US1690014A - Liquid switch - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, 1928.

J. R. JACKSON, JR

LIQUID SWITCH Original Filed April 25-, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jose @R.Jac?c@on,J?a

Invenior Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. JACKSON, .13., OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MARGUERITE E. JACKSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIQUID SWITCH.

Application filed April 25, 1924, Serial No. 708,902. Renewed August 24, 1928.

This invention aims to improve circuit breakers and its object is to provide a simple device adapted to make and break high and low tension circuits without arcmg.

In the drawings which show certain lllustrative embodiments of my invent1on:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the preferred form of switch;

Fig. 2 is a vertical and substantially central section of the device and looking 1n the same direction as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of a modified form of switch;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the form shown in Fig. 4 taken substantially at right angles to the section of Fig. 4; and

' Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of still another form of the invention,

In the drawings, referring part1cularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusiie 1 is a hollow rotatable body or casing preferably formed 1n two parts 2 and 3 secured together along a central seam 4 herein by bolts 5. The sections 1 and 2 are shown as having trunnions 6 ournalled to rock in bearings 7 supported on a suitable base 8. The casing 1 may be formed of any appropriate material preferably metal for strength and is provided with an operatin member such for example as a handle ilounted within the casing 1 is a 11I11I1g 10 of appropriate insulating material which is supported and protected by the two part casing 1, thus preventing breaklng of said msulating lining.

The lining 10 contains a mass of conduct ng liquid such, for example, as mercury which is preferabl separated into a predetermined number of odies, herein two, 11 and 12 by a non-conducting partition 13 preferably, though not essentially, a part of the lining 10 and arranged to separate the interior of said casing into substantially two equally proportioned compartments. The bodies of mercury 11 and 12 only partially fill the said compartments and preferably occupy less than half the space thereof. Moreover the two bodies of mercury 11 and 12 preferably constitute terminals for an electric circuit to complete which it is desirable to make connection between said bodies, they being normally separated by the insulating partition 13.

This connection may be made in many ways but, for convenience, I have shown within the partition 13, an opening 14 of any appropriate sha e and located so as normally to be removed cm the mercury but when it is desired to close the circuit includin said mercury, said casing 1 may be rocked so as to submerge said opening in the mercury and allow the two parts thereof to be united.

In most liquid switches of the character herein shown difliculty has been experienced, due to the arcing of the current from one body of mercury to the other during the making and breaking of the connection between said bodies, but to remove this objection in the present inventiomthe remaining spaces in the compartments containing the bodies of mercury 11 and 12 are preferably filled with .a suitable current resisting fluid 15 such, for

example, as silica jell which renders it difficult and substantia ly impossible for the current to are through the opening 1 1 when the latter is surrounded by the non-conducting liquid.

To facilitate the union of the bodies of mercury through the opening 14 and to eliminate possible gaps or pockets being formed within the liquid when the casing is rocked, the edges around said opening are preferably beveled as indicated at 16 and-it is to be understood that although the said opening is shown as of rectangular form, this opening is not limited to the exact contour shown.

The passing of a current of electricity through liquids, particularly in switches of the type disclosed, often generates considerable heat with the consequent expansion of said liquids and to allow for such expansion means are provided preferably consistin of corrugated metal plates 17 having t eir marginal portions suitably supported so as to prevent leakage of the liquid contents of the lining 10. These plates are preferably disposed at sufficient distance from the sides of the housing sections 2 and 3 to allow said plates to bulge laterally to compensate for the maximum expansion of the liquids contained within said casing, thus acting as diaphragms which possess suflicient elasticity to restore the liqulds to their proper positionsupon contraction thereof.

Any appropriate connection may be made between the masses 11 and 12 of mercury and the electrical conductors but preferably I have provided binding osts 18 in the diaphragms 17 to which inding posts the ends 19 of said conductors may be led, herein through openings 20 in the trunnions 6 of said housing.

In the embddiment of the invention just described the mercury or other conducting liquid is shown in two se arated insulating bodies. It is, however, to e understood that the invention is not limited to this arrangement and in Figs. 4 and 5 a modified form of the invention is shown wherein the mercury or other conducting liqpid 21 is retained in a single mass within a ollow rotatable body 22 preferably made intwo parts 23 and 24 similar, if desired, to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, said hollow body havin trunnions 25 journalled to rock in suitable bearings such, for example, as in the case hereinbefore described. The hollow body 22 may and preferably does contain an inner casing 26 composed of appropriate nonconducting material and herein comprises a cylindrical part 27 and a closing end wall 28 formed integral with said cylindrical part.

The cylindrical part 27 also includes an annular flange 29 which is, in the present example, adapted to be clamped between the two sections 23 and 24 of the rotatable body 22, thus centrally and securely positioning said inner housing so as to insure its movement with the said outer body when the latter is rocked by means of the handle 30 or otherwise. Substantially as in the previous case the mercury 21 only partially fills the interior of the casing 26, the remaining portion of said casing being preferably occupied by any appropriate non-conducting liquid, said mercury and said non-conducting liquid being retained in the inner housing 26 herein b a metallic corrugated end plate 32 secure to the rim of the cylindrical part 27 in any appropriate manner to prevent escape of the liquid from said inner casing.

Secured to the corru ated end 32 of said inner housing is a binding post 33 to which one terminal 34 of the electric circuit is attached. The metal partition or plate 32 is preferably also in electrical contact with the mercury 21 and to provide for an interrupted connection between the terminal 34 of the electric circuit and the other terminal, herein shown at 35, a switch blade 36 is suitably supported herein in the insulating wall 28 of said inner housing by a screw 37 extending through said end wall 28 and through an insulating core 38 into engagement with the blade 36, the end of which is preferably embedded in said insulating core 38, said screw 37 constituting a binding post for the terminal wire 35.

