Improvements in Electric Cut-outs and Apparatus for Opening Electric Circuits.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by NICHOLAS CHAIZE and JACQUES CHAIZE, of the
firm of Chaize Frères, 40, Rue Pascal, Paris, France, Electrical Engineers.]
Improvements in Electric Cut-outs and Apparatus for Opening
Electric Circuits.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus in or by means of which an electric circuit may
be opened and it has for its object to prevent the heating effect and the burning
of the conductors which arises in the use of such apparatus as. ordinarily
constructed.
These Improvements consist in constructing the apparatus in such a manner that
the circuit shall be opened below the surface of a liquid such as pure water which
possesses a comparatively high resistance. The presence of this liquid whilst it may
not prevent the formation of an arc or spark, effectually prevents the localisation of
any heating effect and the burning of the conductors.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Cut-outs and Apparatus for Opening
Electric Circuits.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 :-
This Invention relates, .to apparatus and devices in and by means of which an
electric circuit may be opened or interrupted and it has for its object to prevent the
beating effect and burning of the conductors which arise in the use of the apparatus
as ordinarily constructed.
These Improvements consist in constructing and arranging the apparatus in such a
manner that the circuit shall be opened below the surface of pure water, or of a
similar fluid or solution. The presence of this liquid whilst it may not prevent the
formation of an arc or sparks, effectually prevents the localization of any injurious
heating effect and consequently also prevents injury by burning or otherwise to
the conductors or to the contact pieces or points at which the circuit is opened and
closed.
By this means,
the condition of the contact points being always in perfect order,
it is possible to utilise interruptions of an electric current in a large number of
applications and particularly in the regulation of the working of electro-motors by
the use of any form of governor which operates to open the circuit automatically and
to momentarily interrupt the circuit as may be desired.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a practical application of this Invention to
the regulation of an electro-motor by means of a pendulum governor.
A is the governor which is driven by the motor. When the current attains a
pressure sufficient to drive the motor at a speed greater than is desired, the balls B B*
of the governor rise by centrifugal force and depress the spindle C in the same
manner as when a similar governor is used with a steam engine. The lower end of
the spindle Crests upon the end of a lever D fulcrumed at X which lever carries at

page_text: its opposite end the vertical rod or circuit interrupter G adjustably secured by the
nut F. In a vessel E filled with water or other suitable fluid there is immersed the
contact mass H which forms the terminal of the conductor J' whilst the rod G forms
the terminal, of the conductor J. so that when G is in contact with the mass H the
circuit JJ in which the motor is included is closed, but when G is lifted out of
contact with H the circuit is opened.
When the speed of the motor exceeds that at which it is desired to run, the
spindle C is forced downwards upon the contiguous end of the lever D the other end
of which consequently lifts the rod G out of contact with the mass H and the motor
circuit is instantaneously opened and the speed of the motor is reduced, whereupon
the governor spindle rises and the circuit is re-established. This cycle of operations
is automatically repeated as often as may be necessary to obtain uniformity of speed
in the motor.
The water or other suitable fluid in the vessel E may be renewed as desired and
may be used either warm or cold.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
from abroad, I declare that what I claim is,-
(1) In
an apparatus for opening and interrupting an electric circuit, the
combination and arrangement of a fixed conductive mass immersed in water or other
suitable fluid and connected to one terminal of an electric circuit, with a conductor
connected to the other terminal of the circuit and to a lever or device for lifting it
out of contact with the fixed mass below the surface of the fluid, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
(2) In an apparatus for opening and interrupting an electro-motor circuit, the
combination and arrangement with a governor driven by the motor of a lever
operated by the governor, a contact carried by the lever which contact dips below
the surface of a fluid such as water and is connected to one terminal of the motor
circuit, and a fixed contact immersed in the water or similar suitable fluid and
connected to the other terminal of the motor circuit, substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of March A.D. 1890.
WILLIAM E. HEYS.