US2073330A - Switching apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1937; ZI 2,073,330

SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed J'ax z. 15, 1955 wmxvzo/e m i BY.

Patented Mar. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SWITCHING APPARATUS Werner Zingg, Zug, Switzerland, assignor to Landis & Gyr, A-G., a corporation of Switzerland Application January 15, 1935, Serial No. 1,873

In Switzerland 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to novel and useful improvements in distributors or switching apparatus and more particularly to such an apparatus adapted for use in connection with electricity meters controlled by frequency.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized 10 and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description serves to explain the principles of the invention.

The single figure of the drawing is a diagrammatic view illustrating the present preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to the control of a multiple-rate electricity meter.

The invention provides an improved and novel distributor or switching mechanism, especially capacitated for controlling multiple rate meters, of the type wherein the control and operation of the distributor is effected by a plurality of devices, each coming into activity at a predetermined frequency to correspondingly position the distributor. The distributor will then remain in that position, and is movable therefrom only by actuation of another of said devices at its particular and different frequency, the distributor being thereby moved to a position corresponding to this new frequency. Main objects of the present invention are to provide such a mechanism which is exceedingly simple in construction, unusually compact in structure, efficient in operation, and which requires practically a minimum of power for its operation.

In the present preferred embodiment, illustratively shown applied to a multiple rate electricity meter, a rotatable switching element con trols the current for a plurality of branch circuits corresponding to various frequencies and selectively operates the registering means accordingly. Said switching element is actuated and positioned to correspond to a particular frequency being used by means of a plurality of devices selectively operated by resonant reeds each responsive to a different frequency. Said actuating devices comprise a series of ratchet wheels,

.55 each having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth,

January 23, 1934 with an intervening smooth or discontinuous part, these idle parts on the discs being angularly staggered to permit operation of the mechanism at any particular frequency and until there is a change in frequency.

Further advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter, and it will be understood that the present embodiment is illustrative and exemplary but is not necessarily restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, a rotary switch is shown as comprising an electrically conductive disc I, fixed on a rotatable shaft 2, journaled in the frame. The periphery of the disc I has a bare, current conducting portion 3 and an insulated portion 4, these two being proportioned to the number of different frequencies which the device is capacitated to record; that is, with three frequencies the insulated portion would be approximately about 240 degrees of the periphery. A pair of brushes 9 and I0 contact with the periphery of the disc I, and in the present mechanism these are arranged preferably approximately, or slightly less than, degrees apart. A third brush II contacts with the metallic hub I2 of the disc I, so that a circuit is established through the disc whenever brush 9 or brush I0 contacts with the conducting portion 3. The brush II is connected by a wire I6 with one side of the power circuit, and brush 9 by a wire I1, and brush II] by a wire I8, are connected to the other side of the power circuit. In the circuit I! is an electro-magnet 2|, and in circuit I8 is an electro-magnet 22, these magnets controlling a suitable registering means. If desired, the registering means may be the same or similar to that shown in Patent No. 1,965,092, dated July 3, 1934, to Zenkner, the electro-magnets 2| and 22 corresponding to the magnets 3| and 32 of that patent.

The embodied means for bringing the rotatable switching element I to the position corresponding to a given frequency, and maintaining it there until the frequency is changed, comprises a plurality of ratchet discs, shown as three in number, and indicated by reference numerals 21, 28 and 29. These discs are likewise fixed on shaft 2, and each disc has on its periphery a series of ratchet teeth, with an intervening portion clevoid of teeth and preferably formed smooth and depressed. These idle portions on the three discs are in staggered relation to each other and preferably correspond with the three switching positions of the rotating switch element l.

The embodied means for selectively operating the mutilated ratchet wheels and therewith the rotatable switching element I, to bring it to and maintain it in position to record a particular frequency, comprises a plurality of frequency controlled and actuated devices, each of said devices actuating and controlling one of the selectively and alternatively operated ratchet wheels by means of a pawl mechanism, the pawl mechanism other than the one corresponding to the particular frequency remaining idle. As embodied, there are three such'mechanisms, each having a resonant reed or spring 33, 33 and 33 Each spring is capacitated to actuate a corresponding ratchet Wheel 34, 33 and 34 these ratchet wheels being loosely mounted-on the nonrotating shaft 35. Mounted loosely on a fixed shaft 38 are three lever arms, 39, 39 and'39 and fixed on the end of these lever arms, respectively, and extending outwardly therefrom are three spring arms, having at their outer ends pawls 4|, M and M the pawls being in operative relation, respectively with the ratchet wheel, 21, 28 and 29. The pawls are held in rearward or retracted position by light springs 42, 42 and 42 and simple and light-acting mechanical devices are provided for operating the pawl levers from their actuating wheels. As embodied, each pawl lever is slotted, and journaled in the slots are cam rollers 43, 53 and 43 Fixed to the corresponding ratchet wheels, to rotate with the wheel, are eccentrically mounted cams 65, 45 and 45 It will be seen that only the particular drive for the frequency which is being used is in operation, that the actuating means operates with practically negligible friction and operates only against the resistance of a very light restoring spring, and the energy consumed in driving is very small. The actuating means for springs or reeds 33 are not shown and may be of any desired or adequate form, and may be the same or similar to the means shown in the hereinbefore mentioned Patent No. 1,965,092.

