US1101495A - Flat-rate controller. - Google Patents

Description

F. KRABMBR.

PLAT RATE CONTROLLER.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.14, 1909. RENEWED AUG. 8, 191a.

Patented June 23, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA WM"! 00-. 11mm. n. c.

F. KRABMER.

PLAT RATE CONTROLLER.

APP IOATIONEILEE JAN. 14, 1909. RENEWED AUG. s, 1913.

1,101,495 Patented June 23, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK KRA'EMER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MAX HARRIS, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLAT-RATE CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Application filed January 14, 1909, Serial No. 472,179. Renewed August 8, 1918. Serial No. 783,840.

My invention is intended primarily for use with electric plants furnishing current at a flat rate; that is to say, a rate based upon the average or maximum number of li hts motors or other translatin devices or current consumers used at any given time by the subscriber or patron, instead of a rate based upon the watt or kilowatt hour; and its object is to open or break intermittently the loop, branch or derived circuit in which the lamps, motors or translating devices of a plant, building or apartment are located, whenever it is attempted'to add fraudulently or illicitly to the authorized number; such persistent intermittence of the current supply being continued until the illicit use thereof is abandoned, either by the cutting out or absolute removal of the extra current consumer. To this end, the current supplying the derived or work circuit is passed through a series magnet, which when the current is rendered excessive by the demands of the additional load imposed by extra and illegitimate consuming devices, overcomes a mechanical resistance and closes a switch that cuts off the supply of current to the lights, etc.. from the leads or mains, all as will be fully explained in the specification, and the novel elements and combinations of elements employed therein particularly pointed out in the claims.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto tWe sheets of drawings, in which the same referencecharacters are used to designate identical parts in all the figures, of which,-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line AA of Fig. 2, but with the structure modified as I prefer to use it for a three-wire system; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuits in the apparatus under normal conditions in full lines, and under abnormal conditions in dotted lines; and Fig. 5 is a similar View of the three-Wire construction.

The apparatus is mounted on a base plate 10, which may be of marble, slate, or any other suitable insulating material, and it Wlll be understood that the complete apparatus is located in a casing, which is locked against access to everybody except the party furnishing the power, so that it cannot be tampered with by the consumer to increase fraudulently the supply of current which the apparatus will take care of beyond the amount to which he is entitled. The leading-in wire 11 passes through the casing and is secured to a binding post or connection 12 in any customary manner. From this post, the current is preferably passed by the wire 13 to the binding post 14. From the upper post 14, the current passes through the wire 17 into the coils of the series magnet 18, which is attached to the base by cars 19 secured to the top disk 20 of the spool, and by the ears 21 secured to the bottom disk 22 of the spool, the two disks being connected by the tube 23, which serves as a guide or channel for the cores of the series magnet 18 and the shunt or circuit breaking magnet 24; both of these magnets preferably taking the form of solenoids mounted in axial alinement with each other, and, as seen, arranged upon a single spool, which, however, is in effect divided into two spools by the disk 25. The disks 26, 27, 28 and 29, are,of course,of insulating material. From the coils of the series magnet 18, the current passes by the wire 30 to the binding post 31, thence through the Wire 32 to the binding post 33, to which are connected the spring jaws 34, with which cooperates the blade 35 of the cut-out switch. The blade 35 is connected to the companion blade 36 by the cross rod 37 which is preferablv a conductor, and the two blades may also be electrically connected by being mounted on the metallic bearing rod 38 carried by the brackets 39 and 40. This rod is preferably provided with shoulders at 41 and 42 against which the blades have their hearing.

The current passing from the blade to the blade 36 passes thence to the spring jaws 43 electrically connected with the binding post 44, and thence the current is led by the wire 45 to the binding post 46, whence the current passes by the wire 47 (See Fig. 4) to the work circuit indicated by the lamps 48, and thence returns by the wire 49 to the binding post 50, whence it passes by the wire 51 to the binding post 52, whence it passes bv the wire 53 to the other side of the generator 54: or other source of potential. When, however, the number of lamps or other translating devices in the work circuit is increased above the number contracted for, so that the demands thereof increase the current passing through the instrument, all of which must pass through the series magnet 18, the pull of the magnet on its core 55 (which is suspended from the ear 56 on the switch lever 57 by the links 58) is sutlicient to overcome the gravity of the weight 59 which is threaded on the outer arm of the switch lever 57, and which tends to hold the core in the elevated position shown in full lines. By screwing the weight 59 backward and forward on the threaded portion of the switch lever 57, and securing it in the de sired position of adjustment by the jam nut- 60, it is possible to adjust the instrument accurately as is necessary for the allowable variations in the number of lamps or other units to be employed, as it will be understood that the same instrument has a considerable range of adjustments so as to accommodate it for use in cases where the different consumers contract for a different amount of current.

