Improvements in Rheostats with a Liquid Medium.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan.,
1897
2005
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rheostats with a Liquid Medium.
I, WALTER REGINALD LAMBERT of No. 55 Whitbread Road, Brockley in the
County of Kent, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My invention. relates to certain improvements in rheostats having a liquid
medium of any degree of conductivity, and has for its object the provision of a
graded resistance in any electrical circuit which may be under immediate control
and allows of the escape of any occluded gases without causing a momentary
diminution of the regulated current by the surface disturbance produced by the
disintegration of enlarged bubbles. According to my invention these bubbles
are necessarily of small area, and are rapidly dissipated by the formation of the
electrodes and the low specific gravity of the contained gases.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a trough, preferably of
rectangular cross section, which is filled with a solution of metallic or other salts,
or acidulated or pure water. An electrode, preferably of any metal that is not
freely oxidised is placed at one end of the trough, and carries a bearing nut, into
which a screwed spindle engages, which also is held by a shouldered journal
revolving in a suitable bearing attached to a similar electrode at the opposite end
of the trough. The nut and the bearing are necessarily insulated so that the
circuit to be regulated is led to one electrode, and transmitted through the liquid
medium to the other, the degree of resistance being controlled by the distance of
said electrodes one from the other.
As an alternative device I may employ a spindle having a right and left handed
screw thread, so that the two electrodes are simultaneously advanced toward each
other, allowing a more sensitive adjustment, or degree of regulation.
I may, without departing from the essential features of my said invention
employ a cylinder of any material so that the interior be suitably insulated, and
place it for use in either a vertical or horizontal position.
"
The construction of the plates or electrodes in any case of adaptation in such that
a" louvro or angular shutter with open slits or orifices is provided, or a system
of holes, also of angular direction, so that the 'occluded gases may escape by
gravity in comparatively small bubbles without disturbing the surface of the
electrodes, and consequently the conducting area, to the detriment of the regular
action of the current in the circuit to which the improved rheostat is adapted.
I may modify the shape or conformation of the several parts to suit various cases
of adaptation, and may also employ more than two electrodes, these being angularly
slotted or bored as 'and for the purposes hereinbefore stated.
2011 1 January 1807
FREDK. WALKER.
73, St. Stephens Road Upton Park London, E,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Rheostats with a Liquid Medium.
I, WALTER REGINALD LAMBERT formerly of No. 55 Whitbread Road Brockley
now of No. 18 Pattenden Road, Catford Hill in the County of Kent, Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in rheostats having a liquid
medium of any degree of conductivity, and has for its object the provision of a
graded resistance in any electrical circuit, which may be under immediate control,
and allows of the escape of any occluded gases without causing a momentary
diminution of the regulated current by the surface disturbance produced by the
disintegration of large bubbles. According to my invention these bubbles are
necessarily of small area, and are rapidly dissipated by the formation of the
electrodes and the low specific gravity of the contained gases.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a rheostat tank,
with one side removed, in elevation. Figure 2 is a view corresponding thereto, of
part of a right and left handed screw thread and two movable plates. Figure 3 is an
elevation, part view, of a modification of the foregoing in which a combined
retrogade and angular movement takes place as hereinafter described. Figure 4
is an end sectional elevation showing the louvre plate or electrode according to
the arrangement shown by Figure 3. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of said
plate. Figures 6 and 7 are respectively front and sectional elevations of a plate
in which holes are formed angularly, and substituted for the louvre aforesaid.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
In carrying my invention into effect, I construct a trough or tank A, preferably
of rectangular cross section, which is filled with a solution of metallic or other
salts, or acidulated or pure water. An electrode PI Figure 1, preferably of any
metal that is not freely oxidised is fixed at one end of the trough A as shown.
A second electrode P is carried by a nut c working freely upon a single screw B,
operated by a handle, wheel or the like upon the free end the bearings & being
insulated, also the nut c. This electrode P may thus traverse by regulated degrees
the distance intervening between it and the fixed electrode P. The two
electrodes P P¹ form two portions of a main or branch circuit of electric lighting
or power, and the electrolyte in. the tank A forms the medium of resistance,
which is governed or controlled by the distance between them. In the case of
plain electrodes or plates, I am aware that such regulations of resistance by
moving one plate or electrode from, or towards another, is not novel, and has been
previously described and used. But in order to carry out the objects of my said
invention, I have constructed a plate or electrode in such a manner that it forms
a "louvre" with angular shutters 'g and intervening orifices, as shown in detail
by Figures 4 and 5 and generally by the other figures. I may, as an alternative
employ a series of holes Figures 6 and 7 drilled or formed in the plate P in an
angular direction to admit of the dispersion of occluded gases.
I may mount said electrodes upon nuts ce traversing a right and left handed
screwed thread B as shown by Figure 2. In this case the two electrodes or
plates PP are arranged to move in a parallel direction toward each other, or to
recede, increasing the resistance, according to the movement of the regulating
screw B. An alternate device in which a right and left handed screw is

page_text: used, is shown by Figures 3 and 4, which are respectively side and end elevations,
partly sectional. The nut c, engaging with the screw B supports the plate P by means
of set pins or trunnions ff'. A plate e carrying two projections on each side of the
suspended plates PP, supports two pins a a', which, when the right and left
handed screw threads on B are rotated to part the plates P P¹, said pins a a¹ engage
with projections b¹ upon each hinged plate B B causing them to part angularly
instead of a direct parallel movement as hereinbefore described. This movement
is indicated by the dotted outline, and in practice allows of a more sensitive and
delicate regulation than is admissible in the case of a parallel movement.
In use, the projections formed by the louvres and their alternate orifices allow
of the free dissipation of the occluded gases resulting from the electrolytic decom-
position of the liquid medium, and the increased facility afforded for delicate
regulation admits of the adaptation of my invention to any electrical circuit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
First. In a rheostat with a liquid medium the employment or use of metal plates.
with angular ribs or plates and intervening open spaces forming a louvre, sub-
stantially as herein described, with reference to the appended drawings.
Second. In a rheostat with a liquid medium the use of a metal plate with angular
holes substantially as herein. described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the
appended drawings.
Third. In a rheostat with a liquid medium the methods of and means for causing
the plates referred to in the preceding claims to advance or recede relatively to
each other in a parallel direction by rotating a single or double screw thread sub-
stantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the appended
drawings.
Fourth. In a rheostat with a liquid medium the method of and means for
causing the plates referred to in the preceding claims to advance and recede
relatively to each other in an angular direction by the combination of a hinged
nut and screw thread, with a lug and fixed pin, substantially as herein described
with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the appended drawings.
בד
101 1
1007
FREDK. WALKER.
.73 St. Stephens Road Upton Park London, E.
Agent for the Applicant.