US1572673A - Interrupter - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9 1926.

P. A. NEWMAN )LNTERRUPTER Filed DeC. 29, 1923 /m/e/far Pda/. /VeWma/z www Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL A. NEWMAN, OF GERMANTOWN, PENN SYLVANA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INTERRUPTER.

Application filed December 29, 1923.

To @ZZ whom t may concer/a:

Be it known that I, PAUL A. NEWMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Germantown, in the county ot Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain nei7 and usetul Improvements in Interrupters, ol which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to commutatore and more particularly to improvements in a construction ot commutators to eliminate sparking of the brushes thereof.

This invention may be embodied in the construction ot slow speed commutator type interrupters ot ringing machines used in telephone systems where the slow speed and changing current conditions may ordinarily cause the segments ot the interrupter rings to burn.

it is an object ot this invention to construct an interrupter otl the above or any other type so as to prevent sparking and thus save the segments from burning at the points where the make andbreak occurs.

Another object is the provision of an interrupter in which the segments are embedded in and held in place by a molded insulating material and in which this insulating` material may be brought flush with the outer edges and surfaces of the segments without danger ot overheatingr which would ordinarily have an injurious effect on the interrupter such as carbonization ot the insulation and burning ot the contact sur'- faces.

To attain these objects in accordance with one 'feature of this invention, a series oli' auxiliary segments are provided on both sides of each live segment and each group of auxiliary segments is connected to each other and to the corresponding live segments by means of resistance elements so that the circuit between the brushes and a live segment is made or broken in steps to increase or reduce the voltage and current in suitable values.

Another feature is the arrangement whereby the resistance elements are molded into and enclosed by the insulating material and suitably arranged around the hub of the interupter as well as connected to their respective segments before they are embedded serial No. 683,300.

in the material to produce an entirely selfcontained interruptor of this type.

A particular embodiment of this invention as applied to a commutator type ringing machine interrupter is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front view of such an interrupter with a portion broken away to show the resistance units and the manner in which they are secured to the segments. Fig. 2 is a side view ot' the invention with a portion in cross section along the lines 2 2 ot Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawing, the interruptor comprises circumferentially arranged comparatively wide live segments l and 2 with a plurality ot' comparatively narrow auxiliary segments 3 arranged on both sides ot cach live segment, and resistance coils lsuitably arranged around the hub 5 and connected by means ot' conductors G to the auxiliary segments 3 and the live segments l and 2 as shown. Flush with these segments on one side thereof is a solid contact ring 7 and all oi these parts, that is, segments,.resistances and the ring are embedded and held together by suitable insulating material preferably molded around the parts. rlhe ring 7 is connected to the live segments l and 2 by means of conductors 8 and the brushes 9 and l0 serve to complete connections between brush 9, conductors 8, live segments l or 2, resistance units 4L, the auxiliary segments 3 and brush l0. It is evident then that circuits so completed will eliminate sparking at the brushes as when, tor example, the interrupter is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. l, the brush 10 comes lirst in ccntact with an auxiliary segment 3 and a circuit will thereby be completed through all the resistance units et to the brush 9 and as the interrupter continues to rotate, one of these resistance units after another will be eliminated in the succeeding steps until the brush l0 is in contact with the 'live segment l, when a direct circuit extending through the brush 10, segment l, ring 7 and brush 9 is completed, In a similar manner, when the brush l0 leaves the live segment l, it will proceed to gradually open the circuit by interposing a series of resistance units 4e, one for each auxiliary segment passed until the circuit is linally Conipletely broken when it leaves the last auxiliary circuit 8, The current is therefore gradually stepped up from zero to a maximum value and gradually stepped down from this maximum value to zero, each time the brush 10 makes and breaks connection with a live segment. vWhile the exact size or width of the brush l() is not of material importance, its width should not be less than the distance between two adjacent auxiliary segments or the distance between an auxiliary segment and the adjacent live segment so as to bridge two adjacent segments when `passing from one to another.

As the 'invention thus provides means for eliminating the sparking at the edges of the contact surfaces and brushes the insulation, which may be of any suitable and similar material throughout the whole mass, may be brought flush with the entire contact surfaces of the segments without danger of overheating the edges of the insulating material or burning of the edges of the segment. If, therefore, the insulating material is `such as to wear at the same or approximately the same rate as the contact segments, a smooth and even surface will be secured that is highly effective for use in interrupters of this type where the current conditions and the speed of the interrupter are apt to vary to a large degree. Itis also of advantage to have the width of the contact surfaces of the. auxiliary segments comparatively narrow as compared with the width of the live segments. It should be noticed that the contact segments are suitably shaped on the inner edges or surfaces so as to be gripped by the molded material and held securely in place thereby and not become loose under any conditions of serv-Y ice. rI`he particular contour of these inner surfaces of the segments is of minor importance but may take the form of longitudinal grooves such as 11 shown in the drawing and any other configurations most suitable for different types. The size and position of the contact ring 7 in relation to the contact segments may also b e changed to suit various requirements.

YVhat is claimed is:

1. An interrupter comprising a plurality of metallic main contact segments, a solid metal contact ring adjacent thereto and connecting with said segments, a series of comparatively narrow metal contact segments adjacent the ends of each main segment, resistance'units connecting the auxiliary segments with each other and with the corresponding main segment, and a body of insulating material holding said segments and ring in place.

