US1276110A - Circuit maker and breaker. - Google Patents

Description

C. RASMUSSEN.

I CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER..

APPLICATION FILED res. a. 1918.

-1,2?6,110, v Patented Aug 20, 1918..

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.. t ze at Clevelan lithe county of .cuyahoga and "StateofiOlno, have invented certain 1 v. new and useful Improvements in Circuit Makers and Bi-eal ers,-of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circuit makers and'breakers, the object being to provide a simple and effective contact finger for a rota ry controller of. the type used in street cars, flash signs, etc. The invention is the outgrowth of a need found to exist under prevailing practices in street railroad operations. Troubl is experienced with the contact fingers-in daily use. The present device is to reduce and eliminate such troubles as much as possible and to simplify adjustments, replacements, and repairs so that even unskilled men may do such work quickly and accurately.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the invention. and Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the device mounted in working position opposite a portion of a rotary controller member. Fig. 3 is an end View of the contact head in fiat engagement with a controller segment. Fig. 4 is a cross section on line M, Fig. 2.

The invention comprises a bracket 2 which may be fastened securely to a flat bar or seat 3 by'a screw 1 and which bar usually stands upright opposite the rotary drum or a set of controller segments 5 secured at different elevations on a rotatable shaft 6. A make and break contact is established with each segment 5 by a finger 7 pivotally vmount-ed upon bracket 2, the pressure of contact and an oscillatory movement of the finger being under the control of acoiled spring 8 which encircles a spacing and holding bushing 9 sleeved upon the pivot bolt 10 carried by bracket 2. A relatively wide and large rotary bearing is provided for the fin ger by making the base end of the finger in the shape of a round cap 11 and sleeving this cap over a circular flange 12 integral with and extending from the side of the ear 13 of bracket 2, and these sleeved parts inclose the bushing and spring completely, and the coiled spring has its opposite extremities bent and entered through suitable openings J in'the Opposite Walls of the ear and cap to Specification of LettersPatent. Patented o'*the United States, residing bracket, and the spring nut and bolt 10.

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hold the finger under the desired springtension. As arranged, it is a simple matter to assemble and disassemble the finger from the is concealed and protected when the parts are united by the The bracket is also provided with a short right-angled lip let at its outer end to engage the edge of bar 3 and a binding or terminal screw 15 isaflixed to this lip wherewith to make an electrical connection.

Finger 7 is also provided with around boss or enlargement 16 at its junction with its base or cap 11, and a set screw 16 extends through this enlargement at right angles to the axis of pivot bolt 10 and engages the outer face of bar 3, thus forming an adjustable stop for. the finger and providinga means to set the contact end of the finger at differentworking distances from the segments 5, or the finger may be carried back out of contact entirely by adjustment of the set screw. j

The contact end of the finger is a separate element of good electrical conductivity, and preferably made of copper or its equivalent, whereas the finger and bracket are of cast iron, gray or malleable, and this end member 18 is slightly oblong and tapering to provide two rounded fiat faces 19 at opposite sides thereof. Member 18 is also screwengaged with the round screw threaded stem 20 of the finger so that it may be "rotated and removed longitudinally on the finger into different contact positions relatively to segment 5, and a radial adjustment may also be made'by rotating member 18 in slight degree so that either fiat face 19 may be placed absolutely parallel with the trans verse straight face of segment 5 and a wide area of contact obtained. A lock nut 21 is used to fix the member in adjusted position,

and when one side face 19 becomes worn the contact member maybe reversed and the other face 19 adjusted to the segment and utilized. This member is also removable and reversible and may be readily replaced when worn out, and at a relatively low cost, while the remaining parts may be used indefinitely.

What I claim is:

1. A contact finger for electric apparatus, having a screw-threaded stem and a renewable contact member in screw-engag ment therewith, and means to lock said member against independent rotation as thus screwengaged. w

2. A pivoted contact finger for electrical apparatus, having a spring to place it under tension, a renewable contact member in screw connection with said finger and rotatable and movable longitudinally in respect thereto, and a lock nut to fix said member rigidly in adjusted position.

3. In a device of the kind described, a bracket, a finger pivotally mounted upon said bracket, a helical spring to control Said finger, sleeved bearing parts for said bracket and finger inclosing said spring, screw means uniting said parts separably together, and

a reversible contact member rotatably affixed at the free end of said finger.

4t. Ina device of the kind described, a finger having a recessed end and a renewable contact member at its opposite end, a bracket having a round bearing sleeved within said recessed end, a bolt securing said parts together, and a colled spring encircling said bolt and engaged at its opposite with said bracket and finger, a set screw carried by said finger providing an adjustable stop, a renewable contact member having double contact faces, and means to secure said member in reversed positions upon said finger.

Signed at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, this 9th day of February, 1918.

CHRISTIAN ,RASMUSSEN.

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