US1117376A

US1117376A - Circuit-controller.

Info

Publication number: US1117376A
Application number: US805974A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clinton O Harrington
Original assignee: Union Switch and Signal Inc
Current assignee: Hitachi Rail STS USA Inc
Priority date: 1912-12-28
Filing date: 1913-12-11
Publication date: 1914-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1931-11-17

Description

C. 0. HARRINGTON.

IRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLIUA'NON f1r.r.nnnc 11.191s.

1,1 17,376. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES WM j@ C. 0. HARRINGTON.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

NPPLIOATION TILED DBC.11.1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

N .om

wl'rNezssEs INVENTOF! an STATES PATENT oFFioE.

CLINTON O. HARRINGTON, OF EDGEWOOD BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGN-.AL COMPANY. OF SXVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PonarIoN or PENNSYLVANIA;

CIBCUIT-CONTRGLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lOriginal application filed December 28. 1912. Serial No. 739,037.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Divided and this applictfon led December 11, 1913. Serial No. 805,974.

my copending ,application filed December 28, 1912, Serial No. 739,037, for electric bells. n

I will describe one form of circuit controllerembodying my invention, showing its application to an electric bell of the solenoid and plunger type, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing one form of electr-1c bell having applied thereto one form of circuitv controller embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing inside elevation, partly sectioned, the hell shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. `1. Fig. 4 'is an end view of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view showing in detail a portion of the circuit controller shown in the preceding views. Fig. 6 is a view showing a bed of electroconductive material forming part of the circuit controller shown in the preceding views. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing one arrangement of the electric circuit for the control of the bell shown in the preceding views.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first, to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, 10 is a casting which carries a bell and a bell-operating mechanism, and which may be mounted upon any suitable support; for example, it may be mounted at the top of an iron post to which it may be rigidly fixed by means of a screw 11. This casting 1() is provided with an inclined bed 12 upon which rests the bell-operating mechanism and a circuit controller 40. Secured to the casting 10 by means of screws 15, is a gong bracket 14 to which a gong 13 is removably secured thereto by means of a screw l5 and one or more rivets 16, in the manner described in my co-pending application of which this application is a dvision.

. The left-hand end (as viewed in Fig. l) of -the bracket 17 is bent upwardly at substantially a right-angle to form a plate 27. A second upright plate 28, which also forms part-of the bracket 17, is provided by makmg two longitudinal slits extending into the bracket from the righthand end (as viewed in Fig. 1) and by bending the middle or tongue portion4 upwardly at right angles. This leaves two side strips 29 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 1, but both of which appear in Fig. i), and these strips are bent upwardly as shown in Fig. 1 to form a support for the circuit controller.

Mounted in suitable holes in the plates 27 and 28 is ,a plunger tube 18 (preferably of brass) which forms the core of a solenoid 30. Theleft-hand end of the tube 18 is slightly spun over, and the rim thus formed is held firmly against the plate 27 by a plate 59, which latter is secured to the plate 27 by screws 39. It. will thus be seen that the tube i8 is held firmly in `place in the bracket 17. The shape of the plunger tube 18 is preferably as shown in Fig. 3, from which it will be seen that this tube is provided with three slots or raceways 31, 32 and 33 in each of which are two balls 34. A plunger 19 of iron is located in the plunger tube 18 and is mounted on the balls 34- so that it may reciprocate in the tube with practically no friction. The tube 18 is preferably mounted substantially parallel to the bed 12, so that the tube is therefore inclined between the horizontal and the vertical 'The angle of inclination from the horizontal is preferably only s lightlyi more than suflicient to allow the plunger yt roll downwardly tdue to the forcent gravityY whennot-iactedupon by the solenoid. The movements of the balls 34am per withthe gong and in the other direction by the engagement `of the righthand face of the tapper head 2O withadiaphragm 38. This diaphragm is, as here shown,

formed fromva sheet of thin metal which is slightly bowed outwardly and is secured to the front 'plate 27 by the screws 39. This diaphragm serves as a stop for the moving parts and also servesl to cause a slight rebound of the plunger and tapper as the latter reach their lowest position, thereby causing a quicker and smoother action of the bell and also reducing the energy required to operate the bell.