, 2.-In an interrupter, the combination of a plurality of main contact segments, `a series of auxiliary segments at "each end of each main segment, and means for preventing sparking comprising a resistance unit interposed between ea-ch two adjacent auxiliary segments and between the corresponding main segment and the auxiliary segments at each end thereof.

3. In an interrupter, the combination of a plurality of main contact segments, a group of auxiliary segments adjacent cach end Vof each main segment, resistance elements connecting each two auxiliary segments in a group and connecting the auxiliary segments nearest the ends of each main segment with said main segment, and a body of insulating material for holding said segments and resistance units in place.

Ll. In an interrupter, the combination of conducting segments, resistance units connecting them together and a body of insular,- ing material holding said segments and resistance units together.

5. An interrupter composed of conducting segments, resistance units connecting said segments together and a. body of insulating material in which said segments and resistance units are entirely enclosed except the contact surfaces of the segments.

6. In combination in an interrupter, a plurality of main conducting segments, a plurality of auxiliary conducting segments adjacent each end of said main segnicnts, resistance elements connecting each two adjacent auxiliary segments and connecting the auxiliary segments adjacent each main segment to said main segment, a hub and an insulating body connecting all of said parts together.

7. An interrupter comprising a phirality of vmain segments circnmferentially arranged in relation to each other and having irregular internal surfaces, a pluralityv of auxiliary segments arranged circun'iferentially adjacent to each end of each main segment and having similar irregular internal surfaces, resistance elements interposed bctween each pair of auxiliary segments and between the auxiliary segi'i'ients and the corresponding main segments, and an insulating body molded to enclose the resistance elements therein and to key said segments together by being interposed into the openings formed by their irregular intei-nal surfaces.

8. A circuit interrupter comprising a series of segments having contact surfaces of varying widths and arranged circumferentially in 4relation to each other, resistances connected between said segments, the segments being so `arranged that a segment having a comparatively wide contact surface is connected by resistance units with a group of segments on either side thereof having comparatively narrow contact surfaces, and an insulating body enclosing' all of said segments and resistance units except the contact surfaces of the segments.

9. A circuit interruptor comprising a series of segments having contact surfaces of varying widths arranged circumferentially in relation te eac-h other, resistances connected between said segments, these segments being so arranged that a segment having a comparatively wide contact surface is connected by resistance units with a group of segments on either side thereof having` comparatively narrow contact surfaces, and a complete commutaiior ringl having its contact surface adjacent the contact surfaces ot said segments and connected to the segments having wide contact surfaces and an 'insulating body enclosing all of said elements except the contact surfaces et said elements.

l0. A circuit interrupter comprising series of segments having contact sur` ces of varying widths arranged circumferentially in relation to each other, resistances connected between said segments, the segments being so arranged that a segment having a comparatively wide contact surface connected by resistance units with a group of segments on either side thereoiI having comparatively narrow contact surfaces, and a complete cornmutator ring having its contact surface adjacent the contact suritaces ot said segments and connected to the segments having a wide contact surface, and insulating body enclosing all of said contacts and resistance units except the contact surtaccs ot said element and brushes, one tor the contact surfaces of the segments and the other tor the. contact surface ot the commutator ring.

ll. A circuit interrupter comprising a series ot segments having contact surtaces of varying widths arranged circumferentially in relation to each other, resistance connected between said segments, the segments being so arranged that a segment having a comparatively wide contact surface is connected by resistance units with a group of segments on either side thereof having comparatively narrow contact surfaces, and a complete ring having its contact surface adjacent thecontact surfaces ot said segments and connected to the segments having Va wid-e contact surface, an insulating body enclosing the resistanees and all ot said contact elements except the contact surfaces thereof, one-brush for the contact surfaces of the segments and having a contact surface wider than the distance between the contact surfaces of two adjacent segments and another brush for the contact surtace ot the ring.

l2. fr circuit interruptcr comprising a series of segments l'iaving contact surfaces ot varying` widths arranged circumterentially in relation to each other, resistances connected between said segments and the segments being so arranged that a segment havingl a comparatively wide contact surface connected by resistance units with a group ot segments on either' side thereof having comparatively narrow Contact surfaces, and an insulating body enclosing all of said segn'ients and resistance units except to contact surta ot the segments, and a brush having a contact surface wider than the distance between the contact surfaces of two adjacent commutator segments.

13. A commutater comprising groups oit contact segments, each group comprising one comparatively wide segment and a number ot comparatively narrow segments on either side thereo't, the narrow segments being oi the saine width and spaced equi-distance apart troni each other and from the corresponding wide segment, resistances inserted between the segments in each group and an insulating body enclosing the segments and rcsistances entirely except for the contact surta/cr et the segments.

le. It connnutator comprising groups oi contact segments circuml'erentially arranged, each group comprising one wide segment and a number or comparatively narrow segments et equal width on either side thereof, and spaced an equal distance apart trom each other and trein the wide segment, a brush adapted to co ncct with said segments wider than the narrow segments and wide enough to bridge the distance between two segments in a group, resistances inserted between the segments in each group and a body ot insulating material in which the resistances are entirely enclosed and serving to hold the segments in place.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of December A. D., 1923.

PAUL A. NEWMAN.

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