US1031205A - Circuit-breaker system. - Google Patents

Description

W. M. SCOTT. CIRCUIT BREAKER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.11, 1909. 1,031,205. Patented July 2, 1912.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

Z i/t' gda Cl 7/ 10 ii 35 I? 8 g f2? 15 J 3 wen/"row WITNESSES zw zwh By M Q5 C;%% a. I AN: ATTORNEY w. M. SCOTT.

CIRCUIT BREAKER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 001211, 1909. 1 ,03 1,205. v Patented July 2, 912.

2 SHEETSSHELET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTTER ELECTRICAL AND MANUFACTURING CQMIPANY, A, QQRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER SYSTEM.

Specificatiompf Iietters Patent.

Patented July 2,1912.

Original application filed- January 19, 1907, Serial No. 353,047. Dividedand this application filed October 11, 1909. Serial No. 521,985.,

To all whom-'t't-inay concern:

Be vit known that 1, WILLIAM M. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia, county of Phila- 5 delphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Circuit-Breaker System, of which the. following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to a system of proto tection for interrelated electric circuits, such, for example, as a three or more wire system in which the voltage between outside wires or conductors is greater than the voltage between either of the outside conl5 ductors'and any of the intermediate conductors.

My invention residesin such an electric protective system comprising a. three or more Wire system and a plurality of circuit breakers, any one or all of which is or are provided with tripping means responsive to potential .changes on the system, so that any or all of, the circuit breakers will be tripped when the potential between any 35 given pair of conductors of the system changes throngh a considerable range and the trippingmechanisms of the several circuit breakers maybe mechanically .interconnected so that upon the operation of any 30 one tripping mechanism all the tripping mechanisms are operated, so that all the breakers open.

Myfnvention resides also in the features herelnafter described ahd pointed out in 55 the claims.

For an illustration of one of the forms my invention maytake, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in

which:

LO' Figured is a side elevation'of an automatic circuit breaker having tripping coils suiting it for my protective system. Fig. 2 isa diagrammatic view of circuit arrangements of my protective system as applied to a three Wire system. Flg. 3 is a front ele-' vational'view showing two automatic circuit breakers, eajch' provided with tripping means such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

having their tripping mechanisms mechani- 0 why interconnected.

In .Fig. 1 there is shown an automatic circuit breaker in which'the tripping mech 'anism is of a type suiting it to my invention. It is to be understood, however, that clearness.

any other type of circuit breaker may be employed in my system and that my invention isnot limited to the construction of the circuit breaker. Upon a base 1, of any suitable insulating materiahsuch as marble, are secured the main terminal blocks 2 and 3 held by studs 4, 4 and nuts 5, 5. A movable laminated bridging member 6 is adapted to engage the main terminals 2 and 3 and electrically connect them, the current entering, for example, through the upper stud 4 to terminal 2, through bridging member 6 to terminal 3, and out by 1ts stud 4 and thence by connector 7 to stud 8 which may be connected to the winding of an overload tripping coil, here omitted for the sake of The bridging member 6 iscarried by but insulated from the arm 9 pivoted in the bracket or housing10 at 11. As means foroperatin'g the arm 9 and for cramping the laminated member 6 against the terminals 2 and 3, are provided the links 12 and 13 pivoted to each other at 14; and the link 12 is pivoted to the arm 9 at 15, while the link 13 is pivoted in the housing or bracket 10 at 16. The links 12 and 13 form a toggle which is under set in the full circuit closing position asshownin Fig. 1. The link 13 extends outwardly beyond the pivot- 16 to form an operating lever 17 provided with the hand grip 18. A spiral spring 19, un-. der tension in the position shown, is connected at one end at 20 to the arm 9 and at itsother end at 21 to the housing or frame 10. And a spiral spring 22, under tension in the position shown, is connected at one end at 21 and at its other end at 23 to the toggle link'13. At 24 on the operating lever 17 is pivoted a roller 25 with which? engages the latch 26 pivotedat 27 upon the frame or housing 10. The latch \26 has a rearward extension 28 to which is pivoted at 29 the vertically extending rod or pin 30. The pin 30 extends into the path of travel of the armature 31 pivoted .at 32 and adapted to normally rest upon the nonmagnetic stop 33 between the cores 34 and 35 of two electromagnets whose coils are 36 and 37, respectively. A third electromag' net'has the coil or winding 38 andthe core 39 pivotally mounted. and magnetically cross connecting the two. similar armatures 31, only one of which is visible in Fig. 1. The usual overload tripping c011, not

shunt carbon, 40, pivoted at 4:1, and in elec trical communication with the intermediate metallic shunt contact 42, both the carbon and contact 42 being in permanent; electrical communication with the lower terminal block 3 through the conductor 43.

