US1231632A - Electric regulating-switch. - Google Patents

Electric regulating-switch. Download PDF

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Publication number
US1231632A
US1231632A US82218114A US1914822181A US1231632A US 1231632 A US1231632 A US 1231632A US 82218114 A US82218114 A US 82218114A US 1914822181 A US1914822181 A US 1914822181A US 1231632 A US1231632 A US 1231632A
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rheostat
switch member
resistor
switch
main
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US82218114A
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Leonard Miller
Lawrence Boothman
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CBS Corp
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Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01CRESISTORS
    • H01C10/00Adjustable resistors
    • H01C10/30Adjustable resistors the contact sliding along resistive element
    • H01C10/32Adjustable resistors the contact sliding along resistive element the contact moving in an arcuate path

Definitions

  • LEONARD Mmmn a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Prestwich, in the county of Lancaster, England
  • LAWRENCE Boo'rH- MAN a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Stretford, in the county of Lancaster, England
  • Our invention relates to electric regulating switches, and particularly to regulating switches by means of which variations in the amount of resistance or of windings in circuit are effected in a large number of steps and by a very small amount at a time.
  • the object of our invention is to provide an improved construction of regulating switch of this kind which is compact, strong, simple and cheap to build and particularly adapted to the services for which it is intended.
  • the regulating switch is of that type in which two switching devices are employed, one operating in connecting with what may be termed the main rheostat to vary the resistance by a series of steps and the other operating in connection with what may be called the auxiliary or sub-divided rheostat which is cut into and out of circuit between successive steps on the main rheostat.
  • the whole of the resistance of the sub-divided rheostat is substantially equal in amount to one unit or step of the resistance of the main rheostat, but the resistance of the sub-divided rheostat is subdivided into a number of smaller steps by means of taps connected to a series of annularly arranged contact plates over which a switch member is moved by means of a rotary handle or crank which may be operated either manually or by power.
  • the steps of resistance are successively cut out as the switch member is moved over the contact plates by the rotary handle or crank and, when the switch member makes contact with the last contact plate of the series, the whole of the resistance is cut out. Further rotation of the rotary handle or crank of the sub-divided rheostat causes the switch member to move from the last to the first contact plate to again out all the resistance into the circuit.
  • the main rheostat has a switch member adapted to move over a series of contact plates that are connected by taps to a corresponding series of resistor units and these contact plates may be either rectilinearly or annularly arranged.
  • Suitable gearing teethed wheel, pin wheel, screw, etc. is provided for operating the movable switch member of the main rheostat and a mechanical connection between the said gearing and the rotary handle or crank or the subdivided rheostat.
  • This mechanical connection (which may take any suitable form, such as a lever, cam, pawl or the like) is intermittently brought into and out of operation at one or more predetermined points in each revolution of the handle or crank of the sub-divided rheostat in such manner that the switch member of the main rheostat is moved to cut out one unit or step of resistance at the same time that all the resistance ofthe sub-divided rheostat is cut in, or vice versa.
  • Figure l is a front elevation of a regulating switch constructed accordin to our invention, in which the main r eostat has rectilinearly arranged contact pieces, the
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the regulating switch shown in Fig. 1:
  • Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modification in which the main rheostat has annularly arranged contact pieces:
  • Fig. 4 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in sec tion, of the regulating switch shown in Fig. 3:
  • Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electric connections of the regulating switch the regulating switch in the circuit to be reg ulated.
  • the resistor 6 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is made substantially equal in amount to one resistor unit 5 of the main rheostat 2 and is sub-divided into several small steps, shown in the drawing as being ten in number, and indicated at 6 to 6 inclusive.
  • the resistor steps 6 to 6 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 are respectively connected, as shown in Fig. 1, to a series of contact plates 9 to 9 inclusive, which are arranged in a circle to enable a two-arm mov able switch member 10 to be moved over them by means of a hand wheel 11 (Fig. 2) mounted upon a shaft 12 which also carries the said movable switch member 10.
  • the contact plates 9 to 9 are so arranged that, as the switch member 10 is rotated from the position shown in a clockwise direction, the right hand arm of the said switch member makes contact with the contact plate 9 a short time before the left hand arm reaches the contact plate 9 while the left hand arm bridges the contact plates 9" and 9 when the right hand arm rests fully upon contact plate 9 alone, and so on.
  • the resistor units 5 of the main rheostat 2 are connected, in the manner shown, to a number of contact plates 13 to 13 which are rectilinearly arranged in two parallel rows to enable a two-arm movable switch member 14 to be moved successively over them to cut the said resistor units out of and into the circuit to be regulated.
  • the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is supported by a carrier member 15 from which it is insulated by a member 16 of any suitable material, the carrier member 15 being connected by webs 17 and 18 (Fig. 2) to a sleeve 19.
  • the interior of the sleeve 19 is provided with a quick-traverse screw thread whichengages a spiral groove 20 formed in a shaft 21, the upper and lower ends of which are supported, as shown, by suitable bearings.22 and 23.
