Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
I, FREDERIC DE MARE, of 122, Bd Leopold 11, Brussels, Belgium, Electrician,
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 follow-
ing statement:-
With the object of rendering the electrolytic interrupter invented by Dr.
Wehnelt, a practical instrument, I have invented an arrangement which is illus-
trated in the annexed drawing and which I shall now proceed to describe.
In the annexed drawing, Figure 1 is a view partly in section, and partly in
elevation, of the arrangement.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line mn of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line x y of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the parts that carry the platinum wire.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of analogous devices supporting several platinum
wires.
Figure 6 is a partial view in plan of the parts shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a detailed view of the same.
The vessel 1 containing acidulated water is of lead, of cylindrical form and
of small dimensions. It serves as the negative electrode. It is cast in one piece
and is open only at its upper part, and it is grooved externally in the form of a
spiral 2. The groove is as wide as it is deep, and it is covered by an envelope 3
of copper. This arrangement serves to cause a current of water to circulate
around the leaden vessel in order to effect the cooling thereof in the best possible
conditions. The groove is extended upwards by means of a plug cock 4 which is
adapted to be connected to a pipe for water under pressure 5. At its lower end
the groove ends in a leaden tubular neck 6 opening into a glass discharging
vessel 7. On the side of the leaden vessel there is a water level or gauge tube 8
Figs. 1, 3, connected thereto at the top and bottom. The level of the liquid is
therefore the same in the vessel as in the tube. A glass float 9 serves to indicate
the level. This indication of level is important because it obviates the accidents
or damage which might occur through want of liquid. At its upper part the
leaden vessel is recessed in a circular manner and upon the bearing portion there
rests a moulded plate of glass or porcelain 10 (Figure 4), upon which there is
mounted the positive electrode 11 which is made of platinum and is of thread
form. On the side of the vessel, a tubular union 12 serves to connect the said
vessel with a water suction nozzle. This nozzle is designed to draw away at the
same rate as it is being produced, the explosive mixture of the gases generated
during the working of the interrupter. The positive thread-shaped pole com-
prises two arrangements for regulating the current. The first arrangement con-
sists in mounting the platinum wire upon an adjusting screw device. This wire
passes through a small stuffing box 13 and slides with a gentle friction in a
platinum tube 18. The platinum tube is attached to a fine glass tube 14 which
forms the prolongation of a larger tube 15 that is ground at its upper end
against the glass plate and serves to protect the metallic device that draws the
platinum wire. This glass tube is kept upon the glass plate by means of a

page_text: plate 16 and two suitable screw nuts 17 or in any other convenient way. The use
of a tube of platinum is one of the essential parts; it is preferably attached near
the end of the glass tube. The glass is also arranged as near as possible to the
side of the tube throughout the whole of the non-attached portion in order to
prevent the liquid from penetrating between the glass and plate. The arrange-
ment of the platinum wire sliding with a gentle friction in the platinum tube
allows of effecting the regulation without the risk of breaking the glass tube,
as is the case when the platinum wire is passed through a glass tube that is
not sheathed.
The system of regulating the current by dipping to a greater or less extent,
the platinum electrode into the liquid, comprises a rod 19 carrying said elec-
trode 11 and extending through a knob 33, adapted to turn free on said rod.
The said knob is connected by means of screws with a tube 32 adapted to
turn with slight friction within a socket 31 secured to the plate 16. The tube 32
is internally threaded and screwed to another tube 34 secured to the plate 16, and
on which the rod is adapted to slide. Said rod 19 has a longitudinally flattened
portion corresponding to a flattened portion on the inner wall of the tube 34 so
that when the knob 33 is rotated in either direction, the tube 32, screwing on
the tube 34, raises or lowers the rod 19 and therefore the. electrode carried
thereby, said rod being held, against rotation within the tube 34. The plate 16
is readily movable being held by means of screws engaging nuts 17 sealed in
blind holes in the glass plate 10.
The glass tube 15 which carries the platinum sheath, is terminated at its upper
part by an inverted cone 15¹. This cone is ground upon the centre of the glass
plate 10 and is kept in place by means of the regulating plate 16. The second
arrangement (Figures 5, 6 and 7) comprises a system of fixed wires, that is to
say, wires which are secured in sheaths 23 of glass.
These wires are connected to the contacts 24 of a commutator 35 arranged
on the glass disc 10 of the interrupter or at any other point. Figure 5 shews
an example with a commutator for four wires. The platinum wires are of
different lengths which can be regulated by a preliminary trial. The suction
nozzle 20 is of metal (an alloy of lead and antimony); it is connected with the
same water supply pipe 5, as is the plug cock that serves to supply the cooling
arrangement. The discharging end 21 of this nozzle discharges into a glass
chamber 22 and the water runs off through a discharge pipe 25 which is common
to that of the cooling pipe. The positive pole 26, mounted on the glass plate, is
connected by a flexible wire 27 with the current supply terminal 28, whilst the
second terminal 29 is connected to the main body of the apparatus. In order
to obviate short circuits through the water piping, the connection of the tube 5
with the main piping must be made by means of a rubber tube of a length of
from 25 to 30 centimetres. The apparatus is mounted on a slab of slate 30, and
it prosents a compact arrangement which is easy to operate. When the apparatus
is connected to the water and with the electric current, it is first necessary to
cause the suction nozzle to act. Then the circuit is closed, and at the end of a
few moments, according to the intensity employed, the cooling water must be
made to circulate slowly. If there is no water available, the cooling and the
drawing off of the gases may be effected by means of a jet of air under pressure,
or of carbonic acid, without altering the apparatus in any respect.
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:
(1) In an electrolytic interrupter, a vessel constituting a negative electrode
which is grooved and is covered by an envelope, this arrangement having for its
object to cause a current of water to circulate in order to keep the temperature
at a suitable degree.

page_text: (2) In an electrolytic interrupter, the use of a hydraulic or other fluid suction
device such as one for working by air, or carbonic acid, under pressure, for the
purpose of expelling the gases at the same rate as they are being generated, in
order to avoid explosions.
(3) In an electrolytic interrupter, the use of a platinum sheath attached to a
glass tube as heretofore described, said sheath serving to distribute the tempera-
ture, and also to allow of the free expansion of the platinum wire and of the
glass tube, so as to avoid the breakage of the latter.
(4) In an electrolytic interrupter, the use of a stuffing box for obviating the
deterioration of the metallic parts of the apparatus.
(5) In an electrolytic interrupter, the arrangement comprising multiple wires
operated by a commutator in the vicinity of, or at a distance from, the apparatus.
(6) An electrolytic interrupter, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of December 1899.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Associate Agent.