US1524412A

US1524412A - Snap circuit controller

Info

Publication number: US1524412A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1925-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1942-01-27

Description

J. E. STEPHENSON I SNAP CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed March 19, 1920 Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. STEPHENSON, OF ROCHESTER, NEEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAIL- WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SNAP CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

Application filed March 19, 1920.

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. S rnrI-IEN- SON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Snap Circuit Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to snap circuit controllers of the rotary type, and more particularly to such a circuit controller especially designed for use with semaphore signal operating mechanism. This invention is an improvement upon the construction disclosed in the patent to William S. Henry, 1,224,542, May 1, 1917, and the primary object of the present invention is to improve the construction of the spring device employed in this type of circuit controller for operating the snap circuit con trolling element. Detail features and ad vantages of my improved construction will be pointed out hereinafter.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a snap circuit controller embodying my invention shown in connection with the main circuit controlling unit of a well known type of semaphore signal operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is substantially a horizontal sec tion, partly broken away, taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line 3--3 in Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary side view of the part shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section, corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2, and shows a modified construction.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the circuit controller frame comprises a back plate 1 having slots 2 therein for receiving the bolts or similar means employed to attach the main circuit controlling unit to the frame of the signal operating mechanism. Integral with this back plate 1 are upper and lower members 3 and 4: which are connected near their front end by a cross Serial No. 367,223.

member 5 (see Fig. 2). Journaled in suit able bushings in the back plate 1 and the cross member 5 is a shaft 6 to which is fixed a gear 7, by means of which the circuit controlling unit is operated from the gears of the signal mechanism. This operating gearing and the other parts of the signal mechanism have not been shown and for the purpose of understanding the present invention, it is sufiicient to point out that the gear 7 is driven first in one direction and then in the other through different angles as the semaphore signal is actuated to its different operated. positions.

Secured to the main operating shaft 6 by suitable means (not shown) is the main circuit controller drum 8, made of wood or other suitable insulating material, to which are fastened a number of contact strips, as 9, differing in length corresponding to the timing of circuit control desired. Loosely mounted on the shaft 6, with an'intervening bushing 10, is another drum 11, which has fixed thereto contact strips, as 12, similar to the contact strips 9, and which constitutes the driven element of the snap circuit controller. Blocks 13 of suitable insulating material are fastened by screws or the like (not shown) to the upper and

lower memhers

3 and 4, and supported by these blocks are a number of contact fingers 14, provided with the usual binding posts 15. The contact fingers 14 press against the surface of the drums 8 and 11 and are bridged or electrically connected by the

contact strips

9 and 12 on said drums. The main circuit controller drum 8 moves with the shaft 6, but the other drum 11. conveniently termed the snap drum, is quickly shifted. or snapped between certain predetermined positions, as the shaft turns, in a manner more fully explained hereinafter.

The parts for operating the snap drum 11 comprise a latch plate 16, fastened by screws 17 to the end of said drum, and in the periphery of this latch plate are formed a number of notches, as 18, eight notches altogether being shown in Fig. 1. The snap circuit controller is constructed for snap movement for both directions of rotation of the shaft 6, and consequently the parts are symmetrical and in some instances duplicated. Thus, there are two sets or groups of notches facing in opposite directions to toward its center (see Fig.