  • the groove 20 in the shaft 21 is given the same angle of pitch as the screw thread of the sleeve 19, this pitch angle being such that one-eighth of a revolution of the shaft 21 causes the switch member 14 to move forwardly, or backwardly, a distance equal to half the width of one of the contact plates 13 to 13 or 13 to 13
  • the upper contact plate 13 of the left hand row of the contact plates of the main rheostat 2 shown in Fig. 1 is given a width that is greater than the width of the upper contact plate 13* of the right hand row by a space equal to half the width of one of the circuit.
  • pin wheel 24 which is fixed upon the upper end ,of the shaft 21, is provided upon its periphery, with eight pins or the like 25 which are spaced equal distances apart.
  • the arrangement of the shaft 21 and bearings 22, 23 is such that the pin wheel 24 is conveniently near to the operating shaft 12 of the subdivided rheostat 1.
  • the axes of the operating'shafts 21 and 12 of the main and sub-divided rheostats, respectively, are arranged in the same plane but at right angles to one another.
  • a lever 26 which is fixed upon the shaft 12 of the sub-divided rheostat, comprises two arms 27 and 28 arranged preferably at 180 apart and of such length that, as shaft 12 is rotated by the hand wheel 11, each arm 27 and 28 successively engages a pin 25 of the pin wheel 24.
  • the shaft 21 is thus rotated t rough an angle of 45 twice in each revolution of the shaft 12.
  • the lever 26 is arranged on the shaft 12 in such relation to the two-arm switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat that the arm 27 or 28 of the lever 26 engages a pin 25 of the pin wheel 24 and rotates the shaft 21 through an angle of 45 as the switch member 10 is moving from the last to the first contact plate, that is, from the position in which all the resistor 6 is cut out to the position in which all the said resistor is again out in.
  • any suitable known device may be employed, for instance, as shown.
  • a notched disk or the like 29 may be fixed upon the shaft 21 to co-act with a roller 30 that is journaled in a lever 31.
  • the lever 31 is capable of rotating about a fixed pivot 32 and is acted upon by a spring 33 which continuously presses the roller 30 into engagement with the disk 29.
  • the operation of the regulating switch described above is as follows :-The terminals 3 and 4 of the main rheostat 2 are connected across the supply circuit in series with the apparatus, such for example as the field winding of an electric generator (not shown), the current supplied to which is to be regulated.
  • the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is in its uppermost position connecting contact plate 13 with contact plate 13 and the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is, in the position shown, connecting contact plates 9 and 9 all the resistors 5 and 6 of the respective rheostats 2 and 1 are connected in circuit in series, and the current traversing the circuit is a minimum.
  • T 0 cut resistance out of the circuit by a large number of very small steps so as to gradually increase the current, the operator, by means of the hand wheel 11, slowly rotates the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, together with the lever 26, in a clockwise direction.
  • the step 6" of the resistor of the sub-divided rheostat is cut out, the path of the current being as follows: from terminal 3, through connecting wire 33 to the first contact plate 13 through the left hand series of resistor units 5 to 5 of the main rheostat 2, through the switch member 14 and connecting wire 34, in parallel, to the upper contact plate 13 of the right hand series of contact plates, through the right hand series of resistor units 5 to 5 of the main rheostat 2, conductor 7, resistor steps 6 6 6 6 contact plate 9 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, switch member 10, contact plate 9 resistor steps 6 to 6 and through conductor 8 and terminal 4 to the field winding of the generator to be regulated.
  • the arm 27 of the lever 26 connected to the said switch member engages the pin 25 of the pin wheel 24 and moves this pin into the position occupied by the pin 25 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and at the same time, moving the pin 25 into the position vacated by the pin 25
  • the pin wheel 24 and the shaft 21 are thus rotated through an angle of 45 causing the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 to move forwardly (that is, downwardly as illustrated) a distance substantially equal to half the width of contact plate 13.
  • the resistor unit 5 of the left hand series of the main rheostat 2 is cut out.
  • the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the entire resistor 6 is again out into the circuit.
  • the above described operation may be continued, if found desirable, until the whole of the resistance of the main rheostat is cut out, that is, until the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 directly connects together the first and last contact plates 13 and 13 respectively.
  • Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings the invention is illustrated as applied to a main rheostat of the annular type, the contact plates and switch member of which are arranged concentrically with those of the subdivided rheostat.
  • the contact plates 9, twelve in number, of the sub-divided rheostat 1 are shown arranged upon the circumference of the small circle, while the contact plates 13, twentyseven in number, are arranged upon the circumference of the large circle, both sets of contact plates being secured upon an insulating base plate 35 (Fig. 4).
  • the resistor steps 6 of the sub-divided rheostat and the resistor units 5 of the main rheostat are connected by taps to their respective contact plates 9 and 13 and in series with one an-' other, as is clearly shown in the diagram of connections of Fig. 5.
