US1614953A - Stepping switch - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 18,1927. H w GOFF 14,953

STEPPING SWITCH I Filed May 29, 1922 mw man flara/dl/(fiaff Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD W. GOFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STEPPING SWITCH.

Application filed May 29,

This invention relates to automatic switches and stepping mechanism therefor.

An object of this invention is to produce a step-by-step switch wherein the use of ratchet wheels with driving pawls, which are commonly employed in connection with switches of this nature, i eliminated.

The foregoing object is accomplished in this invention by the provision of a magnet, adapted to be energized by pulses of current, a driven member and a reciprocable armature. Thedriven member and armature are held together by the magnetic flux on each forward stroke of the armature and separated on the back stroke thereof, whereby the driven member is stepped forward.

The invention has been shown applied to a switch arranged for use in automatic telephone systems, but is obviously capable of a wide range of usage and is therefore not to be limited to this particular function.

A clear conception of this invention will be had by reference to the following detailed specification and accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 represents a. plan view of a switch embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the switch partly in section.

A magnet 1 adapted to be intermittently energized from any suitable current source is provided with a reciprocable armature 2. The core 3 of magnet 1 is associated with an auxiliary core inc-ased in a copper sleeve 4, the main core 3 and the auxiliary core being interconnected by a magnetic yoke 5. Strips of magnetic material run vertically along the sides of magnet 1 terminating in the poles 6 and 7. The armature 2 is provided with tongues or flanges 8 and 9 which are attracted by poles 6 and 7 upon the energizing of magnet 1, thereby causing the armature to rotate through a small arc. A driven member 10 is secured to a shaft 11 which extends part way through core 3 of magnet 1 and is provided with roller bearings 12 which allow it to rotate freely. The driven member or disc 10 is located immediately beneath the main body portion of armature 2 and is held in contact therewith by the action of a helical spring 13. Securely mountcd on shaft 11 is a set of brushesv 14 which make contact with terminals or conductors 15 upon the energization of magnet 1. A feeder 16 for each brush 14 is securely mounted on the framework 17 1922. Serial No. 564,363.

and is adapted to connect the brush 1% with an external current supply so as to complete an electric circuit when brush 1 1 makes contact with a conductor 15 upon the energization of magnet 1. Pivotally mounted on the core incased in sleeve 1 is a pawl 18 which acts as an armature and is attracted by the driven member 10 upon th energizetion of magnet 1. Upon the actuation of pawl 18 contacts 19 are closed, maintaining a busy test on the line with which the stepping switch is individually associated, or controlling any other suitable circuit. The pawl, on being actuated, engages teeth on the driven member 10 and maintains this member .in its operated position until, subsequent to the deenergization of magnet 1, the pawl 18 returns to its normal position under the influence of one of the springs associated with contacts 19. A stop 20 is secured to framework 17 and serves to check the backward movement of pawl 18. A spring 21 engaging one end of the armature 2 returns it to its normal position, the armature 2 being restrained from overstepping this position by a stop 22 mounted on pole 6. A stop 23 mounted on pole 7 limits the movement of the driven member 10 and prevents the teeth thereon from assuming an inoperative position with respect to pawl 18. The dotted area in Fig. 1 represents the magnetic yoke 5 which joins the two cores and terminates in poles 6 and 7.

The-operation of the switch disclosed in thisinvention is as follows:

A subscriber operating a dial switch at some distant station causes a pulse of current to flow through winding 24 of magnet 1 thereby energizing it. This causes a mag netic flux to pass through the driven member 10 and armature 2, thereby causing these two members to grip each other. Armature 18 is also attracted and engages a tooth of the driven member 10. The poles 6 and 7 of magnet 1 exert an attractive influence on the flanges 8 and 9, respectively, of armature 2, thereby causing the armature to move through a small arc. The driven member 10 being in magnetic engagement with armature 2 rotates therewith and carries the brushes 14; through a similar arc thereby causing them to wipe over terminals or conductors 15. hen pawl 18 was operated, the contacts 19 associated therewith were closed, thereby maintaining a busy test on the line associated with the switch. After the magnetic lux generated by the first current pulse has been dissipated, the armature 2 returns to its normal position under the influence of spring 21, subsequent to the release of the driving member 10 from the armature 2. The copper sleeve at acts as a damper to the dying magnetic flux, and maintains that portion of the magnetic circuit whereby pawl 18 is attracted to driven member 10, for a length or time corresponding to the interval between successive pulses, so that the pawl 18 is kept in engagement with the driven member 10 preventing this member from returning to its normal position under the action of spring 13. The next current pulse energizing magnet 1 causes the locking of the driven member 10 and armature 2, as before, while the poles 6 and 7 again exert an attracting force on flanges 8 and 9, respectively, of armature 2, causing the armature to rotate. This action will step brush 1a to the next terminal 15. This cycle of operation is continued until the entire series of pulses sent out by the subscriber has intermittently energized magnet 1, contacts 19 being maintained closed and pawl 18 held in engagement with driven member 10 throughout. Magnet 1 is maintained energized while the switch is in use. After magnet 1 has been deenergized for a relatively long interval of time, the in fluence of the copper sleeve 4 becomes inettective, so that pawl 18 is released and the driven member 10 returned to its normal position by the action of spring 13. The switch is then ready to be influenced by a new set of current pulses.

