US 4,366,458 A · Mercury displacement relay

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a mercury displacement relay and a method of making the same which utilizes a spring totally submerged within the mercury to support a movable displacement plunger. A cylindrical electrode contains the mercury, and the spring is uniquely connected to the bottom portion of the electrode. The spring opposite end is attached to a bottom portion of the displacement relay, which is received within the cylindrical electrode so that its bottom portion is submerged in the mercury. A pin electrode is also received within the cylindrical electrode and insulated therefrom. Adapted to the cylindrical electrode is a coil device, which, upon being energized, moves the plunger upwardly to cause the mercury to recede and break contact with the portion of the pin electrode in contact with the mercury. Upon deenergizing the coil device, the spring draws downwardly on the plunger to cause the mercury to rise and make contact again with the pin electrode.

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Drawings

Claims12

Dependent claims

A mercury displacement relay comprising:

a first electrode member containing a body of mercury therein,
a second electrode member being received and secured within said first electrode member, said second electrode member having a portion thereof in contact with said mercury body, said electrodes being insulated one from the other,
a displacement plunger having a first position within said first electrode member wherein a first length of said displacement plunger is submerged in said mercury body, and being movable to a second position within said first electrode member higher than said first position wherein a second length shorter than said first length of said displacement plunger is submerged in said mercury body, said displacement plunger first and second lengths having a common submerged portion,
a spring having opposite ends and being submerged within said mercury body, a first one of said ends being attached to said displacement plunger common portion submerged in said mercury body,
means submerged in said mercury body for securing an opposite end of said spring to a portion of said first electrode member in contact with said mercury body so that said displacement plunger is movably suspended in said first position by said spring, and
coil means in proximity to said first electrode member for moving said displacement plunger from said first position to said second position upon being energized, whereby said mercury body is displaced downwardly upon said displacement plunger moving from said first to said second position, thereby disengaging said second electrode member portion from contact with said mercury body.

3 more elements

A mercury displacement relay comprising:

a first electrode member containing a body of mercury therein,
a second electrode member being received and secured within said first electrode member and insulated therefrom, said second electrode member being disengaged from said mercury body,
a displacement plunger having a first position within said first electrode member wherein a first length of said displacement plunger is submerged in said mercury body, and being movable to a second position within said first electrode member lower than said first position wherein a second length longer than said first length of said displacement plunger is submerged deeper in said mercury body, said displacement plunger first and second lengths having a common submerged portion,
a spring having opposite ends and being submerged within said mercury body, a first one of said ends being attached to said displacement plunger common portion submerged in said mercury body,
means submerged in said mercury body for securing an opposite end of said spring to a portion of said first electrode member in contact with said mercury body so that said displacement plunger is movably suspended in said first position by said spring, and
coil means in proximity to said first electrode member for moving said displacement plunger from said first position to said second position upon being energized, whereby said mercury body is displaced upwardly upon said displacement plunger moving from said first to said second position, thereby engaging said second electrode member portion with said mercury body.

3 more elements

A method of making a mercury displacement relay, comprising:

providing a first electrode member having a continuous side wall and a bottom wall,
supplying a displacement plunger having opposite ends,
furnishing a spring having opposite ends,
affixing an end of the spring to a bottom portion of the displacement plunger,
positioning the displacement plunger and spring affixed thereto within the first electrode member,
connecting the spring opposite end to a bottom portion of the first electrode member,
filling partially the first electrode member with a body of mercury so that the spring and the displacement plunger bottom portion remain submerged therein during operation of the relay,
securing a second electrode member within the first electrode member,
insulating the electrode members from each other, and
operating a coil means in proximity to the first electrode member for moving the displacement plunger from a first position in the mercury body to a second position in the mercury body, the displacement plunger bottom portion and the spring being maintained in contact with the mercury body between the first and second positions.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,694 words

Summary1,169 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention pertains to a relay switch, and more particularly to a mercury displacement relay switch wherein the displacement plunger is supported by a spring submerged in the mercury body and which is uniquely secured within the relay.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings12 figures

#The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a normally-closed mercury displacement relay of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a normally-closed mercury displacement relay of the present invention with the coil means energized;

Detailed description1,228 words

#Referring to FIG. 1, a normally-closed mercury displacement relay 14 of the present invention is illustrated and comprises cylindrical electrode 16, mercury body 18 contained within cylindrical electrode 16, spring 20, displacement plunger 22, pin electrode 24, and a coil device 26. Cylindrical electrode 16 further comprises continuous wall 28, bottom wall 30, and a shoulder 32 formed from continuous wall 28, and is partially filled with mercury body 18. Cylindrical electrode 16 is preferably made of a non-magnetic stainless steel material.

#Spring 20 of mercury displacement relay 14 has a top end 34 and a bottom end 36. Top end 34 is secured to displacement plunger 22 by clip 38 about neck 42 of displacement plunger 22 which holds top end 34 against flange 40 of displacement plunger 22. Displacement plunger 22 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is of cylindrical shape and has a ceramic liner 43 with neck 42, 46 and plunger guide flanges 40, 48. A clip 44 is also provided, and plunger 22 has a hole 50 disposed longitudinally therethrough. A cover 45 of cylindrical shape is disposed about ceramic liner 43, and may be made of conventional ferromagnetic or similar material. It is noteworth to realize at this point that spring 20 and the bottom portion of displacement plunger 22 are totally submerged within mercury body 18 and, as described below, remain so during operation of mercury displacement relay 14.

#Pin electrode 24, which has bottom end 52 and top end 54, is received within cylindrical electrode 16 and hole 50 of displacement plunger 22 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A cap 56, which has opening 57 disposed therethrough, is placed within and resistance welded to shoulder 32 of cylindrical electrode 16, and further has pin electrode 24 received through opening 57 and secured therein by glass insulation 58 between pin electrode 24 and cap 56.

Facts

Application

06/327,243Filed 3 Dec 1981

Granted

28 Dec 1982

Term ended

3 Dec 2001

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

H01H 29/18
Switches having at least one liquid contact: with level of surface of contact liquid displaced by non-electrical contact-making plunger
H01H
Electric switches

Description2,694 words

Summary1,169 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings12 figures

#FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a normally-closed mercury displacement relay of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a normally-closed mercury displacement relay of the present invention with the coil means energized;

Detailed description1,228 words

Mercury displacement relay

Life of this patent

Mercury displacement relay

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims12

Description2,694 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,694 words