US1200930A

US1200930A - Electric-switch apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US1200930A
Application number: US86057714A
Authority: US
Inventors: James Etchells
Original assignee: ELECTRIC AND ORDNANCE ACCESSORIES Co Ltd
Current assignee: ELECTRIC AND ORDNANCE ACCESSORIES COMPANY Ltd; ELECTRIC AND ORDNANCE ACCESSORIES Co Ltd
Priority date: 1914-09-08
Filing date: 1914-09-08
Publication date: 1916-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1933-10-10

Description

J. ETCHELLS. ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8. I914.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

2 SHEET$SHET 1.

J. ETCHELLS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1914.

1,200,930. Patented 001;. 10,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JAMES ETCHELLS, F BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSICNOR- TO ELECTRIC AND ORDNANCE ACCESSORIES COMPANY, IIIMITED, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH APPARATUS.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES EToHELLs, a subject of the King of G reat Britain, re-

siding at Cheston Road, Aston, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Switch Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto electric switch apparatus for use especially in the control of train lighting and heating circuits, of the'type in which a circuit closing plunger or core is actuated by a solenoid and is held by a catch opened or released by means of an electromagnet or by hand.

According to the present invention the plunger catch is retained in its operative position by the weight of the plunger and the electromagnet serving for the withdrawal of the plunger catch is excited momentarily through a master switch which also serves for the simultaneous excitation of the solenoid, so that the plunger may be momentarily raised from the catch for releasing purposes. To provide for half and full light effects two solenoids with their plungers and electromagnetic catches may be employed, one pole of the current supply being connected to a point between the two solenoids while the other ,pole may be connected at will through the master switch to either one or both of two points so arranged as to group the solenoids and electromagnets in two or more different circuits operating the plungers according to the result desired.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a single circuit magnetic switch constructed in accordance with our fications of the two circuit magnetic switch.

Like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the various figures.

Referring first more particularly to Figs.

Specification of Jiietters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed September 8, 1914. Serial No. 860,577.

1 and 2, A is the solenoid and B its plunger; C 1s the bridge contact carried at the upper end thereof and adapted to close the main contacts D D whose terminals G G are in the circuit containing the lamps and source of current supply which in the example shown is a battery. E is the armature of the electro-magnet F, said armaturebeing hinged at e and in its uninfluenced condition by the electromagnet F lying, under the action of gravity, in a position to serve as a catch for engaging with a shoulder b on the solenoid plunger and supporting'the latter in its raised or main contact closing position. The winding of the electro-magnet F is connected at one end to the winding of the solenoid A and at the other end to a terminal J connected with the stationary contact Z forming part of a master. switch L. which is situated in the circuit between the positive pole of the battery and the ter- "minal G. The winding of the solenoid is which normally rests upon a fixed stop ,m v

in order to limit the extent of its downward movement. By lifting this sleeve or collar by hand, it will operate to move thearmature or catch E toward the electro-magnet F so as to disengage it from the shoulder 12 of the plunger B and permit said plunger when uninfiuenced by the current in the winding of the solenoid to fall by the action ofgravity and open the main contacts D D. The sleeve can readilv force the catch from under the shoulder b as the action is a wedging one against the slightly sloping face of the catch. The lower end or stem 6 of the plunger projects through and beyond the lower end of the sleeve or collar M so that it can be readily lifted when required to raise the plunger to close the main contacts D D by hand.

With the switch in the open position represented by Figs. 1 and 2, if the terminal H be momentarily connected to the positive. I

-,pole of the batteryby the movement of the master switch L, the winding of the solenoid A will be energized whereby the .plunger B will be lifted and the main contacts D D closed and kept closed by" the catch E engaging with the plunger. then flow through the lamp circuit from the said battery. H To open the switch electrically, the terminal J is momentarily connected by the master switch L to the positive pole of the battery, whereupon both the winding of the solenoid A and the winding of the electro-magnet F will be energized, the former raising the plunger B so that its weight is removed from the catch E and enabling the electro-magnet F to disengage the said catch from the plunger, with the result that on the cessation of the momentary current, the plunger will fall and open the switch, thus cutting oil the supply of current to the lamps. The fall of the plunger on the cessation of curent through the solenoid is too rapid to permit of reengagement of the catch. The weight of the plunger on the catch eflectivelyretains the-latter so as to prevent accidental disengagement by vibration or excitation of the electromagnet alone.

