Improvements in Contact Breakers, especially applicable to Induction Coils.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 20th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Lett, 16th July, 1900-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Contact Breakers, especially applicable to
Induction Coils.
We, GUSTAVE WEISSMANN, of 3, Rue Chaptal, and ALFRED WYDTS, of 339,
Rue des Pyrenees, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to an arrangement of electro-magnetic contact
breaker, specially applicable to induction coils.
Our apparatus consists in principle of an interruptor-rod immersed in mercury
and fixed at its extremity to a helical spring suspended from a suitable support
or bracket and conducting the current to the said interruptor-rod. Within this
spring are disposed two cores of soft iron, one being fixed to the bracket and
the other to the upper end of the interruptor-rod, in such a manner that when a
current passes through the spring this latter acts as a solenoid the two cones
being thereby magnetized the upper core being rigidly fixed, attracts the lower
movable core which is integral with the interruptor-rod and so causes this latter
to be withdrawn from the mercury. The current then ceases to flow and the
cores thus becoming demagnetized allows the interruptor-rod to return into
contact with the mercury and to re-establish the current which again magnetises
the cores and so on; the same cycle of successive actions being continuously
reproduced.
The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompany-
ing drawing which shows the principle of the invention applied in a practical
manner but only by way of example.
The apparatus embodying the invention comprises an interruptor-rod a of
copper or other suitable metal suspended from one end of a helical spring b
the other end of which spring is fixed to a hollow screw threaded rod c screwed
in the internally screw-threaded eye d of the standard e.
The said helical spring is formed of very flexible copper wire, the cross-
section of which is proportional to the intensity of the current which passes
through the apparatus.
The spring is fitted at its lower end with a small cylindrical core f of soft

page_text: iron which is hollow and split as shown in the drawing, the said core f being
rigidly connected with the interruptor-rod a.
Within the helical spring b is lodged a second core 9 which exactly resembles
the core and which is carried by a screw-threaded rod h fitted into the hollow
rod c.
As will be well understood the two cores f g placed within the spring 6 must
not touch this latter.
j
The standard e is adapted to slide in a socket which forms one of the terminals
of the electric current and the said standard may be set to any desired height in said
socket by means of a screw i. The interruptor-rod a dips into a vessel k containing a
quantity of mercury / and above this mercury a quantity of water, alcohol or
petroleum m as in Foucault's type of mercury interruptor; the rod being guided
in the tube n in which it can freely move.
The vessel, preferably of glass, is fitted with a copper base o in electrical
communication with the mercury in the vessel and secured by friction in a
socket to which is connected the conductor for transmitting the current.
The action of our improved apparatus is as follows:
The current entering the socket j passes into the standard e and through the
eye d, screw c, spring b interruptor rod a, mercury 1, base o and socket p to the
conductor connected to this latter.
The spring thus traversed by the current acts as a solenoid. which thereupon
strongly magnetizes the two internal cores f and g.
According to the natural laws relating to electro-magnetism, we know that the
two poles formed by the extremities facing each other, of the cores f and g are of
opposite designations. The magnetic flux in the solenoid 6 tends to reach its
maximum, and by reason of the perfect mobility of the solenoid, the fixed core g
attracts the movable core f which thus raises the rod a out of contact with the
mercury 1.
At this precise moment the current ceases to flow, and the spring b, being set
free, allows the rod a to descend, and thus again establishes contact and so on.
The periodical interruption of the current is thus properly ensured by the
vertical movement of the rod a which is alternately dipped into, and raised out
of, the mercury.
For increasing or diminishing the extent of the vertical movement of the rod a,
the screw his manipulated so as to approach or, to move further apart, the
cores and g and thereby increase or diminish the intensity of the magnetic
field in the solenoid 6 by weakening or strengthening the resistance of the
system.
The advantages of an apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention,
are manifold.
It is extremely simple and strong, and the motion of the interruptor-rod is
rigorously rectilinear so that the interruption of the current is very abrupt,
whilst the weight in motion being very small permits of extremely rapid move-
ments with a small expenditure of energy.
Our interruptor may be varied in form and dimensions and we may also
modify its details to suit various purposes.
Dated this 20th day of November 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Contact Breakers, especially applicable to
Induction Coils.
We, GUSTAVE WEISSMANN, of 3, Rue Chaptal, and ALFRED WYDTS, of 339,
Rue des Pyrenees, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 has reference to an arrangement of electro-magnetic contact
breaker, specially applicable to induction coils.