The blade 36 may be of any appropriate shape but herein its edges are bevelled so as to cut the liquid through which it is moved without causlng undue disturbance thereof. This blade is secured to the rotatable hollow body hereinbefore described in such a manner and in such a position that it will normally lie outside of the mercury 21 and far enough therefrom to prevent any arcingof the current from said blade to said mercury but upon relative movement of said casing and said mercury, said blade will be moved into submerged relation to said mercury and thus effect the closing of the electric circuit and without the arcing of the current as in most cases of liquid circuit breakers.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to expansible containers for the mercury and non-conducting liquids and in Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modified construction wherein the outer casing 39 which may be substantially similar to those hereinbefore described, is provided with an insulating interior or inner portion 40 preferably made in two parts 41 and 42 united centrally of the casing and adapted to be held in proper relation by the bolts 43 uniting the two parts of said casing 39.

The casing 40 contains the usual supply of mercury 44 and a supply of non-conducting fluid 45 which does not quite fill the container 40 allowing a space 46 at the top for expansion of the liquid due to heat created by the passing of said electric current through said liquid.

Switches, preferably knife blades 47 and 48, are secured respectively to the side walls 49. 50 of said inner housing herein by terminal studs 51, 51 similar to the studs 37 in the form shown in Fig. 4, said studs 51 constituting binding posts for the terminal wires 52 of the electric circuit. As the casing 39 is rocked about its axis the blades 47 and 48 are immersed at the proper times in the mercury 44, thus effecting the closing of the electric circuits, said blades being separated from each other a sufiicient distance to prevent any arcing therebetween and although said blades are shown as being substantially in alignment so as to enter the liquid at approximately the same time it is distinctl to be understood that the invention is not limited to this arrangement.

While I have herein shown and described merely for illustrative purposes, certain specific embodiments of my invention and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to such disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of the parts nor to the specific application herein shown, but that extensive variations from the illustrations may be made without depa ting from the principles thereof.

Claims:

1. A switch comprising a hollow body, normally disconnected current conducting elements arranged within said hollow body, means for electrically connecting and disconnecting said elements including conducting lllU liquid, a non-conducting fluid substantially filling the remaining portions'of said hollow body to prevent arcing during thejconnecting and'jdisconnecting operations of said switch andmeans to allow for expansion and contraction of the contents of "said hollow body.

2, A switch comprising a hollow body, a

current conducting liquid partially filling' said hollow body, means in said casing to cooperate with said liquid in making andinterrupting an electric circuit through said liquid, means for effecting relative movement between said cooperating means and said liq-J uid, a fluid substantially filling the remain-- ing spaces in said hollow body adapted to prevent arcing during said circuit making and breaking operations and means to allow for expansion and contraction of the con-" tents of said hollow body.

3; A switch comprising a hollow body, a current conducting liquid partially filling saidhollo'w body, means in said casing to 00- operate with said liquid in making and interrupting an electric circuit through said liqu1d, means for effecting relative movement between said cooperating meansa-nd; said liq uid, a fluid substantially filling the remain ing space in said hollow body adapted to prevent arcing during said circuit-making and breakingiop'erations and anlexpansible portion for said hollow body adapted to allow 'for'expansion and contraction ,of said contents of said casing.

4. A. switch comprising'a hollow rotatable body, two normally Insulated bodies of current conducting liquid partially filling said body, means for uniting said conductin liq- 111d at selected points in the-rotation ofsaid' 40.

hollow body and a nonconducting liquid'substantially filling the remaining portions'of said hollow body for preventing the arcing of an electric current during theuniting and separating of said bodies of conducting liqsubstantially filling the; remaining portion of said hollow body for preventing the arcing of w an electric-current during the uniting andsep arating-of said bodies of conductingliquid',

said rotatable body having at least one cor rugated metallic wall adapted to yield during the expansion of the liquid contained in said body.

a '6'. A'switch-comprising a hollow rotatable body composedlargely of'ins'ulating material, a partition of insulatingmaterial dividing said body into two. compartments, said partition having atleast one orifice for providing communication between said com-'- partments, a body of mercury partially fillmg each of said-compartments and adapted to be united when said orifice is in submerged relation with said mercury, said hollow body having at least one expansible wall to'allow dyia .7

- A switch-comprising a hollow rotatable body composedlargely of insulating mate rial, at least one partit on of insulating material for dividing' said' body into compartmerits, said partition having atleast one or p fice for providing communication" between said compartments, a body of. mercury par-i for expansion of the contents of said hollow;

tially fill'ing said compartments and adapted to be united when an orifice is submerged in said mercury by rotation of said'hollow bod the side walls of said rotatable hollow bo y being composed of flexible metal adaptedto yield upon expansion by heat of the contents of said compartments, said-side walls alsoconstituting the terminals of an electric circuit and in constant electrical communication with said mercury. 5

8; A switch comprising a .hollow 'body composed largely of insulating material, at 1 least one partition of insulatingmaterial separating said insulatin' material into parts normally electrically disconnected with each other, means in said hollow body adapted to electrically connect and disconnect said parts J ofinsulating material and at least one resilient wall to said hollow body adapted to expand and contract to allow for the expansion ;and contraction of the contents of said" 1101- low' body. v In-testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. I 1 JOSEPH R. JACKSON, JR.

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