Year: 1888

page_text: I CHRISTIAN FREDERIK HILKIER Cand. Phil of Lyngby near Copenhagen in the
Kingdom of Denmark 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 electric contact making or breaking apparatus designed
to be automatically operated by the rise of temperature around the apparatus to a
certain desired point or by the fall of temperature to a certain desired point and it consists
in certain improvements in such apparatus and also in the arrangement of a push button
or hand switch on the improved apparatus for making contact by hand when desired.
The device hereinafter shown is intended to be combined with an electric bell or signal
and battery or suitable source of electricity whereby it may be known in some distant
place when the maximum or minimum temperature or pressure is reached. It may
be constructed as a fire alarm or for use in such manufacturing or other establishments
where certain rooms have to be kept within certain limits of temperature. It is
designed to be simple and reliable and to оссиру small space.
Reference being made to the annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation and
Fig. 2 a side view of a part of the apparatus as designed for contact by maximum
temperature. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 4 a cross section
thereof. Fig. 5 is a view of the bed plate and parts with the operating mechanism of
Figs. 1 and 2 removed. Fig. 6 is a side view of the operating mechanism as arranged
for a minimum temperature. Fig. 7 shows the same in section on a bed plate. Fig. 8
is a side view of the apparatus with push button combined therewith. Fig. 9 the same
in section as affixed to a bed plate. Figs. 10 and 11 show another modification of the
apparatus with hand contact and Figs. 12 to 15 show another simple and cheap
arrangement for maximum temperature consisting either of two insulated and connected
apparatus or of one apparatus with a pole plate.
As shown in the accompanying drawing the apparatus consists of a hermetically
closed flat metal case or receptacle b with a resilient side wall p bulging outward or
inward according to its being required for operation by a maximum or minimum

page_text: temperature. (Figs. 2, 46 and 7) The receptacle is filled according to circum-
stances..or requirement entirely or partly with any suitable liquid which has a boiling
point or point of ebulition at the temperature at which the contact is to be made.
An excellent liquid which allows the apparatus to be adjusted for any optional
temperature between 0 and 100° C. is ammonia water. Whilst the case b which is
filled through tube is connected by the wire t with the terminal screws and
the ring and with the negative pole of a galvanic battery, the metal strip c which
terminates in the hollow a in the bed plate h and is provided with a small me:al
point is brought into connection by terminal screws and ring with the positive
pole of the battery.
As a maximum temperature alarmn the apparatus works as follows:
of
When the apparatus, by rise of temperature or by outbreak of a fire in its
neighbourhood has been heated gradually up to the degree for which it is adjusted
the liquid in the tank b will have, moved outward the resilient or spring side
said tank either by the expansion of the liquid through heat or at the same time by
the development of steam or vapour caused thereby so that the said wall P is
brought into contact with the point of the metal strip c and the elastic circuit is
thereby closed.
When on the other hand the apparatus is arranged to give alarm of minimum
temperature and has been cooled down gradually to the required degree by falling
temperature as for instance in a hot house the thin resilient or spring but outward
bulged side p of the case will, as shown in Fig. 7 be moved inward in consequence
of the contraction of the liquid or the condensing of the steam or vapour of the
contents of the case band as the spring which is in electric connection with the
negative pole of the battery through terminal screw sl follows the side p as it approaches
the stripe which is connected with the positive pole of the battery through terminal
screws, the strip c will be soon touched by the point i of springf and the electric circuit
is thereby closed.
If the apparatus is to be also adapted for use as a hand pressure contact to serve
at the same time besides its function as an automatic electric contact as the switch
of an ordinary bell apparatus it is modified for instance as in Figs. 8 & 9 in which
the same principle and the same construction is observed but the tank b is made a
little larger and provided with the button k on one of its sides so that pressure upon
the same may cause the temporary bending in of the said side and the consequent
bulging of the side p. Of course the case 6 can be made in such a manner that both
sides are of spring action and yield by moving outward and inward to the influence of
the temperature.
To
Also the case b and the entire apparatus can have suitable shape. In the modification
of the apparatus for hand pressure contact as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the case b is of
the smaller dimensions as in Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 and 7 and is fixed to a bed plate h
shaped according to its special purpose to resemble an ordinary electric bell push.
the one pole here, for instance the negative pole is fixed a metal strip To the
other pole here the positive one is fixed a spring 1 which is provided with a
button k and overlaps the strip f so that by pressure on the button they are brought
in contact.
The two latter modifications of the apparatus with hand
be protected by a dome or cover suitable for the purpose
is a hole for the press button k as is represented in Fig. 11.
cheap modification is shown in Figs. 12 and 15.
pressure contact are to
in the centre of which
A simple, practical and
In Fig. 12 this device consists of two apparatus according to Fig. 2 but provided
: with a rod x, these are tied together, after inserting between them an insulating disc u
consisting for instance of varnished silk material (Fig. 13) provided with a hole o
for permitting contact of the two resilient sides p with each other upon increase of
temperature to the required amount, and then close an electric circuit between the
two instruments. In Fig. 14 the device comprises but one apparatus with rod x,
joined to the rod a provided with contact plate p¹ (Fig. 15) the insulating disc u being
placed between them.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In automatic electrical contact apparatus and electric conducting hermetically
closed receptacle with one or more resilient walls adapted to be moved by the pressure
or vacuum in said receptacle caused respectively by the effects of rise or fall of
temperature on a suitable liquid or fluid in said receptacle substantially as and for the
purpose described.
2. The combination with said receptacle of a hand pressure button upon one of the
walls thereof substantially as set forth.
3. The special construction substantially as described and illustrated with reference
to Figs. 12 to 15.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.