US1434700A - Electric switching apparatus - Google Patents

Description

H. I. H, HUBER. ELECTRIC SWITCHING APPARATUS- APPLICATION FILED OCT. a, 1921.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

Inventor: 44 55 Herman J.H.Huber' H. J. H. HUBER. ELECTRIC SWITCHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION mm OCT. 8, 1921.

1,434,700. Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

Patented Nov. 7, .1922.

UN ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HER-LIAN H. HUBER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEC- Application filed October 8, 1921.

TocZZ colt/m2: it may concern.

Be it known that I HERMAX J. H. HUBER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady in the county of Schenectady, State of ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switching Apparatus. of which the following is a specifi tion.

My invention relates to armature resetting mechanisms for electromagnets and more particularly to improvements in armature resetting mechanisms for electroresponsive devices arranged to control the operation of electric switches in'response to abnormal conditions. An object of my invention is to provide an improved means for moving the armature of an electromagnet to a position where the armature may be held by the electromagnet upon energization thereof to a 1. redetermined amount and to provide improved resetting means which in the resetting movement releases the arn'iature of the eiec tromagnet when the armature has reached a position in which it may be held by the electromagnet whereby the armature is tree to move to unattracted position whenever the energization of the electromagnet falls to a predetermined amount.

Another object of my invention is to proride in a combination comprising a switch and electroresponsive means for controlling Y the operation of the switch, an improved means adapted to be operated after the switch has been opened due to an abnormal circuit condition, to reset the electroresponsive device in switch controlling position during the closing movement of the switch. A Further object of my invention is to prohride a resetting means which has a positive action that can not interfere with the switch controlling movements of the electroresponsire device and which is simple in construction and readily applicable to the switch structure.

My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying two sheets of drawings. and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a part elevation of an electric switch in the closed position controlled by an electroresponsive device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 shows in perspective the resetting lover of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspec- TBIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCHING APPARATUS.

Serial No. 506,235.

tive of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1 showing the electroresponsive device a ter the switch has been opened; and Fig. 4 is an elevation similar to Fi 1 with the parts in one of the positions t ey occupy during the switch closing movement.

Figs. 1 and 4 show an embodiment of my invention in an electroresponsive device 1 which may be of an undervoltage type havmg a hinged armature 2 arrange to mechanically trip an electric switch 3 shown for illustration as a switch of the type having contacts separable in oil or like fluid. The switch 3' is supported by a bracket 4 secured to a frame 5 and is shown as having an operating mechanism arranged to be actuated for closing the switch 3 by the plunger of a solenoid mounted in a casing 6 which. is supported by a bracket 7 secured to the frame 5. The switch operating mechanism comprises an operating shaft 8 journaled in the bracket 7 and an operating lever 9 pivoted on a pin 10 in the bracket 7. One arm 1!. of the operating lever 9 is connected to a contact operating lever 12 through a link 13 and an underset toggle comprising links 14 and 15, the toggle link 15 and the lever '12 being pivotally mounted on the bracket 4. Rigidly secured tothe operating shaft 8 is a crank comprising two arms 17 and 18 or if desired these arms may be separate members each rigidly secured to the operating shaft 8. I Pivotally connected to the arm 17 and forming therewith a toggle, underset when the switch is closed, is a link 19 which is pivotally connected to the operating lever 9 by a pin 20. An overset toggle comprising links 21 and 22 pivotally connected to the arm. 18 and the bracket 7 respectively and to each other by a pin 23 serves to hold the switch operating mechanism in switchclosed position. A stop or pin 24 on the free end of the link 21 abutting the link 22 holds the toggle 21-22 in its overset or thrust trans turning the operating shaft 8 counterclockwise but with the arrangement shown the operating lever 9 is adapted to be actuated directly by the plunger of asolenoidmounted in the casing The solenoid when energized, raises the plunger with considerable for e, the plunger pushing against a roller journaled in the lower side of the operating lever 9 intermediate the ends 10 and 20 and there by turning the l ver 9 clockwise orin the direction to close the switch 3. j