The lever 57 is provided with the hub 61, which has the recesses engaged by the stationary bearing point 62 carried by the bracket 63 secured to the base on the inside, and by the bearing point carried by the screw 64 threaded through the arm 65 of the bracket 63 and secured by the jam nut 65 so that the lever is fulcrumed very sensitively so as to prevent any friction which would tend to oppose the pull on the solenoid 55 and interfere with the accuracy of the instrument.

\Vhen the solenoid core is pulled down against the resistance of the weight 59, the contact end of the lever 57 engages the con tact piece 66 which projects from the base, and which is electrically connected with the binding post 31. The current now passes from the binding post 31 through the contact 66, through the lever 57, thence through the bracket 63, thence through the wire 67 thence through the coils of the switch operating magnet 2. with which the wire 67 is connected, thence through the wire 68, to the binding post 50, thence through the wire 51 to the binding post 52, and thence through the wire 53 to the generator, thus completing a secondary circuit in shunt with the work circuit, through the circuit breaking magnet. This of course energizes the circuit-breaking switch-magnet 2 1, and draws up the core 69 of said magnet, and also draws down the auxiliary core 70, which is adjustably supported from the core of the series magnet by the rod 71 connected thereto and thread ed into the core 55. The object of this supplemental core is to completely and more firmly operate the switch lever 57, which is provided at its outer end with the preliminary contact member 7 2, which consists of a strip of thin brass or copper of the shape shown, which strip contacts with the rounded edge of the contact 66 as soon as the core 55 is drawn down. When the magnet 24 is energized, the additional pull of the core 70 serves to bend the curved portion of the con tact member 72 outward enough so that the lever 57 can be drawn all the way down so that the body of the lever rests directly on the top of the contact 66, so that the circuit is closed directly through the lever without the intermediate contact member 72. One object of this construction is to insure a clean contact between the lever 57 and the contact 66. When the circuit is opened or closed at this point, any sparking that occurs must necessarily occur between the spring contact member 72 and that portion of the contact bracket 66 with which it engages. Now, when the lever 57 is drawn the rest of the way down, so that the body of the lever contacts directly with the bracket 66, the spring member 72 wipes over the portion of the bracket 66 on which the sparking occurs, and automatically cleans both contacts from the effect of such sparking, but, of course, no sparking occurs between the main body of the lever and the contact 66. Another object of this spring contact is that the friction of the spring 72 on the contact 66 when the circuit is fully closed is sufficient to overcome the over-balancing effect of the weight 59, with the result that the switch lever will not be moved up to break the shunt circuit accidentally, but will be held down, positively, as it were, until the circuit is broken positively by the engagement of the upper end of the core 69 of the circuit-breaking magnet 2a with the under side of the supplemental core 70.

At the proper place in the core 69 is secured the pair of bearing rods 73, upon which are mounted the rollers 74 of insulating material, which rollers, as the core is drawn up, engage the cam surface 75 of the blades 35 and 36 of the work circuit switch to move the blades out of engagement with the aws 34 and 43, thus breaking the circuit through the lamps, and the entire circuit throughout the apparatus is then as indicated diagrammatically by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. The downward movement of the core 69 may be resisted and the time of said movement lengthened by reason of the piston 76 carried on the lower end of the core 69. This piston 76 is preferably made of a rubber disk 77 secured between the washers 78 and 79 by the screw 80. An aperture 81 opening into the bottom of the dashpot 82 serves to control the speed of the descent of the piston, and if it is desired to regulate this speed.

it can be done by means of the set screw valve 83 threaded into a lug on the dashpot barrel so as to partially close the aperture 81. The dashpot is supported from the base 10 by a bracket 84 secured to said base.

Substantially at the end of the upward movement of the core 69, its upper end strikes the lower end of the supplemental core 70, as indicated in the dotted line position of said cores in Fig. 3, and positively lifts said core against the pull of the magnet 24, so as to positively raise the switch lever 57 and break the circuit at that point. The circuits are now broken throughout the entire apparatus, the circuit through the main branch being broken by reason of the blades and 36 being withdrawn from the jaws 34 and 43, and the circuit through the shunt branch being broken by reason of the lever 57 being raised. This condition existing, gravity comes into play and causes the gradual descent of the core 69, the descent being slowed up by the resistance offered by the dashpot until the anti-friction rollers 74 strike the surfaces 85 on the short arms of the knife-blade levers 35 and 36. At this time, the piston reaches the enlarged lower portion of the dashpot formed by the annular ofiset 86, so that the piston and its connected parts can descend rapidly for the rest of the movement, as is desired to make the desired quick contact of the switch blades 35 and 36 with the jaws 34 and 43, to prevent sparking.

{ 53 From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that so long as an overload continues, the work circuit will be opened and closed at intervals, producing an annoyance to the consumer that will cause him to remedy the diificulty by turning off the extra light or other translating unit which has been added.

