US1312454A - Estelle c - Google Patents

Description

QIRCUIT CONTROLUNG MECHANISM. APPUCATGN FILED APR.29| I915.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

3 SREETS-SHEET I.

314mm. Estelle GRa/zey E. (l. RANEY.

(HRCUH CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man nmzs. m5.

1,312,454. Patented Au 5,1919.

3 SHEETSSHHT 2.

4 V 3% WWW Estelledlfianqy as, (t Z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ESTELLE 0. names, or commnvs, OHIO, Assre'non rowan acronyms nucmsmo' cmcuxr BREAKER OOMI'ANY, or commnus, 01110, A conrona'rron or 01110.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING MECHANISM,

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application mm A r-n :9, ma. Serial n. 24,802;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Es'mu-n C. RANEY, .a citizen of the United States of America, residin at Columbus, in the county' of Franklm and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circuit controlling the adjustments mentioned are highly desir able and, also, that the load conditions under which the breaker is, to o n and the load conditions under which e breaker is to close mustbe met by adjusting means that are relatively independent, since 0 ening and reclosing must occur under wide y different conditions.

Thus, the present invention contemplates the use of a means for adjusting the opening point of a breaker and a means for adjusting the reclosing oint of such breaker, such means bein in ependently regulable. Other features 0 importance consist in the utilization of a trip coil subject to onesubdivision of a current in parallel with the load and a holding coil subject to another sub-division of such current in series with the load, these coils being aitted against each other in operating the rec osing mechanism;

The referred embodiment of m invention is s own in the accompanying rawings wherein similar characters of reference Circuit-Controlling Mechanism, of which to gradually descend, During ,(note, heavy line iitdicating the path of the current). t Fig. 3 shows the dash-pot switch closed, thus sub-dividing the current throughthe high resistance so that it passes through a circuit in series and one in parallel with the load, the line of the series circuit and the line of the parallel circuit indicating partial diversion of the current from the series to .the' parallel circuit as the load resistance N comes back to normal.

Fig. 4 shows the load resistance back to normal and the heavy current in the parallel circuit, the trip coil having operated, and the breaker being on the verge of operation.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a circuit showing two methods by which I may adjust the sensitiveness of thereclosing mechanism to vary the point of operation thereof.

In the drawings there, is shown a snaretor 1, load circuit wires 2; and 3 and t e load indicated at 4. In this Q'nain circuit there is acircuit-breaker 5 hav' g leverage mechanism 6 under the controq of a solenoid magnet 7. Movable with the coreof this solenoid is a laterally extending arm 8, operating upon the elevation of the core of the magnet 7 to raise a switch 9. When this switch 9 is released and permitted to descend by the arm 8, such descent is retarded by daslrpot construction 10. From this description it will be seen that, when the circuit-breaker opens, the arm 8 drops and perand this is brought about upon overload or short-circuit hy the operationof an overload coil 11 which opens a. switch 12 and moves it into position to be latched open by lever 13. Thus, shortcircuit or overload causes solenoid 11 and the switch 12 to deiinergize the solenoid magnet 7 As a result, the circuit-breaker 5 opens and the switch 9 is free this gr'wtlmi descent the motors on the circuit come to rest and the controllers or starting wbox levers are restored to starting osition.

Reelosing of the circuit-breal er will take place instantaneously upon the tripping 0! high resistance 17, wire 18, holding the latch 13 and the consequent closing of the switch 12. This is insured by the spring 14 upon the switch 12. The latch 13 is tripped against. restraint of spring 15 by a solenoid magnet 16 under control. of an index current in a manner to be described.

' Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent four distinct stages of the operationf The comparative blackness of the lines in these figures indicate the current paths.

In the showing in Fig. 1 it will be noted that the conditions are normal and that the current is passing through the load and throu h the circuit-breaker.