lThe circuit for the solenoid is conv trolled by the circuit controller 40 embodying my invention and which-l will now dep scribe.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, ,5 and 6, a block 41 of insulating material is mounted on the upturned ends of strips 29 bymeans of bolts 55. This block is provided with a rectangular hole (see Fig. 4) in which a. supporting trough 6l` is mounted. This trough, as shown best in Fig. 4, comprises a bottom and two side pieces; the front ends `of the bottom and sides. of this trough are flared outwardly and the flanges thus formed rest against the left-hand face of block 4l, as viewed in F ig. 1. Resting in the trough 61 is a block or bed 42 of electroconductive material, preferably graphite, whichA block or bed is shown more clearly in Fig. 6, from which it will be seen that the" upper surface is provided with a concave. recess48 cylindrical in form. nand 63 are side pieces located in the trough. 6l and one on each side of the block 42, which side pieces and the trough 61 and block 42 are all held se-4 curely together by meansjofmecrews 64, one of which serves as a terminal post to which 5 a conductor 65 is secured. The front ends of the side plates 62 and 63 rest against the right-hand face of the block 41 as viewed in Fig. 1, hence it will be seen that because of the lianges on the trough 61 and the side plates 62 and 63. the trough, side plates, and block- 42 are securely fixed to the block y41. 43 is a hollow cylindrical member or .tube of electroiconductive material, such as brass, which Ets the 'concave recess in block 42 and is adapted to reciprocate therein.

inmate The radius oicurvatu-reie'f the member 43 is substantially the same as that of recess 48. As shown more clearly in Fig." 5, the

`lettfhand end of the member43 is spun: over inwardly to form an nwardlyprojecting iange, which is clamped between two blocks of insulating material 57 and 58. One oi these blocks 57 comprises a head portion which fits inside the member 431and'a shank portion which .projects 'through the end oi the member and is threaded; the other block 58 is provided with a threaded hole to screw on the shank of block 57. 44 is a stud one end of which screws into the end ci plunger 19,and is held from turning therein by a rivet 23, andthe other end of which is re duced in diameter and is threaded. A head 45 rests against the shoulder formed by the reduced portion and is held tightly against this shoulder by a nut 6.6. lhe stud 44 passes through a hole in block 57, but the head 45 cannot pass through this hole. When the plunger 19 is rolled upwardly from lthe position shown in Fig. 1, the head 45 strikes the block 57 when the tapper 20 is about a quarter of an inch from the gong, so the tube 43 is then moved to the left about a quarter of an inch'.` As the plunger returns, it strikes the block 58 when about a quarter of an inch from the lowest point of its stroke, so the tube 43 is then moved back to the position shownin the drawing. 46 is a roller of conducting material mounted on one end of a suitable spring 67, the other end of which is iixed to the block 41. This roller is so located as to make contact with the 1 cylindrical surface of the member 43 when the latter is in the position shown in the drawing, but that when the member 43 is moved to the left, as hereinbefore explained, it moves out of contact with the roller 46.

The operation of the bell and circuit controller is as follows: Referring to Fig. 7, the solenoid 30 is provided with a circuit which includes in series a source of current 47, the

graphite block 42', the cylindrical member 43,

the roller 46 and a circuit controller 70. When circuit controller 70 is closed, the solenoid 30 is energized and draws the plunger 19 upwardly so that the tapper 20 strikes the gong. J ust before the tapper 20 reaches the gong the head 45 moves the member '43 out of contact with roller 46 thereby-breaking the circuit through the solenoid 30. The' momentum of the plunger is,however, sulicient to carry it on until the tapperstrikesthe gong. The plunger 19 then returns by ravit gust efore it .reaches this position the right-hand end of the plunger engages with the block 58, moving the member 43 again to the position shown in the drawing, so that it is then in engagemennwith roller 46; the circuit through the solenoid 30 is then again closed. and the operation is repeated. .The

to the position shown in Fig. 1.

`these members to be maintained in a smooth and shining condition, thereby providing excellent electrical Contact between the two. Furthermore, in practice I have found that the member 43 is rotated slowly around its longitudinal axis, thereby constantly presenting a new surface to the graphite 42 and, to the roller 46; this produces equal wear on all parts of the cylindrical. member 43, thereby maintaining the lattersymmetrical .i in shape, and it also re ults in'excellent electrical contact between t1, e member 4B andfthe roller 46 because the entire surfaceoithe` member 43 is kept smooth and shining by ythe graphite,

The bell-operating mechanism and circuit controller are protected b a cover 49 which is secured to the edges o the bed 12 in any suitable manner.

