US2000204A - Vibratory current interrupter - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1935. w. A. wHlPPLE VIBRATORY CURRENT INTERRUPTER Filed Jan. 28, 1932 w//f// X n w n @y W .M J1. mv S T A%/////////////////////////////////% H win/M Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to means whereby unii'orm control and regulation of the current in a high frequency generator is provided; the invention being moreV especially intended for usejwith a high yfrequency generator, employing vacuum electrodes, adapted for electro-therapeutic purposes and generally known as generator or violet ray outt.

My invention pertains construction of the interrupting or regulating mechanism and to the method of mounting the same so as to provide a uniform regulation and at the same time provide for the safe use of the apparatus by eliminating all possibility of causing a shock to the user of the apparatus.

The objects and advantages oi' my invention will be more readily comprehended -irom the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved interruptor or regulating mechanism designed for use with a. high frequency generator or violet ray apparatus; a shown in section.

Figure 2 isan elevation as viewed substantially at right angles to Figure 1, with housing omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure 2 as viewed by the erro a high frequency Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 oi Figure 2, looking downwardly.

As previously stated, my invention relates to control means intended more particularly for electrodtherapeutic apparatus involving high frequency coils which are mounted in a suitable housing, a portion oi' which is shown at `A in Figure l. The 'housing or shell is made of nonconducting material and generally of tubular shape to .enable the same to be easily held 'by the user; the control mechanism, which involves my invention, being secured at one end of the housing, while the opposite end (not shown) is provided with a socket arranged to receive the well known types of vacuum electrodes adapted to be applied to the body of the user.

The housing is provided with the well known type of resonator coil and magnet coil insulatedly arranged at predetermineddistances apart within the housing; but as the coils and their arrangements form no part oi my invention illustration thereof has not been made and theretore detailed description of these elements need not be entered into. r

My :improved vibratory current interruptor is preferably intended `to be mounted in one end oi' thehousing adjacent to the end of'one o! the ysuitably encased or wrapped coils. This coil, which is usually suitably secured to an h'isulating plate or disc Ii, has its metallic core, of which a portion is shown at II, disposed through the more particularly to the portion of ythe housing beingv disc I and slightly to lthe opposite side in order to permit the -vibrator element I2 to make contact therewith.

The vibrator element I2, comprising .a suitable metallic annular plate or disc, is mounted `on the free end o1' a leaf spring I3, whose downwardly bent end I4 is secured on the insulating disc or plate II), as shown 1in Figures 1 and 4.

element I2 is provided with an upstanding stud or contact point I6, shown disposed centrally above `the element I2 and the coil core II; the spring I3 normally tending to yieldingly hold the element I2 in slight spaced relation with the coil-core IYI as shown.

Mounted on the insulating plate or disc III is a resilient plate or leaf spring I6, disposed transversely of the disc and over the contact point I5; the lends of the spring I6 being bowed as shown at I'I, -II and thence disposed in a vertical direction downwardly as at Il, I8, and these ends suitably secured on the insulating disc I0, as at I9.

The main ktransverse portion of the spring I6 on its lower face is centrally provided with a contact element or ypoint 20. The element 20, like element I6, is provided with a iiat contact forming face or end; and this element 20 is normally heldin slight spaced relation with contact element or point I5 by the action oi spring plate I6, as shown in Figure 3.

` As lis apparent from the construction, spring IS is adapted to ilex downwardly as indicated in Figure l, for the desired current flow into the vacuum electrodes of the apparatus; the strength of the current being controlled or regulated by the adjustable relation between the contact elements or points 20 and I5 and the coil core II.

That is to say, when the spring I6 is in normal non-flexed condition and the contact element or point 20 held in its maximum spaced relation as `shown in Figure 3, the circuit between contact element or point i5 and point 'l0 is open, at which time contact point Ii is also in maximum spaced relation with the core II of the upper coil in the housing, thus ailecting current flow into the vacuum electrode at the opposite end of the holder or housing; the flow of current being efifectedr and its ystrength regulated by the regulated relation between contact elements or points 20 and Ii and the relation of the latter to the core II.

'Ihe insulating plate or disc with a pair of upright curedr thereto and disposedupwardly above the plane of the spring member It.

The upper ends of the posts 2|, 2| support a transversely disposed plate vor bar 22, which s provided with an internally threaded sleeve 23 rigidly secured, in any suitable manner, against movement.

I0 is shown provided posts 2|, 2|, suitably se- The transversely disposed plate or bar 22 is intended to be secured on the inner face of the end wall a of the housing or shell A; the end wall a having an opening to permit the regulating screw (later described) to extend therethrough.

The sleeve 23 is provided with an adjusting screw or regulator 24.

The lower end of regulator 24 is preferably provided with a serrated or toothed annular head or disc portion 25; while the upper end of the adjusting screw or regulator 24 (disposed through the end wall of the housing) Ais provided with a suitable iinger grasping button or knob 26, preferably composed of suitable non-conducting material. The knob 2B is preferably threaded on the screw 24 so as to permit assembly of the parts.

The lower end of the adjusting screw 24 is centrally bored to receive the reduced shank of a fibre or non-conducting stud 21, which is intended to control the spring member I6, as shown in Figure 1.

In order to maintain the regulator 24 and hold it against accidental rotation, I provide a spring detent 28; one end whereof is immovably secontact members or points I5 end wall cured to one of the posts 2I, while the free end is formed to frictionally bear against and engage between the serrations or teeth of member 25.

The device, of course, is provided with a suitable cord or wire (preferably disposed through the end wall of the housing) for conducting current to the coils and the spring members I3 and It are each electrically connected with the coils within the housing of the device, so that both and 20 are electrically charged when the current supply cord or wire of the device is plugged into a suitable socket or switch. In devices of this character as heretofore constructed, the contact point 20 was directly attached or operatively secured to the adjusting screw or regulator 24 thus also having the screw or regulator electrically charged.

As these devices are manually operated and therefore held in the hand of the user-and as the control screw of necessity extends through the of the housing of the device to receive the iinger control or knob 26,-the user was frequently subjected to dangerous shocks.

With my improved construction, all danger of such shocks is entirely eliminated because the regulating or control screw is not electrically charged but has an insulated or non-conducting control contact with the electrically charged contact holding spring member I 6, through the medium of the iiber or non-conducting stud 21.

In the constructions as heretofore employed, with the contact point directly secured to the bottom of the adjusting screw, it therefore rotated with the screw, and after use the contacts not only became worn by reason of the rotative movement of the upper contact point, but proper adjustment and current flow were impossible because of the uneven wear resulting from the frictional rotative movement, thereby preventing a full face relation between the two contact points.

With my improved construction, this diiculty is eliminated and the upper contact point 20 is moved bodily toward the lower contact point I5, because the contact holdingy spring member IB is supported at both ends by similar depending ends I8 of the spring member I6; the main central portion of the member I6 being forced downwardly by the insulator stud 21, causing the entire bottom end of point 20 to approach the lower contact point I5 and thereby providesra uniform regulation of the current for the vacuum electrodes.

By forming the spring member I6 as shown, with both depending ends equal and secured in place, it is apparent that the upper contact point is not made to move through the arc of a circle during its movement toward the lower contact point, but moves bodily in a vertical direction and hence presents its full face or lower end to the lower contact point I5.

With my improved construction, a uniform regulation of current is not only provided, but all danger of receiving an electric shock by the user while adjusting the regulating screw is impossible because the latter is fully insulated from the electrically charged elements of the device; while at the same time a longer lived device is provided because the contact points are not subjected to the grinding or frictional wear encountered in the devices as heretofore made wherein the upper contact point is carried by the adjusting screw and therefore is rotated on the upper face of the lower contact point I5.

In describing the particular embodiment of my invention, terms have been employed for purposes of description and not as terms of limitation, as modifications may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described involving coils, a vibratory current interrupter comprising the combination of a pair of contact points; means whereby one of said points is yieldingly held in normal spaced relation with a terminal of one of the coils; means whereby the other contact point is yieldingly held spaced and in axial alignment with the first mentioned contact point and consisting of a leaf spring bent to provide the underside whereof and intermediate of opposite ends said contact point is afiixed, the ends of said spring being curved back beneath and substantially parallel with the contact point carrying portion while the immediate ends are then l1 bent downwardly into supporting legs disposed vertically between the vertical planes of the curved ends whereby the horizontally disposed contact holding portion is free to flex and move bodily; and a regulating member adjustably secured above said contact holding portion and provided at its lower end with a removable nonconducting stud adapted to engage the horizontally disposed portion of the leaf spring and thereby force said portion with its contact point 13 toward the iirst mentioned contact point.

2. In a device of the character described involving coils, a vibratory current interrupter cornprising the combination of a pair of contact points; means whereby one of said points is yieldingly held in normal spaced relation with a terminal of one of the coils; a leaf spring having a flat horizontally disposed contact carrying portion, the ends of the spring being curved back beneath and thence downwardly into supporting legs; and regulating means composed of an internally threaded sleeve, an adjusting screw disposed through said sleeve and having an axial bore, and a non-conducting stud removably secured in the bore at the end of the screw and adapted to engage the horizontally disposed contact carrying portion.

WILLIS A. WHIPPLE.

a fiat horizontally disposed portion, to i SII

Images