US1624478A - Universal a. c. relay - Google Patents

Description

Filed Aux. 50. 1922 2. Sheets-Shogi'. 2

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Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

x UNITED STATES isteria PATENT orifice.

SALISBURYk M. DAY, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YRK, ASSEGNO?, TO GENERAL RALWY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEVV YORK, A CORGRATON OF NEW YORK.'

UNIVERSAL A. c. RELAY.

Application filed Augusty 30, 1922. Serial No. 585,212.

Thisinventioii relates to indicator attach- Vments fori-clays used for railway signaling purposes.

ln railway signaling practice, it is often found desirable to have information as'to the position or condition of a distant signal, switch machine, track circuit or the like. This Vinformation quite oftenI necessary or desirable in towers at switching and interlocking points, and for this reason various indicating' devices have been provided lfoi" this purpose generally known as tower indicators.

The principal objectsand purposes of the presentinvention are to provide-an indica? toi attachment which may be readily applied to rela 7s used for railwa si' Vnalin@` ur-L poses, in order to permit the conversion' of a relay into a tower indicator, and vice versa, or touse such indicating relay for both purposes; to provide an indicator attachment which may be housed in thev usual relay casing ordinarily provided with transparent walls; and to provide a simple, cheap, ellicient and'unobscured mechanism for operatingthe indicator bythe relay mechanism.

Other objects and purposes ,of tlieinvention will 'appear as the description thereof progresses. n

In describingfthe invention in detail, reference will be made to: the accompanyingdrawings, which show several'embodimenis ofthe invention applied to oneparticular lineof relays, andE in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a relay for railway signaling purposes having such an' indicator applied thereto, a portion of the relay being broken away'for clearness;

Fig. 2 is a side-elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, the electro-responsive means and a portion of the casing beingl'shown in crosssection;

F ig. 3 is a skeleton view of the' essential'v parts of the operating mechanism of the devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

. Fig. 4 is a similar view' of a modified form' a removable base plate 2 att-ached to the a trunnion 9 provided therein, clainpedinf `position by a clamping screw 10.` These truiinions engage a socket `portion' in the spools or bearings 11 contained in the upstanding ends or a carrier bar 12. This carrier bar is provided with'insul'ating'posts 13 to which are fastened contactarms 14 and klprovided with spring contact lingers 16 and 17 terminating incontact tips 18, which: are adapted to engage stationary contacts 19 adjustably supported by the'bi'nd'- ingk posts 5.

This carrier bar 12 isi supported to'have a normaler pendent position to Awhich it may be further biased in any suit-able ina-nner (no specific means being shown), and is? provided with a hanger bracket comprising a U-shaped or forked member 20 (see Figs. 2 and 3),-and having an'upstanding' ridge 22ste facilitate adjustment of thisU-shaped member 2O to thecarrier -bar'1p2 by'V the bolts 28. This U-shaped forked 'member liaseach of its ,endsV bifurcated, each of these bifurcations containing aroller 24, which is adapted to ltilt the carrier bar in either direction from its pendent position.v In order to properly balance t-he carrier bar with' its contacts, in addition to the biasing 'means heretofore mentioned, this carrier bar has been `provided" with an L-shape'd member 25 for balancing thecarrier bar, this member being weightedfon one side or the other, as the case may require, by washers 26 fastened thereto by a Abolt 27.

In the particular relay illustrated in Figs.

1, 2 and 8,this carrier bar 12 "is adapted tol be tilted in one direction or the otherby an f electro-responsive device of the induction motor type. This device generally com# prises a vertical 'shaft 30 provided with a` jewel bearing 3l at the bottom, and anadjustable jewel bearing 32 at the top. Pivotally supported on this shaft 30 is an armature or inductor comprising a spider 33,

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having a downwardly extending shirt 33, this skirt being adapted to move in an air gap between a laminated ring;r 24: of iron and pole pieces 35 provided with coils 3G and 3T.

In order to provide frictional engagement between the shaft 30 and the inductor, a friction clutch has been provided coinprising friction discs` 38 and 35) operatively connected to the shaft 3l) between which is a friction disc -tO operatively connected to the spider 233, as shown h v the extensions 4:1 engaging the dowin 'ardly p rojecting lugs 42 ot spider 33. These friction discs 3S, 39 and l() are held in engagement with each other by the compression coil springv lil bearing against the washer -il-l, which is held in place by a Cotter pin eta. The coils` 3G and 37 are preferably arranged in a manner similar to the coils of different phase windings of an induction motor, and preferably 'arry currents which are consii'lerably displaced in phase in order to cause a rotating iield for purposes well known to those skilled in the art of induction apparatus of this lrind.

