US1644102A - Electrically-operated indicating device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 4, 1927. 1,644,102

E. S. C. BETTELEY EIJECTRICALLY OPERATED INDICATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21. 1927 Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE. I

EDWARD SAMUEL CHAR-LES BETTELEY, OF SURBITON, ENGLAN'D.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED INDICATING DEVICE. I

Application filed January 21,1927, Serial No. 162,643, and in Great Britain January 25, 1926.

mentor elements pivoted intermediate the ends thereof'and adapted to rotate an independently mounted disc or more than one disc or like member about the axis or axes thereof in e1therd1rect1on through the 1ntervention of means on the sa1d disc or dlscs,

the arrangement being such that the angu-' lar movement of the disc or discs is greater than the angular movement of the pivoted element or elements. 'Other features are hereinafter set forth,

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into elfectthe same will now be-described more fully, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which 1 r Figures 1 and 2 are elevations taken at right angles to one another of an indicating device embodying the invention, Figure 3 is a section taken approximately on the line w-m, Figure 2, the operative electrical connections being also shown, and I Figure 4c is a similar View to Figure 3 but showing the indicating disc and relative operative parts, in a different position.

Referring to the drawings, the indicating device, in the example shown, comprises a discs a adapted to move freely about the axis thereof passing through the centre of gravity of the disc, and provided with an unbalanced weight or element 1; which, as 40 shown, projects laterally from the disc, the

said disc being mounted by means of aspindlec associated therewith relatively to appropriatebearings afforded for instance in front and rear plates (l, 6, respectively. The disc at is adapted to be moved angularly about its axis by means ofa balanced member f pivoted centrally between the ends thereof, each end of the said member having associated therewith an armature g which may be in the form of a soft iron core. An

eleotro-magnet h or the like is locatedat a predetermined point below each armature and the axis of the disc is located so that the laterally projecting element 6 on the disc may be caused to rest under the action of gravity on either of the said armatures, leavmg one ofthe armatures at the maximum distance from its corresponding 'electro-magnet when the other armature is in engagement with its corresponding electro-magnet, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. Upon an electric'current being passed under the control of a corresponding switchthrough the electro-magnet or the like having its correspondmg armature spaced therefrom the maximum distance, the said armature will be attracted, causing the other armature, upon which the said element 6 will then rest, to

move suddenly upward and thereby give an impulse to 'the disc which is consequently caused to revolve, and having absorbed the energy imparted to it by the armature,in a manner similar to a flywheel, continues to revolve, such as for example, from the position indicated in Figures 1 and 3 to the position indicated in Figure 4, until the said element 6 has passed the maximum amplitude thereof when it is assisted by the action of gravity until coming to rest on'the armature of the elect-ro-magnet or the like through Wl'llCh the current is passing. The said element may be constructed of soft iron or like substance so that it may be attracted by the said armature and damp out any tendency of the disc to rebound when suddenly brought to rest. When current is passed under the control of a corresponding switch through the other electro-magnet or the like, the disc will be caused to revolve in an opposite direction, such as for example, from the position indicated in Figure 4 to the position indicated in Figures 1 and 3, in a manner similar to that aforesaid. If desired, the disc a may be locked in either position by means of a pivoted arm 5 adapted to be operated, against the action of a spring 7', such as that shown, or the equivalent, by means of an electro-magnet k or the like in series with the electro-magnets h or the like, the I arm a, in the example shown,being adapted at one end thereof to engage with either of two notches Z on the periphery of the disc and disposed at an angle of 90 with respect to each other, the other end of the said arm having an armature m adapted to be attracted by the electroiiiagnet 70 to permit the disc to be rotated in the manner aforesaid.

It will benoted that the indicating symbol on the disc is in the form of an arrow which can be exposed when required through openings such as the segmental openings 71 in the front plate (Z, but it will be understood that any other symbol or indicating means may be associated with the disc.

By providing a device such as above described, the following advantages can be obtained:

1. The disc being free to revolve with re spect to the axis thereof, the angular movement imparted to the disc by the armature can be made considerably larger than the angular movement of the armature itself.

2. The disc acting in a manner similar to a flywheel, absorbs the sudden impulse of the armature and so carries the unbalanced weight of the aforesaid element over the maximum amplitude thereof.

3. The angular movement of the disc can be varied by the distance and position between the axis of the disc and the axis of the pivoted member or lever with which the armaturesareassociated. j

4. The disc being free to revolve with respect to the axis thereof, the unbalanced weight of the said element will come to rest on one of the armatures, leaving the other armature at the maximum distance from the corresponding electro-magnet or the like, even though the indicator proper is moved in a vertical plane through a considerable angle in either direction.

5. The unbalanced weight in the form of the said element being constructed of soft iron or like substance, will be attracted by the armature of the electro-magnet or the like through which a current is flowing, and

so damp out any tendency of the disc to rebound when suddenly brought to rest by striking the armature.

If desired, more than one indicating disc or the like and relative parts may be provided, in which event two or more discs and 7 controlled element mounted for pivotal movenient, electrically controlled means for operthe element. and means carried by the member to be engaged by the element in its electrical operation to thereby impart to the member an angular movement in excess of the angular movement of the element.

2. An electrically operated indicating device comprising an indicator mounted for free pivotal movement, an operating element mounted for pivotal movement, electrical means for actuating the element, and

means carried by the indicator to be directly engaged by that portion of the element on one side of the pivot to impart a free move ment to the indicator, the portion of the element on the opposite side of the pivot serving as a limit to such free movement.

3. An electrically operated indicating device comprising an indicator mounted for free pivotal movement, a balanced lever mounted adjacent the indicator, electromagnetic means formoving the lever on itspivot, and a projection on the indicator to be engaged by the lever when operated for moving the indicator through an angular length exceeding the angular length of movement of the lever.

4. An'electrically operated indicating de vice comprising an indicator mounted for free pivotal movement, a balanced lever mounted adjacent the indicator, electromagnetic means for moving the lever on its pivot, a projection on the indicator to be engaged by the lever when operated for moving the indicator through an angular length exceeding the angular length of movement of the lever, means for normally holding the indicator in a predetermined position. and means for automatically releasing the holding means simultaneously with the movement of the lever.

5. An electrically operated indicating device comprising an indicator mounted for free pivotal movement, an operating lever mounted adjacent theindicator, independent electromagnets capable of selective energization and cooperating with the respective portionsof the lever on opposite sides of the pivot to move the lever, and a projection on the indicator engaged by the lever in movement to impart free rotative movement to the, indicator.

6. An electrically operated indicating device comprising an indicator mounted for free pivotal. movement, an operating lever mounted adjacent the indicator. independent electromagnets capable of selective energization and cooperating with the respective portions of the lever on opposite sides of the pivot to move the lever. and a projection on the indicator engaged by the lever in movement to impart free rotative movement to' the indicator, said projection serving to unbalance the indicator.

7. An electrically operated indicating device eomprising an indicator mounted for.

ent eleotromagnets capable of selective energization and cooperating with the respective portions of the lever on opposite sides of the pivot to move the lever, and a projection on the indicator engaged by the lever in move- .ment to impart free rotative movement to the indicator, said projection being electrically attracted by the energized electromagnets to prevent rebound movement of the '10 EDWARD SAMUEL CHARLES BETTELEY.

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