In, ig. 2 the switch 12 has been thrown open by the overload coil 11 and is held 0 611 by the latch 13. The result is that t e circuit-breaker has opened and the switch 9 has commenced falling. At this" time, the main circuit is, of course, broken butthere is an index current passing through a high resistance 17, wire 18, holding coil 19, and wire 20 through the load. It will be noted that this holding coil 19 is in se ries with the load and with the high rcsistance 17. While the switch 5? is" falling, the motors on the circuit and thecontrollers or starting box levers are being restored to starting position,

Fig. 3 shows. the condition of the ap aratus whenthe switch 9 has fallen and c osed its circuit. The circuit-breaker and the switch 12 arestill open and the major por tion of the index current is passing through will) and wire 20 through the load. Nevertheless there is another possible path for this inden current, which path is in parallel to the load. The path isindicated by lines slightly less black and is through wire 21, trip C011 16, wire 23, switch 9 and wire 24. According to the representation of this figure, the load resistance is low and consequently the major portion of the index current is passing through high resistance 17, wire 18, load coil 19 and wire 20 through the load, or short circuit indicated by dotted line.

Fig. 4 indicates a reversal of conditions in Fig, 3 in that the load resistance has practical] returned to normal by the re moval o rshort-circuit or other overload condition and the index cuflent, followi the line of least resistanoe is'being practically diverted" through the trip, coil 16. (Compare the blackness of the series circuit through the coil 19 with the parallel circuit through tlfe coil 16.)

The core of the coil 16, and the core of theooil 19 are connected by a, rocking arm 25 and the lifting tendency or, the core of the -coil 16 isno'zmally resistedby the hold' i tendency of the coll lllfupon its core.

n operation, it will be understood that breaking pf thecineuit. by, opening of the switch 12 and circuit breaker 5 upon overload or shortcircuit causes the passage of an index current through the h] h resist ance 17 and the holding coil 19 an through the load. While the switch 9 is falling and before it has closed the parallel circuit, this is the only )OSSlblB path for the current, and it is in icated by the heavy lines in Fig. 2. When the switch 9 has fallen, however, there is an additional path through the trip coil 16 and in parallel with the load. If, however, the short circuit or overload still exists, the majority of this shunted or index current will pass through the coil 19 following the line of least resistance. Naturally the holding coil 19 tends to draw 11 wardly upon the rocking arm 25, As t e load resistance returns to normal, the parallcl circuit through trip coil 16 becomes the line of least resistance for the index current and when the load resistance has about returned to normal, the trip coil 1 is about ready for o oration while the hol ing coil 19 is 511 'ciently deiinergized to permit its release of the rocking arm. This is the condition of the apparatus as depicted by Ifig. 4 which indicates the position of theparts just before the circuitbrealrer has reached closed position.

A feature of utmost im ortance in my improvement consists in t e provision of a means for varying the point of operation of the reelosing mechanism. I have conceived the idea that it is desirable to have a reclosing mechanism which may be set to close at difierent load resistances. Experiment and application of this idea have demonstrated its extreme utilit Many cases arise in which it may be esired to change the oint of o ration of the reclosin mecli anism. or instance, there may a number of self-starting motors connected permanently across the line, to start'at 300 amperes. Addition of a number ofmotors or other form of load to the line might prevent the breaker from reclosing. It ma be desirable to change the load condition yaddin more self-starting motors, lamps, etc., to t e circuit. ,In this event, it would be ve desirable to adjust the reclosing coil so at the breaker will distinguishbetween this increased load and a short-circuit. I have provided several adjusting devices which may be utilized independently or. to ther to, efl'ect this desired ad'ustment. he result is that I have obtain a much wider range of action with respect to dead load resistance and have greatly increased the value of a reclosing cieuit-breaker. Y

The preferred manner in which I render my device ad'ustable is shown at 26' in'all' the 6 ms 0 thefdrawi-ng. It comprises an: justable' supported in a.

