US3600104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlled pumping of liquid mercury
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1967-11-30
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Granted: 1971-08-17
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Expires: 1987-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A controllable flow of liquid mercury is discharged into a delivery conduit. First and second electrodes are positioned in the conduit in the liquid mercury therein. The conduit between the electrodes is electrically insulative. A bubble of electrolyte is positioned between the electrodes. An electrolysis current source is connected to the electrodes and regulated in accordance with the amount of mercury desired to be delivered by this delivery conduit. this electrolysis current electrolyzes mercury across the electrolyte from the mercury source toward the discharge end of the delivery conduit. Detection means detect the position of the electrolyte bubble and regulates the controllable flow of liquid mercury to maintain the electrolyte bubble in a substantially fixed position in the delivery conduit. Thus, the amount of mercury delivered out of the delivery conduit is equal to the amount of mercury electrolyzed across the electrolyte.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry J King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:21
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/06; G05D7/0617; G05D7/0629; G05D7/0676; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for the controlled pumping of liquid mercury, said apparatus comprising: a source of liquid mercury, a delivery conduit connected to said source of liquid mercury, the improvement comprising: flow control means connected to said delivery conduit to control the rate of flow of liquid mercury from said source into said delivery conduit; first and second electrodes positioned within said delivery conduit and spaced along the length of said delivery conduit for passing electrolysis current between said electrodes; and a sensor positioned adjacent said delivery conduit between said first and second electrodes to sense the position of an electrolyte within said delivery conduit between said electrodes, said sensor being connected to said flow control means so that the rate of mercury flow into said conduit is controlled by said sensing means and said sensing means is controlled by the position of electrolyte within said delivery conduit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for the controlled pumping of liquid mercury, said apparatus comprising: a source of liquid mercury, a delivery conduit connected to said source of liquid mercury, the improvement comprising: flow control means connected to said delivery conduit to control the rate of flow of liquid mercury from said source into said delivery conduit; first and second electrodes positioned within said delivery conduit and spaced along the length of said delivery conduit for passing electrolysis current between said electrodes; and a sensor positioned adjacent said delivery conduit between said first and second electrodes to sense the position of an electrolyte within said delivery conduit between said electrodes, said sensor being connected to said flow control means so that the rate of mercury flow into said conduit is controlled by said sensing means and said sensing means is controlled by the position of electrolyte within said delivery conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein first and second mercury columns are positioned within said delivery conduit and an electrolyte is positioned between said mercury columns in said delivery conduit, said electrolyte and said mercury columns being in liquid-to-liquid interface engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said delivery tube is unwettable by said mercury and is wetted by said electrolyte so that said electrolyte maintains said mercury columns electrically separated except through said electrolyte.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electrolyte contains mercury ions in electrolyte solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said delivery tube is substantially transparent and first and second columns of liquid mercury in said delivery tube are separated by a substantially transparent mercury plating electrolyte, said electrolyte being positioned between said electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sensor comprises a light source arranged to direct light through said delivery tube and a light sensor positioned to receive light passing from said light source through said delivery tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said light source is a collimated light source and said sensor comprises first and second optical sensors positioned adjacent each other in a direction axial of said tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process for the controlled pumping of liquid mercury comprising the steps of: controllably admitting liquid mercury into a delivery tube so as to substantially fill the delivery tube; electrolyzing mercury across a mercury electrolyzing electrolyte which is positioned within the tube and separates the mercury column within the tube; and controlling the position of the electrolyte within the tube by controlling the admission of the liquid mercury into the tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process for the controlled pumping of liquid mercury comprising the steps of: controllably admitting liquid mercury into a delivery tube so as to substantially fill the delivery tube; electrolyzing mercury across a mercury electrolyzing electrolyte which is positioned within the tube and separates the mercury column within the tube; and controlling the position of the electrolyte within the tube by controlling the admission of the liquid mercury into the tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said controlling step comprises: sensing the position of the electrolyte within the conduit; and controlling the admission of liquid mercury into the conduit by the sensed position of the electrolyte.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said sensing step comprises optically sensing the position of the electrolyte along the length of the conduit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-16 | 1975-02-15 | 1975-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-16 | 1979-02-15 | 1979-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-16 | 1983-02-15 | 1983-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |