Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
Electrical timing apparatus comprising; a source of direct current; a resistor which has a resistance which varies as a function of its temperature; a coulometer; means connected to the coulometer for signalling when the coulometer has reached a preselected charge level; means for interconnecting said current source and said resistor in a circuit with said coulometer whereby the length of time for the signalling device to indicate the coulometer has reached a preselected charge level is a function of both time and temperature; and voltage-limiting means shunt connected across said coulometer electrodes whereby the rise of voltage across the coulometer is limited to a predetermined level below that at which hydrogen evolution will take place in the coulometer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
Electrical timing apparatus comprising; a source of direct current; a resistor which has a resistance which varies as a function of its temperature; a coulometer; means connected to the coulometer for signalling when the coulometer has reached a preselected charge level; means for interconnecting said current source and said resistor in a circuit with said coulometer whereby the length of time for the signalling device to indicate the coulometer has reached a preselected charge level is a function of both time and temperature; and voltage-limiting means shunt connected across said coulometer electrodes whereby the rise of voltage across the coulometer is limited to a predetermined level below that at which hydrogen evolution will take place in the coulometer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coulometer comprises a first electrode of a solid active cadmium-containing material and a second electrode comprising a liquid cadmium amalgam containing not more than about 1 percent cadmium by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second electrode has an electrochemical energy storing capacity corresponding to about 1 percent of the electrochemical energy storing capacity of said first electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the voltage-limiting means comprise clamping diode means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said clamping diode means comprises a germanium-type diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the signalling means includes transistor means having an output circuit adapted to become conductive upon the coulometer reaching the preselected charge level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said transistor means comprises a germanium-type transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the signalling means further includes an electrically energizable light source connected in the output circuit of said transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which includes further diode means interconnected between the basE of said transistor and said coulometer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said further diode means comprises a germanium-type diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the means for interconnecting the current source and resistor with said coulometer device includes a rotary switch having two open circuit positions alternating with two closed circuit positions, said first and second closed positions respectively interconnecting the current source through said resistor to said coulometer in opposite polarity modes, said switch including means for permitting actuation of said switch in one rotational direction only.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes means connected with said resistor for increasing the effective thermal response thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for increasing the thermal response includes a transistor having its collector-emitter circuit connected in series with said current source and said coulometer, the temperature response resistor and another resistor being series connected across the collector-emitter circuit of the transistor, and the base of the transistor is connected to the junction between said resistors whereby the resistance of the circuit interconnecting the current source and the coulometer is varied at a greater rate per degree temperature change than that of the temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
Electrical timing apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein means for increasing the thermal response includes a second resistor also having a resistance which varies as a function of temperature, the first said and the second resistors being series connected between said current source and said coulometer, and another resistor interconnecting a junction between the first said and second resistors to the current source, this resistor and the first said resistor comprising a voltage divider connected across the current source whereby the resistance of the circuit interconnecting the current source and the coulometer is varied at a greater rate per degree temperature change than that of the temperature-responsive resistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
168 words
Switch apparatus for a reversible coulometer comprising: a generally cylindrical rotor having at least two ratchet teeth symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of a diametrical plane thereof; first and second contacts on opposite sides of said rotor; a reversible coulometer carried by said rotor and having two electrodes respectively connected to said contacts; a base receiving said rotor for rotation about the central axis thereof; first and second contact fingers carried by said base and having ends biased into engagement with opposing sides of the rotor whereby upon rotation of the rotor in one direction about its axis within said base the first and second contact fingers respectively engage the first and second contacts in one position thereof and engage respectively the second and first contacts in a second position thereof and at intermediate rotor positions the contact fingers are out of contact with said contacts; and pawl means on said base engageable with said ratchet teeth whereby rotation of the rotor in an opposite direction is restrained.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
168 words
Switch apparatus for a reversible coulometer comprising: a generally cylindrical rotor having at least two ratchet teeth symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of a diametrical plane thereof; first and second contacts on opposite sides of said rotor; a reversible coulometer carried by said rotor and having two electrodes respectively connected to said contacts; a base receiving said rotor for rotation about the central axis thereof; first and second contact fingers carried by said base and having ends biased into engagement with opposing sides of the rotor whereby upon rotation of the rotor in one direction about its axis within said base the first and second contact fingers respectively engage the first and second contacts in one position thereof and engage respectively the second and first contacts in a second position thereof and at intermediate rotor positions the contact fingers are out of contact with said contacts; and pawl means on said base engageable with said ratchet teeth whereby rotation of the rotor in an opposite direction is restrained.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
Switch apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said contact fingers constitute said pawl means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
Switch apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the rotor includes four ratchet teeth positioned at 90* intervals about the rotor surface whereby there are two alternate intermediate positions wherein the contact fingers are held out of contact with said contacts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
89 words
Switch apparatus as set forth in claim 17 which includes a third contact finger spaced and insulated from said second contact finger and having an end adapted to contact the same contact simultaneously with said second contact finger in said first and second rotor positions whereby in these latter two positions said second and third contact fingers are electrically common with one of said rotor contacts and in the intermediate positions said second and third contact fingers are out of contact with both rotor contacts and with each other.