material of the envelope formed integral with .the envelope l which coating terminates in a cup 6 formed about the inner end of the elect-rode 4 and opening upwardly'into the interior of theenvelope 1. Within the envelope 1 and extending substantially the length thereof about said electrodes is mounted the sleeve 7 of highlyrefractory vitreous material such for example as fused silica.. This sleeve 7 fits fairly closely in the envelope 1 and is slipped thereinto before the drawing down and closing of one end of the envelope. The body of mercury 8 serves for connecting electrodes 2 and 4 and for breaking the path therebetween by flow thereof during the operating of the switch in a manner well known in the operation of this type of switches.

ln Fig. 3 is shown a cup 6' sealed to the 'electrode coating 5 and a graded seal 10.

Said cup 6 yif of a very highly refractory material such as fused silica and the coating 5 is for example of a glass such as borosilicate glass suitable for the sealing-in of a metal such as tungsten of which electrode 4 is made and the graded seal 10 such for example as graded mixtures of fused borates and silicates is provided between the sleeve 5 and the' cup 6 in a manner Well known in the glass working art.

In Fig. 4 is shown a cup 6 as in the switch of Fig. 2, but having formed along the edge of the opening thereof a rim 11which has an outward drag. The cup 6 like rim 11 is preferably made of the same material as the switch envelope 1 shown in Fig. 1 which is in apreferred form.v of boro-silicate. glass,

On'the rim 10 is seated a ferrule 12 which has the shape. of anannulus with an inverted U shaped cross section, the outer member 13 ofvwhich is given an inward drag which b serves together with the outwardly drag rim 11 to lock said ferrule and the cup through the 'medium of alillng 14 of a suitable cement interposed therebetween, such cement bein' for example of fused silver chloride.` 'I e ferrule 12 in the use body of the switch 1, the stem coating and the cup 6 are in some-cases all made of'` a e soft glass such as lime glass. In other vvcases they are allv made of a boro-silicate glass. 4In either case the sleeve 7 is made either of lime glass, boro-silicate glass, or fused quartz with a graded 1seal between the envelope and the cup when they are of different material. Also in some cases I make the cup 6 of borosilicate glass and the envelope 1 of va soft glass such as lime`glass and connect them through a suitable graded seal-in the manner well known in the art. The electrodos 2 and 4 are` in some cases made ,of nickel, or iron, or dumet wire.

' I claim- 1. In a mercury switch having a sealed envelope of glass, electrodes sealed therethrough Aand terminating therein, onel ofy which has mounted about the e'nd thereof a cu of vitreous material opening into the enve ope and having integral connection with said envelope throu h a sleeve of vitreous 'material covering sald electrode between the cup and the envelope wall,'and an integrall lining within said envelope and spaced apart therefrom at a short distance and positioned across the shortest path between the enve-v lope wall and any part forming position which said conductors Acan assume in any position of the switch. l

2. In a mercury switch having a sealed envelope -of glass, electrodes sealed therethrough and terminating therein, one of which has mounted about the end thereof a cu of vitreous material opening into the enve ope and having integral connection with said envelope through a sleeve o'f vitreous material covering said electrode between the cup andthe envelo wall, and an integral lining or fused sillca within said enveope and spaced apart thereform at a short distance and ositioned across the shortest pathv between t elenvelope wall and any part of the switch serves to protect thematerial4 .extendingr substantially 6 from any arc produced during' th y throughout the lengthllof the envelope.

ou's material coveringA said electrode between the cup and the envelope wall, and an integral 'lini'ng within-said envelope and spaced' apart therefrom at. a Short distance and' 15 throughout the. j llength o e envelope.

4.' In a mercury switch havin a sealed envelope of glass, electrodes sea ed' therethrough and terminating therein, one of -which has mounted about the end thereof a cu of vitreous material opening into the .enve ope and. having integral connection' withsaid envelope througha sleeve of vitreous material covering' saidelectrode between theicup and the envelope wall, and an inten gral lining lof fused silica within said envelope and spaced [apart therefrom at a short distance and extending substantially 5. In a mercury switchhaving a sealed\ enevel'ope of glass, velectrodes sealed therethrough' and terminating therein, one of which has mounted' about the end thereof a. cup of vitreousmaterial opening into the envelope and having integral connection with said envelope through a sleeve `of vitreous material covering said electrode throughout between said cup and envelope, and an integral lining within said envelo and Vspaced apart therefrom at a short distance and extending substantially throughout the length 'of the envelope. v 6. In a mercury switch having a sealed envelo e of glass, electrodes sealed'there- 10! throug extendingdownwardl thereinto and terminating. therein, one o which has mounted about the end thereof `a cup of vitA lll ` substantially throughout the length of the envelope.

`7. In "a mercury switch` havingv a sealed envelope 'of boro-silicate glass, electrodes sealed therethrough andterminatingthere- `in, one of which is of tungstenand hasv mounted about the end thereof a cup formed of fused silica opening into the envelope and having integra connection with -sald "enk velope through a sleeve of vitreous material-coveri`ng said electrode throughout between said cupA and said envelope and embodying a graded seal of fused silicates and borates between saidboro-silic'ate envelope and said fused 'quartz cup', l' y* 'mounted about the end thereo 'and having integral connection with said envelope through a sleeve of vitreous material covering said electrode throughout between sid cup and said envelo e and embodying a graded seal of fused sllicates and borates between said boro-silicate envelope and said fused quartz cup.

9. In a mercury switch having a sealed envelope of vitreous material, electrodes sealed therthrough extending thereinto and terminatin therein, one of vwhich has mounted a out the end thereof a cup of viterous material opening into the envelope and having integral connection with said envelope thrqugh a .sleeve of vitreous material covering said electrode between the cup and the envelope wall, said cup having a protectin ring interposed thereon about the edge of t e opening thereof of a more highlyfrefractory material.

' y10. In a mercury switch havinga sealed envelope of vitreous materiahv electrodes sealed therethrough extending thereinto and terminating therein, one of lwhich has mounted about the end thereof a cupof vitreous material opening into the envelope v' and having integral connection with said envelope through a sleeve ofvitreous material covering said electrode between the cup andthe envelope wall, said cup having a rim formed integral therewith about the edge of the opening thereof, and a protecting ring of fused silica interposed on said rim and cemented thereon with fused silver 40 chloride. 11. In a mercury switch having a sealed envelope of vitreous material, electrodes sealed therethrough extending thereinto and terminating therein, one 'of which has 45` mounted about the end thereof a cup of vitreous material opening into the envelope and having integral connection with said envelope through a sleeve of vitreous material covering said electrodebetween the cup and 60 the envelope wall, said cup havingl a rim ,v

formed integral -therewith about the edge of the opening thereof, and a protecting ring'4 of fused silica interposed on said rim andA cemented thereon with fused silver chloride .and an integral lining of fused silica within said ,envelope and spaced apart therefrom at a short distance. i

12. In a mercury switch, a sealed envelope` o f vitreous material, electrodes sealed into said envelope a lining in said envelope between the wall thereot and the terminals of said electrodes, a sleeve of vitreous material formed about each of said electrodes having integral connection with the wall of said 52 envelope and extending to and terminating at a position within said sleeve and leavin a portion of the electrode thereat expose for electrical contact, one of said sleeves having formed integral therewith a cup of '.Vit- 70 reous material about the electrode terminal and opening into the envelope, and a body of mercury in the envelope.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,l this 20 day 75 of April A. D. 1925.

WARREN RWALKERf.

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