  • the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 consists, in this case, of a single brush of laminated copper, or of other good conducting material in a sufliciently flexible form, that is clamped to a sleeve 36 by a screw 37.
  • the sleeve 36 which rests upon a step bear ing 38 that is secured upon the insulating base plate 35, is secured by a pin, or the like, 39 to a shaft 40 with which also the said sleeve may be electrically connected.
  • a pin 41 To the upper end of the shaft 40, but insulated therefrom, is fixed, for instance, by a pin 41, an operating lever 42 which is rotated by means of a handle 43 of suitable insulating material.
  • the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 also consists of a single brush of a suitably flexible good conducting material, such as laminated copper, and is clamped to a metallic carrier 44 which is connected mechanically and electrically to the lower face of a stepped wheel 45.
  • the wheel 45 comprises a central hub 46 that is arranged concentrically with, but loosely upon, the operating shaft 40 of ti) subdivided rheostat.
  • the hub 46 of the stepped wheel 45 may, if desired, have a sufficiently close fit upon the shaft 40 to be in electrical connection therewith, but these parts are preferably insulated from the operating lever 42, as will be readily understood.
  • the stepped wheel 45 is supported upon the hub 47 of a notched disk or star wheel 48 which is fixed upon the insulating base plate 35 by means of the lugs 49 and 50.
  • the star wheel 48 coacts with a spring pressed roller 51, journaled in a bifurcated support 52 that is arranged to slide within the metallic carrier 44, to hold the stepped wheel 45 correctly in each of its operative positions in which the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 rests upon one of the contact plates 13.
  • a pawl 53 is pivoted upon the end of the operating lever 42 and is provided with a projection or tooth 54 adapted to engage the teeth of the stepped wheel 45.
  • a depending projection 55 For the purpose of holding the tooth 54 of the pawl 53 out of engagement with the stepped wheel 45, a depending projection 55, which is pro-.
  • this form of the improved regulating switch In the operation of this form of the improved regulating switch, the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is moved only once in each complete revolution of the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 and a step of resistance of each rheostat is cut out, or in, by the corresponding switch memberbeing moved completely ofi one contact plate so as to rest fully upon the next succeeding contact plate.
  • the electrical operation of this form of regulating switch is similar to that described in detail above in connection with the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, as will be readily understood with the aid of the diagram of connections of Fig. 5.
  • the two-arm switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 moves over a series of contact plates 9 which are connected to the resistor steps 6 and this movement of the switch member 10 successively cuts out each of these resistor steps until the switch member reaches the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6, in which all the resistor 6 is 'cut out of the circuit.
  • the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 moves over the contact plates 13 to out in, or out, the resistor units 5 of this rheostat, substantially as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but, in the present modification, the switch member 14 is loosely mounted upon and guided by a rod 7 0 upon which it slides.
  • a hand wheel 11 is fixed upon a shaft 58 which also carries the two-arm switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 and a two-arm lever 26 having arms 27 and 28.
  • the stepped wheel 45 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 58, and, upon the hub of th1s wheel, is mounted a stud wheel 59which coacts with a perforated steel band 60.
  • the steel band 60 also passes over an idle stud wheel 61 (Fig. 6), the spindle 62 of which is mounted in any convenient manner upon a fixed bearing 63 (Fig. 7) and is arranged clear of the contact pieces of the main rheostat 2
  • the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is connected to one side of the steel band 60 (the left side as shown in Flg. 6) so that the said switch member is moved'along the guide rod 70 as the stud Wheel 59 is rotated.
  • a pawl 64 which is pivoted at the outer end of the arm 27 of the lever 26, is provided with a projection or tooth 65 adapted under the action of a spring or gravity or both, to engage the stepped wheel 45 when the lever 26 is rotated into such a position that the lateral projection 66 of the pawl 64 is able to enter the gap 57 formed in the guard ring 56.
  • the mechanical connection and operation of these parts are similar to those described above in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
  • a similar pawl 67 is pivoted at the outer end of the arm 28 of the lever 26 and is provided with a projection or tooth 68 for engaging the stepped wheel 45, and with a lateral pro- ]ection 69 for engaging the guard ring 56.
  • the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is first moved from its position indicated in Fig. 6 to cut all the resistor 6 into the circuit and this resistor is then gradually cut out during one half of a revolution of the hand wheel 11 and shaft 58.
  • the gap-57 in the guard ring 56 is so arranged that the pawls 64 and 67 severally engage the stepped wheel 45 once in each revolution of the shaft 58 and rotate the stud wheel 59 to move the left hand portion of the steel band 60 and switch member 14 downwardly such a distance that one resistor unit 5 of the main rheostat 2 is cut out of the circuit.
  • the resistor 6 of the subdivided rheostat 1 is alternately cut into and out of circuit twice in each revolution of the operating shaft 58 or of the shaft 12, as the case may be, and that, when all the resistor 6 is cut in, one resistor unit 5 of the main rheostat 2 is simultaneously cut out of the circuit.
