US1676433A - Electbical switching mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1928.

A. J. EVERS ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet mm H Filed April 8, 1926 iULirza s: OfM/ July 10, 1928.

A. .J EVERS ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MECHANISM 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1926 July 10, 1928.

A. J. EVERS ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MECHANI SM Filed April 8, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Maw/ Patented July 10, 1928.

ARTHUR J. EVERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 8,

My invention concerns certain features of novelty and advantage in electrical switching appliances, for example, such as are now used for lighting and extinguishing colored signal lamps at street intersections for the control of vehicular traiiic.

One leading object of the present invention is to supply a switching or electric circuit-controlling or governing mechanism of this character which, while simple in structure, and hence relatively economical to produce, may be easily adjusted to vary the illumination and dark periods of the several lamps or bulbs in the circuits governed by the appliance, and preferably without interfering with the action of the other lamps in some of the circuits opened and closed by the new device.

To enable those skilled in this art to undcrstand the invention and the manner in which the stated and other objects are obtained, in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which like reference characters have been employed to designate the same parts and which drawings form a part of this specification, a present desirable and preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in detail.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation or face view of the mechanism; I

Figure 2 is an end or edge View of the same;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the same appliance;

Figure 4 is a 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical section on line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on line 6-6 of Figure 1 Figure 7 is a detail section of one' of the adjusting mechanisms; and

Figure 8 is a section of one of the electri cal switches.

Referring to these drawings, it will be perceived that the new appliance includes an upright plate or panel 21 on which are mounted three stationary electric terminals horizontal section on line 22, 23 and 24, insulated from the metallic supporting member 21, such insulation of course not being required if the panel itself .is of insulation or non-conductive material, connected respectlvely to electric c1rcu1t wires 25, 26 and 27, and formed desirably 1926. Serial No. 100,582.

with adjustable switch contacts 28, 29 and 31, respectively, conveniently screw-thread ed to outstanding posts of the terminals.

The device includes also three, companion, co-operating, movable, switch contacts 32, 33 and 34, each mounted on a bent bar 35 (see Figure 8) rockingly connected at'one end by a pin 36 to an insulation arm 37 fulcrumcd on the plate 21. at 38 and equipped at its free end with a metallic operating roller 39. Each such element 35 has a screw 41 extended through an aperture thereof and taking into a threaded hole in the correlated member 37, the screw between such two parts being encircled by a cushion-sprin 42, whereby a slight amount of yielding p ay is permitted between these members when in action. 7

By means of wires 43, the three bars 35 are connected to three screws or bolts 44 insulated from the board or panel 21 and; at

the back of the latter they are electrically connected together by a wire or wires 45 (Figure 3).

A cam, characterized as a whole 46, formed of two overlapping plates or wings 47, 47, is designed by its oscillations to engage the rollers 39 and close the switches in 'a manner hereinafter indicated.

As the parts are depicted in Figure 1,- switch 31, 34 is closed and the other two switches 28-32 and 2933 are open, the movable contacts of such switches falling to open position by gravity when permitte arm 49 rockingly mounted at 51 on a stud shaft 52 projecting forwardly from the panel 21, the pin 48 projecting rearwardly into a curved slot 53 in the panel and by engagement with the end walls of such slot acting as a stop to limit the turning of element 49 in both directions.

In order to permit adjustment of the width of cam 46 to govern its action in open ing and closing the several electric-switches, a bolt 54 having a tightening thumb-nut 55 extends through registering curved slots in the three overlapping elements 47 and 49, thus allowing for adjustable lateral expaniii sion or contraction of the cam 46 by opening or closing more or less the companion members 47, a7.

Also oscillatory on the stationary stud 52, back of arm 49, ll provide a lever 56 having a forked upper end 57 (Figure 1) loosely accommodating between its spaced prongs or fingers, a pin 58 rigid with and projecting backwardly from the arm 49, so that the rocking movements of part 56 will be transmitted to the member 49 and the adjustable cam 46 associated therewith.

As is illustrated more particularly in Figures 1 and 2, the lower portion'of lever 56 is longitudinally slotted at 59 for the adjustable accommodation of a bolt 61 having a forwardly-extended knurled tighteningnut 62, it being obvious that the position of such bolt may be varied in the slot and retained by the nut in the desired position.