The means I have shown for tripping the toggle 2l-22 comprises an electroresponsive device 1 of the undervoltage type having an electromagnetic structure 25 mounted on a bracket 26. In the arrangement shown. the bracket 26 is adapted to be secured to the structure of an overload trippingdevice 27 supported by the bracket 7. a. clearance hole 23, see Fig. 3,being provided for the plunger oi? the overload tripping device 27. The elecroinagnetic structure '25, when energized under a predetermined voltage condition a-aptecl to hold the h god armature 2 in th closed or attracted position shown in Fig. 1. inasmuch as it is not convenient inconihina-, tion practical especially in large capacity switches which require relatively heavy structural parts to. have the armature 2 suiiiciently heavy so that in falling it will trip the tog- 'le b its own weight, it provide an nected to the link 29 i. c pivoted on pin 32 in the undervoltage de vice l. Thecther arm of the crankiil. is pivotally connected by a link 33 to a link 34- also pivotally mounted. in the elcctroresponsive device 1. A biasing means or spring 35 extends between the pivotal connection oi links 33and. 3a to a pin 36 in the undervoitage device 1. l Vith this arran movement the armature 2 to attracted position actuates the crank to move the. toggle 29-Zi0 to it tion and therefore "he linl 'e coinpri crank 31 and links and a position tensioning spring 35. In order to utilize the energy thus stored in the spring for t ping the toggle 2l22, a tripping lever pi oted an intermedite point 3? thereof on the undervoltage device 1 has one arm 38 provided with a. projecting portion 39 er;- tendingdirectly in the pathof movement of" the pivotal connection oi crank 31 and 29-30 and the is 1 other electroresponsive devices or V ene Qy storing means controlled by the the to e collapsed thus re leasing the energy stored in the spi mg The members 3., with a snap action.

the pivotal connection between members 31 and delivering a bio w of sutlicient force on the projection 39 of the arm 38 of the tripping lever to cause the other arm. -10 to .come up against the toggle link 22 and trip the toggle 21-22 thereby causing the switch Sto open.

lvlanifestly the toggle 2l-22 may be tripped by one or more electroresponsive devices operative in response t diiierent abnormal conditions such as .rl oad, underload, undervoltage, etc. The form of electic-responsive device which 1 illustrated. is of the hinged armature undervoltage type. Devicesof this type do not inherently reset themselves automatically after the circuit controlled by the switch has been opened but must be reset eith manually or automatically before the F 3; can he closed. It not alw convenient or possible to reset the armatuic ot-such devices manually, espe cially in remotely controlled switches and ii the armature is manually reset. it may be possible for the operator to hold the swi ICll closed with abnormal condi ions preval. i on the circuit controlled by the switch. it the armature is reset automatically in the switch closing movement the switch can readily be arr anged to be tripdirec-from-elmhand to prevent the operator ii" in holding the switch closed when abnormal conditions prevail! According to my invention, 1 provide therefore an armature actuating mechanism for automatically resetting the armature 2 of the undervoltage device 1 when the switch operating mechanism is actuated to close the switch 3. The resetting mechanism con: prises a. resettin member or lever 41 adapted to be rigidly secured to the operating shaft 8 by any suitable n cans such a set screw 12; The resetting lever 4-1 is provided with bearingsdfi and l in which is mounted a shaft 45 having Secured thereto between the bearings 43 and M, a hub 46 and. at one end. beyond the bearing 43 a cam 47. The hub 46 is provided with two lugs 428 and 4.9 arranged to engage a stop 50 on the resetand 3& move downward ill) ting lever 41 such that the hub 4-6 may have an angular movement of substantially v ninety degrees. Secured to the hub a6 subranged to be biased in each of two directions by a spring 53 secured to an extension 54 of the resetting lever 41 and to a post 55 mounted on an extension of the hub 46. In each of these positions, the alignment of the spring supports 54 and 55 is such that the spring 53 is slightly off the axis of rotation of the shaft 45. These two positions will be designated respectively as the clear position, see Figs. 1 and 2, and the resetting position.v see Figs. 3 and 4. lVhen the hub 46 is in the clear position the roller shaft 51 is turned to a position such that in the switch opening movement, thatis clockwise rotation of the operating shaft 8 and therefore of the resetting lever 41, the roller 52 swings clear of the armature 2 in its open position. When the hub 46 is in the resetting position. the roller shaft 51 is revolved. substantially ninety degrees from the clear position so that .in the switch closing movement, that is counterclockwise rotation of the operating shaft 8 and therefore of the resetting lever 41, the roller 52 rides over the outer face of the armature 2 turning it toward the closed or attracted position as shown in Fig. 4. In order to turn the hub 46 to these two positions, a stop member 56 secured to the undervoltage device 1 is provided with preferably adjustable stops 57 and 58 which engage the cam 47 on the shaft 45 when the resetting lever approaches its limiting positions of travel and turn the shaft 45 against the bias of the spring The initial inipulse given the cam 47 by one or the other of the stops 57 or 58 turns the hub 46 so that the spring 53 is moved across the axis of the shaft 43 and the spring 53 biases the hub 46 around into position, one or the other of the lugs 48 or 49 coming to rest against the stop 50.