Although I have herein shown `and described only one form of circuit controller embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the i appended claims Without departing from the!y spirit and scope of my invention, and al-l though I have shown and described a particular form of electric bell having applied thereto a vcircuit controller embodying my invention, it is understood that a circuit controller embodying my invention may be applied to other forms of electric bellsand that it may be applied to kinds of apparatus other than electric bells. y'

I do not make any claim in this application for the location of the slots or raceways 31, 32 and 33 in the tube 18, this being the subject-matter of an application Ifiled by Charles W. Dunham on February 4, 191,4,

v 'Serial No. 816,540, for electric bells.'

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1s:

l. A circuit controller comprising a fixed member; a secondI member movable in .two paths Withrelation to, but constantly in contact with` said fixed member; a third member located in position for contact with said second member, the .movement of said second member in one path being such that it moves into and out of contact with the third, member, and the` movement of said second. member in the other path being such-that the portion of the surface of the second member which is at times in contact With the third member rubs at ether times on the surface of the fixed member, whereby the surface of the second member which contacts with the third member is kept clean.` 2. A circuit controller comprising a cylindrically concaved bed of electro-conductive material, a cylindrical member of electro- `contacting member mounted in curvature as that of the bed, said member being adapted to reciprocate in said bed and also to rotate on its longitudinal axis in said bed, and a contacting member mounted `in position for contact with the cylindrical surface of said cylindrical member; .thefreciprocation of said cylindrical member being such that the member moves into and out of Contact with said contacting-member, and the rotation of the cylindrlcal member being such that the surface of the member which at times makes contact with the contacting ,member rubs at other times on the bed whereby said surface isfkept clean.,

3. A circuit controller comprising a cylindrically concaved bed of graphite, a cylin drical member of electro-conductive y material locat'ed `in said bed and having substantially-the same' radius of curvature as that of the bed, said member being adapted to reciprocate in said bed and also to rotate on its longitudinal axis in said bed, and a osition for contact with the cylindrical sur ace of said cylindrical member; theV reciprocation of said cylindrical member being such that the member moves into and out of contact with said contacting member, and the rotation of the cylindrical member bein such that the surface of the member which at times makes contact with the contacting member rubs at other timeson the bed whereby said surface is kept clean.

4. A circuit controller ,comprising a cylindrically concaved bed of electro-conductive material, a cylindrical member of electroconductivematerial located in said bed and having substantially the same radius' of curvature as that of the bed, said member being adapted to reciprocate in said bed and also to rotate on its longitudinal axis in said bed, and a roller of electro-conductive material mounted in position for contact with the cylindrical surface of said cylindrical member, the reciprocation of said member being such that the member moves into and out of contact with said roller.

5. A circuit controller comprising a cylindrically concaved bed of electro-conductive material,.a cylindrical member of electroconductive material located in said bed and having substantially the same radius of cur vature as that of the bed, said member lbeing adapted to reciprocate in said bed and also to rotate on its longitudinal axis in said bed, a roller of electro-conductive material` and resilient means for mounting said roller in position for contact with the cylindrical surfaceof the cylindrical member, the reciprocation of said cylindrical member being such that the member moves into and out of contact with the roller.

6. A circuit controller comprising a bed of electro-conductive material, a member of eleesrweondueeive material adapted to reeiprocate en seid bed, anda contate mounted in position for engzrg'ernenJ with said member, the reeiprecaiion of said member being such "eher the member movesjinto and out of engagement with said Contact; and Said leed5 member and Contact being included in :in electric circuit,

'l'. .lli circuit controller comprising a xed member, e sec-ond :member movable with re-y lation iso but eonsranily in Contact with said lined member, a third member located in miner@ lposition for Contact Wit `the second member, the movement of he second member being such that it moves into and out of Contact with the third member; s aid members all being of electro-conductive material 4 and all being included in an electric circuit. n testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLINTQN O. HARRINGTUN. Witnesses:

A. HERMAN WEGNER, MARY MESTON HAY.

ngpes ef )prf-reni: 'be ebtnlned im? nire* vente enen, by miei-easing the commissioner of 'Patenesn Wnfihliimon, E. (13.,