  • a 1 In an electric regulating switch, the combination with a main rheostat having resistor sections, and an auxiliary rheostat having a sectional resistor substantially equivalent to'one section of the resistor of the main rheostat, of means for operatively connectin said rheostats to cause the entire resistor 0 said auxiliary rheostat to be cut into or out of circuit while said main rheostat is varied by one resistor section, said means comprising a pawl operatively connected to the auxiliary rheostat a ratchet operatively connected to the main rheostat and means for rendering said pawl opera-. tive at predetermined intervals.
  • an electric regulating switch the combination with a plurality of stationary contact members, and a plurality of movable contact members for coac ing therewith, of means for causin a uniform movement of one of said mova le contact members to intermittently actuate another of said movable contact members, said means comprising a pawl operatively connected to the auxiliary rheostat, a ratchet operatively connected to the main rheostat and means for renderingsaid pawl operative at predetermined intervals.
  • a main rheostat comprising a pair of sets of contact-members, the contact members. of said sets being arranged in staggered relation the one to the other, and a pair of contact arms for coacting with said contact members, of an auxiliary rheostat, and means for operativel connecting said rheostats to change the e ectrical connections of one of said arms upon the completion of a cycle of operation of the auxiliary rheostat.

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Description

L. MILLER & I BOOTHMAN.
ELECTRIC REGULATING SWITCH.
APPLICATION FILED HAR- 3.19I4- 1,231, 32 Patented July 3, 1917.
3 SHEETSSHEET I.
A-TTORNEY ly. a z IN V NTORS WITNES SES: W W' L. MILLER & L..B00THMAN.
ELECTRIC REGULATING SWITCH.
APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, I914.
3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.
I M NTORS 0 Q I o v 0m 3 1 3 1 ATTORN EY Patented July 3, 1917.
3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.
66 64 \57 74 65 a 1 21 455 l 69 5 3 26 O-: L Q
O O O r-- 3 LLVZX 2 IF! 8 o 5) J6 o 4 u 67 I Q V 66 o Q I 8- WWNESSES: 7 6 9 .INVENTORS WM ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
LEONARD MILLER. OF PRESTWICH. AND LAWRENCE BOOTHMAN, OF STRETFORD, ENG- LAND, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
ELECTRIC BEGULATING-SWITGH.
Specification of Letters Patent.
Patented July 3, 1917.
Application filed March 3, 1914. Serial No. 822,181.
To all whom it may concern Be it lmown that we, LEONARD Mmmn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Prestwich, in the county of Lancaster, England, and LAWRENCE Boo'rH- MAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Stretford, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Regulating-Switches, of which the following is a specification.
Our invention relates to electric regulating switches, and particularly to regulating switches by means of which variations in the amount of resistance or of windings in circuit are effected in a large number of steps and by a very small amount at a time.
The object of our invention is to provide an improved construction of regulating switch of this kind which is compact, strong, simple and cheap to build and particularly adapted to the services for which it is intended.
The regulating switch is of that type in which two switching devices are employed, one operating in connecting with what may be termed the main rheostat to vary the resistance by a series of steps and the other operating in connection with what may be called the auxiliary or sub-divided rheostat which is cut into and out of circuit between successive steps on the main rheostat.
In a regulating switch constructed in accordance with our invention, the whole of the resistance of the sub-divided rheostat is substantially equal in amount to one unit or step of the resistance of the main rheostat, but the resistance of the sub-divided rheostat is subdivided into a number of smaller steps by means of taps connected to a series of annularly arranged contact plates over which a switch member is moved by means of a rotary handle or crank which may be operated either manually or by power. The steps of resistance are successively cut out as the switch member is moved over the contact plates by the rotary handle or crank and, when the switch member makes contact with the last contact plate of the series, the whole of the resistance is cut out. Further rotation of the rotary handle or crank of the sub-divided rheostat causes the switch member to move from the last to the first contact plate to again out all the resistance into the circuit.
The main rheostat has a switch member adapted to move over a series of contact plates that are connected by taps to a corresponding series of resistor units and these contact plates may be either rectilinearly or annularly arranged. Suitable gearing (toothed wheel, pin wheel, screw, etc.) is provided for operating the movable switch member of the main rheostat and a mechanical connection between the said gearing and the rotary handle or crank or the subdivided rheostat. This mechanical connection (which may take any suitable form, such as a lever, cam, pawl or the like) is intermittently brought into and out of operation at one or more predetermined points in each revolution of the handle or crank of the sub-divided rheostat in such manner that the switch member of the main rheostat is moved to cut out one unit or step of resistance at the same time that all the resistance ofthe sub-divided rheostat is cut in, or vice versa.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood, several ways in which the same may be carried into practice will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of a regulating switch constructed accordin to our invention, in which the main r eostat has rectilinearly arranged contact pieces, the
electrical connections being illustrated diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the regulating switch shown in Fig. 1: Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modification in which the main rheostat has annularly arranged contact pieces: Fig. 4 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in sec tion, of the regulating switch shown in Fig. 3: Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electric connections of the regulating switch the regulating switch in the circuit to be reg ulated. To the terminal 3 are connected a number of resistor units 5 to 5, inclusive, which are connected by a conductor 7 to one end of a resistor 6 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, the other end of which resistor is connected by a conductor 8 to the other terminal 4 of the main rheostat 2. The resistor 6 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is made substantially equal in amount to one resistor unit 5 of the main rheostat 2 and is sub-divided into several small steps, shown in the drawing as being ten in number, and indicated at 6 to 6 inclusive.
