US1185218A - Potential-starter. - Google Patents

Description

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A. J. LOGUIN. POTENUAL STARTER. lemon mi@ Mmm. wia.

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lntlonted May 30, 1,916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

ALEXANDER J. LOGUIN, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIG'NOB BY.MESNE ASSXGNMENTS, T( ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTUEIN G COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

POTENTIAL-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30,191.6,

To all fwm it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER J. Locom, a subject of the Czar of Russia, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of 'Ohio, have invented certain new and' useful Improvements in Potential- Starters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to potential starters and particularly to 'potential starters having means responsive to abnormal circuit conflitions with time element attachments. i

I n the operation of potential starters, it is desirable that such starters be moved into o'll" position when in running position in `respense to abnormal circuit conditions. Such potential starters can be moved backward from starting position to off position withbnt to avoid injury `to theswitch parts it is necessary that `the starter or Yswitch when in running position bemoved forward to oil' position.

`In potential starters thus far manufactured the movable switch member has been thrown into olf position upon the occurrence of abnormal circuit conditions without respect to the time'that such abnormal circuit conditions have existed. This means that in potential starters thus far used it been necessary to again actuate the `potential starter through its starting and into its running position after the occurrence of every abnormal'circuit condition. l

It is therefore the object of my invention to improve potential starters and switches by providing them with an arrangement to prevent the opening of such starters or switches upon the occurrence of low or novoltage circuit conditions until or unless said abnormal circuit conditions have existedffor a predetermined time.

T he various novel features of my invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and will beparticularly set forth in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated on the accompanyingr sheets of drawings, in which .Figure l is an end elevation of a potential starter embodying my invention', one end of the tank being broken away for the sake of clearness, and the switch being in running position; Fig. 2 is a similar view, the switch being in oil" position; Fig.' 3 is a fragmenta'ry elevationfsimilar to that shown in Figs.

-1 and 2 with the parts shown in an `intermediate position; and, Fig. 4 is a sectional view, some of the parts being shown in elevation, of the same potential starter taken along the line f-i of Fig. 1.

The details of the starting controller proper will not be fully described herein because they form no part of my present invention and are unnecessary to an understanding thereof.

The normal operation of the potential Starter is substantially in the same direction, a movement through 180o forming a complete operation. The controller drum 1-0, which is immersed in oil in the tank 11, is moved by an operating handle 12 through a shaft 13 and gear wheels 14 and 15. The two opposite halves of the controller drum are identicalin structure and each half cooperates in turn with each of two sets of contact fingers 16 during successive operations of the controller, the sets of contact fingers being on opposite sides of the drum and arranged to simultaneously coact with the two halves of the drum respectively. The stationary contacts 16 are mounted on an insulating support 17, which is located in the bottomA of the stationary oil tank 11. The switch drum 10 with which these contact fingers cooperate is rotatabl" mounted in bearings 18 formed in the lower part of a large irregular shaped casting 19, which forms a portion of the .cover for the oil tank, the remaining part 20 .of the cover being of sheet metal and secured over the part 19. The shaft 13 upon which the handle and. gear-14 are mounted is s'up ported in` another bearing -portion of the irregular shaped castingr 19.

Mounted uponthe drum shaft 21 is a cam Z2 upon which a roller 25 is adapted to ride.

. The roller is mounted in a casting 26 which is pivotally mounted on a rod 27 and which `is provided with a finger '28 adapted to engage a stop 29 forming a part of the castiupr 19. Secured to the linger 28 is one end of a spring 30, the other end of which is secured to a portion 31 of the casting 19 by a bolt T his spring 30 presses the roller against the surface of the cam 22 under all conditions, biasing the movable switch member or drum to off position. Also secured to the drum shaft Q1. is a catch 33 adapted, when the potential starter is in running position, to be held by a weighted latch 34 which ispivotally mounted on a rod 35 and which is provided with an arm 36. The latch 34 and arm 36 are integrally formed and connected byA a sleeve 37. By

means of the latch the movable switch member is normally locked in running position.

