US693355A - Electrical distributer. - Google Patents

Description

No. 695,555. Patented Feb. ",1902.

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No. 693,355. Patented Feb. Il, |902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALVIN J. SPRINGER, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTER.V

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 693,355, dated February 11, 1902. Application 'led October 16,` 1900. Serial No. 33,288. (N0 modeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN J. SPRINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Distributers; and I do declare the following to be a-full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the yart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to relays for electrically-operated apparatus; and one of its objects is to employ a duplex automatically-operat ing relay adapted to be set in motion by the closing of an electric circuit and in turn eithei` successivelyor simultaneously close one or more secondary circuits, which may include lights, bells, or other electrically-operated devices. By holding the first-mentioned or primary circuit closed the above operation will be repeated continuously, thereby rendering the apparatus especially adapt-- cd for use in connection with changeable electrical displays, panoramas, and other similar electrically-operated devices.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus that upon closing and then immediately breaking the primary circuit the relay Will be set in motion and continue so until each secondary circuit has been closed thereby, Whereuponthe relay will be automatically stopped. This feature of my invention adapts it for use in connection With program-clocks or like devices, whereby a single impulse received from a master-clock serves to operate a series of suitably-arran ged signals. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement of circuits whereby when the primary circuit is closed its current Will release the relay and then automatically break and enter a second circuit, to which a motor is electrically connected. This motor serves to operate the circuit closing and breaking mechanism of the relay.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is-a front elevation of the appai ratus with the commutator removed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of one form of com mutator employed With the apparatus and showing secondary circuits. Figs. 3 and 4 are side views of the armature of the relay, showing the same in different positions. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectivelya side elevation and an edge view of a modified form of commutator which may be employed with the apparatus when a very short contact is desired. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of still another form of comm utator for the relay, comprising a paWl-and-ratchet device adapted to be used in lieu of the electric motor shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is an end view of the commutator shown in Fig. 2, the circuit-breaker, the shaft, dre.; and Fig. 15 is a central vertical section. through the commutator shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The referencenumeral 1 designates the shaft of an electric motor, said motor being supported in suitable framework 2 and in electrical connection with a battery 3. Upon the inner end of the shaft 1 is formed a Worm 4, which meshes with a gear 5,constituting a part of the train which revolves a shaft 6, upon one end of which is mounted a rotary circuit-breaker 7, while upon the other end of the shaft is located an arm 8, carrying a contact-brush 9, which travels around in contact with a circular commutator. The commutator illustrated in Fig. 2 consists of a series of preferably metallic angular contacts 41, secured upon and extending from disks 41 of an insulating material, within which is mounted the revoluble shaft 6. Each seglOO nient excepting the segment 42 is connected by wires 43 with an electrically-operated device which is in circuit with a battery 44 or other source of electricity. The return-wire 45 extends from a battery to a binding-post 4G upon the base-plate 47 of an arbor 4S. The shaft G is journaled in this arbor and the current of electricity from Wire 45 will obviously pass into plate 47, arbor 48, spring 48, collar C, shaft (i, arm 8, and brush 9. While the commutator above described may be used in apparatus of this character employed forQvarious purposes, it is especially adapted for use in connection with time-annunciators, dac. The construction of the commutator may be varied according to the purposes for which the apparatus is used, and several different constructions ot' commutators, any one of which may be used with the improved apparatus, are illustrated in the drawings and will be described hereinafter.

The circuit-closer, which may be a pushbutton, a switch, or a master-clock, according to the vpurposes for which the apparatus is used, is located at the point designated by the numeral 10 and is electrically connected with the battery 8 and with an electromagnet 11, said magnet being supported upon the framework of the device.

12 designates a pivoted lever armature adapted to be attracted by the magnet 11 when the latter is energized. This lever is pivotally supported upon the frame of the apparatus, and its upper end is connected by a spring 13 with a bracket 14, projecting from the frame, the function of said spring 13 being to retract the lever when the magnet 11 is deenergized. The lever 12 is provided With a lug or projection which engages a notch 1G, formed in the periphery of the circuit-breaking wheel 7, and the lower free end of the lever 12 is adapted to contact with a spring 17, secured to the base of the apparatus and having a binding-post 18, to which is secured a conducting-wire 19, leading to the motor.

2O designates a guard-arm pivotally secured to one side of the circuit-breaking wheel 7 and adapted to cover one side of the notch 1G and extend slightly beyond the periphery of the wheel. Pins 21 and 22 serve to limit the movement of this arm 20. The lug 15 of the lever 12 normally rests within the notch 16, and the guard 2O is supported thereby above the notch.

NVhen it is desired to operate the devices connected to the relay, the primary circuit is made by means of the closer 10, and the magnet 11, becoming energized,attracts the armature-lever 12 and withdraws the lug 15 from notch 16. Arm 2O immediately falls over the side of the notch and the wheel 7is released. As soon as the lug 15 on arm 12 is Withdrawn from notch 16 said arm is brought into contact with the spring 17, thereby closing the circuit from battery-3 through the motor 2, wire 19, spring 17, and lever 12. The motor will transmit motion to shaft 6 and its arm 8 and wheel 7 through the train-gearing 5, and the brush 9 will be brought successively into contact with the segments 41, thereby closing each circuit including the battery No. 2. When the circuit ofthe brush has been completed, the lug 15 will contact with and raise the arm 20, and spring 13 will press said lug into notch 16, provided the primary circuit has been broken. It, however, the primary circuit remains closed, the wheel 7 will continue to revolve. The segment which is located in horizontal alinement with the notch 16 is dead, or, in other words, not connected to any electrically-operated device. The entire apparatus is thus enabled to stand at rest.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a form of commutator which may be used in lieu of the one hereinbefore described. This is formed of a disk 23, of insulating material,having a groove 24 in the periphery thereof. Embedded in the bottom of said groove at desired intervals is a series of pins or bolts 25, electrically connected, by means of wires 27, with the devices to be operated. As in the first-described f0rm,this comm utator also has a dead bolt or contact therein.

