公开(公告)号：FR2357050A1

公开(公告)日：1978-01-27

申请号：FR7718258

申请日：1977-06-09

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： GOMEZ RICHARD S ,  SCRAY EUGENE J JR

IPC: H01H37/36 ,  H01H29/06 ,  H01H29/28 ,  H01H29/30 ,  H01H61/02

Abstract: GAS OPERATED SWITCHES: Switches operated by gas, preferably controlled electrothermally, include a capillary tube closed at both ends with a conductive liquid piston dividing the tube into two chambers each filled with a non-oxidizing gas. A pair of electrical contact points are disposed within the capillary tube with the piston positioned to, at selected intervals, contact both points simultaneously. In one embodiment of the switches, a closed glass capillary tube contains a pair of aligned nickel wires with ends selectively contacted simultaneously by a mercury piston or globule providing a circuit-closing position for the switch. The switch is set in the circuit-closing position by applying heat to a non-oxidizing gas within one end of the capillary tube. The switch is then reset to a circuit-opening position at any desired time by applying heat to a non-oxidizing gas within the other end of the capillary tube. The non-oxidizing gas is heated by electrothermal means disposed at each end of and within the ends of the capillary tube. A barrier such as a collar disposed near the end of each of the wires is provided to prevent the mercury piston or globule from separating into a plurality of globules upon application of strong forces to the globule from either end of the tube.

公开(公告)号：CA1093618A

公开(公告)日：1981-01-13

申请号：CA281609

申请日：1977-06-28

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： GOMEZ RICHARD S ,  SCRAY EUGENE J JR

IPC: H01H37/36 ,  H01H29/06 ,  H01H29/28 ,  H01H29/30 ,  H01H61/02 ,  H01H35/26 ,  H01H35/30

Abstract: GAS OPERATED SWITCHES: Switches operated by gas, preferably controlled electrothermally, include a capillary tube closed at both ends with a conductive liquid piston dividing the tube into two chambers each filled with a non-oxidizing gas. A pair of electrical contact points are disposed within the capillary tube with the piston positioned to, at selected intervals, contact both points simultaneously. In one embodiment of the switches, a closed glass capillary tube contains a pair of aligned nickel wires with ends selectively contacted simultaneously by a mercury piston or globule providing a circuit-closing position for the switch. The switch is set in the circuit-closing position by applying heat to a non-oxidizing gas within one end of the capillary tube. The switch is then reset to a circuit-opening position at any desired time by applying heat to a non-oxidizing gas within the other end of the capillary tube. The non-oxidizing gas is heated by electrothermal means disposed at each end of and within the ends of the capillary tube. A barrier such as a collar disposed near the end of each of the wires is provided to prevent the mercury piston or globule from separating into a plurality of globules upon application of strong forces to the globule from either end of the tube.