A hammer 38, having a projection 39, and

being pivotally mounted on a rod 40, is adapted to engage the arm 36 to disengage catch 33 and latch 34 to permit the spring 30 to throw the starter into oil` position. After striking the arm 36 vthe hammer 38 engages and rests on a padded stop 23. This hammer 38 forms the armature of a low or novoltage magnet having a core 41, forming a part of the casting 19, and a coil 42. The hammer 38 is moved into engagement with the c `re 41 by one of the rollers 61 being force against the top of the hammer proing under its own weight and about its pivotal point 4() the movement of the armature 38 is retarded by a time element arrange- `ment. To' effect this retarding movement of the armature 38, said armature is provided with a latch member, preferably formed integrally with the armature 38 and having two projections 44 and 45 which are adapted to engage, under different circuit' conditions and at different times, a lever 46 pvotally mounted at 47 in the irregular shaped casting 19. The lever 46 is provided with a projection 48 normally in engagement withI the projection 44 of latch member 43. This lever is also provided with a detent portion 49 adapted to hold the armature 38 against rapid rotation about its pivotal point 40 until the detent portion of the lever 46 has been rotated out of the path of projection 45 of latch The lever 46 is normally biased, under the action of a spring 50, to force the armature 38.' out of engagement with the magnet core 41 through the agency of projections 44 and 48 of the arma ture 38 and lever 46 respectively. 'The lever 46 lalso provided with a lug 51 which presses against the movable spring-pressed member 52 of a dash-pot 53 which acts in opposition to the spring 50. One end of the spring 50 is provided with a threaded portion 54 whiclris engaged by :i-thumb screw 55 for adjusting the timel element.

Under normal operating conditions the armature 38 is held in engagement with the magnet core 4,1 by the action of current in the magnet coil 42. In this position projection 44 of latch 43 presses against the projection 48 of lever 46 tending to rotate said lever in a clockwise direction about its pivotal point 47 against the action of spring 50. In other words, under normal 4operating conditions, the action of the current in the magnet coil 42 has to overcome the normal tendency of the armature 38 to fall and also to overcome the action of spring 50. If novoltage or certain low voltage circuit conditions sliould arise the magnet will become denergized to a greater or less extent, and the hammer armature, due to its own. weight, has a tendency to rapidly rotate about its pivotal point 40 to trip the latch 34. But the armature 38 is prevented from rotating rapidly due to the fact -that the projection 45 of latch 43 comes into engagement"v with the detent 49 of lever 46. The spring 50- at this time becomes 'effective in rotating the lever 46 in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivotal point .47 to gradually draw the detent in a manner to permit the rojection 45 to escape said detent 49. I how-4 ever, within a certain predetermined time the circuit condition should return to normal, the armature 38 would be drawn back to the core 41 by the actim of the current. in

K the magnet coil, forcing the lever46 back into its normal position. But if Suchvab normal circuit conditions should continue longer than said certain predetermined time the lever 46 would be slowly'rotated by the Aspring 50 against the action of the dash-pot 53, to remove the detent 49 from the path of the projection 45 of the latch 43. At the instant that the detent 49 is completely removed from the path of said projection 45,-

the armature 38 falls into engagement with the arm 36, as shown in Fig. 2, to trip` latch 34, permitting the switch drum 10 to move 30. Whenr the lever 46 is rotated in a coun terclockwise direction the air in the dashpot 53 is compressed by theslow upward movement of the piston 52. The piston 52 is provided with a valve 63 for. permittin a time element may ,be made any desirable value by adjusting nut 55 to vary the effect of spring 50. In addition to being automatically tripped, the movable switch member may be tripped manually by pressing the hand lever. 64 which is connected to the latch 34. While this time element arrangement is particularly adapted for use inconnecti .i with potential starters it can be useu in connection with switches of all types which are, responsive to low or no-voltage circuit conditions.-

There may be various modiiications and larrangements -other than that here shown and described, and it is my intention to 'cover all such modification and arrange to ofi' position under the influence of spring comparatively rapid return movement. .i he

ments which'do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I/Vhat I claim as new is:

1. In a potential starter, the combination of a movable switch member, means for holding said switch member against movement when in a certain position, means including a latch member and being responsive to no-voltage circuit conditions adapted to render said holding means ineffective, and means for retarding effective action of said last mentioned means, said retarding means including a member coperating with said latch member and adapted'to prevent etlective movement of said latch means until the no-voltage circuit conditions have existed a predetermined time.