On its back face, lever 56'earries a block 63 projectin thrbugh a hole 60 in the panel and fastened to an arm 64 back of such panel, the member 64 being fulcrumed on a rearward extension of the stud shaft 52, such arm 64 at its lower end carrying a centrally-pointed cam 65 of the form and shape shown in Figure 3, a roller 66 on a bent arm 67 fulcrumed at 68 on the rear of the panel coacting with the cam, the arm 67 being pulled downwardly by a coiled contractile spring 69 fastened thereto at its upper end, its lower end being secured to the panel at 71.

Obviously, the spring-controlled arm 67 and the cam construction give a spring snap action to the lever 56 just as soon as the roller 66 passes over the hump of the cam in either direction.

It is required that the lever 56 shall be rocked in opposite directions through the nut 62 in order to actuate the electricswitches in the manner intended, and, to this end, the back face of the panel is equipped with a bearing 72 through which an oscillatory sleeve or hollow shaft 7 3 extends, and inside of the latter there is a longer rock-shaft 74.

Both the sleeve and the shaft encased therein project forwardly through a registering apperture in the panel, and, in front of the latter, the sleeve has an arm-75 fixed thereto, as by a set-screw, and the front protruding end of the shaft is similarly equipped with an arm 76, a coiled spring 77 having its two ends associated with or connected to the two arms and tending to rock them both down in opposite directions.

In order to adjustably limit such automatic downward movement of this pair of arms, a recessed circular plate or disc 78 is mounted on and spaced forwardly away from the front of the panel, and, on a pin projecting from its back face and in alignment with the axis of the shaft and sleeve,

ava-ass two bent stop arms 79 and 81, having pins 83 in the paths of descent of the two arms 75 and 76 respectively, are rockingly mounted, each such adjustable abutment 79 and 81 having an end extended around the plate 78 and equipped with a clamp screw 82 for maintaining the arm fixedly in adjusted position.

To indicate and to facilitate the adjustment of the members 79 and 81, the front surface of the plate 78 is graduated in minutes and seconds at 84: and 85 for each'such arm.

To move arms 75 and 76 upwardly in alternation to operate the snap-spring switchmechanism, it is necessary to turn their sleeve and shaft, respectively, automatically in such manner as to accomplish the desired result and, accordingly, the following specified co-operating instrumentalities have been employed.

An electric-motor 86, mounted on the back of the panel, by its pinion 87, rotates a large gear 88 fined on a shaft 89 revoluble in a bearing 91 (Figure 2) and in a bearing 92 (Figure 1) in the panel, such shaft also having secured and rotatable therewith a smaller gear 93 in mesh with and driving a like-size gear 9% fixed on a parallel shaft 95 rotatable in a bearing 96 (Figure 3) and a bearing 97 (Figure 1) provided in the panel.

Thus the two shafts 89 and 95 are continuously revolved in opposite directions at the same speed.

Shaft 89 has a sleeve or collar 98 revoluble thereon and siipp-lied at one end with a pinion 99 and at its other end with a toothed clutch-element 101, the pinion constantly meshing with a large gear 102 fastened on the rear end of shaft 7%, shaft 89 having an annularly recessed, companion, toothed clutch-element 103 splined to and slidahle on it into and out of driving connection with the complementary clutch-member 101.

When, therefore, the two clutch- parts 101 and 103 are together in meshing relation. the electric-motor, through the gearing specified, will drive the shaft 7 4c in a counter-clockwise direction as the appliance is viewed from the front and its rotation will swing the arm 76 upwardly into engagement with the element 62 of lever 56.

Similarly, shaft 95 has a collar 104 rotatable thereon and fitted with a pinion 105 and a clutch-element 106, the pinion being constantly in mesh with a gear 107, the same size as gear 102, fastened to and adapted to rotate the sleeve or hollow shaft 73, shaft 95 also having a correlated clutchrneniber 108 keyed thereto and slidable thereon into and out of operative'relation to the part 106, all as will be readily understood.

A double-yoke 109, fixed on the lower end of a vertically-disposed shaft 110 oscillatory in a bearing in an appropriately-supported bar 111 at the back of the panel, has lugs 112 at its op site ends in the circular channels or annu ar grooves of the two slidable clutch-members 103 and 108, so that the one clutch is always operative while the other is inactive and vice versa.

