Electronic timer utilizing current flow through an electrolytic solution

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR ACCURATELY TIMING A PERIOD OF ENERGIZATION OF AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BY ELECTROLYSIS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR MEMBER HAVING AN ACCURATELY CALIBRATED CROSS SECTION, AN ELECTROLYTIC BATH, A PLATING SURFACE, A SEALED CASE ENCLOSING SAID BATH AND IMMERSING THEREIN SAID CONDUCTOR AND SAID SURFACE, MEANS ESTABLISHING A CONSTANT CURRENT FLOW THROUGH SAID CONDUCTOR ON SAID PLATING SURFACE, MEANS LIMITING THE POTENTIAL ACROSS SAID CONDUCTOR WITHIN SAID CASE TO PREVENT ELECTROLYSIS WITHIN SAID BATH WHEN CONTINUITY OF SAID CONDUCTOR IS BROKEN, AND MEANS DETERMINING THE EXPIRATION OF A PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD BY SENSING THE LACK OF CONTINUITY OF SAID CONDUCTOR MEMBER WHEN IT IS ERODED AWAY AND BROKEN THROUGH BY THE PLATING ACTION.