Our apparatus consists in principle of an interruptor-rod immersed in mercury
and fixed at its extremity to a helical spring suspended from a suitable support
or bracket and conducting the current to the said interruptor-rod. Within this
spring are disposed two cores of soft iron, one being fixed to the bracket and
the other to the upper end of the interruptor-rod, in such a manner that when a
current passes through the spring this latter acts as a solenoid the two cones
being thereby magnetized; the upper core being rigidly fixed, attracts the lower
movable core which is integral with the interruptor-rod and so causes this latter
to be withdrawn from the mercury. The current then ceases to flow and the
cores thus becoming demagnetized allows the interruptor-rod to return into
contact with the mercury and to re-establish the current which again magnetises
the cores and so on; the same cycle of successive actions being continuously
reproduced.
The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the drawings
accompanying our Provisional Specification which shows the principle of the
invention applied in a practical manner but only by way of example.
The apparatus embodying the invention comprises an interruptor-rod a of
copper or other suitable metal suspended from one end of a helical spring b
the other end of which spring is fixed to a hollow screw threaded rod c screwed
in the internally screw-threaded eye d of the standard e.
The said helical spring b is formed of very flexible copper wire, the cross-
section of which is proportional to the intensity of the current which passes
through the apparatus.
The spring is fitted at its lower end with a small cylindrical core f of soft
iron which is hollow and split as shown in the drawing, the said core f being
rigidly connected with the interruptor-rod a.
Within the helical spring b is lodged a second core g which exactly resembles
the core f and which is carried by a screw-threaded rod h fitted into the hollow
rod c.
As will be well understood the two cores f g placed within the spring b must
not touch this latter.
The standard e is adapted to slide in a socket j which forms one of the terminals
of the electric current and the said standard may be set to any desired height in said
socket by means of a screw. The interruptor-rod a dips into a vessel k containing a
quantity of mercury and above this mercury a quantity of water, alcohol or
petroleum m as in Foucault's type of mercury interruptor; the rod being guided
in the tube in which it can freely move.
The vessel preferably of glass, is fitted with a copper base in electrical
'communication with the mercury in the vessel and secured by friction in a
socket to which is connected the conductor for transmitting the current.
The action of our improved apparatus is as follows:
The current entering the socket j passes into the standard e and through the

page_text: eye d, screw c, spring b interruptor rod a, mercury 1, base o and socket 2 to the
conductor connected to this latter.
The spring thus traversed by the current acts as a solenoid, which thereupon
strongly magnetizes the two internal cores f and g.
According to the natural laws relating to electro-magnetism, we know that the
two poles formed by the extremities facing each other; of the cores f and g are of
opposite designations. The magnetic flux in the solenoid tends to reach its
maximum, and by reason of the perfect mobility of the solenoid, the fixed core g
attracts the movable core f which thus raises the rod a out of contact with the
mercury ..
At this precise moment the current ceases to flow, and the spring b, being set
free, allows the rod a to descend, and thus again establishes contact and so on.
The periodical interruption of the current is thus properly ensured by the
vertical movement of the rod a which is alternately dipped into, and raised out
of, the mercury.
For increasing or diminishing the extent of the vertical movement of the rod a,
the screw his manipulated so as to approach or, to move further apart, the
cores and g and thereby increase or diminish the intensity of the magnetic
field in the solenoid by weakening or strengthening the resistance of the
system.
The advantages of an apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention,
are manifold.
It is extremely simple and strong, and the motion of the interruptor-rod is
rigorously rectilinear so that the interruption of the current is very abrupt,
whilst the weight in motion being very small permits of extremely rapid move-
ments with a small expenditure of energy.
Our interruptor may be varied in form and dimensions and we may also
modify its details to suit various purposes:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
A contact breaker specially applicable to induction coils, comprising an
interruptor-rod dipping into mercury, fixed to the extremity of a helical spring
suspended from any suitable support or bracket and leading the current to the
said interruptor-rod the helical spring enclosing two soft iron cores, one rigidly
fixed disposed in the upper portion of the spring the other movable and mounted
at the upper end of the interruptor-rod in such a manner that the spring, which
acts as a solenoid owing to the passage of the current, produces the magnetization
of these two cores and thereby causes the interruptor-rod to be raised and retire
from the mercury under the attraction of the movable core by the stationary core,
the helical spring then rendered free by reason of the interruption of the current
allows the rod to re-descend and so again establish contact; the periodical
interruption of the current being obtained by the vertical oscillation of the
interruptor-rod which alternately dips into and withdraws from the mercury.
substantially as hereinbefore described in principle- with reference to the annexed
drawing and for the purpose specified.
Dated this with day of I….…. 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.