Fixed to the top of shaft 110 is a frame 113 (Figure 4) having a lug or-finger 114 extended forwardly through a hole 115 in the panel and located between spaced pins 116 and 117 projecting rearwardly from the arm 49, whereby as the latter oscillates, it will effect the change in the clutch connections. i

Assuming that the switch 31-34 controls I the electric circuit including the green lights for Main Street and the red lights for the intersecting First Street, that switch 28-32 governs the circuit including the red lights for Main Street and the green lights for First Street, and that the middle switch 29-33 .opens and closes the circuit including the amber or yellow lights for both streets, and assuming. as is customary, that illuminated red lights mean stop, that green lights signify go, and amber lights denote get ready for signal change, the appliance operates substantially as follows.

It is to be borne in mind that the stop arms 79 and 81 nave been adjusted independently of one another to regulate the length of time the green signals shall operate for the respective intersecting or crossing streets, arm 79 determining the period that the green lamps shall remain illuminated for Main Street and arm 81 governing the length of time the green signals shall show for First Street, it being understood that corresponding red'signals will show in each instance for theother street for the same period of time. i

As the parts are shown in Figure 1, with switch 31-34 closed and switches 28-32 and 29-33 open, the green lights for Main Street will be illuminated and the red lights for First Street will be operative so that traflic is free to pass on Main Street but is held back at First Street.

Under these conditions, the electric-motor, through the gearin referred to and clutch 106-108, is slowfi turning arm upwardly clockwise at constant predetermined speed.

\Vhen the lever 49-46 was shifted into this position, arm 75 was resting on its ad justed abutment 83 of arm 79, and, immediately upon such lever 49-46 assuming the position shown in Figure 1, clutch 106-108 was made operative, so that arm 75 will be required by the action of the mechanism specified to travel up its full distance from such stop.

Inasmuch as its speed of travel is uniform, the time it will require to change the. switch will be determined by the original adjusted position of its abutment 83-79, as indicated on the scale 84.

When arm 75 engages the thumb'piece 62, it rocks lever 56 counter-clockwise at a uniform slow speed, and the latter turns arm 49 and the cam 46 in a like direction.

As the parts are adjusted as shown in Figure 1, such cam' 46 in traveling to the left will engage the roller of contact 33 and close switch 29-33 before it passes from under the corresponding roller of switch 31-34, with the result that the amber or.

yellow lamps for both streets will be illuminated for a predetermined period of time before switch 31-34 opens.

When arm 56 passes dead center, it is quickly snapped over to its full limit of travel to the left by the action 'of spring 69, as will be readily understood, pushing part 49 ahead of it, and thus opening switches 29-33 and 31-34 hence extinguishing the amber or yellow lights and reen lights for Main Street and red lights or First Street, and closing switch 28-32, which sets the red signals for Main Street and the green signals for First Street.

When arm 49 thus snaps, it rocks frame 113 and its associated elements to render clutch 106-108 inoperative and to make clutch 101-103 active.

Arm 75, nowbeing unclutched or operatively disconnected from its driving means, quickly rocks back under the action of spring 77 to its stop 83-79, and, at the same time, arm 76',.having been clutched to the drivingmotor begins its slow, steady and uniform ascent.

When arm 76 strikes the thumb-piece 62, it will rock arm 56 clockwise, and the latter will rock members 49-46 in the same direction until the snap action occurs, whereupon the parts will again assume the positions shown in Figure 1.

,It is to be noted that, since the electricmotor operates at an unchanging speed, the upward rocking travel of the arms 75 and 76 in alternation is uniform, and, therefore, by raising or lowering either of the adjustable stops 79-83 or 81-83, the time period that the corresponding switch will remain closed may be readily regulated, and either one may be changed'in this respect without modifying the action of the other.

In other words, they are independently adjustable.

Also. since the speed of travel of the arms 75 and 76 is constant and unvarying, the length of time that the middle switch for the amber lamps shall remain closed may be easily regulated by modifying the position of the member 62 lengthwise the lever 56, for which purpose the slot 59 is provided.

The lower the position of the element 62, the slower the transverse travel of the cam 46, and, consequently, the longer the lamps in the circuit of switch 29-33 will remain illuminated, and the nearer such part 62 is to the fulcrum 52 of the lever 56, the shorter that time period.

In a measure, this same eiiect can be accomplished by adjustably broadening or narrowing cam 46, but the means of ad ustment by the member 54 is more especially provided so that, if preferred, the middle switch will not close until the already-closed end-switch 28-32 or 31-34, as the case may be, has opened.

Under these circumstances, the amber lamps would not shine until the former red or green lights had been extinguished.

