US1326359A

US1326359A - Circuit-interrupter.

Info

Publication number: US1326359A
Application number: US6464815A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph N Mahoney
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1915-12-02
Filing date: 1915-12-02
Publication date: 1919-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1936-12-30

Description

J. NfMAHONEY.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTEB.

APPLICATION mm DEC. 2. m5.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR v I Jpsepfi /V Mafia/7A7 WITNESSES KM%M 'ATTORNEY J. N. MAHONEY.

ClRCUlT INTEBRUPTER.

APPLICATION FILED 0c.2,19|s.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

! 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I 35 53 l! 24 '1 l h H INVENT OR Joseg /l /V Ma/mne y WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J'OSEPI-I N. MAI-IONEY, OF WILKINSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN SYL- VANIA.

CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH N. MAHoNnr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of W'ilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cirouit-Interrupters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circuit interrupters and particularly to combined actuating, tripping, accelerating, retarding and restraining or locking devices therefor.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the above indicated character having means for locking the circuit interrupter in its open and in its closed position and for automatically releasing the locking means, under predetermined conditions.

Frequently, it is desirable to look a circuit interrupter in either its open or its closed position. In order to obtain a device having the above mentioned characteristics, I provide a structure comprising an actuating electromagnet and a tripping electromagnet having cooperating core members, and a looking or restraining device for the core members that is actuated by the tripping electromagnet. The device is so constructed that, if it is desired to unlock the interrupter to open the same, the tripping electromagnet is energized, and, if it is desired to unlock the interrupter to close the same, the tripping and the actuating electromagnets are both energized. The

magnetic lag in the iron circuit of the actuating electromagnet is so proportioned that it is greater than that of the tripping electromagnet, thus permitting the lock to restrain the interrupter in the closed position when the circuits of both electromagnets are opened.

In my device, the movable core member of the tripping electromagnet is adapted to assume two distinct positions with respect to the tripping and the actuating electro magnets. That is, the movable core member comprises two relatively movable magnetizable portions one of which is subjected to the tripping electromagnet and the other of which is subjected to the actuating electromagnet. When the movable core member of the tripping electromagnet is in its upper position, corresponding to the open position of the interrupter, the magnetic ter is permitted to be locked in its closed 0- I sition' even though the actuating and tripping electromagnets are both energized. However, if the tripping electromagnet alone is energized, the interrupter is adapted to be unlocked from its closed position. In other words, when the two portions of the core member are in their upper position, if both the tripping and actuating electromagnets are energized, the actuating electromagnet cannot move the actuating portion until the trip portion of the core member is released. Since the tripping electro magnet acts more quickly than the actuating electromagnet, the trip portion of the core member is operated before the actuating electromagnet is fully energized. If both electromagnets remain energized, the trip portion is held out of its locking position while the actuating portion is moved to its lowermost position. When both of the electromagnets are deenergized the trip portion becomes deenergized first to permit the locking device to become operative to hold the actuating portion before its electromagnet is entirely denergized.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical sectional view of a combined actuating tripping, accelerating, retarding and locking device embodying my invention; Fig. 2'is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of a circuit interrupter embodying my invention; Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the device in its open position; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the control system for the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line VV of Fig. 3.

The circuit interrupter 1 comprises, in general, stationary and movable contact members 2 and 3, a linkage mechanism 4 for the movable members 3 and an actuating, tripping, accelerating, retarding and looking device 5.

The stationary contact members 2 are supported at the lower ends of suitable bush- "end of an operating rod ings 6 that are adapted to protect and support the main conductors 7 from the casing or cover 9 of an oil-containing tank 10 in which the cooperating contact members 2 and 3 are disposed. The movable contact members 3 are suitably mounted on a bridging member 11 in the usual manner, and the bridging member is attached to the lower 12. The upper end of the operating rod 12 is connected to one end of a lever arm 13 by means of a link 14, the other end of the lever arm 13 being pivotally mounted upon projections 15 on the cover 9. A shaft 16 is also rotatably supported by the projections 15 and has a lever arm 17 mounted thereon that is operatively connected to a point intermediate the ends of the lever arm 13 by means of a link 18. A lever arm 19 is also mounted on the shaft 16 and is operatively connected to the actuating, tripping, accelerating, retarding and locking device 5, as hereinafter more fully set forth. The lever arm 17 and the link 18 constitute a toggle device that is provided with a stop 20 for limiting the travel thereof in one direction.

The device 5 comprises, in general, a tripping electromagnet 22, an actuating electromagnet 23,

dash pots

24 and 25,

movable core members

26 and 27 and a plurality of balls 28 that are adapted to extend between the core member 27 and a stationary member 29 for the purpose of locking the circuit interrupter in its open and in its closed position.