The carbon 40 cotiperates with. the stationary carbon 44 pivoted at 45 'on the bracket 46 mounted on and in electrical communication withthemain terminal 2. The bracket 46 carries also the stationary intermediate shunt contact 47 with which the shunt contact 42 engages.

Referring to Fig. 2, A, B andC are the conductors of a three wiresystem, B being the neutral wire. The dynamo-electric machines, as generators, D and E are connected in series between the conductors A and C, and the neutral conductor Bis connected between the machines D and E. A third machine or generator F, of voltage equal to the sum of the voltages of D and E, may be employed and connected as shown. In the conductors A and C are connected circuit breakers G and H, respectively, such, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, andhere shown diagrammatically by the main terminals 2 and 3, the laminated bridging member 6 and the three potential coils operating to control the armature 31. Thecoils 37 and 38 are connected in parallel with each other across the conductors-A and B in the case of-the circuit breaker G in Fig. 2, while the coil 36 is connected between the neutral B and the conductor C of the other circuit of the three wire system. These windings are so disposed upon their cores that" the coils 36 and-37 produce ma etism in the same direction, as indicated y the two curved arrows in Fig. 1.' When a balance of voltage exists on the three wire "system, that is, when the voltage between A and B is equal to or bears a proper relation to the voltage between 'B and C, the mile 36 and 37 are balanced in their efiectupon the armature 31 and the same remains at rest. If, however, the voltage between B and C falls or if the voltage between A and B increases, the armature 31 of the circuit breaker G will be drawn upwardly and will strike the pin 30 to'tilt the latch 26 to unlock thecircuit breaker with the result, as well understood in the art, of causing or allowing the toggle 12, 13 to collapse, with resultant movement of laminated bridging member 6 away from the terminals 2 and 3, to break circuit. And

as well understood in the art, the intermediate shunt contact 42 leaves its companion 47 shortly after the member 6 hasseparated from terminals 2 and 3, and finally carbon 40 separates from carbon 44, the final arc taking place between these carbons without danger to the maincontacts, the circuit being'then completely ruptured. The coil 38 is not essential to the operation of the apparatus as just described, but its presence increases the sensitiveness. of the instrument, so that it will respond to smaller variations of voltage. And the situation is the same as regards circuit breaker H, that is, when the voltage between A and B falls, or the voltage between B and G increases, it is tripped by its armature 31.

Considering the magnetism produced by the coils 36,37 and 38,coil 38 operates cumulatively with coil 37 to produce magnet-ism through the armature 31, and coil 38 operates cumulatively with the. coil 36 in producing-magnetism through the armature 31,

as indicated by the arrows in Fig. "1. Coils 36 and 37 however, both produce magnetism in the same direction through the armature 31, and are opposed in their effects upon the armature 31, one coil, as 36, exerting a force in one direction upon the armature 31, while the other coil, 37 exerts a force in opposite direction upon the arma ture. That is, both coils 36 and 37, attract the armature 31, and since they are disposedv on opposite sides of the armature 31, their attractive forces on armature 31 are 0 posed. When, however, the magnetizing e ect of the coil 36 diminishes, or when the magnetizing effect of coil 37 increases, coil 37 gains control of the armature 31 and thereafter ing control of the armature, by a relatively small preponderance in ampere turns, the armature 31 is thereafter acted on with great force sufficient to trip the breaker. This is distinguished from the case Where coils differentially acting upon a core aree nployed, for in the latter case, when onefiibil pre ponderates over the other, there is available only the difference of their ampere turns and this is necessarily small from a practical.

standpoint, and insufficient-for performing the work required in the system here disclosed for direct actuation of the tripping mechanism.

The circuit breakers G-and H may have their tripping mechanisms suitably mechanically interconnected, as, for example, by means shown in U. S. Patents No. 746,587, No. 7 54,505, or No. 825,144, so that. upon the elec trical tripping of either one, both are tripped. This may be accomplished by an arrangement such as shown in Fig. 3 where two automatic circuit breakers are shown in front elevation. They have their tripping latches 26, 26 mechanically connected by a rod or connector 48, whereby when the tripping mechanism of either circuit breaker is energized or v operated, both breakers are tripped. 7

While I have shown my invention" as adapted to a three wire system, it is to be understood that the same may be applied to systems of greater number of conductors or, in fact, in an relation where a relative fluctuation of v0 tage between two circuits is to be followed by the interruption of one or the other, or both, of such clrcuits.

