Abstract: A self-regenerating liquid metal current limiter including solid metal electrodes for connection to an electric circuit to be protected and several compression chambers which are partially filled with liquid metal. The compression chambers are located one behind the other between the electrodes and are formed by pressure-resistant insulating bodies and by partition walls with connecting channels that are supported by the insulating bodies. The partition walls are provided with a plurality of connecting channels that are not arranged in a generally concent arrangement with respect to a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the current limiter, the axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the partition walls. The current limiter provides for various positions of use corresponding to a position of rotation of the current limiter about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A membrane of an ionic pendant-containing, water-insoluble copolymeric poly(amino acid) composed of a first moiety derived from a first amino acid which gives a water-soluble poly (amino acid) with ionic groups of carboxyl and/or amino groups as the pendants to the molecule, e.g., glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine and ornithine, and a second moiety derived from a second amino acid which gives a water-insoluble poly (amino acid), e.g., leucine, alanine and methionine, in a specified molar proportion serves as a functional element of an electronic device such as a non-linear resistor capable of working in an aqueous medium and exhibiting a non-linear voltage-current relationship or a phenomenon of hysteresis in the voltage/current scanning.

Abstract: The water rheostat has a main electrode unit including the main electrode shaped as a hollow cylinder and provided with an electrode water inlet port in the top of the hemispherical upper end portion of the electrode, electrode water outlet ports at equal intervals at the bottom of the electrode along the total circumference of the electrode. A sleeve resistant to arc discharge is fitted in the circular recess of the top portion of the support the main electrode unit so that the sleeve is in contact with the inside circumferential surface of the top portion and a circumferential gap is defined between the bottom of the main electrode and the inside circumferential surface of the top portion of the support.

Abstract: A rheostat of the kind that comprises a tank containing electrolyte and at least two electrodes, one electrode being connectable to an electric power supply and the other electrode being connectable to apparatus to be fed by the power supply. The electrodes define therebetween an electrolyte flow path and there is associated with the electrolyte flow path operational pumping apparatus providing for a controlled effective circulation of the electrolyte between the electrodes. The rheostat is particularly usable in conjunction with the starting of squirrel-cage motors.

Abstract: An electrode type liquid heater includes a tank having an inlet and an outlet disposed so that in normal operation of the heater the tank is partially filled with electrically conductive liquid below an electrically nonconductive air space. A plurality of electrodes, at least one of which is carried by a movable heating assembly, are immersed in the liquid and a voltage is applied thereacross for heating the liquid. The movable heating assembly is urged by a counterweight to a normal position wherein the at least one electrode carried by the assembly located in the air space. The flow of water to be heated discharges from the inlet onto a surface on the heating assembly opposite the counterweight to move the at least one electrode to a position immersed in the liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating an electrically conductive liquid, such as water, includes a rotatable, balanced, buoyant heating assembly floating in a quantity of conductive liquid partially filling a tank. A pair of opposite polarity electrodes are mounted on the buoyant assembly and a neutral electrode is mounted in the liquid in the tank for heating the liquid by current flow between the electrodes. The buoyant heating assembly is hingedly mounted in the tank and is rotatable by means of a bimetallic coil responsive to the temperature of the liquid from a first position, wherein the pair of electrodes is immersed in the liquid to heat the liquid, to a second position, wherein the electrodes are out of the liquid to terminate the heating process. In one embodiment the spacing between the electrodes on the buoyant heating assembly may be selectively adjusted from outside of the tank to vary the heating rate.