The form of commutator shown in Figs. 7 and 8 consists of a disk 2S, of insulating material, provided with equidistant contactpoints 29, which are connected up in the circuit in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 2 and provided with a brush 29, carried by a revoluble arm 30.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated anotherform of coinmutator, through the use of which electric lights may be suddenly lighted or put out successively during the operation of the relay. The commutator comprises a toothed Wheel 31, having electrical connections and adapted to coperate with a suitable brush, which springs into contact successively with the several teeth of the commutator.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the commutator is shown as comprising a roller or drum 32 and a plurality of conducting strips 33 of varying 1ength,upon which contact-brushes are adapted to bear. These brushes are preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 15, and each is in a circuit including one of the strips 33 and an electrically-operated device. By employing this form of commutator several lights can be lighted successively, remain lighted, and then be put out simultaneously or one at a time, according to the way the strips are arranged on the drum, this operation being repeated as the brush revolves.

In lieu of the electric motor shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I may, if desired, employ other means for actuating the brush, and in Figs. 12 and 13 I have illustrated an electrically-operated pawl-and-ratchet device for this purpose. This mechanism comprises a ratchet-wheel 34, geared to the circuit-breaking wheel 35. An electromagnet 36 is mounted on a suitable frame 37 and is provided with an armature 38, connected to a pawl 39, normally engag- IOO IIO

ing the teeth ofthe Wheel 34. Aspring serves to retainsaid wheel in the position to which it is moved. The magnet 36 is adapted tobe substituted for the motor 2 in the circuit containing battery No. 1. Fig. 13, one wire of the circuit is connected to the magnet,.while the other Wire extends to the pawl 39. A contact 49 is in circuit with the magnet and is adapted to bear against a spring-arm 50, extending from the pawi. A spring 51 serves to hold the arm and contact normally together. When the circuit containing battery No. 2 is made, the magnet 36 becomes energized and attractsits armature 38, thereby forcing pawl 39against ratchet 34 and moving it one notch. As the pawl rises its arm 50 breaks from contact --with 49 and the armature immediately falls back to its original position.l This vibrating action continues as long as the circuit remains closed. This form of vibrating motor is especially adapted for use `with the apparatus when employed as a-time-annunciator.

I claim- I. In an automatic relay, the combination with a motor-shaft, of a second shaft driven thereby, a train of Agearing between said shafts, a commutator arranged concentric to said driving-shaft, a contact-brush carried by said driving-shaft, a wheel ixed onl the driv ing-shaftand formed with aperipheral-notch, a'n armature pivotally supported adjacent to said notch and provided with a lug or projection adapted to enter said notch, an electromagnet controlling said armature, a contact-spring against which the free end of the armature is adapted to bear to close the motor-circuit, and means for energizing the electromagnet.

2. In an automatic relay, the combination with a motor-shaft, of a second shaft driven thereby, a train of gearing between said -shafts, a commutator concentric with `said driving-shaft, a'contact-brush carried by said driving-shaft, a Wheel fixed upon the drivingshaft and having a peripheral notch, an armature located adjacent to said wheel and provided with a lug or projection adapted to enter said notch, an electromagnet forcontrolling the armature, a pivotally-secured guard on` said wheel adapted to cover the notch therein, and means for energizing the electromagnet.

As shown in 3. In van automat-ic relay, Vthe combination with a power-shaft, of a second shaft driven thereby, a train of gearing between said shafts, a commutator concentric to said driving-shaft, a contact-brush carried by the driving-shaft, a wheel ixed on said drivingshaft yandformed with a peripheral notch, a guard vfor said notch comprising an arm pivotally secured to the wheel and extending across the periphery thereof, and stop-pins to limit the' movement of said arm, an armature pivotally adjacent to said wheel and provided with a lug or projection adapted to enter the notch in the Wheel, an electromagnet for controlling said armature, a contact-spring against which the free end of thearmature is adapted to bear, and means for energizing the electromagnet.

4. In an automatic relay, the combination with a fixed commutator, one or more contacts of which are in a circuit with an elec.-

trically-operateddevice, of a rotary brush adapted4 to successively close saidv circuits through the contacts, a notched wheel revolublerwith the brush, an armature normally engaging the -notchand thereby adapted to lock the brush and wheel against revolution,1

a spring adapted to project the armature into engagement with the notch, a'magnet to the armature, a motor for theV Vbrush and wheel,

and means whereby the armature is attracted to `the magnet and disengaged from the wheel and a circuit, including the motor, is formed.

5. In an automatic relay, the combination with a motor-shaft, of al second shaft driven i thereby, a comm utator, an electrically-operated device in circuit with one or more confacts ofthe commutator, a brush operatedpby the driven shaft and adapted to close said circuits successively, a wheel revoluble with the brush, an armature adapted to engage the wheel, an electromagnet controlling said armature, a contact-spring against which the free end of the armature is kadapted to bear to free the wheel and close the motor-circuit, and means for energizing the electromagnet.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

oA'LvIN J. sPRINGEaI Witnesses:

MARTIN L. WALLS, GEORGE I-I. IRELAND.-

IOC

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