In order to close the switch by hand, the plunger is lifted by the movement of its stem 6 through the sleeve. M without-actuating the latter, until the catch falls into engagement with the shoulder "b on K the plunger by theaction of gravity. To open 7 the switch by hand the collar M is moved upwardly along the stem 6 thereby bringing its flange against the catch and disengaging it from the plunger, whereupon the latter descends through .the collar Mby the action of gravity. 9 0n releasing the collar it drops into its normal position and rests upon the stop m.

Fig. 3 illustrates the tWo circuit form of the switch for obtaining full and half light effects and comprises essentially the combination of two of the single circuit switches placed side by side. A A are the windings of the two solenoids and B B are their plungers. D D are one pair of main contacts and 1) D are the other pair. The contact D is connected to the terminal G leading to the half light circuit and the contact D is connected to the terminal G leading to the full light circuit. The main contacts D D are connected together and are also connected to .theterminal 0 form ing partof the circuit leading from the positive pole of the battery and the master switchL. The main contact D is also connected electrically with the movable contact C of the solenoid plunger B. so that when the plunger B is raised .to close the main contacts D D half lights are on and when the plunger B is raised to close the main contacts D D full lights are on, irrespective of the position of the plunger B. The upper ends of'the solenoid windings are connected together and to the terminal K Current will closes the half light circuit.

leading to the negative pole of the battery and the other ends of the said windings are connected respectively to the windings ot' the catch actuating electro-magnets F F, that is to say the winding of solenoid A is connected to the electro-magnet F of the solenoid A, and the winding of solenoid A is connected to the electro-magnet F of the solenoid A. The tree ends of the windings of the electro-magnets F F are connected respectively to the terminals H and J. The terminal H is connected to the fixed contact Z of the master switch L and the terminal J to the fixed contact Z thereof. By connecting the terminal J momentarily to the positive main by themaster switch the windings of the solenoid A and electromagnet F are energized. The plunger .13 therefore rises and by closing the main contacts D D The wind-- ing of'solenoid A not being energized at this t'me, the catch E is not disengaged, if the 'ull light circuit has been previously closed, so that whether the plunger B be up or down itremains unaffected owing to the weight of the plunger B resting thereon. By connecting the terminal H momentarily to the positive main by the master switch, the windings of the solenoid A and the electro-magnet F are energized. The plunger B therefore rises and closes the full light circuit, the plunger B remaining unaffected by resting upon the catch E and preventing the latter from being'disengaged. To switch off, current is momentarily supplied to the terminals .H and J simultaneously by the master switch thus energizing all four windings oi. the solenoids and electr o-magnets whereupon the windings A and A remove the weight of the plungers B and B from the catches E and E thereby allowing the latter to be operated by the electro-magn'ets; F and F so that on the cessation of current through the master switch the plungers B and B both drop and both pairs of the main contacts are opened. The hand operation of the switches is effected in a similar manner to that already described with reference to the single circuit switch shown by Figs. 1 and 2. This two circuit switch-is suitable for working in conjunction with any appropriate design of master switch that will enable either or both of two leads to be made alive momentarily at will. In-the modified form of the two circuit switch shown diagrammatically by Fig. 4 the windings of the solenoids A and A and of the electro-magnets F and F are all connected together to form a closed circuit, the current main being led to a point between the solenoid windings A and A while the 'minal H to the positive main by means of catch is not attracted, the plunger B is thus,

retained in the raised position, hence by connecting the terminal H to the source of current the plunger B is raised and the plunger B is, dropped. Similarly, if the terminal J be connected momentarily by the master switch to the positive'main, the plunger B is raised, and the plunger B is dropped. If

however, both the terminals H and. J be connected to the positive main by the master switch the solenoid windings A and A and half of each of the windings of the electromagnets F and F are energized, whereby both plungers are raised and drop again, one half of the windings of the electro-magnets F and F being made sufficiently strong to attract the catch.

lVe have illustrated in Fig. 5 a modification in which the contacts are so arranged as to enable the switch to be operated from full to half lights without first switching the lights all out as is necessary with the arrangement shown by Fig. 3.-

