Liquid-state switching device |
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| 申请号 | US3701868D | 申请日 | 1970-05-18 | 公开(公告)号 | US3701868A | 公开(公告)日 | 1972-10-31 |
| 申请人 | ARSENE N LUCIAN; | 发明人 | LUCIAN ARSENE N; | ||||
| 摘要 | A liquid-state switching device utilizes movement of a column of liquid, resulting from a change in surface tension of the liquid caused by electrocapillary action, to operate various switch means. The electrocapillary effect is induced across a single interface sets of single of mercury and an electrolyte or electrolytes. Filter partitions are installed to maintain the liquids in a proper relationship throughout variations in position of the switching device. Means are provided to assist the return of the column of liquids to their normal positions including a bias voltage, a permanently installed resistance, and/or pressurized gas pockets. | ||||||
| 权利要求 | 1. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a tube portion having capillary transverse interior dimensions; a metallic liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion; an electrolyte contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion, said metallic liquid and said electrolyte being immiscible in each other and forming a single interface in said capillary tube portion; means for applying an electromotive force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to change the interfacial tension of said liquids at said single interface whereby electrocapillary movement of said interface is induced; and contact means including a plurality of spaced globules of a third conducting liquid located within said capillary tube portion, a plurality of pairs of spaced electrodes operatively associated with a respective globule of said third electrically conductive liquid so that said motion of said interface causes each globule of conducting liquid to close an electrical circuit between the respective pair of electrodes, and at least one quantity of gas operatively located between at least one pair of said globules, whereby the globule of said pair of globules which is located farther from said interface actuates an electrical circuit between the respective pair of spaced electrodes at some time subsequent to the time at which the globule of said pair of globules which is located nearer said interface actuates an electrical circuit between the respective pair of spaced electrodes. 2. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a tube portion having capillary transverse interior dimensions; a metallic liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion; an electrolyte contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion, said metallic liquid and said electrolyte being immiscible in each other and forming a single interface in said capillary tube; means for applying an electromotive force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to change the interfacial tension between said liquids whereby electrocapillary movement of said single interface is induced; contact means having at least one movable element for actuating an electrical circuit; and translating means for moving said movable element responsive to movement of said single interface including a hollow resilient coil closed at one end, the interior of said coil being in fluid communication with said interface, whereby movement of said interface causes said coil to change in length in the axial direction to actuate said contact means. 3. A switching device according to claim 2, wherein said hollow resilient coil is made of glass. 4. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a tube portion having capillary transverse interior dimensions; a metallic liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion; an electrolyte contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion, said metallic liquid and said electrolyte being immiscible in each other and forming a single interface in said capillary tube; means for applying an electromotive force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to change the interfacial tension between said liquids whereby electrocapillary movement of said interface is induced; contact having at least one movable element for actuating an electrical circuit and translating means for moving said movable element responsive to movement of said single interface. 5. A switching device according to claim 4 wherein said translating means includes a resilient bellows having one side in fluid communication with said single interface. 6. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a tube portion having capillary transverse interior dimensions; a metallic liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion; an electrolyte contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion, said metallic liquid and said electrolyte being immiscible in each other and forming a single interface in said capillary tube; means for applying an electromotive force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to change the interfacial tension between said liquids whereby electrocapillary movement of said single interface is induced; contact means having at least one movable element for actuating an electrical circuit and translating means for moving said movable element responsive to movement of said single interface including at least one substantially spherical ball made of a insulating material. 7. A switching device according to claim 6, wherein said spherical ball is located within said capillary tube portion, the diameter of said ball being less than said capillary tubes so that said ball may travel longitudinally within said capillary tube responsive to movement of said interface. 8. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a tube portion having capillary transverse interior dimensions; a metallic liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion; an electrolyte contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion, said metallic liquid and said electrolyte being immiscible in each other and having a single interface in said capillary tube; a source of electromotive force; first and second substantially polarization resistant electrodes for applying said electromotive force to and across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte respectively, said second electrode comprising a calomel electrode, whereby the interfacial tension between said liquid and said electrolyte is changed so that electrocapillary movement of said interface is caused; and contact means having at least one movable element actuated by said motion of said interface. 9. A switching device according to claim 8, wherein said envelope includes a reservoir, and said electrolyte is contained within said reservoir and extends into said capillary tube, and wherein said second electrode has a second interface in said reservoir with said electrolyte, the surface area of said second interface being large with respect to the first interface between said electrolyte and said metallic liquid, whereby a substantially non-polarizable electrode is provided. 10. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a tube portion having capillary transverse and interior dimensions; a metallic liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion; an electrolyte contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion, said metallic liquid and said electrolyte being immiscible with each other and forming a single interface in said capillary tube; means for applying a first electromotive force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to change the interfacial tension between said metallic liquid and said electrolyte and cause movement of said single interface; contact means having at least one movable element actuated by said motion of said interface; and means effective upon removal of said first electromotive force for causing return movement of said interface to an initial position occupied prior to application of said first electromotive force, whereby the response time of the switcHing device is improved. 11. A switching device according to claim 10, wherein said means for causing return movement of said interface includes means for applying a second electromotive force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte to cause movement in a direction opposite to said first electromotive force. 12. A switching device according to claim 11, wherein said means for causing return movement of said interface further includes resistance means in series with said means for applying a second electromotive force of sufficiently high value that the electrocapillary effect due to said second electromotive force is negligible compared to the electrocapillary effect due to said first electromotive force when both said first electromotive force means and said second electromotive force means are operatively connected across said interface. 13. A switching device according to claim 11, wherein said means for applying a second electromotive force across said first and second liquids includes an electrical control circuit operatively connected to interlock said second electromotive force responsive to application of said first electromotive force and to apply said second electromotive force for a predetermined length of time responsive to removal of said first electromotive force. 14. A switching device according to claim 10, wherein said means for causing return movement of said interface includes a resistance operatively connected across said first and second electrodes. 15. A switching device according to claim 10, wherein said means for causing return movement of said interface includes at least one quantity of gas contained within said envelope and operatively associated with said interface to change volume responsive to movement of said interface caused by said first electromotive force means and to exert a reaction force on said interface effective to cause said interface to return to said initial position upon removal of said first electromotive force applying means. 16. A switching device according to claim 15, wherein said quantity of gas is initially at a pressure greater than atmospheric, and wherein movement of said interface responsive to said first electromotive force means compresses said quantity of gas. 17. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a tube portion having capillary transverse interior dimensions; a first conducting liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion; a second conducting liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion, said first and second liquids being immiscible in each other and forming a single interface in said capillary tube; means for applying an electromotive force across said first and second liquids effective to change the interfacial tension between said first and second liquids and cause movement of said single interface and said first and second liquids; contact means having at least one movable element actuated by said motion of said interface; and filter means operatively associated with said first and second liquids for restricting said motion of said interface to said capillary tube. 18. A switching device according to claim 17, wherein said envelope includes first and second reservoirs, said first reservoir is joined with said capillary tube at one end thereof and has a common fluid path therewith, said electrolyte extends into and partially fills said first reservoir, and wherein said second reservoir is joined with said first reservoir and has a common fluid path therewith, and further comprising a gas filling said second reservoir, a first filter partition mounted in the fluid path between said capillary tube and said first reservoir and substantially separating said capillary tube and said first reservoir from each other, said filter partition being pervious to said electrolyte and impervious to said metallic liquid, and a second filter partItion mounted in the fluid path between said first reservoir and said second reservoir and substantially separating said first reservoir and said second reservoir from each other, said second filter partition being pervious to said gas and impervious to said electrolyte. 19. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a plurality of passageways having capillary transverse interior dimensions; a first conducting liquid contained within said envelope and extending into the respective passageways; a second conducting liquid contained within said envelope and extending into the respective passageways, said first and second conducting liquids being immiscible with each other and forming a single interface with each other in each of said plurality of passageways respectively; means for applying an electromotive force across said first and second liquids effective to change the interfacial tension between said first and second liquids at each interface in the respective passageways and cause movement of each said interface, whereby motion of said first and second liquids is caused responsive to motion of said plurality of said interfaces; and contact means having at least one movable element actuated by said motion of said first and second liquids. 20. A switching device according to claim 19, wherein each said capillary passageway having one and only one interface between said first and said second liquids. 21. A switching device according to claim 19 further comprising filter means operatively associated with said first and second liquids for restricting said motion of said interface to said capillary tube. 22. A liquid-state switching device for electrical circuits, comprising: an envelope including a tube portion having capillary transverse and interior dimensions; a metallic liquid contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion; an electrolyte contained within said envelope and extending into said tube portion, said metallic liquid and said electrolyte being immiscible with each other and forming a single interface in said capillary tube; means for applying a first electromotive force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to change the interfacial tension between said metallic liquid and said electrolyte and cause movement of said single interface; switching circuit means having portions located within said envelope; and means responsive to the movement of said interface for changing the state of said switching circuit means coacting with the portions of the switching means within said envelope. 23. A switching device as in claim 22 further comprising a source of first electromotive force, said electromotive force applied across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte so that the electrolyte is positive with respect to said metallic liquid. 24. A switching device as in claim 23 wherein said metallic liquid is mercury. |
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