In operation, a current of any given frequency might be employed to vibrate or actuate the member 33 and ratchet wheel 34* would be correspondingly rotated. Eccentric cam 55* coacting with cam roller 43 would advance pawl N and therewith ratchet wheel 29 and switch disc I would be correspondingly rotated to the position shown in the drawing. Upon the pawl 41 reaching the smooth part of wheel 29, the -mechanism would remain in that position until a change is made to a different frequency. In this position electro-magnet 2| is energized and the registering mechanism (not shown) is operated correspondingly. In this position of the mechanism, the two other pawls 4| and :3 l are in engagement with the ratchet teeth on their respective wheels 2'! and 28, so that, if the frequency were changed, either reed or spring 33 or 133 would be actuated and the ratchet wheel 21 or 28 would be rotated until its smooth part came under its pawl and switch disc 1 would be positioned to cause the registration of this new frequency power consumption.

The invention in its broader aspects is not lim ited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages 1 r What I claim is:

1. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch for controlling a plurality of circuits, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a plurality of wheels fixed on the shaft and having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with an intervening smooth portion, said smoothportions being angularly staggered relatively to each other, a pawl mechanism for each of the ratchet wheels and a plurality of frequency controlled means for selectively operating the pawl mechanisms whereby the shaft is brought to a desired position and is moved from that position only by the selective operation of another of the pawl mechanisms.

2. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch for controlling a plurality of circuits, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a wheel fixed on the shaft and having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with an intervening smooth portion, a pawl lever and pawl coacting with said ratchet wheel, a cam roller mounted on said pawl lever, a ratchet wheel and a cam rotating therewith and coacting with said cam roller, and frequency controlled means for rotating said last mentioned ratchet wheel.

3. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch for controlling a plurality of circuits, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a wheel fixed on the shaft and having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with an intervening smooth portion, a pawl lever and pawl coacting with said ratchet wheel, means for actuating said pawl lever, and frequency controlled means for calling said actuating means into operation.

4. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling a plurality of circuits, in combination a switch rotating shaft, a wheel fixed thereon having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with. an intervening smooth peripheral portion, a spring arm having a pawl thereon'engaging said teeth, a pivoted arm on which said spring arm is mounted, and frequency controlled means for oscillating said pivoted arm.

5. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling a plurality of circuits, in combination a switch rotating shaft, a wheel fixed thereon having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with an intervening smooth peripheral portion, a spring arm having a pawl thereon engaging said teeth, a pivoted arm on which said spring arm is mounted, a ratchet wheel, frequency controlled means for rotating said-last mentioned ratchet wheel, and connections from said ratchet wheel for oscillating said arm. I

6. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling a plurality of circuits, in combination a wheel fixed on a switch rotating shaft and having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with an intervening smooth peripheral portion, actuating means for said wheel including a spring arm with a pawl at the end thereof engaging said ratchet teeth, means for longitudinally re,- ciprocating said spring arm including a ratchet wheel and frequency controlled means for rotating said ratchet wheel.

7. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling a plurality of circuits, in combination a switch rotating shaft, a plurality of wheels fixed thereon and having arcuate series of ratchet teeth with an intervening smooth portion, said smooth portions being angularly staggered relatively to each other, independently operable actuating devices for said ratchet wheels, said devices including a longitudinally reciprocable, laterally yieldable spring arm with a pawl at the end thereof engaging a ratchet wheel, and separate frequency controlled means for reciprocating the various spring pawl arms, the remaining pawl arms yielding laterally when one pawl arm is longitudinally reciprocated to rotate its ratchet wheel.

8. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling a plurality of circuits, in combination a switch rotating shaft, a wheel fixed 10 thereon having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth and an intervening smooth peripheral portion, actuating means for said wheel including a long spring arm with a pawl at one end engaging said ratchet teeth, and frequency operating means for longitudinally reciprocating said spring arm to turn the wheel, said arm yielding laterally when stationary to permit the ratchet teeth to move forward beneath the arm.

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