The circuit connections in this modification are similar-to those shown in Fig. 3. By connecting the terminal J momentarily to the positive main by the master switch the windings of the solenoid A and the electromagnet F are energized. The plunger B therefore rises and opens the contacts D D so that no lights are on, it being assumed of course that the plunger B is in its down position and that the contacts D D are open. By momentarily supplying current to the terminals H and J simultaneously by the master switch all four coils are energized whereupon the windings A and A remove the weight of the plungers B and B from the catches E and E thereby allowing'the latter to be operated by the electro-magnets F and F so that on the cessation of current bothplungers drop with the result that the contacts D D are closed and the contacts D D are opened and half lights are on. By connecting the terminal H momentarily to the positive main by means of the master switch the windings of the solenoid A and the electro-magnet F are energized, whereupon the plunger B rises and closes the contacts D D so that full lights are on.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative method of connecting the solenoids and electromagnets for use-with the contacts arranged as shown in Fig. 5 so that the switch can be operated from full to half lights without first switching the lights all out as in the previous arrangement. In this case either one or both of the electro-magnets F F is or are actuated according to the position of the master switch but in any case both the solenoids A and A are'energized. Hence to obtain full lights the terminalH is momentarily connected to the positive main and the electro-magnet F and both thei solenoids A A are energized with the result that both the glungers B B rise, the latter in its up position by the.

being retaine I catch E" and thereby closing the. contacts D 'D and the former being allowed to fall owing to the. catch E being held out of its engaging position by the electromagnet F and thereby closing the contacts D D so that full lights are on. By momentarily connecting both the terminals H and J to the positive main by the master switch all four coils are energized with the result that the plungers B and B rise and fall again, the ftrmer closing the contacts D D and the-latter opening the contacts D D so that half lights are on. By momentarily connecting the terminal J to the positive main by the master switch the electro-magnets F and both the solenoids A A are energized; the plunger B therefore rises and is retained in the raised position by the catch'E, thus opening the contacts D D and the plunger B is allowed to drop owing to the catch E being held out of engagement, thus opening the contacts D D so that no lights are on. e

What I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In electric switch apparatus for circuit control,'a solenoid, a main circuit closing plunger raised. against gravity by the solenoid, a plunger catch adapted to be retained by the plunger, an electromagnet for withdrawing the catch on release by the plunger, .three terminals two of which are connected to the solenoid and the third .to the electromagnet, a master switch having two contacts connected respectively to the electromagnet terminal and to one of the solenoid terminals, a source of current connected to the second solenoid terminal and to the arm of the master switch, and electrical connections adapted to give, through the master switch, simultaneous excitation of both the solenoid and the electromagnet for the release of the said plunger.

2. In electric switch apparatus for circuit control, two solenoids electrically connected together, two gravity controlled plungers in the said solenoids closing different sections of the main circuit, two plunger catches each adapted to be retained by its plunger, two catch withdrawing electrormagnets each connected in series. with one of the said solenoids and adapted to withdraw the catch on release by the plunger, a source of current connected at one pole to a point between the said solenoids, a master switch adapted momentarily to connect the other pole to either or both of the sole oids and the electromagnet coils, and electrical connections adapted to give, through the master switch, simultaneous excitation 01' either solenoid and its own catch electromagnet for the release of the corresponding plunger.

3. In electric switch apparatus for circuit c control, two solenoids electrically connected together, two graxity controlled plungers in the said solenoids closing different sections of the main circuit, two plunger catches each adapted to be retained by its plunger, two catch withdrawing electromagnets each connected in series with one of the said solenoids and adapted to withdraw the catch on release by the plunger, a source of current connected at one pole to a point be tween the said solenoids, a master switch adapted momentarily to connect the other pole to the middle of either one or both of the electromagnet coils, and electrical connections adapted to give, through the master switch, simultaneous excitation of either solenoid and its own catch electromagnet for the release of the corresponding plunger.

4. In electric switch apparatus for circuit control, two solenoids electrically connected together, two gravity controlled plungers in the said solenoids closing different sec-' tions of the main circuit, two plunger catches each adapted tobe retained by its plunger, two catch withdrawing electromagnets each connected in series with the opposite solenoid and adapted to withdraw the catch on release by the plunger, a source of current connected at one pole to a point between the said solenoids, a master switch adapted momentarily to connect the other pole to either or both of the electromagnet coils, and electrical connections adapted to give, through the master switch, simultaneous excitation of either solenoid and its own catch electromagnet for the release of the corresponding plunger.

5. In electric switch apparatus for circuit control, two gravity controlled plungers' moving in opposite directions to close difl'erent sections of the main circuit, two solenoids operating the plungers, two plunger catches each adapted to be retained by its plunger, two catch withdrawing electromagnets each connected in series with one of the said solenoids and adapted to withdraw the catch on-release by the plunger, a source of current connected at one pole to a point between the two solenoids, a master switch adapted momentarily to connect the other pole to either or both of the electromagnet coils, and electrical connections adapted to give, through the master switch, simultaneous excitation of either solenoid and its own catch electromagnet for the release of the corresponding plunger.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES ETCHELLS. WVitnesses T. O. BRIscoE, W. H. PARKEs.