permit locking of the latch plate 16 for ither direction of rotation. Associated with the latch plate 16 are two latch arms 19-20. one for each direction of rotation; and since these arms are counterparts, the detail description of one will apply to the other. The latch arm 19 is loosely pivoted at its upper end on a stud 2i integral with or attached to the upper member 3 of thecircuit controller frame. said aim being held in place on the stud by a cotter pin. At the lower end of the latch arm l9 is formed a shoulder or latch 22 adapted to engage one set of the notches. and lock the latch plate l6 against movement in a clockwise direction. as viewed in Fig. 1. The latch arm 19 also carries at its lower end a forwardly proj cting sleeve 23 (see Fig. which is supported on a bolt 24 adjustable lengthwise of the arm, 19. The bolt 24; passes through an elongated slot 25 in the latch arm 19 Fig. l) and has a square head fitting in a rabbeted channel 26 in rear face of said arm, (see Fig. 2.), so tl the bolt is kept from turning. The outer face of the latch arm 19 is provided with serrations 27. and a serrated wisher 28 introduced between the sleeve 2 and the arm 19. so that when the locking nuts 20 are tightened, the sleeve fixed in its aid justed position. In front of the latch plate 16 a cam plate 230 having a hub 31 keyed to the main operating shaft (3. This cam plate 30 has its outer periphery formed with serrations 32, as shown in Fig. 3, for holding one or more cams live cams altogether being shown in Fig. 1. These cams 33 are preferably formedv with a curved body portion overlying the outer edge of the cam plate 30 and having edges fitting into the serrations 32, and a tail portion 33 extending across the face of the cam plate 2). the inner end of said tail portion being bent over to en page a circuinferei'itial shoulder formed in the outer face of the cam plate. A cover plate 34. held in place on a shaft 6 by a sleeve and a nut 36. fits outside of the cam plate 30 and holds the ca as 33 in their respective adjusted positions. This cover plate 34: has a short lug 34 (see l ip 2) which fits in a corresponding hole in the cam plate 30. so that these plates move together. The cover plate 34 is also provided with a cut-away portion. as shown in Fig. 1, so that after it is loosened. it may be turned to bringthe cutaway portion opposite any one of the cams thereby permitting that cam to be disengaged from the cam plate and moved to some other portion. The latch plate 1.6. which is fastened to the snap drum 11. and the cam plate 30. which is connected to and driven by the main operating shaft 6, are coni'iccted to- ,g'ethe; by a spring device. which. tends to maintain these plates in alignment. This spring device, which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention, comprises two iLOlOSCOlQQtl flanged sleeves or collars 3S and 39. each haviiin an arm ti) and 4-1, respectively, integral tl'ierewith and projecting outwardly from the shalt 6. These arms are bent toward each other, as best shown in l ig. -l-. so that they cannot pass ,tltl] other. The

collars

39 and 38 are assembled one in side of the other around the hub 31 of the cam plate 30, shown in Pig. 2. and are held in place by a 'wasl'ier t2 fixed to said .ub by having the edge thereof spun over he 'wai-iher. A coiled tlat spring 1:3, similar 0 the ordinary clock springs. is retained or housed between the flanges of the collars 3t and and is anchored at one end by a pin id to one collar 38 (see Fig. 3), and is roi'n'ied at its other end with a loop hooked over a lug 4-5 integnl with the other collar ll Integral with the latch plate 16 and the cam plate 30 are two lugs or stops 46 and t7. respectively. which extend parallel with the shaft (:3. one inside of the other. and which are positioned between the two arms it) and all. The spring 11-3 is given some initial tension when the parts are assembled, and the lugs lti and 47 are aligned. as shown in Fig. 3.

In the modified construction shown in Fi 5, the collars or

retainers

38 and 39 are fastened together as a unit which remorahlc from the hub 31. In this construction, the collar 39 is made wider than the collar 38, and these two collars are held to retl'icr by a washer "-518 fastened to the collar 21$).

The operation of the snap circuit conlroller in the various positions of the operating shaft 6 is the same. and it only necessary to descriliic the operation for one inm'ei'nent. ssnming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. It. when the shaft 6 is turned clockwise. the first notcl 18 on the latch plate 16 engages the shoulder 22 of the latch arm 19. so that said latch. plate and the snap drum ll are held from further movement with the shaft. The. cam plate 3t). however. being fastened to the shaft (3. coin tinues its movement. and the lug i-T thereon carries with it the arm ll, therelcy tcnsioiiing the spring ti-i. After a 1ne-tletermined. movement of the shaft (3. the first cam 33 enga es the sleeve 2 on the latch arm 1!) and lifts the shoulder 22 clear of the notch 18. whereupon tension of the sprinq- 4-3 snaps the drum 11 forward to aposition corresponding with the position of the shaft, that is. until the two lugs t6 and 14 7 are opposite each other. as shown in Fig. 31. It the shaft 6 is moved further in the same direction. the next notch on the latch plate to caught by the latch arm 19. released by the next arm 33. and so on. if the shaft (3 is moved in the opposite direction. the other iiO latch arm 20 holds the latch plate 16. By varying the number of notches and adjust ing the positions of the cams 33 the quick movement of the snap drum 1.1. may be ob tained at any predetermined point in the movement of the main operating shaft 6, for either direction of movement.