This application is a division from my application Serial No..353,04=7, filed January What I claim is: 1. In combination with an electric distribution. system comprising a plurality of conductors all normally at different potentials with respect to'each other, of a circuit breaker included in one of said conductors,

means restraining said circuit breaker in normal position, a movable magnetizable mass for actuating said restraining means, potential coils exerting forces in opposed directions upon said movable magnetizable mass, one of said coils subjectedto the potential between the conductor in which said circuit breaker is included and another cons ductor of said system, and another of said coils subjected to the potential betweeen two conductors of said system other than the conductor including said circuit breaker, and a stop preventing movement of said magnetizable mass toward a pole of one of said potential coils. I

2. In combination, a plurality of circuits,

a circuit breaker connected in each circuit,

3. .An automatic circuit breakercomprising a movable contact member, means for restraining said contact member in normal position, and'means for actuating said restraining means comprising a movable magnetizablf'e member, coils exerting forces in opposite directions upon said magnetizable member, one of said coils traversed by currentfrom the circuit in which said movable contact member is connected, another of said coils traversed by current from a differnetizable member, and potential coils exerting forces in opposite directions upon said magnet-lzable member, one of said coils subjected to the potential of the circuit in which said movable contact member is connected, another of said coils subjected to the potential of a different circuit, and a stop limiting the approach of said magnetizable-member toward a pole of one ofsaid coils.

5. In combination, a plurality of circuits,

a circuit breaker included in one of said circuits and comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining the same in normal position, tripping mechanism for said circuit breaker comprising a movable magnetizable mass and coils having poles disposed upon opposite sides of said magnetizable mass and exerting forces on said magnetizable mass in opposite directions, one coil traversed by current from the circuit in which said circuit breaker is connected, another coil traversed by current from another circuit, and a stop for said magnetizable mass for insuring movement of said mass toward the pole which gains control over said magnetizable mass.

' 6. In a three or more wire system, a circuit breaker connected in each of a plurality of the inter-related circuits, and tripping mechanism for each circuit breaker comprising a movable magnetizablemass and opposed potential coil-s,,one of said potential coils connected between the conductor in which said circuit breaker is. connected and another conductor, another of said coils connected between said other conductor and a third conductor, and means interconnecting the tripping mechanisms of the different circuit breakers.

7 An automatic circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means. for restraining said contact member in normal position, and tripping mechanism for said breaker comprising a movable magnetizable mass and a plurality'of potential coils,'two of said coils coiiperating in their action upon said magnetizable mass and connected across a pair of conductors, and a third potential coil exerting force on said magnetizable mass in opposite direction to said potential coils and connected across other conductors.

8. An automatic circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining said contact member in normal position, and tripping mechanism comprising a pivoted armature and a plurality oil magnetizing coils therefor, one of said coils being a potential coil connected across a pair of conductors, another of said coils being a potential coil connected across other conductors and exerting force on said arma ture in opposite direction to -said first mentioned potential coil, and a third coil ('20- operating with said second potential coil.

9. Electro-magnet-ic tripping. means'for a circuit breaker comprising an armature, opposed poles acting uponsaid armature, p'0' tential coilsconnected in different circuits magnetizing said poles, and a third coil opera ting cumulatively with one of said potential coils upon said armature. I

10. Electro-magnetic tripping machanism for acircuit breaker comprising a pivoted armature, a magnetizing coil associated therewith at the pivotal axis thereof, a potential coil connected across a pair of conductors operating cumulatively with said first mentioned coil upon said armature, and

a second potential 0011 connected across different'conductors opposing-said first mentionedpotential coil.

, 11. An automatic circuit breaker comprising a movable contact'member, meansLfor restraining said contact member in normalposition, and tripping mechanism comprising an armature and a plurality of poten tial coils operating thereon, two of said potential coils connected in parallel with each other across a pair ofconductors, and a third potential coil connected across other conductors and magnetizing said -armature cumulatively with said first mentioned coils, said third potential coil exertin force on said armature in opposite direction to the force exerted thereon by, one of said first mentioned potential coils.

12. An automatlc c1rcu1t breaker comprismg a movable contactmember, means for restraining the same in normal position, and

tripping mechanism comprising an armature and a plurality of potential coils operating' thereon, two of said potential coils connected in parallel with each; other across a pair of conductors, and a third potential coil connected across other conductors and exerting a .force on said armature in a direction opposite to a force exerted thereon by one of said first mentioned coils.

'13. In a three or more wire system, neutral and outside conductors, a circuit breaker connected in an outside conductor, tripping mechanism therefor comprising a latchactuating armature, potential coils for magnetizing said armature, two of said potential coils connected .in parallel across a neutral conductor and an outside conductor, and another potential coil connected. across said neutral conductor and another outside conductor and normally magnetizing said armature cumulatively with said two potential coils.

acting'upon said armature, coils traversed by current from diflerent circuits magnet1zing said poles, and a third coil magnetizing the axial portion of said armature.

16. Electro-magnetic tripping mechanism comprising an armature having a vibrating portion andanaxial portion, opposed poles acting upon the vibrating portion of said armature, potential coils connected indifferent circuits magnetizing said poles, and a third coil magnetizing the axial portion of said larmature.