"bracket and so related to the core'of the trip eoil' that adjustment of the initial position of thiscore may readily. efi'fied by ad- I justment of the screw Varyingthe initial position of the. core, of course,- varies the air gap'and the strength of the current necessary to render the trip coil eifective. In

Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 1 have also shown a -spring, 28, adjustable by screw 29, carried upon a bracket 30. This spring is connected to the rocking arm use the tensioning of it regulates t c ease of operation of the trip coil. 3,

A modified form of this portion of my .15 invention is shown 'i'iiFigifi of thedrawings and com rises, besides t'e adjusting screw '26,'for t e trip coil, a resistance 32. This a resistance 32 is located in the series circuit through which the index current is designed 2 to pass and is preferablyv adjustable. The

placing of the resistance in the series circuit tends to insure the diversion of a eater portion of the index current through e arallel circuit with aresult that this 25 para la] circuit is at all times nearer to the point of operation oi the trip coil.- This, it

will be apparent, insuresamore sensitive mechanism and the adjilstability or varia bility of the resistance results in a struc- 3 tare having a wider range ofoperation: The adjustment screw 26 or its equivalent is of vital importance in a reclosing circuitbreaker, regardless of the arrangement of the circuits'and the mechanism bringing $5 ,aboutsuch reclosing. The resistance 32 is also of importance for the reason ointed out, and'both of these devices may, e used together or independently. The form of apparatus shown in Fig. 5 is particularly 40 desirable under certain conditions and it may be reiterated that my adjustment screw is applicable to any other circuit or mechanism, for I claim to be the first in the art to provide a means for varying the point of operation of the reclosing mechanism.

Having thps described my invention, what I claim is: '1. In a. system of electrical distribution, a source of supplyg'a load circuit, a circuit .5 breaker, reclosing mechanism, controlling means so related to said load circuit that it will initiate operation of said reelosing inech'an'ism at a given load} resistance, and means for adjusting the relation between :5 -said controlling meansand said load circuit to-render saidcontrolling means operable at any chosen load resistance.

2. In a system of electrical distribution,

a source of supply, a load circuit, a circuit 6 breaker, reclosingmechanism, a controllin means for. said reclcsin mechanism, an 'means for adjusting sai nism so that it will operate at any chosen load re'sistauce. j

reclos'mg mecha-.

3. In a system of electrical distribution, a source of supply, a load circuit, a circuit breaker, reclosing mechanism, a controlling means for said reclosing mocha ism, means foroperating said reclosing mec amsm at a given load resistance, and means for varymg the value of load resistance at which said re'closmg mechanism Wlll o crate.

4. In a system of electrical distribution, a source of supply, a load circuit, a circuit breaker, reclosing mechanism for said circuit breaker, a controlling means for said reclosing mechanism, means operative after the breaker opens to establish a sub-divided circuit, one rib-division being in series with the load 8I1 another sub-division being in parallel to t e load, said controlling means eing in the parallel circuitand operative by the current therein, and means'for varying the point of operation of said controlling means so that it may operate at any chosen load resistance.--

6. In a system bf electrical distribution,

a load circuit, a circuit-breaker, reclosing.

mechanism, a controlling means for said reclosing mechanism, a source of suppl for said reclosing mechanism, circuits for limiting and subdividing the current from said source and operating said controlling means thereby. and coils respectivelysubject to the sub-divisions, of said current and pitted against each, other in operation of said controlling means.

7. In a system of electrical distribution, a load circuit, a circuit-breaker, reclosin mechanism, a controlling means for sai reclosing mechanism, a source of current supply for said reclosing mechanism, circuits for limiting and sub-dividing the current from said source and operating said controlling means thereby, coils respecti vely subject to the sub-divisions of said our rent and pitted against each other in opera tion' of said controlling means, and a rocki'ng lever controlled by said coils in effecting such'ope'ration.

8. In a system of electrical distribution, a load circuit, a circuit breaker, reclosin mechanism, a controlling means for said reclosing mechanism, a source of current supply for said controlling means, means for limiting the flow of current throu in said controlling device, a circuit where y the hunt a portion of said limited load may 5 current away from the controlling device,

I ance.

and means whereby the controlling device may be adjusted to efiect recloeure of breaker upon various values efjoad resist- 9. In a system of electrical distribution, a source of supply a load circuit, a circuit breaker, means mijustably governing the opening ef said breaker under a given l oad condition, and an adjustable means for controlling the reclosing of said breaker so that 10 it will reclose at any chosen value of load resistance.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

ESTELLE C. RANEY. J

Images