The drawing discloses but two sets of wire terminals and brush associated with each set. It is obvious that the capacity of the switch need not be so limited as provision can be made for more sets of terminals and a corresponding number of brushes, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet, an armature controlled thereby and adapted to be intermittently operated, and a member capable of a step-by-step movement by virtue of the magnetic relation between said member and said armature.

2. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet having an armature responsive to the intermittent energization thereof, a member adapted to receive a stepping movement by virtue or" its magnetic relation with said armature, and means whereby said member is held in its operated position after the deenergization of said magnet.

3. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet provided with quick and slow-releasing armatures, and a member magnetically engaging said armatures whereby said member is advanced by the actuation of said quickreleasing armature and held in its advanced position by its slow-releasing armature.

1. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet provided with quick and slow-releasing arnatures and intermittently energized, and a member magnetically engaging said arma tures whereby said member is given a stepb y-step movement by the actuation of said quick-releasing armature and is held in its operative position by said slow-releasing armature.

5. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet having a movable armature, a member movable with said armature by virtue of the magnetic relation between said member and said armature, and means whereby said member is held in its operated position after said magnet is deenergized.

6. In a switch, a magnet provided with a plurality of armatures, a member engaging one of said armatures and moving therewith upon energization of said magnet, and means whereby another of said armatures is held in engagement with said member holding in its operated position after said magnet is deengrgized.

I. In a switch, a magnet, a reciprocating armature for said magnet, a rotatable member engaging said armature upon the energization of said magnet and rotating therewith, a second armature magnetically engaging said rotatable member upon energization of said magnet, and means for holding said second armature in magnetic engagement with said rotatable member holding it in its operated position after the deenergization of said magnet.

8. In a switch, a magnet provided with a plurality of armatures, a driven member magnetically engaging said armatures upon energization of said magnet, a brush associated with said driven member and making contact with the terminals of an external circuit upon actuation of one of said armatures, and means whereby another of said armatures is held in magnetic engagement with said driven member after deenergization of said magnet.

9. In a switch, a magnet adapted to be energized by successive current pulses, a plurality of armatures for said magnet, a rotatable member magnetically engaging said armatures upon the energization of said magnet and rotating with one of said armatures, and means whereby another of said armatures is held in magnetic engagement with said rotatable member holding it in its rotated position during the interval between successive current pulses in which interval one of said armatures is disengaged from said rotatable member and returned to its normal position.

10. In a switch, a magnet having inclependently mounted cores and establishing a plurality of parallel magnetic circuits, an energizing winding on one of said cores, a plurality of reciprocating armatures, a memr ber magnetically engaging said armat-ures upon energization of said magnet whereby said member is caused to rotate, and a metallic casing over another of said cores whereby one of said magnetic circuits is maintained to keep one of said arn'iatures in engagement with said member after said n'iagnet has been deenergized.

11. In a switch, a plurality of terminals, a magnet provided with a rotatable armature, a member associated with said armature and carrying a brush, said brush making contact with said terminals upon rotation of said armature, a second armature for said magnet engaging said member upon energization of said magnet, and means whereby said second armature is held in engagement with said member after deenergization of said magnet.

12. In a stepping mechanism, magnetic means provided with quick and slow-releasing armatures, and a member magnetically engaging said armatures whereby said member is advanced by the actuation of said quickerreleasi11g armature and held in its advanced position by its slow-releasing armature.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of May A. 1)., 1922.

HAROLD IV. GOFF.

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