US1194281A - Samuel e - Google Patents

Description

s. E. DOANE I v ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, I914.

1 1 94,281 Patented A11 8, 1916.

Witnesses: Inventor:

V Samuel E.Do 1ne, gm

His Jlttowbe g.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL E. DOANE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF 'NEW YORK.

ELI]C'IRIC-CIRCUIT-GONTROLLING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. DOANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Circuit-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification. I My invention relates to devices for use in electric lighting circuits for the purpose of deterring the consumer from using more than a fixed amount of current. Devices of this character are especially adapted for use in cases where a lighting consumer pays a flat rate. 'It is. preferable that, when the consumer exceeds the specified amount of current, the lamps in the circuit be caused to flicker, thus producing a disagreeable condition'which the consumer will wish to immediately remove by cutting'out the extra lamps. Numerous devices have been proposed for interrupting the lighting circuit for a considerable per10d upon the insertion of extra lamps.- thus produced is not so distinctive as that created by the flickering of the lamps, as the consumer is apt to attribute the extinguishing of the lamps to a failure in the supply circuit. Moreover, such devices have the disadvantage that their operation leaves the house in darkness One object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-stated character which will cause the lamps in the circuit to flicker decidedly upon the insertion of extra lamps.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device, which, during the normal operation of the circuit, will have substantially no effect therein.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device which will be compact, durable, and the cost of which will be low compared to that of other devices of this general character which have been hereto fore proposed. It is furthermore an object of my invention to provide a device which may bev conveniently inserted in a lighting. circuit and v the parts of which will be practically inaccessible to the consumer, so as to avoid his tampering with them.-

, My device for acc mp i g the a Specification of Letters Patent.

However, the condition' that the device ma same current conditlons, means are provided whereby the reengagement of the contacts does not occurbefore the returnof the arma I socket.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Application filed April 24, 1914. Serial No. 834,259.

they are separated upon an abnormal flow of current in the circuit. However, means are also provided whereby when the said contacts are separated they are always biased to reengage. The separation of the contacts is achleved by means of an electromagnetic device, such as a solenoid, whichis connected in the circuit so as to be responsive to changes in the current flowing therein. Controlled by the said device is an armature which is adapted to be moved rapidly by the electromagnetic device upon the fiow of an abnormal current in the lighting circuit. The path of movementof the armature is so disposed that the armature will strike a hammer blow against means connected with the contacts so as to cause them to quickly separate. In order' that there may be a decided flicker, means are provided whereby the reengagement of the c0ntacts,

is somewhat retarded. Moreover, in order always act under the ture to normal position.

Another feature which I prefer to have present in my device is means wherebythe acts to hold the conelectromagnetic device I tacts firmly together during the normal operation'of the circuit. The breaking of the circuit will cause more or less arcing between the contacts. In order to reduce this a magnetic field is produced whlch/is parts of the device are preferably incased soas to prevent tampering therewith by the consumer. In order to prevent corrosion of veniently insertible in an electriccircuit, it

.is preferred to provide the casing with a well known screw base so that it canbe inser'ted in the ordinary incandescent lamp suit-' ably disposed to blow out such arcs. The

My invention will be more clearly understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying said invention inserted in a partially shown electric circuit. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device on a large scale with vparts thereof shown in vertical section.

Referring to the drawing, 10 is a solenoid which is supported by a tube 11, within the bulb 12. The tube 11 has projecting from each end thereof the centering straps 13. Mounted on top of the solenoid and separated therefrom and from each other by insulation 14, are stationary contacts 15, 16. The leading-in wire 17 is electrically connected to the winding of the solenoid, While the leading-in wire-18 is electrically connected with the stationary contact 15. Normally engaging the stationary contacts are movable contacts 19 and 20. A conductor 21 is rigidly connected to each of the movable contacts. Extending into the tube 11 and fitting therewith rather closely, is an abutment 22, which is attached to the bottom of the conductor 21. The member 22 is pref-' erably composed of ironor other magnetic material, so that a pull is exerted u on this member by the solenoid 10, .thus holding the movable contacts firmly in engagement with the stationary contact. Means, such as the straps 23, composed of iron or other magnetic material, are preferably provided for reducing the reluctance of the magnetic field. A horizontally extending member 24, composed of similar material, is carried by the conductor 21 in such position that a strong magnetic field is maintained between the ends of the straps 23 in the plane of engagement of the contacts. This constitutes a magnetic blow-out for the sparks produced upon the separation of the said contacts. The tube 11 is slotted above the solenoid 10 at 25 to allow the upward movement of the conductor 21, carrying the movable contacts and other attached parts. This slot extends to the stop 26, which limits this upward movement. Loosely engaginge the sides of the lower portion of the tu 11 is a core 27, which is of iron or other magnetic material and which rests upon the bottom 28 of said tube. This core is of such weight that upon the passage of an abnormal current in the; solenoid 10 it is moved rapidly and strikes against the abutment 22. The bottom 28 of the tube 11 is recessed at 29 to form a seat for the valve 30, which controls the opening 31. The leads 17 and 18 are connected to the screw base 32 of the type well known in connection with incandescent lamps. The device may be in- I serted in a socket 33, which is connected in series 34, 35 of a lighting circuit. The bulb 12 may be filled with nitrogen or other gas which will protect the parts from corrosion in any way.