It will be noted that my invention pro vides a compact and simple construction of the s iiring device connecting the driving and driven members of the snap circuit controller. By employing a flat spring, a much greater number of turns can be put in the limited space available, thereby working the spring so far below its elastic limit that it is not liable to lose its resiliency or break in service. The two flanged collars or retaining members 38 and afford an effective housing for protecting the spring itself, enable a simple and reliable connection to be made to the inner and outer ends of the spring separately. and constitute a strong and compact arrangement for cooperating with the lugs 46 and 4:7 to tension the spring.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of my invention, it is evident that various changes may be made in the particular constructions shown and de scribed, without departing from the invention.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 2-- 1. In a snap circuit controller of the rotary type having a driving elementand a driven element, a spring device for yieldably maintaining said elements in a pre determined relation and comprising, a flat spiral spring, arms supported for rotary movement on the same axis as said elements in a manner so that they cannot pass by each other when rotated by such axis and coupled respectively to the inner and outer ends of said. spring, and :1 lug projection from each of said elements between said arms.

2. In a snap circuit controller of the ro tary type having a driving element and a driven element, a spring device for yieldingly maintaining said element in a predecrmincd relation and comprising, telescoping retaining members pivotally supported on said driving element and a spiral flat spring having its ends anchored to said members separately, and means operatively connecting said retaining members independently to the driving and driven elements.

3. In a snap circuit controller of the rotary type having a driving element and a driven element, a spring device for yieldably maintaining said elements in a predetermined. relation and comprising telescoping flanged collars, a coiled flat spring retained between the flanges of said collars and having its ends anchored to said collars separately, each collar having an outwardly extending arm, and means connected independently to said driving and driven elements for cooperation with said arms.

l. A. rotary snap circuit controller comprising a shaft, a contact drum loose on the shaft, a latch. plate fastened to said drum, latching means cooperating with the latch plate for holding it against movement, a cam plate driven by the shaft and provided with means for releasing said latching means, said cam plate and latch plate having lugs extending parallel with the shaft one inside the other, and a spring device yieldingly maintaining said lugs in alignn'ient, said spring device comprising two retaining members independently movable around the shaft and guided thereby and having outwardly projecting arms disposed on opposite sides of said lugs, and a spiral fiat spring associated with. said retaining 1I16111 bers and having its ends connected separately to said members.

5. A rotary snap circuit controller comprising a shaft, a contact device loose on the shaft, a latch plate fastened to said contact device, a latch arm cooperating With the latch. plate for holding it against move ment .in one direction, a cam plate driven by the shaft and having projecting cams thereon arranged to engage the latch arm. said cam plate and latch plate having lugs extending parallel with the shaft in overlapping relation, a spring device for yieldii'igly n'iaintaining said lugs in alignment comprising two telescoping collars mounted on the shaft and independently movable thereon, said collars having outwardly projecting arms disposed on opposite sides of said lugs, and a spiral flat spring disposed between said arms and having its ends separately connected thereto.

(3. A rotary snap circuit controller having a driving element and a driven element, said elements having parallel lugs movable therewith, and. a spring device tending to maintain said elements in a predetermined relation. said spring device comprising telescopcd flanged collars each having an outwi-irdly projecting arm, a flat spiral spring disposed between the flanges of said collars and having its ends anchored to the collars, and means for holding the collars together.

T. In a snap circuit controller of the rotary type having a driving element and a driven element sepa'ately rotating on a shaft, said driving and driven elements being provided with lugs extending into the same plane about the axis of said shaft, and a spring device comprising a flat spirally wound spring and arms mounted on the shaft and extending outwardly along side of the spring. said arms bearing against opposits sides of the lugs on said elements,

the inner end of said spring being connected to one arm and the outer end to the other arm.

8. A snap circuit controller of the rotary type having a driving element and a driven element turning separately on the same axis, said elen'ients having lugs movable therewith in sliibstantially the same plane about said axis, and a spring device comprising a flat spirally wound spring and having arms extending outwardy from both ends of the spring for engaging opposite sides of said lugs, said arms being disposed to engage each other so that the spring can not unwind when removed.

9. A snap circuit controller of the rotary type having a driving element and a driven element each provided with. an extending lug. and a spring device for yieldably maintaining said elements in a predetermined relation comprising, telescoped flanged collars each having an outwardly extending arm, the ends of said arms being disposed to engage each other and being adapted to engage opposite sides of said lugs, and a flat spirally wound spring between the flanges of the collars and having its inner end tastened to one of the collars, the flange of the other collar having a projection in the plane of the spring to which the outer end of said spring is fastened.

JAMES E. STEPHEN SUN