The resistor steps 6 to 6 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 are respectively connected, as shown in Fig. 1, to a series of contact plates 9 to 9 inclusive, which are arranged in a circle to enable a two-arm mov able switch member 10 to be moved over them by means of a hand wheel 11 (Fig. 2) mounted upon a shaft 12 which also carries the said movable switch member 10. The contact plates 9 to 9 are so arranged that, as the switch member 10 is rotated from the position shown in a clockwise direction, the right hand arm of the said switch member makes contact with the contact plate 9 a short time before the left hand arm reaches the contact plate 9 while the left hand arm bridges the contact plates 9" and 9 when the right hand arm rests fully upon contact plate 9 alone, and so on.
The resistor units 5 of the main rheostat 2 are connected, in the manner shown, to a number of contact plates 13 to 13 which are rectilinearly arranged in two parallel rows to enable a two-arm movable switch member 14 to be moved successively over them to cut the said resistor units out of and into the circuit to be regulated. The switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is supported by a carrier member 15 from which it is insulated by a member 16 of any suitable material, the carrier member 15 being connected by webs 17 and 18 (Fig. 2) to a sleeve 19. The interior of the sleeve 19 is provided with a quick-traverse screw thread whichengages a spiral groove 20 formed in a shaft 21, the upper and lower ends of which are supported, as shown, by suitable bearings.22 and 23. The groove 20 in the shaft 21 is given the same angle of pitch as the screw thread of the sleeve 19, this pitch angle being such that one-eighth of a revolution of the shaft 21 causes the switch member 14 to move forwardly, or backwardly, a distance equal to half the width of one of the contact plates 13 to 13 or 13 to 13 The upper contact plate 13 of the left hand row of the contact plates of the main rheostat 2 shown in Fig. 1 is given a width that is greater than the width of the upper contact plate 13* of the right hand row by a space equal to half the width of one of the circuit.
other contact plates 13 to 13 or 13 to 13 In the initial position of the switch member 14, with all the resistor units 5 includcd in the circuit to be regulated,'the lower edge of the right hand arm of the said switch member 14 is substantially in alinement with the lower edge of the con.- tact plate 13 so that, when the switch member 14 moves one step forwardly, the lower edge of the left hand arm then comes substantially into alinement with the lower edge of the contact plate 13 while the right hand arm of the said switch member then connects the two contact plates 13 and 13 Upon the switch member 14 being moved another step forwardly, the left hand arm connects the two contact plates 13 and 13 and the right hand arm rests fully upon the contact plate 13. As the switch member continues to be moved forwardly, one step at a time, it will be seen that, when the left hand arm of the same bridges two successive contact plates 13 of the left hand series of contact plates, the right hand arm rests fully upon one contact plate 13, of the right hand series, also that, when the right hand arm bridges two successive contact plates of the right hand series, the left hand arm rests fully upon one contact plate of the left hand series.
By means of the above described staggered arrangement of contact plates of the two rheostats relatively to the respective moving switch members 14 and 10, the latter are enabled to cut one unit of the resistor 5 or one step of the resistor 6 out or in by a comparatively small movement, without involving any undue reduction in the size of the contact plates or in the solidity of the construction generally.
As shown in Fig. 1, the left hand arm of the switch member 14 bridges the two contact plates 13 and 13" while the right hand arm rests fully upon contact plate 13. Upon the switch member 14 being moved forwardly into this position by rotatingthe shaft 21, the resistor unit 5" is cut out," of. For the purpose of intermittently rotating the shaft 21 through an angle 015 4.59
according to this invention, the following ar rangement is provided pin wheel 24, which is fixed upon the upper end ,of the shaft 21, is provided upon its periphery, with eight pins or the like 25 which are spaced equal distances apart. The arrangement of the shaft 21 and bearings 22, 23 is such that the pin wheel 24 is conveniently near to the operating shaft 12 of the subdivided rheostat 1. In the preferred arrangement, the axes of the operating'shafts 21 and 12 of the main and sub-divided rheostats, respectively, are arranged in the same plane but at right angles to one another. A lever 26, which is fixed upon the shaft 12 of the sub-divided rheostat, comprises two arms 27 and 28 arranged preferably at 180 apart and of such length that, as shaft 12 is rotated by the hand wheel 11, each arm 27 and 28 successively engages a pin 25 of the pin wheel 24. The shaft 21 is thus rotated t rough an angle of 45 twice in each revolution of the shaft 12. The lever 26 is arranged on the shaft 12 in such relation to the two-arm switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat that the arm 27 or 28 of the lever 26 engages a pin 25 of the pin wheel 24 and rotates the shaft 21 through an angle of 45 as the switch member 10 is moving from the last to the first contact plate, that is, from the position in which all the resistor 6 is cut out to the position in which all the said resistor is again out in.