Where my apparatus is used with a threewire system, I preferably modify it as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, where it will be seen that, as before, the current from the generators 54" and 54 passes through one of the outside wires 11 to the binding post 12, whence it passes through the wire 13, through the binding post 14, wire 17, through the coil 18 of the duplex windings of the series magnet, thence through the wire 30 to the binding post 31, thence through the wire 32 to the jaws 34, thence through the blade 35 to the standard 39 thence through the wire 87 to the binding post 52, thence through the wire 47 to one of the outside wires of the threewire work circuit, thence through the lamps 48 to the other outside wire 49 of the work circuit, it being found unnecessary to connect the neutral wire 88 with the instrument. The wire 49 is connected to the binding post 50, which is connected by the wire 89 with the bracket 40 whence the current passes through the blade 36 to the jaws 43. It will be noted that in this modification for the three-wire system, the bearing rod 38, and the cross piece 37 must be made of insulating material instead of conductors, as in the ordinary construction. The current passes from the jaws 43 through the wire 90 to the other coil 18 of the duplex series magnet, whence it passes by the wire 91 to the binding post 93. The current passes from the binding post 93 through the wire 95 to the binding post 46, which is connected by the wire 96 with the generator 54 thus completing the circuit.

\Vhen an overload occurs, the solenoid core 55 is drawn down as before, and the circuit is then closed through the switch lever 57, through the wire 67 through the coils of the circuit-breaking shunt magnet 24, thence through the wire 97 to the binding post 93, thence through the wire 95 to the binding post 46, thence through the wire 96 as before to the generators, thus cutting out the work circuit entirely.

While I have shown my novel switch mechanism arranged specifically for use as a flat rate controller, it will be understood that I it is capable of other uses, and that where the claims are not limited to a flat rate controller, I intend to cover the switch applied to any use desired.

While I have shown and described my invention as embodied in the form which I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications, and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a flat-rate controller, a series magnet in the main circuit adapted to have a work circuit fed therethrough, of a switch in a shunt circuit closed by an abnormal load or current through the series magnet, a swinging switch in the main circuit provided with two engaging surfaces, and a second magnet in the shunt circuit acting when energized to first open the main-circuit switch by the engagement of its armature with one of the surfaces, then to open the shunt circuit switch, and finally to close the main switch by its armature engaging the second surface on its return movement.

2. In a fiat-rate controller, a series magnet in a main circuit adapted to have a work circuit fed therethrough, of a switch in a shunt circuit closed by an abnormal load or current through the series magnet, a swinging switch in the main circuit provided with two engaging surfaces, one a cam surface and the other located near its fulcrum, and a second magnet in the shunt circuit acting when energized to first open the main-circuit switch by the engagement of its armature with the cam surface, then to open the shunt circuit switch, and finally to close the main switch quickly by its armature engaging the second surface on its return movement.

3. In a flat-rate controller, a series magnet in a main circuit adapted to have a work circuit fed therethrough, of a switch in the shunt circuit closed by an abnormal load or current through the series magnet, a swinging switch in the main circuit provided with two engaging surfaces, a second magnet in the shunt circuit acting when energized to first open the main circuit switch by the engagement of its armature with one of the surfaces, then to open the shunt circuit switch, and finally to close the main switch by its armature engaging the second surface on its return movement, and a dashpot connected to the armature of the second magnet and having a resistance release operating during the engagement of the armature with the second surface to close said switch automatically.

4:. In a fiat-rate controller, a series magnet in the main circuit adapted to have a vorlr circuit fed therethrough, of a switch in a shunt circuit closed by an abnormal load or current through the series magnet and connected to the armature of said magnet so as to be operated thereby, a swinging switch in the main circuit provided with two engaging surfaces, and a second magnet in the shunt circuit acting when energized to first open the main circuit switch by the engagement of its armaturewith one of the surfaces, then "to open the shunt circuit switch by the engagement of its armature with the armature of the series magnet, and finally to close the main switch by its armature engaging the second surface on its return movement.

5. In a fiat-rate controller, a series solenoid magnet in a main circuit adapted to have a work circuit fed therethrough, of a switch in the shunt circuit connected to the core of said magnet and adapted to be closed by an abnormal load or current through the magnet, a swinging switch in the main circuit composed of a pair of blades each provided with two engaging surfaces, and a second solenoid magnet in the shunt circuit having a cross piece with bearing surfaces carried by its core in alinement with the first magnet and acting when energized to first open the main circuit switch by the engagement of the bearing surfaces on the cross piece with one of the surfaces on the switch blades, then to open the shunt circuit switch by the engagement of its core with the core of the series magnet, and finally to close the main switch by the bearing surfaces carried by its armature engaging the second surfaces on the switch blades on its return movement.