2. In a otential starter, the combination of a mova le switch member biased to oil position when in closed position, means for ,holding said movable switch member in closed position, means including a latch member responsive to low voltage circuit conditions adapted' to render said holding -means ineffective, and means for retarding effective action of said last mentioned means, said retarding means including a pivotally mounted-f I'nember coperating with' said latch member and adapted to prevent effective movement of said latch means until the low voltage circuit conditions have existed a predetermined time.

3. In a potential starter. the combination of a movable switch member biased to a certain iosition, means for normally retaining sai member against movement to said position, and means responsive to abnormal circuit conditions for rendering said retain-1 ing means ineffective after said abnormal conditions have existed for a predetermined time, said means responsive to abnormal conditions comprising a member coperative with said retaining means to actuate the latter and Ihaving a latch portion, a member having a detent portion cooperative with said latch portion, and a device for retardin effective movement of said latter mem er.

4. In a potential starter, the combination of a.movable switch member. means for holding said switch'member in a certain po- Siti0n,'y lneansincluding a member having a latch portion and being responsive to low voltage circuit conditions for rendering said holding means ineffective. and means including a pivotally mounted detent nicmbercoperating with said latch portion for retardi'ng` effective action of the means for rendering the holding means inefi'cctive.

5. In a controller, the combination ot' a movable switch member, means for biasing said switch member to one position, a latch for retaining said switch member against movement t0 said position, means for tripping said latch com rising a member movable in response to a )normal circuit conditions, and means Vfor retarding eifertivc action of said latter member, said rctarding means comprising a bitching 1. vice for said member and a time element mechanism for gradually rclef ing said latching device to permit cil'cc'tive movement of said member.

6, In a controller, the combination el' a 75 movable switch member, means for biasing,r said switch member to one position, means for holding said switch member` against movement to said position. lineaire--y responsive to novoltage circuit conditions se including a pivotaliy mounted latchmi-inber for rendering said holding means inelifective, and means ncluding a detem portion associated with said latch member for retardingeii'ective action oi said latch mem- 85 bei'. u

7. In a potential starterf the coinbination,=. of a movable switch member. means if holding said switch member in a cer position, a member biased to a position rin which it trips said holding means1 and norr mally held in another position. said member having a latch portion and being responsive t0 no-voltage circuit conditions, and means including a-detcnt portion cooperating with said latch portion for retarding citer-tiva, movement of said biased mendaci' to trib said holding means. i

8. In a potential starter, the combination of a movable switch member. a latch for lo@ holdingr said switch member in a cet-taai op erative position, a weighted pivotally mount ed member biased to a rosition in nln- ,it renders said latch incficctive and noimalljv held in another position,` iid i'ncmber bav- 10E in@r a latch portion and iwing'responsiie to ilo-voltage circuit conditions. and a retarding de\ice including` a pivotally momtcd detent opcratirelj." associated with said weighted member.

il. ln a potential starter. the combina lion of a movable switch member. means tor holding said switch member in a certain operative position. piioallv mounted means respon-,ive to no-wdmge cir-cuit conditions and biased ic a position to render sai-:l las-t mentioned nir-aziincil 'ive .ind 'll held in ai'ioihcr position aid means i1 ing a latch member ing; two p and nwans inrlndi".; a member haring? a zi projection and it (lett-nt nlapted to la engaged under dinerent circuit condition by different portions of said latch incolla-r. id means acting to retard effective action of `said pivotall),v mounted means upon the occurence of no-vffiltagc cirruit atmfliiions.

l0. In a potential starter. the combination of a movable switch nii-saber. means for holdin;r said switch member in a certain position, a member having a `rejection and a 130 latch portion and being responsive to novoltage circuit conditions for rendering Snifl holding means ineffective, and means including a member having a projection and a detent end adapted to retain effective action of said member, the projections norm" '2y engaging each other and the latch and detent portions being adapted to engage eaeh other duringfalmornnll circuit conditions. i

il. In a potential starter, the combination. of a movable switch member, means for nolding'said switch member in a certain position, an electromagnet provided with nn armature member having a projection and a latch and heing responsive to no-voltage circuit conditions to render said holding rmeans ineffective, and means normally 0pposingr said armature member through said projection and under no-voltage conditions 20 ALEXANDER J. LOGUIN.

'itnesses:

W. STEEN, C. B. TA non, Jr.

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