The shaft 30 (see Fig. 3) is deformed to provide clearance and a support for the roller 50, and includes projections 5l pro vided with a comiecting pin for pivotally supporting said roller eceentrically with respect to the shaft- 80. This roller ie preferably of a diameter slia'htly less than thc distance between the rollers Q-l in order to provide an anti-friction operative connection between the shaft- 30 and the carrier bar 12, and at the same time prevent undesirable lost motion. To the l.-shaped balancing member` 95 adjustably fastened an indicator operating; arin 53 by cap screws 54:. The holes through which there cap screws 54: pass are preferably slightly elongated to permit adjust-ment of the indicator operatinpr arni 53 with respect to the carrier bar l2.

The relay skeleton frame 2 is provided with upstanding ears 55 to which is fastened the indicator base member 5G by screws 57, an upstanding,r back plate 58 beingT clamped between the ears 55 and the indicater base 5G. The face plate G0 of the indicator is bolted to the bach plate 5S by bolts 6l passing through spacing; sleeves G2. The indicator base 5G preferably comprises a casting having opstanding; extensions G-.t and 65, the extention G-l being provided with a. bearing portion in which is pivotally supported the indicator shaft 66, the other extension beingprovided with a bearing or journal pin (i7 arranged in alignincnt with the bearing.

To the rear end of the shaft 6G is clamped a re-enforced eccentric. comprising; a back member T0 having extensions 7l, 79, 73 and T4. l he extension T-lis split shown. and is clamped on the end of the shaft 6G by a clamping screw 75, the extension 71 being perforated to receive the `iournal pin G7, and the other extensions 72 and 723 being cennected by a pin T6 to form an eccentric. rlrdjacentthe shaft GG and on the extensions (ist and G5 is pivotally supported an angle lever 80 by a spindle Sl rigidly secured to this annie lever. This angle lever is provided with a pin SQ engaging the indicator operating; arin 53, and has its other end provided with a slot through which the pin pases. The 'liront end oll the indicator shaft Gif is provided with an indicator 83, having; suitable indicia thereon, which is adapted to be read through the opening;i {1l-l in the face plate G0.

ln the particular arrangement shown, the indicia comprises the letters l (indicating normal), l) (indicatingi' deenergized or dancer), and lt (indicatingf reverse). This innlcator dil is biased to the reverso position by the weight 85, but in thc deeneii'gized position of the relal as chown, this indicator is in its midway, dcenergized or danger position, as indicated by the letter D. It is thus seen that when the relay is energized to the normal position, the relay operating arm 53 will operate the eccentric pin 7G through the angle lever to turn the indicator to the normal or N position. 0n the other hand, when the relay is energized to the reverse position, the indicator operating arm will allow the bias of the indicator due to the weight move the indicator to the reverse posit-ion. rlhis peculiar arrangement of mechanical transmitting means has been provided to eliminate the possibility of binding' or jamming of such parts, this being done by providing* engagement of parts due to the bias of the indicator, thereby affording sullieient clearance without bringing in undesirable lost motion.

ln Fig. -ft has been shown a different type of indicator opcrativey connected to a twoposition relay instead of a three-position relay, as shown in Figi. 3. This relay in most respects is the saine as the one illustrated in llizej. 3, the main difference being that a U-shapcd ineniber 9() is provided with only one bifurcated extension, which is provided with a roller 91. a projectingr stop member 92 being provided to limit the movement of the roller in one direction. The contact lingers 161 and 171 of this two-position relay are preferably adjusted so that the contacts 181 are in engagement with stationary contacts 191 when the relay is in its energized position. Other contacts may, howcver, be provided which are in engagement when this relay is in the deenere'ized position. if desired. Since inany of the parts ol the structure shown in Fig. it are the saine as those previously described, they will be given the saine reference characters.

la the arrangement shown in Fig. ll, the

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direction off movement ofi the indicator isI opposite to that of the carrier Vbar 12.' This Vhasfbe'en accomplished by clamping the reenfoiced'jeccentric heretofore described to the shaft 66 in a manner to place the'eccentric pin' 76 on` the opposite side of thel indicator shaft 66, ajU-shaped` operating lever? 95 having been substituted for the angle lever- 80. rThis U+shaped operating lever 95is provided with a slot4 on oneupstanding end thereoflthrough Which the eccentric pin Gl passes. The other 'end is provided with an extending pin 97 adapted to be engaged by the indicator operating arm-1 53, -this vU-shaped member 95 i beingA similarly'supportedto-thatl of the angle lever SOsbyv a pin 9Si The front end ofthe indictatorshaftf 66'in this .instance isfprovided with an-indicator 991 simulating theA usual railway signal semaphore arm. This indicator 99=is biased by'it'sownwveight into theposition shown against the stop pinlOO, another stoppin--10lbeing provided to-limit its mov-ementto andiiot beyond its operated position; The front plate heretofore mentionedfis omitted inthe semaphore type indicator-shown in Fig, Li.

A'fthough several particularphysical embodi-mentsI of# my present invention have been described, andthe operating principles thereof explained;nevertheless, I'desire to have it understood that theforms selected are merely illustrative, and donot exhaust all possible physical embodiments off-the idea l of' means underlying` my invention.

