Structure for switching electrical current and cell comprising same
AssigneeAluminum Company of America
InventorBernard C. Turley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structure for switching electrical current, the structure comprising a switch having two pairs of terminals and two modes of operation. The structure, in addition, includes a first electrically conductive means for connecting the terminals of one pair together, and, a second electrically conductive means for connecting the terminals of the other pair together. Means are included for disconnecting the terminals of the above pairs, and a third electrically conductive means is provided for connecting one of the terminals of one pair to one of the terminals of the other pair.
Claims5
Structure for changing the path of current flow through an electrical load connected to a source of electrical current by four fixed conductors physically disposed in close but spaced relationship to each other, two of the four conductors being hereinafter referred to as source conductors and two as load conductors, a movable, electrically conductive switch member located on one side of one source and one load conductor for electrically connecting the one load conductor and the one source conductor together, a second movable electrically conductive switch member located on one side of the other two load and source conductors for electrically connecting the same together, two electrically insulative members for physical disposal in location between the load conductors and, two electrically conductive members for physical disposal in respective locations between the switc members and their associated load conductors, the electrically conductive members being effective to respectively electrically connect together the switch members and their associated load conductors when the switch members are moved to engage the source conductors and the conductive members.
Apparatus for changing the operation of an electrolytic cell having at least one anode and one cathode, and a source of electrical current ordinarily directly connected to the anode and to the cathode at two, spaced apart locations on the anode and cathode for electrolytic operation of the cell, the apparatus comprising
- means for disconnecting one of the locations on the anode and cathode from the source of electrical current, and
- means for connecting the disconnected locations of the anode and cathode directly together such that the path of current flow to and from the source of electrical current is limited to serial flow through the anode and cathode, the electrical resistance of the anode and cathode to the flow of electrical current therethrough being effective to heat the cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.