Electrolytic timer delay capsule

Abstract

An electrolytic timer capsule is constructed of an outer cylindrical closed end case and an inner insulated upside down cup enclosing an electrolyte solution. The case comprises one electrode and the other is a U-shaped wire with an intermediate thin coined section immersed in the electrolyte solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrolytic timer device for use in electrical circuits detecting the rupture of a circuit conductive path after a predetermined time period of electroplating away an electrode member in said path comprising in combination, an electrolyte solution, an electrode comprising an elongated single piece of metal, substantially uniform in mass along its length, having two ends and having an intermediate portion disposed in said electrolyte solution with at least part of said portion presenting a thinner section and greater area to said electrolyte solution than said ends. 
     
     
       2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the piece of metal comprises a substantially U-shaped piece of wire. 
     
     
       3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the shaped wire is coined to produce said thinner section within said electrolyte. 
     
     
       4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the electrolyte has a high enough resistance to provide a significant change of resistance between said two ends when the portion of said electrode within the electrolyte is ruptured. 
     
     
       5. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein substantially the entire portion of said wire within the electrolyte is coined to provide a thinner portion and wherein an intermediate section is coined to provide a thinner portion than the remaining portion. 
     
     
       6. A device as defined in claim 1 including a second electrode comprising a cover can containing said electrolyte. 
     
     
       7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein the can is cylindrical with one closed end, a cylindrical insulating cup of a size approximating the internal diameter of said can inserted within the cover can with its bottom in an upside-down orientation to produce a substantially closed internal cavity having the cover can in contact with the electrolyte only at the end of the can cylinder, said insulating cup being in its bottom provided with three apertures, two for passing said ends of the first mentioned electrode therethrough and one for inserting electrolyte within said internal cavity. 
     
     
       8. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein the can cylinder is longer than the cup cylinder with electrolyte confined to the region within said cup, and with a closure material in said can cylinder reaching to said electrolyte at substantially the level of the bottom of said cup. 
     
     
       9. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein the first mentioned electrode has a substantially U-shaped portion extending into said electrolyte with the apex directed toward the region at the end of said can in contact with said electrolyte to establish an electric field pattern therewith of known configuration.  .[.10. A device as defined in claim 1 having an electrolytic solution with a substance therein increasing the resistivity thereof..]. .Iadd. 11. An electrolytic timer device for use in electrical circuits detecting rupture of a circuit conductive path after a predetermined time period of electroplating away an electrode member in said path comprising in combination, a cathode electrode, an anode electrode of conductive metal wire comprising a source of metal to be plated away until the wire ruptures, and an electrolyte solution between said electrodes causing said anode electrode wire to plate away on said cathode electrode and rupture said wire wherein the anode wire electrode has two leads presented for connection to said electrical circuits for detection of rupture therebetween and the portion of said wire intermediate the leads is immersed in said solution and means producing a concentrated electric field pattern on a portion of said anode said means being formed by the configuration of said anode wire into a shape presenting said portion as a single small apex part of its total length to protrude into a position significantly closer than the remainder of its length to said cathode with the electrolyte solution therebetween thereby assuring continued etching at said portion producing uniform time periods to rupture of the wire by electroplating when a d-c potential source is connected between said cathode and anode wherein said cathode is a cup-shaped container with an open mouth and a closed bottom having only the closed bottom exposed to said electrolyte, said two leads constitute an integral continuous portion of said anode wire disposed in said electrolyte with the leads extending from said container, and wherein said protruding portion is disposed with its apex directed toward the closed bottom of said container. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. In an electrolytic timer capsule having two electrodes and an electrolyte therebetween, the combination comprising, an outer cup forming a first of said electrodes, an inner cup of plastic material inserted upside-down into said electrode to form a cavity confining the electrolyte between said cups, a second electrode comprising a length of wire, and means passing the second of said electrodes through said inner cup with a continuous portion extending into said electrolyte cavity, and two ends extending out of the capsule so that the wire may be electrolytically broken by electric current passed between the electrodes and detected by a change of continuity between said two ends. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A capsule as defined in claim 12 wherein said continuous portion is U-shaped with the ends disposed away from the bottom of the electrode cup. .Iaddend.