That I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In a combined relay and indicator, the combination of an electro-responsive device including a member biased to a neutral position and adapted to be actuated in one direction or the other when said electro-responsive device is energized depending on the manner in which it is energized, contacts controlled by said member, an indicator, means for biasing said indicator to one extreme position, Which extreme position does not correspond with said neutral position, and means associated With said electro-responsive device engaging said indicator in a manner to positively operate it in one direction only for urging the indicator against its bias to a position corresponding to the position said member is assuming at the time.

2. An indicator attachment for relays comprising, a shaft, an indicator on said shaft, a stationary journal in line with said shaft but spaced a distance therefrom, and means for pivotally supporting said shaft and driving the saine comprising a U- shaped member having one of its legs secured to said shaft. and the other pivoted about said journal, said member being provided With a pin disposed eccentiically with -respect to said shaft and' journal, whereby 3. An indicator for relays for railvvay-` signaling purposes comprising, a shaft, an indicator on said shaft adapted to assume any one of three indicating positions, means for biasing said indicator toone extreme position, an eccentrically disposedmember on said shaft, and means actuatedby a three positionrelay,I biased to neutral position, adapted to bear againstsaid member-in one' direction only for urging saidi indicator tothe proper indicating position against such bias.

.4. A combined-relay and indicatorfor railway signaling purposes comprising, a casing having transparent Walls,l a three position electro-responsive device in' said casing `biased to the middle position, contacts operated by said electro-responsive'desl vice, an` indicating: device acent one of the transparent Walls comprising ashaft, a three position indicator on; said-shaft-,` biasing means for biasing the indicator toV one extreme position, which extreme position does not correspond With said middle position, and means extending froinsaid electrorespoiisive device and cooperating with saidV indicator to actuate the` same against said biasing means to a position corresponding to that' of i' said electro-responsive device.

5. AnA indicator attachment for relays comprising, a base, a-fjournal and a bearing supported on said base, a shaft extending through said bea-ring in alignment with said journal, an indicator on the shaft, means clamped on said shaft and pivoted about said journal, said means being provided with an eccentrically disposed pin. and means pivotally supported from said base engaging said pin for operating the same about the axis of said shaft.

6. An indicator attachment for relays comprising, a base, a journal and a bearing supported on said base, a shaft extending through said bearing in alignment With said journal, an indicator on the shaft, a member clamped to said shaft and pivoted about said journal, said member having a pair of extending legs, one of which is clamped to said shaft and the other of which is pivoted about' said journal, arms extending from said member, a pin connecting said arms, and means pivotally supported on said base operatively engaging said pin for turning said member about the axis of said shaft and journal.

7. In a relay for railway signaling purposes, the combination of a carrier bar having contacts associated therewith and adapted to assume two extreme positions from its biased neutral position, and of indicating means adapted to be operated by said carrier bar comprising, an arm connected to said bar in a position to change the neutral bias ot the bar, adjustable counter-Weighting means for re-establishing the neutral bias of the carrier bar, and indicating means biased very lightly to one extren'ie position engaging said bar and movable thereby in one direction only, whereby said indicating means may assume any one ol" three positions eorrespoiuling to the three positions assumed by said carrier bar without a direct mechanical eom'ieetion.

S. 4In a relay for raihvay signaling par poses, the combination of a carrier bar having contacts associated therewith and adaj'ited to assume any one ot' three positions but biased lo the neutral position, and of indicating means adapted to be operated by said carrier bar comprising, an arm connected to said bar in a position to disturb its neutral bias, adjustable countereweight` ing means for re-establishing the neutral bias of the carrier bar, and means for indicating the position of said carrier bar operated by said arm.

9. An indicator attaclnnent for relays comprising, a base having a bearing supported thereon, a shaft extending through said bearing having an indicator secured thereto, a journal supported by said base in alignment with said shaft; and means adapted to be moved in response to the movement oi a movable part ot a relay fastened to said shaft and pivotally supported about said journal for moving said indicator in response to movement of the movable part ol said relay.

l0. An indicator attachment for relays comprising, a. base having a bearing supported thereon, a shaft extending through said bearing having an indicator secured thereto, a. journal supported by said base in alignment with said shaft; and means pivoted about said journal and clamped to said shaft and having an eccentric-ally located pin operated by means adapted to be engaged by movable means projecting from the movable mechanism of a relay.

ll. An indicator attachment for relays comprising, a base having a bearing sul ported thereon, a shaft extending through said bearing having an indicator secured thereto, a journal supported by said base in alignment with said shaft; and means :for operating said indicator comprising, a U- shaped member having aligned openings near the two ends thereof one of which is split between the openinfr and an intermediate point of the member which end is clamped on said shaft by a screw passing through one and engaging the other split portion and the other end of which is pivoted on said journal, and an eccentrically located pin carried by said last mentioned means operated by a member engageable by movable means projecting from the movable mechanism of a relay.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

SALISBURY M. DAY.

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