Assumin the parts in the switch closed position as shown in Fig. 1. the occurrence of voltage below a predetermined amount on the circuit controlled by the switii-h 3 will cause the undervoltage device 1 to release the armature 2 which in. falling causes the toggle 21-22 to be tripped and thereby allows the switch to open as heretofore described. The opening of the switch causes the operating shaft 8 and the resetting lever 41. secured thereto to turn clockwise. As the resetting lever 41 reaches a position below the plane of the armature 2 which has dropped to its open or unattrarrted position. the cam 47 strikes the stop 57 turning the hub 46 around so that the spring 53 biases the roller 52 into the resetting position with the lug 48 against the stop 50. It is to be noted that this action takes place after the resetting lever 41 has turned past the armature 2 in its open position and the parts of the undervoltage device 1 are in position as 1 shown in Fig. 3. With the turning of the hub 46 as described, the roller 52 is swung underneath the armature 2 in a position to engage the armature 2 when the resetting lever 41 is turned counterclockwise. In the switch closing movement, the operating shaft setting lever 41, secured thereto and turning in the same direction brings the roller 52 against the outer face of the armature 2. As the resetting lever 41 continues its movement the roller 52 rolls over the armature 2 as shown in Fig. 4, moving the armature toward the attracted position. The resetting lever 41 is so set relatively to the operating shaft 8 that the roller 52 rides off the armature 2 in its attracted position when the switch contacts touch. If the voltage is sufficient to retain the armature 2 in the attracted position the final closing movement of the switch 3 turns the resetting lever until the cam 47 strikes the stop 58 thus turning the hub 46 and the roller 52 into the clear position with the spring 53 holding the lug 49 against the stop 50 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If, however, the undervoltage device is not sufficiently energized to hold the armature 2 in its attracted position, the armature will. fall immediately the roller 52 rolls off its face. that is when the switch contacts touch. Consequently, the switch 3 may open before the resetting lever 41 has reached a position to cause the hub 46 to be rotated into the clear position. In this case when the arm 41 falls back, the roller 52 still in the resetting position strikes the upper face of the armature 2. This turns the hub 46 into the clear position where the spring 53 holds the lug 49 against the stop 50. As the resetting lever 41 continues its movement to full open position, the cam 47 strikes the stop 57 and the hub 46 is again turned into the resetting position with the roller 52 underneath the armature 2.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described wherein a movable armature is arranged to cooperate with an electromagnet and to be held in attracted position by said eleotromagnet upon a predetermined energization thereof and to move away from said magnet when the energization thereof falls to a predetermined value, the combination withsaid electromagnet and armature. of means for moving the armature to a position in which it may be held by said electromagnet comprising a resetting member, an armature actuating means pivotally mounted thereon arranged upon movement of said resetting member in one direction to engage and move over said armature to move the same toward attracted position and to release the same when the armature has reached a position in which it may be held by the energization of said electromagnet, and devices at the limits of movement of said re- 8 turns counterclockwise and the re- Hill lit)

setting member for moving said armature actuating means on its pivot so that at the completion of the movement oi said resetting member in a direction to move said armature into attracted position, said armature actuating means is moved to a position such that upon movement of said resetting member in the reverse direction said actuating means will move clear of the armature and so that at the completior'i of movement or said resetting member in said reverse directionisaid armature aotua't- V means is restored to a position to engage said armature upon sul'sequent movement in the first direction.