As shown in Fig. 1, all of the resistor 6 is in circuit. The resistor 6 is gradually out out by rotating the switch member 10 ina clockwise direction to connect the contact plates 9 and 9 when all the resistor 6 is cut out. The whole of the resistor 6 is again out in when the switch, member 10 is moved into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, in which position it connects the contact plates 9 and 9. Supposing that this movement of the switch member 10 has just been made, it will be seen that thereby the arm 28 has engaged the pin 25 to move the pin wheel 24 and the shaft 21 through an angle of 45, thus causing the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 to move forwardly to cut out one unit of the resistor 5 at the same instant that all the resistance of the sub-divided rheostat 1 was cut in, as described above. It will be observed that, by this movement of the pin wheel 24, the pin 25 has been brought into position to be engaged by the arm 27 when the shaft 12 has been rotated through an angle of 180 to cut all the resistor 6 out of, and again into, the circuit.
In order to impart a. quick and well defined movement to the shaft 21 and switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2, any suitable known device may be employed, for instance, as shown. a notched disk or the like 29 may be fixed upon the shaft 21 to co-act with a roller 30 that is journaled in a lever 31. The lever 31 is capable of rotating about a fixed pivot 32 and is acted upon by a spring 33 which continuously presses the roller 30 into engagement with the disk 29. This being a well known device which is often employed for a similar purpose, the operation of the same does not require any further description.
The operation of the regulating switch described above is as follows :-The terminals 3 and 4 of the main rheostat 2 are connected across the supply circuit in series with the apparatus, such for example as the field winding of an electric generator (not shown), the current supplied to which is to be regulated. When the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is in its uppermost position connecting contact plate 13 with contact plate 13 and the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is, in the position shown, connecting contact plates 9 and 9 all the resistors 5 and 6 of the respective rheostats 2 and 1 are connected in circuit in series, and the current traversing the circuit is a minimum. T 0 cut resistance out of the circuit by a large number of very small steps so as to gradually increase the current, the operator, by means of the hand wheel 11, slowly rotates the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, together with the lever 26, in a clockwise direction. As soon as the right hand arm of the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat bridges the contact plates 9 and 9", the step 6" of the resistor of the sub-divided rheostat is cut out, the path of the current being as follows: from terminal 3, through connecting wire 33 to the first contact plate 13 through the left hand series of resistor units 5 to 5 of the main rheostat 2, through the switch member 14 and connecting wire 34, in parallel, to the upper contact plate 13 of the right hand series of contact plates, through the right hand series of resistor units 5 to 5 of the main rheostat 2, conductor 7, resistor steps 6 6 6 6 contact plate 9 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, switch member 10, contact plate 9 resistor steps 6 to 6 and through conductor 8 and terminal 4 to the field winding of the generator to be regulated. As the operator continues to rotate the hand wheel 11 and switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, the resistor steps of the latter 6, 6 e e 6 e e 6 and finally step 6 are successively cut out. The current now passes through the whole of the resistor 5 of the main rheostat 2 and thence, by conductor 7, switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, conductor 8 and terminal 4, direct to the field winding of the generator to be regulated. I
As the switch member 10 of the sub divided rheostat 1 is further rotated from the position in which all the resistance 6 is cut out, the arm 27 of the lever 26 connected to the said switch member engages the pin 25 of the pin wheel 24 and moves this pin into the position occupied by the pin 25 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and at the same time, moving the pin 25 into the position vacated by the pin 25 The pin wheel 24 and the shaft 21 are thus rotated through an angle of 45 causing the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 to move forwardly (that is, downwardly as illustrated) a distance substantially equal to half the width of contact plate 13. In this position of the switch member 14, the right hand arm of the same bridges the contact plates 13 and 13 and the left hand arm of the said switch member remains, fully in contact with the contact plate 13, so that current now flows directly from the contact plate 13 to the contact plate 13, and the resistor unit 5 is cut out of circuit.
Owing to the position of the arms 27 and 28 of the lever 26 relatively to the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, the above described movement of the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 takes place at the same time that the switch member 10 moves from the position in which it connects the contact plates 9 and 9 into the position in which it connects the contact plates 9 and 9, that is, the resistor unit 5 of the main rheostat 2 is cut out at the same time that all the resistor 6 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is again cut into the circuit. By continuing to rotate the switch member 10 and lever 26 of the sub-divided rheostat 1, the operator proceeds to again successively cut out the resistor sections 6 to 6 in the order mentioned above until the arm 28 of the lever 26 engages the pin 25 which, as stated above, is now supposed to occupy the position in which pin 25 is shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the pin wheel 24 and shaft 21 are again rotated through an angle of 45, and the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is moved forwardly another step to cause the right hand arm of the said switch member to rest fully upon the contact plate 13 and the left hand arm of the same to bridge the contact plates 13 and 13. In this posi-' tion of the switch member 14, the resistor unit 5 of the left hand series of the main rheostat 2 is cut out. At the same time, the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the entire resistor 6 is again out into the circuit. The above described operation may be continued, if found desirable, until the whole of the resistance of the main rheostat is cut out, that is, until the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 directly connects together the first and last contact plates 13 and 13 respectively.
In Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings, the invention is illustrated as applied to a main rheostat of the annular type, the contact plates and switch member of which are arranged concentrically with those of the subdivided rheostat. Referring to these figures, the contact plates 9, twelve in number, of the sub-divided rheostat 1 are shown arranged upon the circumference of the small circle, while the contact plates 13, twentyseven in number, are arranged upon the circumference of the large circle, both sets of contact plates being secured upon an insulating base plate 35 (Fig. 4). The resistor steps 6 of the sub-divided rheostat and the resistor units 5 of the main rheostat are connected by taps to their respective contact plates 9 and 13 and in series with one an-' other, as is clearly shown in the diagram of connections of Fig. 5. The switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 consists, in this case, of a single brush of laminated copper, or of other good conducting material in a sufliciently flexible form, that is clamped to a sleeve 36 by a screw 37. The sleeve 36, which rests upon a step bear ing 38 that is secured upon the insulating base plate 35, is secured by a pin, or the like, 39 to a shaft 40 with which also the said sleeve may be electrically connected. To the upper end of the shaft 40, but insulated therefrom, is fixed, for instance, by a pin 41, an operating lever 42 which is rotated by means of a handle 43 of suitable insulating material.- The switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 also consists of a single brush of a suitably flexible good conducting material, such as laminated copper, and is clamped to a metallic carrier 44 which is connected mechanically and electrically to the lower face of a stepped wheel 45. The wheel 45 comprises a central hub 46 that is arranged concentrically with, but loosely upon, the operating shaft 40 of ti) subdivided rheostat. The hub 46 of the stepped wheel 45 may, if desired, have a sufficiently close fit upon the shaft 40 to be in electrical connection therewith, but these parts are preferably insulated from the operating lever 42, as will be readily understood. The stepped wheel 45 is supported upon the hub 47 of a notched disk or star wheel 48 which is fixed upon the insulating base plate 35 by means of the lugs 49 and 50. The star wheel 48 coacts with a spring pressed roller 51, journaled in a bifurcated support 52 that is arranged to slide within the metallic carrier 44, to hold the stepped wheel 45 correctly in each of its operative positions in which the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 rests upon one of the contact plates 13.
In order to intermittently rotate the stepped wheel 45 at the proper time and thus to move the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 to cut out a resistor unit 5, 'a pawl 53 is pivoted upon the end of the operating lever 42 and is provided with a projection or tooth 54 adapted to engage the teeth of the stepped wheel 45. For the purpose of holding the tooth 54 of the pawl 53 out of engagement with the stepped wheel 45, a depending projection 55, which is pro-. vided upon the pawl 53, is adapted to engage a guard ring 56 that is fixed upon the base plate 35 concentrically with the oper by both, into engagement with the stepped wheel 45 to rotate it through a suflicient angle to move the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 from one contact plate 13 to another. The movement of the switch member 14 operates to cut a resistor unit 5 out of the circuit at the same timethat the switch member of the subdivided rheostat 1 is moved from the last to the first contact plate 9 to cut all the resistor 6 into the circuit.
In the operation of this form of the improved regulating switch, the switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is moved only once in each complete revolution of the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 and a step of resistance of each rheostat is cut out, or in, by the corresponding switch memberbeing moved completely ofi one contact plate so as to rest fully upon the next succeeding contact plate. In other respects, the electrical operation of this form of regulating switch is similar to that described in detail above in connection with the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, as will be readily understood with the aid of the diagram of connections of Fig. 5.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a second modification of our invention in which a main rheostat having rectilinearly arranged contact members is employed, the switch member of which is actuated by means of a stepped wheel and pawls similar to those shown in= Figs. 3 and 4. Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the two-arm switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 moves over a series of contact plates 9 which are connected to the resistor steps 6 and this movement of the switch member 10 successively cuts out each of these resistor steps until the switch member reaches the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6, in which all the resistor 6 is 'cut out of the circuit. The switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 moves over the contact plates 13 to out in, or out, the resistor units 5 of this rheostat, substantially as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but, in the present modification, the switch member 14 is loosely mounted upon and guided by a rod 7 0 upon which it slides. Referring more particularly to Fig. 7 a hand wheel 11 is fixed upon a shaft 58 which also carries the two-arm switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 and a two-arm lever 26 having arms 27 and 28. The stepped wheel 45 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 58, and, upon the hub of th1s wheel, is mounted a stud wheel 59which coacts with a perforated steel band 60. The steel band 60 also passes over an idle stud wheel 61 (Fig. 6), the spindle 62 of which is mounted in any convenient manner upon a fixed bearing 63 (Fig. 7) and is arranged clear of the contact pieces of the main rheostat 2 The switch member 14 of the main rheostat 2 is connected to one side of the steel band 60 (the left side as shown in Flg. 6) so that the said switch member is moved'along the guide rod 70 as the stud Wheel 59 is rotated.