17. Electro-magnetic tripping mechanism comprising an armature having a vibrating portion and an axial portion, opposed poles acting upon the vibrating portion of said armature, potential coils connected in differ-v ent circuits magnetizing said poles, and a third coil operating cumulatively with said" potential coils and disposed about the axial portion of said armature.

18. An automatic circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining said contact member in normal position, tripping mechanism for said circuit breaker comprising a movable magnetizable mass and a plurality of magnetizing coils, two of said coils cooperating in their action upon said magnetizable mass and traversed by current flowing between a pair of conductors, and a third coil exerting a force on said magnetizable mass in opposite direction to a force exerted thereon by one of said coils and traversed-by current flowing between other conductors.

19. An automatic circuit breaker compris ing a movable contact member, means for restraining said contact member in normal.

- ing traversed by current flowing between a pair of conductors, another of said coils traversed by current flowing between other conductors. and exerting force upon said armature in opposite direction, and a third coil coiiperatingwith said second coil.

20. In a system comprising a plurality of circuits, a circuit breaker connected in each of a plurality of the inter-related circuits,

and tripping mechanism for-each circuit breaker comprising a movable magnetizable mass and magnetizing coils acting in opposite directions thereon, one of said coils traversed by current flowing between the circuit, the tripping mechanism of each circuit breaker comprising magnetizing coils,- one coil traversed by current flowing in the circuit in which its circuit breaker is connected, another coil traversed by current flowing in the circuit in which another circuit breaker is connected, and mea'ns for interconnectin the tripping mechanisms of all. the circuit reakers.

22. In combination, a plurality of circuits, a circuit breaker connected in each circuit, the tripping mechanism of each circuit breaker comprising a plurality of magnetizing coils traversed by current of the circuit in which their circuit breaker is connected, another coil associated with said coils and traversed by current of a circuit in which another circuit breaker is connected, and means for interconnecting the tripping mechanisms of all the circuit breakers.

23. In combination, a plurality of circuits, a circuit breaker connected in each circuit, the tripping mechanism of each circuit comprising magnetizing 'COllS traversed by current from the circuit in .which their circuit breaker is connected, another coil traversed by current from a circuit in which another .circuit breaker is connected and exerting a force in opposition to one of said coils, and means for interconnecting the tripping mechanisms of all the circuit breakers. 1

24. In combination, a plurality of circuits, a circuit breaker connected in each circuit, the tripping mechanism of each circuit breaker comprising'a pair of potential .coils connected in parallel across the circuit in which their circuit breaker is connected, a third coil subjected to the potential of the circuit in which another circuit breaker is connected and exerting a force in opposition to one of said coils, and means for interconnecting the tripping mecha nisms of all the circuit breakers.

2 5. The'combination with a movable contact member of a switch'or circuit breaker, of means for restraining the same in normal position a mag'netizable member for actuating said restraining means, poles acting in opposite directions upon said magnetizable member, a magnetizing coil for one of said poles traversed by current from the circuit in which said movable contact member is connected, another coil magnetizing another of said poles and traversed by current from another circuit, and a stop limiting the movement of said magnetizable member toward one of said poles.

26,. Electro-magnetic tripping means comprising an armature, poles on opposite sides of said armature exerting forces in opposite directions thereon, coils connected in different circuits magnetizing said poles, and a third coil operating cumulatively with said first mentioned coils in magnetizing said armature;

27 Electro-magnetic tripping means comprising an armature, poles on opposite sides ofsaid armature exerting forces in opposite directions thereon, potential coils connected in difierent circuits magnetizing said poles, and a thirdpotential coil operating cumula tively with said first mentioned coils in magnetizing said armature.

28. Electro-magnetic tripping mechanism comprising an armature, poles acting thereon in opposite directions, one of said poles normally preventing the approach of said armature toward a second of said poles, magnetizing coils for said poles connected respectively in different circuits, and a third coil augmenting the attraction upon said armature when said second pole has gained control thereof.

29. Electro-magnetic tripping ,mechanism' comprising an armature, poles acting in opposite directions upon said armature, a coil for magnetizingone of said poles connected in one circuit, a coil for magnetizing another pole connected in another circuit, a stop limiting the approach of said armature toward one of said poles, and a third coil augmenting the attraction of said armature toward a second of said poles when said sec- 7 0nd pole has gained control of said ar; mature. 7

30. Electro-magnetic tripping mechanism comprising an armature, a stop against which said armature normally rests, poles acting in opposite directions upon said armature, magnetizing coils for said poles connected respectively in diiferent circuits and a third coil assisting in the movement of said armature after it has left said stop.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

ELEANOR .'I. MCCALL, A. STEINBOCK.

Images