The above described device is calibrated for the current requisite for a certain number of lamps. During the normal operation of the lighting circuit the device has no effect. However, upon an abnormal increase in the current, caused, for instance, by the insertion of the extra lamp or lamps, the core 27 will be drawn rapidly upward by the solenoid 10 and will strike the abutment 22 a hammer blow. The lighting circuit will be quickly broken by the consequent rise of the movable contacts and attached parts. This upward movement will be limited by the stop 26. During the rise of the core 27 the partial vacuum created will cause the valve 30 to unseat and there will be a redistribution of the gas to equalize the pressure. The breaking of the circuit will denergize the solenoid and cause the core to drop. The movable contacts and the'attached parts, including the abutment 22, will also drop after the stop 26 is encountered. However, the inertia of the parts and the distances through which they move are so fixed that the core 27 reaches the bottom of the tube 11 substantially simultaneously with the making of the circuit. An important factor also in securing this result is the relatively tighter fit of the abutment 22 than the core 27 in the tube 11, which causes the former to settle more slowly. The seating of the valve 30 causes the abutment 22 to compress the gas in the tube and this retards the descent of this member and also of the attached movable contacts. An appreciable interval is thereby caused between the breaking and making of the circuit and a decided flicker of the lamps is therefore produced. The pull exerted upon the abutment 22 by the solenoid holds the movable contacts firmly in engagement with the stationary contacts during the normal operation of the circuit. Upon the breaking of the circuit the are produced between the movable contacts and the stationary contacts is quickly extinguished bythe magnetic field which exists at the time through the member 24 and between the ends thereof and the ends of the straps 23.

Various changes and modifications of the above described device will readily occur to those skilled in the art and are to be considered as coming within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new 'and desire to secure by? Letters Patent of the United States, 1s:

1. In a circuit controlling device, contacts normally engaging each other, an electromagnetic device and an armature mounted so as to be moved by said device upon the passage of an abnormal current through the latter, means disposed so as to be struck by said armature during said movement for causing the said contacts to be quickly separated, means independent of said armature .for subsequently causing said contact to reengage and means for causing the rengagement movement to be somewhat slower than the previous separation movement.

2. In a circuit controlling device, contacts normally engaging each other, means whereby said contacts when separated are always biased to rengage, an electromagnetic device and an armature adapted to be moved thereby upon the passage therethrough of an abnormal current, means disposed so as to be struck by said armature during its movement for causing the said contacts to be quickly separated, and means for retarding the reengagement of said contacts,

3. In a circuit controlling device, con tacts normally engaging each other, means whereby said contacts when separated are always biased to reengage, an electromagnetic device and an armature adapted to be moved thereby uponthe passage therethrough of an abnormal current, means disposed so as to be struck by said armature during its movement for causing the said contacts to be quickly separated and means for retarding the rengagement of said contacts at least until the return of said armature to its normal position.

4. In a circuit controlling device, contacts normally engaging each other, means whereby said contacts when separated are always biased to reengage, an electromagnetic deviceand an armature adapted to be moved thereby upon the passage therethrough of an abnormal current, means disposed so as'to be struckby said armature during its movement for causing the said contacts to be quickly separated and means for preventing the reengagement of said contacts before the return of the said armature to its normal position,

5. In a circuit controlling device, a stationary contact, a movable contact normally engaging therewith, means whereby said movable contact. is continually biased to reengage said stationary contact upon'separation thereform, an electromagnetic device and an armature mounted so as to be moved thereby upon the passage of an abnormal current therethrough, means disposed so as to be struck by armature during its movement and for causing said movable contact to be quickly separated from said stationary contact, and means for slightlyretarding the return movement of said movable contact.

6. In a current controlling device, a solenoid havingfa bore therethrough, a loosely supported core adapted to be drawn into said here upon the passage of an abnormal current in said solenoid, a pair of stationary I contacts mounted above and upon opposite sides of said bore, a pair of movable contacts disposed above said stationary contacts and normally engaging therewith, means connecting said movable contact and disposed so as to be struck by said core during its movement to quickly raise said movable contacts, and means for somewhat retarding the descent of the latter. 8. In a current controlling device, a solenoid having a bore therethrough, a casing for said bore extending somewhat below the same, a core normally loosely supported upon the bottom of said casing and adapted to be raised upon the passage of an abnormal current in said solenoid, a pair of stationary contacts mounted above and upon opposite sides of said bore, a pair of movable contacts disposed above said stationary contacts and normally engaging therewith, means connecting said movable contacts and disposed so as to be struck by said core during its movement to quickly raise said movable contacts, and' means for somewhat retarding the descent of the latter.

9. In a current controlling device, a solenoid having a bore therethrough, a casing for said bore extending somewhat below the same, a core normally loosely supported upon the bottom of said casing and adapted to be raised upon the passage of an-abnormal current in said solenoid, a pair of iationary contacts mounted above and upon opposite sides of said bore, a palr of movable contacts disposed above said stationary contacts and normally engaging therewith, means connecting said movable contacts and disposed so as to be struck by said core dur-' ing its movement to quickly raise said movable contacts, and means for preventing the reengagement of said contacts before the return of the said core to its normal position.

10. In a current controlling device, a solenoid having a bore therethrough, a loosely supported core adapted to be drawn into said bore upon the passage of an abnormal I current in said solenoid, a stationary contact mounted above said solenoid, a movable contact above said stationary contact and normally engaging therewith, means whereby said contacts when separated are always In witness whereof, I have hereunto set biased to rengage, means disposed'in line my hand this 22nd dayof April, 1914. with said bore so as to be struck by said core during its movement for quickly rais- SAMUEL E. DOANE. 5 ing said movable contact, and means for Witnesses:

guiding and limiting the upward movement J. E. HAWLEY,

'of said movable contact. J. H. ANDERSON.

Images