Abstract: A switch element (1) for actuating a setting parameter on an electronic microdevice, such as a hearing aid, is characterized by a rotary element (7) having peripherally at least three contact points (9), said contact points being connected to one another in electrically conductive fashion. Furthermore, the switch element has an elastically mounted reset element connected with the rotary element as well as at least two electric leader contacts (3, 5), which can be switched into electrically conducting contact by turning the rotary element via the contact points.

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 power supply testing system for non-utility power generators, etc. includes a test tank filled with a resistive liquid; a main electrode housed within the test tank to receive power from a non-utility power generator to be tested; a movable insulator member interposed between the main electrode and the test tank to regulate the amount of power supplied from the main electrode to the tank; and a piping system for cooling or filtering the resistive liquid within the test tank and returning it to the test tank, thereby recycling the resistive liquid. The main electrode is supported at an upper portion of the test tank and depends therefrom, and the piping system includes an inlet pipe located above the test tank for feeding the resistive liquid into the test tank, while power is supplied through said inlet pipe.

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: The steam generator includes a cylindrical tank, a plurality of circumferentially-spaced electrical terminals extending through the tank top wall. To afford the capability of adjusting the horizontal distance between adjacent electrodes while maintaining the sides parallel and uniformly spaced, the underside of the tank top wall is provided with a radially extending row of radially-spaced bosses in conjunction with each terminal and each boss includes an aperture radially aligned with the corresponding terminal. The upper end of each electrode includes a radially-extending row of apertures which are adapted to receive the inner end of a terminal and are spaced so that, when a terminal is positioned in one of the electrode apertures, at least one other is in registration with a tank boss aperture to receive a metal screw or the like for anchoring the electrode on the tank.

Abstract: The electrode steam generator includes a cylindrical water tank including mating top and bottom cylinder halves molded from an electrically insulative synthetic plastic material as substantial mirror images of each other so that both can be molded from dies of the same design. The open mating ends of the cylinder halve includes substantially identical, alternating tongue and groove sections which fit together when the halves are brought together. The closed, concave ends of the cylinder halves have a plurality of circumferentially-spaced circular bosses projecting externally and internally at locations corresponding to desired locations of the electrical terminals for the electrodes. The terminal bosses on both cylinder halves are the same, except at least some of the top half includes an electrode terminal integrally molded therein.

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.

Abstract: A lightweight plastic electrolytic steam iron has a soleplate with steam distributing means therefrom and a casing of electrically non-conducting material forming the walls of an internal water tank coextensive with and extending over the soleplate. Spaced electrodes are supported in the tank to generate steam from the water therein and an insulated steam conduit extends from the soleplate upwardly into the tank to direct saturated steam from the tank through the steam distributing means to the surface being ironed. The spaced electrodes comprise a pair of adjacent parallel electrode plates disposed in the tank and spaced from the tank walls and from each other with the plates generally being vertical to the soleplate of the iron. A structure is connected to control the spacing between the plates from the iron handle and separate spaced stop posts are provided to limit movement of each plate to avoid contact therebetween.

Abstract: An electric water heater that includes a metallic housing having a water inlet and outlet, and a non-electrically conducting liner that is impervious to the action of water. First and second carbon electrodes, each in the form of a plate wedge-shaped in cross-section and having an obliquely disposed flat surface, are arranged within the liner with their respective obliques flat surfaces in parallel spaced relation to define a water passage therebetween. Manually operable means permit the second electrode to be moved relative to the first electrode to vary the width of a water passage defined between the electrodes. The housing supports first and second electric terminals that are insulated from one another, but are in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes.