US1262895A

US1262895A - Electromagnetic control-switch.

Info

Publication number: US1262895A
Application number: US16623017A
Authority: US
Inventors: George S Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1917-05-03
Filing date: 1917-05-03
Publication date: 1918-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1935-04-16

Description

G. S. WOOD.

ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROLSWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I917.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918. s SHEETS-SHEET s. ic 25 G. S. WOOD.

. ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED luv 3, 1912.

Patented Apr. 16,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITN ESSES I Q a ATTORNEY G. S. WOOD.

ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROL SWITCH.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1917.

"1,262,895., Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' INVENTDR "ATTORNEY GEORGE S. WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N Y.

ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROL-SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in .Electro- -magnetic Control-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switch control ling mechanism, and has for its primary object to provide a simplified and improved construction which may be operated to open or close a switch in a main electric light or power circuit located at a distance from the operator.

A further object of' the invention is to provide a switch controlling mechanism which is positivein operation, and which includes an improved signal or annunciator which operates immediately upon the switch actuating mechanism being set in motion,

'and which remains in operation until the 7 switch is in either open or closed position,

and the actuating mechanism has become inactive.

Still further objects reside in the provision of a mechanism of the character set forth, which shall be of simple and inexpensive construction, which is composed of but relatively few readily assembled parts, which has its various movable parts so constructed and arranged as to minimize the opportunity for wear, breakage or derangement, which is positive in operation, and which will prove thoroughly eflicient in the attainment of the various ends set forth.

With these objects in view together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an electromagnetic controlled switch constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the switc I Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, arts being broken away to show the under ying structure,

Fig. 4 is a top ilan view of the mechanism illustrated in ig. 2, and,

1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application meul'a a, 1917. Serial No. 166,230.

S. Wool), a'

power mechanism for actuating the Patented Apr. '16, 1918.

- arrangement of a power mechanism in connection with the ordinary snap switch in a main power or electric lighting circuit, and which is capable of being operated to move the snap switch to on or oif positions.

. This power mechanism may be controlled by an operator at a distance from the main circuit switch, and a secondary circuit of low voltage is employed for putting the power mechanism into operation. Simultaneously with the closing of the secondary circuit, a

light or other indicator is energized, and remains in operation until the power mechanism has moved the snap switch to either on or off position.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates a conventional form of snap switch used in connection with high voltage electric light or power circuits, the said switch being secured upon a suitable base indicated generally at 11. The terminals for the high power circuits are arranged in circular series upon the base of the snap switch, and are indicated generally at 12, 13, let and 15. The oppositely disposed terminals upon this switch block may be brought into electrical connection with each other through the instrumentality of the radially disposed arms 16 carried by the rotatable switch stem 17. It requires but a quarter turn of the switch actuating stem to move the contact arms into operative or inoperative position.

Aflixed to one end of the rotatable switch stem 17 is a gear 18, the latter being adapted to be rotated to impart rotary movement to the said switch stem. The teeth of this gear are in mesh with the teeth of an intermediate pinion 19, carried by a shaft 20 mounted for rotation upon the base 11, and this pinion is driven by a power wheel 21. The wheel 21 derives its power from a power spring 22, the latter being aflixed at one end to the supporting shaft 23 of the power wheel. The spring 22 may be tensioned when required by applying a suitable key to the outer end of the supporting shaft 23, as will be readily understood. In addition to imparting rotary movement to the pinion.19, the gear 21 when rotating drives an escapement mechanism including gears 24:, 25 and 26, the latter gear being a secondary circuit of low voltage,

mounted upon a shaft 27 which projects at one end beyond the casing which supports or houses the power mechanism. The gear 24 is carried by a shaft 28, one end of which projects beyond the casing or'housing for the gear train.

Associ ted with this gear train is an improved stop mechanism which is adapted to control the movement of the power mechanism so as to govern the degree of rotation of the switch stem 17. This improved stop mechanism includes electro-magnets 30 and 31, and an armature 32, common to both of said magnets. This armature is pivoted at one end as at 33 to the gear casing, and is normally held out of engagement with either of the magnets by a contractile spring 34. A screw or other adjusting means 35 is associated with the armature, so as to limit the degree of outward movement of the same. When the armature is released from the magnets, one end of the same is disposed in the path of travel of a brake including a finger 36 secured to a block 37 aifixed to the outer end of the driven gear shaft 27. When either of the magnets 3031 is energized, however, the armature is moved inwardly, and the finger 36 disengages from the end of the armature so as to permit the gear train to operate under impulse of the spring 22. Immediately upon release of the armature 32, the spring 34 will operate upon the same to draw the free end of the armature into the path of travel of the finger 36, whereupon further operation of the power mechanism will be discontinued.

Rotatably mounted upon the gear casing and driven from the intermediate pinion shaft 20 is a gear ,7 5, the latter being electrically connected with the gear casing. This gear carries a segment 39, which is adapted when rotating to alternately engage with brushes 40 and 41, mounted upon and insulated from the power mechanism casing,

and located with respect to the gear 7 5 at points substantially diametrically opposite.

The magnets 30--31 are energized from in which are located push-button switches 44 and 45. These switches may be of any conventional construction, and are illustrated as being supported by a block 46, which carries the contacts to tons. The contacts for the button 44 are indicated at 47 while the contacts for button 45 are indicated at 48, and it will be understood that inward sliding movement of the push-buttons will establish an electrical connection between their respective spaced contacts. One of the contacts 47 is connected with the electro-magnet 30 by a conductor 49, while a conductor 50 establishes electrical connection between the electro-magnet 31 and one of the spaced contacts 48 for the push-button 45.

' of the push-buttons be bridged by the said push-buts The energy for the secondary circuit is supplied from a battery or other suitable source indicated at 51. One pole of this source of electrical energy is connected with the casing for the power mechanism by a wire or conductor 55, while the other pole of the battery is connected with each of the adjacent contact members 47 and 48. An electric lamp or other signal is indicated at 56, and is so arranged that when either 44 or 45 is depressed and closes a circuit through one or the other of the electro-magnets, the said lamp will be ignited. It will be understood, that the si al 56 need not necessarily be a lamp, as a uzzer or other annunciator may, if desired, be used.

The operation is as follows:

With the mechanism in the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and in which position it will be assumed that the snaps switch in the main circuit is in ofi position, the push-button 44 is depressed. Immediately upon depression of the push-button 44, a circuit is established from the battery 51, through lamp 56, across the contacts 47, through wire 49, through the electromagnet 30, through wire 43, through the brush 40, through segment 39 and the shaft 76 which carries the same into the casing of the power mechanism and back into the battery 51 through wire 55. The electromagnet 30 is thus energized, and attracts the armature 32, whereupon the stop finger 36 is released, and the power mechanism operates under impulse of the spring 22. This operation of, the power mechanism drives the snap-switch actuating gear 18 and moves the switch a quarter turn. The power mechanism and the snap-switch operating apparatus are so intergeared that the circuit through the electro-magnet will be broken immediately after the switch stems have rotated a quarter turn. The breaking of the circuit occurs when one end of the segment 39 passes beyond and out of engagement with the brush 40. Just as soon asthe circuit is broken, the spring 34 moves the armature 32 outwardly,so that the end thereof will be disposed in the path of rotation of the stop finger 36, whereupon the power mechanism will be locked against further movement. The segment or sector 39 is so constructed and arranged that when the rear end thereof has passed beyond and out of frictional contact with one of the brushes, the forward end of the segment will pass into engagement with the opposing brush. It is apparent, therefore, that depression of the other of the push-buttons, namely the push- ,button 45, will establish a circuit from bat tery 51, through lamp 56, across contacts 48 to wire 50, through electromagnet 31, through wire 42, brush 41, segment 39, and

' than a quarter turn, the driving shaft 76 supporting the same, through the power mechanism casing, and into the battery 51 through wire 55. The circuit thus closed will again energize the power mecha nism, whereupon the snap-switch 10 will be rotated a quarter turn, so as to break the connection in the main power circuit.

From this description, it is apparent that I have provided an extremely simple and yet thoroughly efiicient mechanism for performing the desired operation. So long as a circuit is established through one or the other of the electromagnets 30-31, the electric light 56 will be ignited, and the operator of the push-button switch will be aware upon extinguishment of the lamp that the snap-switch has rotated a quarter turn. The power mechanism for rotating the main circuit switch has been shown and described as being driven by a power tension spring, but it is obvious that any other source of motive power may, with equal facility, be employed. Should it be found necessary to rotate the main switch-stem more or less gears for the power switch may be enlarged or reduced accordingly.

lVhile the present is a disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as various changes in the minor details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a switch; a power mechanism for operating said switch, a pair of electromagnets, an armature common to both of said magnets for normally holding said mechanism against operation and being adapted when either of said magnets is energized to release said mechanism, arotating shaft in said mechanism, the said shaft constituting one pole for each of the circuits for said magnets, a contact mem ber carried by said shaft, oppositely disposed brushes in the path of travel of said member, the said brushes constituting, respectively, the other terminals of said magnet circuits, a switch in each circuit, and a signal means adapted to be operated upon the closing of either circuit.

2. The combination with a switch; a power mechanism for operating said switch, a pair of electromagnets, an armature common to both of said magnets for normally holding said mechanism against operation and being adapted when either of said magnets is energized to release said mechanism, a rotating shaft in said mechanism, the said shaft constituting one pole for each of the circuits for said magnets, a contact member carried by said shaft, oppositely disposed brushes in the path of travel of said member, the said brushes constituting respectively, the other terminals of said magnet circuits, a switch in each circuit, a push button for each switch adapted to 'open or close the circuit, and an electric signal common to both circuits and adapted to be energized when either of said circuits is closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. WOOD.

WVitnesses:

PATRICK J. KELLY, DAVID J. HAHLEN.