The movable core member 27 is provided with an opening 30 that extends inwardly from its upper end, and in which issecured one end of a non-magnetic tube 31. A magnetizable member 32 is secured in the upper portion of the tube 31 and is connected, by means of a rod 33, to a piston 34 that is restrained in its operation by a spring 35. The magnetizable core member 26 is disposed within the tube 31 and loosely sun rounds a rod 36 that is provided with an enlarged portion 37 at one end and with a frusto-oonical magnetizable member 38 at its other end. A. disk or plate 39 is secured within the tubular member 31 and is provided with an opening to permit the unobstructed passage of the rod 36 therethrough. The disk 39 is adapted to support a travellimiting collar 40 and to constitute a stop for one end of a spring 41, the other end of which engages the member 38. The member 38 is provided with a collar 42 for limiting its upward movement by engagement with the disk 39. A stationary magnetizable core member 43 is disposed in the lower portion of the winding 23 and is provided with a valve 44 to permit the restrained escape of the air in the dash pot 25 that is former. when the movable core member 27 moves downwardly. 4 I

The movable core member 27 is provided with openings 45 at equidistant points around its circumference to receive the balls 28, and two sets of similar openings 46 are provided in the stationary portion 29 between the

windings

22 and 23 for receiving portions of the balls when the same are forced from the openings 45 by the member 38. The movable core member 27 is provided with an opening 47 and a screw 48 which is disposed in the stationary portion 29 for purposeshereinafter set forth.

Assume the circuit interrupter 1 to be in the position shown in the drawings and that it is desired to open the same. The winding 22 is energized to cause the movable core member 26 to move upwardly and, in so doing, to engage the enlarged portion 37 of the rod 36. The rod 36 moves upwardly against the action of the spring 41, and, by reason of the shape of the member 38, per mits the balls 28 to move out of the openings 46 into the openings 45 to thus release the movable core member 27, which, by reason of the weight of the movable portions of the circuit interrupter 1, moves upwardly to permit the disengagement of the contact members 2 and 3. When the movable core member 27 moves upwardly, the tube 31, the movable core member 26 and the rod 36, move upwardly until the openings 45 regis-- ter with the upper openings 46. After the core member 26 has completed its upward movement, the spring 41 expands to move the member 38 downwardly and to thus force the balls 28 into the upper openings 46 for the purpose of locking the circuit interrupter in its open position.

If it is desired to prevent the automatic closure of the circuit interrupter, a bolt (not shown) may be inserteo in the

openings

47 and 47*, as hereinbefore set forth. However, if it is desired to unlock the circuit interrupter and to effect the engagement of the contact members 2 and 3, the bolt is withdrawn and the

windings

22 and 23 are sir-:iultaneously energized. Because of the magnetic lag in the movable core member 27, the movable core member 26, being more nearly surrounded by the winding 22, moves upwardly to cause the member 38 to release the balls 28. The magnetic structure of the device is so proportioned that, when the balls 28 have been released, the movable core member 27 moves downwardly to thus actuate the movable switch members 3 through the lever 19, shaft 16, lever arms 17 and 13 and the rod 12. The screw 48 is adapted to extend into a slot 48 in the core member 27 for the purpose of preventing the core member 27 from rotating relatively to the stationary core member.

The spring 35 is adapted to accelerate the opening of the interrupter, and the dash P D 24 and 25-are provided for the purpose of retarding the movement of the operative parts of the circuit interrupter toward the latter part of the movement thereof when the circuit interrupter is opened and closed, respectively. 7

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the interruper will be locked in its closed position when the electromagnets are simultaneously energized or simultaneously open-circuited and that the energization of the tripping electromagnet alone will unlock the interrupter from its closed position.

My invention is not limited to the structural details specified, as many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electromagnetic device comprising a stationary member, two relatively movable core members, a wedge member resiliently connected to one of the core members, means for actuating the core members, and ball members actuated by the wedge member and cooperating with the stationary member and the other of the movable core members to lock the same in two predetermined .positions.

2. An electromagnetic device comprising two movable core members, a wedge member, means for resiliently connecting the wedge member to one movable core member, means for independently actuating the core members, and means actuated by the Wedge member for locking the other core member in two predetermined positions.

3. An electromagnetic device comprising a stationary member, a main movable core member, an auxiliary movable core member, a cam member disposed within the main movable core member and resiliently connected to the auxiliary core member, means for actuating the core members, and means actuated by the cam member and cooperating with the stationary member for locking the main movable core member in two predetermined positions.

4. An electromagnetic device comprising relatively movable main and auxiliary core members, a cam member relatively movable with respect to and operatively connected to the auxiliary core member, main and auxiliary windings for actuating the core members and means actuated by the cam member for locking the main core member in two predetermined positions.

5. An electromagnetic device comprising movable main and auxiliary core members, a cam member resiliently connected to the auxiliary core member and disposed in the main core member, main and auxiliary windings for actuating the core members and a ball member actuated by the cam member for locking the main core member in two predetermined positions.

6. An electromagnetic device comprising a main and an auxiliary movable core member, a stationary core member, a winding for each of the movable core members, a cam member operatively connected to the auxiliary core member, resilient means for actuating the cam member relatively to the auxiliary core member and ball members actuated by the cam member for cooperating with the main movable and stationary core members to lock the main movable core member under two predetermined conditions.

7. An electromagnetic device comprising a main and an auxiliary movable core member, a stationary core member, a winding for each of the movable core members, a cam member operatively connected to the auxiliary core member, resilient means for actuating the cam member relatively to the auxiliary core member and means actuated by the cam member when it is moved by the resilient means for cooperating with the stationary core member to lock the main movable core member in a plurality of predetermined positions.

8. An electromagnetic device comprising two electromagnets, a cam member disposed Within the movable core member of one electromagnet and operatively connected to the movable core member of the other electromagnet, means for moving the cam member relatively to the core member with which it is operatively connected, and means adapted to be actuated by the cam member to restrain the movable core member of one of the electromagnets in a plurality of predetermined positions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of Nov., 1915.

JOSEPH N. MAHONEY.