A pawl 64, which is pivoted at the outer end of the arm 27 of the lever 26, is provided with a projection or tooth 65 adapted under the action of a spring or gravity or both, to engage the stepped wheel 45 when the lever 26 is rotated into such a position that the lateral projection 66 of the pawl 64 is able to enter the gap 57 formed in the guard ring 56. The mechanical connection and operation of these parts are similar to those described above in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A similar pawl 67 is pivoted at the outer end of the arm 28 of the lever 26 and is provided with a projection or tooth 68 for engaging the stepped wheel 45, and with a lateral pro- ]ection 69 for engaging the guard ring 56. By rotating the hand wheel 11 in a counterclockwise direction, the switch member 10 of the sub-divided rheostat 1 is first moved from its position indicated in Fig. 6 to cut all the resistor 6 into the circuit and this resistor is then gradually cut out during one half of a revolution of the hand wheel 11 and shaft 58. The gap-57 in the guard ring 56 is so arranged that the pawls 64 and 67 severally engage the stepped wheel 45 once in each revolution of the shaft 58 and rotate the stud wheel 59 to move the left hand portion of the steel band 60 and switch member 14 downwardly such a distance that one resistor unit 5 of the main rheostat 2 is cut out of the circuit. It will be'seen that, with this construction, as with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the resistor 6 of the subdivided rheostat 1 is alternately cut into and out of circuit twice in each revolution of the operating shaft 58 or of the shaft 12, as the case may be, and that, when all the resistor 6 is cut in, one resistor unit 5 of the main rheostat 2 is simultaneously cut out of the circuit.
The operation of the invention as described above relates more particularly to cutting resistance out of the circuit to be regulated, but it will be readily understood without further description that resistance may also be cut into the circuit by means of the improved regulating switch by rotating the operating handle or crank of the subdivided rheostat in the opposite direction to that described above.
While we have shown and described our invention as applied to rheostats, it is understood that this use is illustrative only, and that our invention may be applied equally as well to induction regulators, or similar devices.
It is evident that various other modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of this improved regulating switch without departing from the scope of the invention.
We claim as our invention:
a 1. In an electric regulating switch, the combination with a main rheostat having resistor sections, and an auxiliary rheostat having a sectional resistor substantially equivalent to'one section of the resistor of the main rheostat, of means for operatively connectin said rheostats to cause the entire resistor 0 said auxiliary rheostat to be cut into or out of circuit while said main rheostat is varied by one resistor section, said means comprising a pawl operatively connected to the auxiliary rheostat a ratchet operatively connected to the main rheostat and means for rendering said pawl opera-. tive at predetermined intervals.
2. In an electric regulating switch, the combination with a plurality of stationary contact members, and a plurality of movable contact members for coac ing therewith, of means for causin a uniform movement of one of said mova le contact members to intermittently actuate another of said movable contact members, said means comprising a pawl operatively connected to the auxiliary rheostat, a ratchet operatively connected to the main rheostat and means for renderingsaid pawl operative at predetermined intervals.
3. In an electric regulating switch, the combination with a pluralityof stationary contact members, and a plurality of movable contact members for coacting therewith, of means for causing a movement of one of said movable contact members when another movable contact member has been actuated to a predetermined position, said means comprising a pawl operatively connected to the auxiliary rheostat, a ratchet operatively connected to the main rheostat and means for rendering said pawl operative at predetermined intervals.
4. In an electric regulating switch, the combination with a main rheostat comprising a pair of sets of contact-members, the contact members. of said sets being arranged in staggered relation the one to the other, and a pair of contact arms for coacting with said contact members, of an auxiliary rheostat, and means for operativel connecting said rheostats to change the e ectrical connections of one of said arms upon the completion of a cycle of operation of the auxiliary rheostat.
5. In an electric regulating switch, the combination with a main rheostat and an auxiliary rheostat, of means for intermittently operatively connecting said rheostats, said means comprising a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism and a member for retaining said pawl in an inoperative position except upon the completion of a cycle of operation by the auxiliary rheostat. V
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 9th day of February, 1914.
LEONARD MILLER. LAWRENCE BOOTHMAN. Witnessesz J. S. Pncx K. FAYE- NSEN.
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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2866052A (en) * 1955-11-10 1958-12-23 Bourns Lab Inc Electric digital readout device
US2977560A (en) * 1958-12-30 1961-03-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Control apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2866052A (en) * 1955-11-10 1958-12-23 Bourns Lab Inc Electric digital readout device
US2977560A (en) * 1958-12-30 1961-03-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Control apparatus

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