6. In a fiat-rate controller, a series solenoid magnet in a main circuit adapted to have a work circuit fed therethrough, of a switch in the shunt circuit connected to the core of said magnet and adapted to be closed by an abnormal load or current through the magnet, a swinging switch in the main circuit composed of a pair of blades each provided with two engaging surfaces, and a second solenoid magnet in the shunt circuit having a cross piece with insulated rollerbearing surfaces carried by its core in alinement with the first magnet and acting when energized to first open the main circuit switch by the engagement of the bearing surfaces on the cross piece with one of the surfaces on the switch blades, then to open the shunt circuit switch by the engagement of its core with the core of the series magnet, and finally to close the main switch by the bearing surfaces carried by its armature engaging the second surfaces on the switch blades on its return movement.

7. In a fiat-rate controller, a series solenoid magnet in a main circuit adapted to have a work circuit fed therethrough, of a switch in the shunt circuit connected to the core of said magnet and adapted to be closed by an abnormal load or current through the magnet, a swinging switch in the main circuit composed of a pair of blades each provided with two engaging surfaces, a second solenoid magnet in the shunt circuit having a cross piece with bearing-surfaces carried by its core in alinement with the first magnet and acting when energized to first open the main circuit switch by the engagement of the bearing surfaces on the cross piece with one of the surfaces on the switch blades, then to open the shunt circuit switch by the engagement of its core with the core of the series magnet, and finally to close the main switch by the hearing surfaces carried by its armature engaging the second surfaces on the switch blades on its return movement, and a dashpot connected to the armature of the second magnet and having a release operating during the engagement of the armature with the second surface to close said switch quickly.

8. In an automatic electric switch, a magnet in one circuit, a work circuit associated therewith, a switch in a shunt circuit closed by the movement of the armature of said magnet, a swinging switch in the work circuit provided with two engaging surfaces, and a second magnet in the shunt circuit acting when energized to first open the swinging switch by the engagement of its armature with one of the surfaces, then to open the shunt-circuit switch, and finally to close the swinging switch by its armature engaging the second surface on its return movement.

9. In an automatic electric switch, a ma gnet in one circuit, a work circuit associated therewith, a switch in a shunt circuit closed by the movement of the armature of said magnet, a swinging switch in the work circuit provided with two engaging surfaces, a second magnet in the shunt circuit acting when energized to first open the swinging switch by the engagement of its armature with one of the surfaces, then to open the shunt-circuit switch, and finally to close the swinging switch by its armature engaging the second surface on its return movement, and a dashpot connected to the armature of the second magnet and having a resistance release operating during the engagement of the armature with the second surface to close said switch automatically.

10. In an automatic electric switch, a magnet in one circuit, a work circuit associated therewith, a switch in a shunt circuit closed by the movement of the armature of said magnet, a swinging switch in the work circuit provided with two engaging surfaces, and a second magnet in the shunt circuit acting when energized to first open the maincircuitswitch by the engagement of its armature with one of the surfaces, then to open the shunt-circuit switch by the engagement of its armature with the armature of the first-mentioned magnet, and finally to close the swinging switch by its armature engaging the second surface thereof on its return movement.

11. In an automatic electric switch, a solenoid magnet in one circuit, a work circuit associated therewith, a switch in a shunt circuit connected to the core of said magnet and adapted to be closed by the movement thereof, a swinging switch in the work circuit composed of a pair of blades each provided with two engaging surfaces, and a second solenoid magnet in the shunt circuit having a cross piece with bearing surfaces carried by its core in alinement with the first magnet and acting when energized to first open the swinging switch by the engagement of the bearing surfaces on the cross piece with one of the surfaces on the switch blades, then to open the shunt-circuit switch by the engagement of its core with the core of the first magnet, and finally to close the swinging switch by the bearing surfaces carried by its armature engaging the second surfaces on the switch blades toward the end of its return movement.

12. In an automatic electric switch, a solenoid magnet in one circuit, a work circuit associated therewith, a switch in a shunt circuit connected to the core of said magnet and adapted to be closed by the movement thereof, a swinging switch in the work circuit composed of a pair of blades each provided with two engaging surfaces, and a second solenoid magnet in the shunt circuit having a cross piece with insulated roller bearing surfaces carried by its core in alinement with the first magnet and acting when energized to first open the swinging switch by the engagement of the bearing surfaces on the cross piece with one of the surfaces on the switch blades, then to open the shuntcircuit switch by the engagement of its core with the core of the first-mentioned magnet, and finally to close the swinging switch by the bearing surfaces carried by its armature engaging the second surfaces on the switch blades toward the end of its return movement.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this 7th day of January, A. D, 1909.

FRANK KRAEMER. 1 8.]

Witnesses:

JOHN HOWARD MoELRoY, F. E. BROM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C.

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