US1110510A - Time-controlled circuit-breaker. - Google Patents

Description

APPLIOA'IION FILED NOV.2'7,1912.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

I N"1CNTO R 170 az's flfeiewa WITNESSES:

STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

\ LOUIS S. PETERS, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 FREDERICK E. COLLINS, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. I

' TIME-CONTROLLED CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification .of Letters Patent. Application fllcgl November 27, 1912. Serial No. 783,838.

Patented Sept. 15,1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. LOUIS S. PETERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the'county of Alameda and State of Qalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Time-Controlled Circuit- Bre'akers, of which the following is a specifi'cation. t

This invention relates to means for automatically breaking an electric circuit.

The object of the resent invention is to provide an automatic, reliable, adjustable means in combination with the sparking circuit of an internal combustion engine, whereby, in the event that the circuit of the engine remains closed for a given period of time the apparatus will operate to break the clrcuit. g

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a circuit-breaking device having connections for an electric circuit, in-

cluding a magnet formed by a spark coil in the circuit, a movable armature with means for normallyholding the armature in restraint, and providing a switch member eng'ageable by the armature or a portion thereof, and to provide atimin device for restraining the movement o the armature when the spark coilin energized.

In internal combustion engines using a I make and breaksparking system, it sometimes happens that. the engine will stop with the sparking devices'in contact, thus leaving a closed circuit, which, it means were not provided, would soon deplete the battery of its electrical energy, and'my invention is designedwith the-object in view of automatically'breaking the circuit in the event that the engine stops with the make and break sparking device in contact.

The invention consists in combination with a sparking circuit of an internal-combustion engine, ofa removable switch memv ber, magnetic means includinga spark coil, for disengaging the switch member from its complementary brushes, and a-timing means for restraining the movement of the magnetic means;

The invention further consists of the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, Wh 10h--the an elevational partly sectioned view of the a plate 11;-the switch figure is p apparatus, showing a motor circuit in diagram.

' In its illustrated arrangement, I have shown a suitable casing 2, in which is'substantially incased a spark coil having pole pieces 3, the coil 4 of the magnet having terminals 5-5 connected in series with the ignition circuit 6 of an internal combustion motor 7, in which the sparking is produced by a make and break mechanism, or other device. v

One of the terminals 5 of the magnet is connectedbby a conductor 8 to a portion of the structure so that current will be conducted to a switch arm 9 pivoted at 10 upon arm 9 being subjected to the tension of a spring 12, the function of which is to hold the switch out of contact with contact brushes 13 -13', which may be mounted upon and insulated from the plate 11, and to which brushes is connected a continuation of the conductor 8, which forms a part of-the engine circuit 6.

-The casing 2 is provided with suitable binding posts 14 to which the lead wire 8 and lead wire 8' trom the coil may be attached. Pivoted upon one of the magnet poles 5, as at 15, is an armature 16, the shorter "end of which is under the pull or controlling action of a spring 17, and the longer end of which is connected at 18 to a piston 19 movable in a dash-pot or cylinder 20; the armature 16 being .provided with a projection or extension 21 adapted, when the armature moves, to encounter the swltch 9 and push it from the holding engagement of the contact brushes 13.

In order that the movement of the arma-.

energized .the cylinder 20 is charged with a volume 0 liquid against which the piston 1-9 is forced when the magnet is energized and the armature 16 moves, and the speed of movement of the piston 19 in the cylinder 20 is controlled by aneedle or other valve 22 mounted inthe side of the cylinder'20, and controlling the escape of fluid from below the piston 19 through a by-pass 23 to the upper portion of the cylinder, or above the iston 19. When the valve 22 is so adjusted as to allow the passage of only a small quantity of the fluid in the cylinder 20, then the movement/of the armature under the attraction of the energized ma et will be comparatively slow so that be ore the extension or pusher 21, of the armature 16, moves into engagement with the switch arm 9, a given period of time will have elapsed.

Upon the breaking of the sparking circuit by the disengagement of the switch arm from its contact 13, the magnet is de'e'nergized and the armature under the pull of the spring 17 will retract the piston 19, this action occurring freely, substantially without resistance from the liquid in the cylinder by reason of the automatic opening 'of a relief valve 24, yieldably held against the lower surface of the piston 19 by a spring;

25, or other equivalent means, which will operate to permit the piston 19 to be retracted relatively freely.

In operation, when the engine circuit has been connected to the terminals 55 of the apparatus, these being in turn connected to the coil by the conductors 8 and 8, then when the operator adjusts the switch 9 in engagement with the contact brushes 18, the ignition circuit will be complete. In the event that the engine stops with the sparle ing device in contact, the coil being energized by reason of its connection in series with the engine circuit, will attract the armature16, the movement of which will be resisted to a speed variable by means of the adjustable needle valve 22, past'which the liquid in the cylinder 20 will be forced by the downward movement of piston 19 under the pressure of the attracted armature 16.

It is understood that by adjusting the valve 22 the pusher 21 of the armature 16 may be restrained so that it will not more into contact with the switch 9 for the desired'length of time, say three (3) minutes, and then the continued movement of the armature 16 and the pusher 21 will force the switch arm 9 out of engagement with the brushes 13, and thus break the spark circuit and conserve the energy of the source of electrical supply.-

By this invention it is possible to automatically cut out the sparking circuit when the sparking devices remain in contact a additional current.

given period of time, and this is accom.-

plished by using the magnetic force generated when the coil is energized, thus avoiding the use of any extraneous magnets or The contact. 13 is foreonnection with a magneto 26. The pivot witnesses.

or shaft 10 of the switch is provided. with a handle indicator 10. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Iatent, is w 1. A time controlled circuit breaker including a magnet in series with a circuit to be broken, a stationary vertical plate at one side of the magnet, a switch arm having a T-shaped head pivoted at one end to said plate so as to oscillate vertically, contacts on the plate to engage the respective free ends of said T-shaped head, spring means which engage the top and bottom faces of said arm to hold the latter out of engagement with the contacts, am armature pivoted between its ends to the upper end of one of the magnet poles, a coil spring connected to the rear end of said armature and to the lower end of said pole piece, a member projecting downwardly from said armature and adapted to have its free end engage said arm at a point between its ends, and cushioning means between the front end of said ment with said arm at a point between the ends of the arm, and retarding means supported by the opposite magnet pole and con nected to the front end of the armature.

3. A time controlledcircuit breaker includin a magnet in series with a circuit to be bro (en, a pivoted switch arm, a pair of spaced independent contacts between which the free end of the arm oscillates, an arma ture pivotallymounted above said arm in spaced relation thereto, a member projectingdownwardly from said armature and adapted to engage said arm adjacent its free end, and retarding means connected to the" free end of the armature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing LOUIS S. PETERS. Witnesses:

, WILLIAM J. KELLY,

AUGUSTA A. WALKER.

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