2. In an apparatusoi' the class described wherein a movable armature is arranged to cooperate With an electromagnet and to be held in attracted position by the electro magnet upon a predetermined energization thereof and to move away from the electromagnet When the energisiation thereof falls to a predetermined vaiue the combination with said electromagnet and ari'nature olt' means for moving the armature to a posi tion in Which it may be held by the electro magnet, comprising a resetting member, an armature actuating means pivotally mounted thereon arranged upon n'iovement of said resetting member in one direction to engage and move over said armature to move the same toward attracted position and to release the armature when the same has reached a position in Which it may be held by the energization of the electromagnet devices at the limits o'l movement of said resetting member for moving said armature actuating means on its pivot so that at the completion of the movement of said resetting member in a direction to move said armature into attracted position said actuating means is moved to a position such that upon movement of said resetting member in the reverse direction said armature actuating means Will move cl ar of the armature and so that at the completion of movement of said resetting member in said reverse direction the armature actuating means is restored to a position to engage said armature upon subsequent movement of the resetting lever in the direction to reset said armature, and resilient means arranged to throw said actuating means in one direction or the other upon movement of the same past an intermediate position. I

8. In an apparatus oi the class described wherein a movable armature is arranged to cooperate With an electromagnet and to be held in attracted position by the electromagnet upon a predr-itermi red eiziergization thereof and to move away from the electron'iagnet when the energization thereof falls to a predetermined value, the combination with said electromagnet and armature of means for moving the armature to a position in which it may be held by the electromagm: comprising a resetting member, a hub pivotally mounted thereon and provided with a projecting portion arranged upon move of said resetting member in one direction to engage and move over said armature to move the same toward attracted posh tion and to release the armature when the same has reached a position in which it ma be held by the encrgiZa-tion of the electromagnet and devices at the limits of movement of said. resetting member for moving said hub on its pivot so that at the completion of the movement of said resetting iember in a direction to move said armature into attracted position said hub is moved to a position such that upon move ment of said resetting member in the re verse direction said projecting portion will move clear of the armature and so that at the completion of movement of said resetti rig member in said reverse direction said pro jecting portion is restored to a position to engage said armature upon subsequent movement of the resetting member in the direction to reset said armature.

in a n apparatus of the class described wherein a nmvable armature is arranged to cooperate vith an electromagnet and to be held in attracted position by the electromagnet upon a predetermined ener iaaition thereoi and to move away from the el.eotro n net when the energization thereof tails to a. predetermined value the combination with said electromagnet and arnniture or means for mo ving the armature to a position in which it may be held by the electromagnetcomprising a resetting member, a hub pivotally mounted thereon and provided with a projecting portiom a rotatable member mounted upon said projecting portion arranged upon movement oi said; resetting n ember in one direction to engage androll over said armature to move the same toward attracted position and to roll off the arma ture when the same has reached a position in which it'may be held by the energization of the electromagnet and devices at the limits of movement of said resetting member .For moving said hub on its pivot so that at the completion of the movement of said resetting member in a direction to move said armature into attracted position said hub is moved to a position such that upon movement of said resetting member in the reversedirection said rotatable member Will move clear of the armature and so that at the co1npletion of movement of said resetting member in said reverse direction said hub is restored to a position such that said rotatable member will engage said armature upon subsequent movement of the reset-ting lever in the direction to reset said armature.

5. An electromagnet having a hinged armature, a resetting member arranged to be lOO iiYWjtiC/D. Lo reset said armauing means mounted on her arranged to he moved into each 0" two positions, in. one of which said actuating means is adapted to engage and reset said arn'iatiire upon the movement said resett' me shes: in. resetting direction and in t other of which said actuating means moves lear 0?? said resetting member, and .mcai'is for moving sni wrmature actu siting me into the clear osition upon the coinpie on o the movement of said resetting; member J resetting direction and for said re ng m moving said armature actuating means into arn'uitui'e resetting position upon completion of the reverse movement of said resetting memljier.

the class describe l are aoapted to be controlled hv an. operating mechanism arranged to be held n the switch closed position and V lpted to he released to the switch open n [ion in response to the movement of the armature of an electromagnet when the energization thereof falls to a predetermined value and wherein the armature of the eleotromagnet is arranged to be held in attracted position by the electromagnet upon a predetermined energization thereof, the combination with said e1ec tromagnet and armature of means for movsa-id army; -.1 we to position in Which it may he held by the electromagnet compris ing a resetting mesh/er, means pivotally mounted on said iig member arranged upon mmeznent o? the resetting member in one direction to engage and move over said armature to move the same toward attracted position said to rel the armature in a position. where ii; may be held by the electromagnet substantially sit the instant the sw tch ii iii touch and devices at the limits or nu einent of said resetting member 1 moving said pivotelly mounted means on itspivot so that at the completion of iovemont of said resetting member in a direction to reset said armature said pivotaliy mounted means moved to a. position such that upon. movement of said resetting meniiher in the reverse direction said pivotall; mounted means will move clear of the arm re and so that at the completion of HERMAN J. H. HUBER.

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