US3825709A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transducer device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-02
•
Granted: 1974-07-23
•
Expires: 1992-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A transducer using the electrocapillary effect at a single interface of a liquid metal and an electrolyte in which the metal is moved, by a force applied thereto, to disturb the interfacial tension, to result in the production of a voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 A Lucian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/06; H01H1/08; H01H29/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An electrocapillary transducer 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; a liquid 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 only in said capillary tube; means external of said envelope for applying a force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to move the interface of said liquids and to change the interfacial tension between said liquids whereby a voltage is produced due to the electrocapillary effect, said means including means for sealing off an end of said envelope and a material between said sealing means and one of said liquids for transmitting the force to the said one liquid; and electrode means respectively in electrical contact with said metallic liquid and said electrolyte across which said voltage appears.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An electrocapillary transducer 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; a liquid 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 only in said capillary tube; means external of said envelope for applying a force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to move the interface of said liquids and to change the interfacial tension between said liquids whereby a voltage is produced due to the electrocapillary effect, said means including means for sealing off an end of said envelope and a material between said sealing means and one of said liquids for transmitting the force to the said one liquid; and electrode means respectively in electrical contact with said metallic liquid and said electrolyte across which said voltage appears.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein said sealing means communicates with said material in communication with one of said metallic and said electrolyte liquids and transmits force to said material to move the interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
A transducer as in claim 2 wherein said material is compressible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
A transducer as in claim 2 wherein said material is incompressible.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
A transducer as in claim 1 wherein said envelope includes a reservoir for containing one of said metal and electrolyte liquids, means for providing a column of the material in communication with said one liquid in said reservoir, said sealing means applying force to said column of material and forming a closed system to the atmosphere for said material, which force is transmitted through the material and the liquid in the reservoir to the interface of the metal and the electrolyte.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A transducer as in claim 5 wherein said sealing means comprises a tube of compressible material having a closed end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A transducer as in claim 5 wherein said sealing means comprises a bellows, and means for moving said bellows.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A transducer as in claim 5 wherein said sealing means comprises a conical shaped member having a diaphragm at its open end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transducer as in claim 5 further comprising means responsive to the movement of said fluids produced by the force for restoring the fluids in the transducer to an equilibrium condition when the force is removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A transducer as in claim 9 wherein said means for applying said force applies to one of said fluids and said restoring means comprises movable means in communication with the other fluid and responsive to the movement of the other fluid produced by the force, and means responsive to the movement of said movable means for restoring the equilibrium of the fluids.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transducer as in claim 1 further comprising means responsive to the movement of the fluids produced by said force for restoring the fluids in the transducer to an equilibrium condition when the force is removed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A transducer as in claim 11 wherein said means for applying said force applies to one of said fluids and said restoring means comprises movable means in communication with the other fluid and responsive to the movement of the other fluid produced by the force, and means responsive to the movement of said movable means for restoring the equilibrium of the fluids.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transducer as in claim 12 wherein said movable means comprises a resilient member in communication with said other fluid and responsive to its movement, said restoring means including means covering the resilient member and spaced therefrom to form a chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A transducer as in claim 13 wherein said chamber includes a compressible material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
152 words
An electrocapillary transducer 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; a liquid 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 only in said capillary tube; means external of said envelope for applying a force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to move the interface of said liquids and to change the interfacial tension Between said liquids whereby a voltage is produced due to the electrocapillary effect; electrode means respectively in electrical contact with said metallic liquid and said electrolyte across which said voltage appears; and means responsive to the movement of said fluids produced by said force for restoring the fluids in the transducer to an equilibrium condition when the force is removed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
152 words
An electrocapillary transducer 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; a liquid 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 only in said capillary tube; means external of said envelope for applying a force across said metallic liquid and said electrolyte effective to move the interface of said liquids and to change the interfacial tension Between said liquids whereby a voltage is produced due to the electrocapillary effect; electrode means respectively in electrical contact with said metallic liquid and said electrolyte across which said voltage appears; and means responsive to the movement of said fluids produced by said force for restoring the fluids in the transducer to an equilibrium condition when the force is removed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A transducer as in claim 15 wherein said means for applying said force applies to one of said fluids and said restoring means comprises movable means in communication with the other fluid and responsive to the movement of the other fluid produced by the force, and means responsive to the movement of said movable means for restoring the equilibrium of the fluids.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2695938A
Cited
US3249724A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |