Cylindrical, linear, stopless mercury switch and relay

A switch comprising

• an envelope,
• conducting liquid,
• at least two contact members each having a contact surface adapted for mutual electrical connection of said contact members through conducting liquid providing an interface between said contact members in the electrically closed position of said contact members,
• said contact members having conforming surfaces adapted for confrontation during sliding of said members into said electrically closed position with one of said members fitting within an interior space inside the other one of said members in said electrically closed position.

A fluid-conductor-wetted, linear relay switch including a housing,

• a stationary contact electrode within said housing,
• a reciprocable contact element,
• a conducting liquid,
• means for supporting said conducting liquid to provide a bearing surface of said liquid for supporting said contact element for reciprocation within said housing,
• said means for supporting and said liquid defining a predetermined space within which said element can reciprocate between open and closed switch positions relative to said electrode,
• said element and said electrode being electrically connected by said liquid when said element and said electrode are in a closed switch condition,
• said electrode and said element being mechanically spaced apart in all positions of said element,
• said element being held apart from said electrode in said closed condition by said liquid,
• a pair of said stationary contact electrodes wherein said stationary contact electrodes comprise axially aligned pins,
• said housing defines a generally elongated cylindrical hollow space adapted for lengthwise reciprocation of said reciprocable contact element,
• said reciprocable contact element comprises an armature with an annular cross-section adapted to slide over said pins, and
• said conducting liquid comprising mercury,
• whereby said mercury bridges the gap between said pins and said armature when they are juxtaposed.

A switch comprising

• an envelope,
• at least two contacts,
• a plurality of conducting liquid layers within said envelope, each said contact having a contact surface wetted by said conducting liquid and carrying a said conducting liquid layer thereon,
• a movable element integral with at least one of said contact surfaces being movable towards and away from the other of said contact surfaces,
• said conducting liquid layers being capable of completing the electrical circuit between said contact surfaces when said contacts are operatively closed,
• wherein said conducting liquid layers prevent mechanical contact between said movable element and any other solid parts of said switch in any normal position of said element.

A fluid-conductor-wetted, linear relay switch including a housing,

• a stationary contact electrode within said housing,
• a reciprocable contact element,
• a high viscosity liquid,
• means for supporting said liquid to provide a bearing surface of said liquid for supporting said contact element for reciprocation within said housing,
• said means for supporting and said liquid defining a predetermined space within which said element can reciprocate between open and closed switch positions relative to said electrode,
• said electrode and said element being mechanically spaced apart in all positions of said element, and
• said element being held apart by a predetermined spacing from mechanical contact with said electrode in said closed condition by cohesive force of said liquid,
• said element and said electrode having conforming electrical contact surfaces adapted for confrontation during sliding of said element into said closed condition, and in said closed condition
• said conforming surfaces resting in side-by-side overlapping relationship with said liquid contained within the space between said conforming surfaces, said conforming surfaces extending parallel to the axis of reciprocation of said reciprocable contact element.