Thus the lever 49 and its associated cam 46 are rocked or swung first in one direction and then in the oposite direction by the opposite movements of the two arms 75 and 76, hence alternately closing the end switches 28-32 and 31-34 with an intermediate closing of the middle switch 29-33, and it should be clear from what precedes that (a) by changing the position of the stop-arm 79, the period or duration of the closing of switch 31-34 may be modified without atfecting the action of the other switches, (7)) by adjusting the position of the arm 81, the closed period of switch 28-32 may be lengthened or shortened without modifying the action of the other switches, (a) by regulating the position of the member 62 on its lever 56, the closed term of the intermediate switCh'29-32 may be controlled, and (d) 7 by changing the width of cam 46, the action of-the middle switch may be varied without influencing the operation of the companion switches.

All of these adjustments may be had without changing the speed of the electric-motor and without adjusting the electric-switches themselves, the adjustment means being incorporated in the connecting mechanism between the constant-speed motor and the switches.

If, for any reason, the electric-motor becomes inoperative as for example, by reason of a short circuit, the mechanism may be easily operated by hand by merely rocking the. lever 49 in the proper direction at the desired time by the knob or handle 55.

This invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, although only one has been presented in the accompanying drawing and described in detail and the appended claims, setting forth the invention, are to be interpreted with this in view.

Stated somewhat otherwise, the invention is not limited or restricted to the precise and exact details of structure set forth because these may be modified within com arative 1y wide limits without departure From the heart and essence of the invention and with- (ut the sacrifice of. any of its material bene- The reason for employing the somewhat loose connection 57, 58 between the lever 56 and the associated lever 49 is to permit lever 56 to snap under its spring control when it reaches its center position and at the same time cause the proper and correct quick movement of cam 46 regardless of the direction of travel of the latter thus assuring the same action of the switches for both directions of rocking movement of the cam.

I claim:

1. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a plurality of electric-switches, substantially constant-speed driving means, switch-oper ating means common to all of said switches and including a pair of movable members, independently adjustable stops against which said members respectively bear when inactive, and means actuated by. said driving means to operate said members in alternation.

2. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a pair of electric-switches, a substantially constant-speed driving means, operatin means for and common to both of sai switches including a pair of members movable in opposite directions, the one member when actuated designed to close one of said switches, the other member when moved adapted to close the other of said switches, independently-adjustable stops against which said members respectively hear when inactive, the adjustment of said stops determining the closing periods of said switches, and means to cause said driving means to operate said members in alternation.

3. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a plurality of electric-switches, an oscillatory cam to open and close said switches, an oscillatory lever to operate said cam, a rock-arm adjusted to turn said lever in one direction, a second rock-arm arranged to turn said lever in the opposite direction, an adjustable stop for each of said rock-arms on which it is adapted to bear when inactive, and substantially constant-speed driving tneans to operate said rock-arm's in alternaion.

4. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a plurality of electric-switches, means to operate said switches including a lever, an abutment adjustable on said lever to vary the action of the latter on said switches. a pair of members movable in opposite directions and designed to alternately engage said abutment and rock said lever in opposite directions, and means to actuate said members in alternation.

5. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a plurality of electric-switches, means to 0p crate said switches including a lever, an abutment adjustable on said lever to vary the action of the latter on said switches, a pair of members movable in opposite direc tions and designed to alternately engage said abutment and rock said lever in opposite directions, indepcmlently-adjustable stops against which said members bear when inactive, and means to actuate said members in alternation.

6. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a plurality of electric-switches, means to operate said switches including a lever, an abutment adjustable on said lever to vary the action of the latter on said switches, a pair of members movable in opposite directions and arranged to alternately engage said abutment and rock said lever in opposite directions, and substantially constant-speed driving means to actuate said members in alternation.

7. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described. the combination of a plurality of electric-switches, means to operate said switches including a lever, an abutment adjustable on said lever to vary the action of the latter on said switches, a pair of members movable in opposite directions and designed to alternately engage said abutment and to rock said lever in opposite directions, independently adjustable stops against which said members bear when inactive, and substantially constant-speed driving means to actuate said members in alternation.

8. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a plurality of electric-switches, a fulcrumed came to operate said switches, a lever having a loose connection-with said cam and designed to actuate the same, a sprin mecha nism to snap said lever in either 0 two di rections after it has reached a definite point in its travel, and driving means to operate said lever including a pair of members movable in opposite directions and designed to alternately engage and rock said lever in opposite directions, independently adjustable stops against which said members hear when inactive, and substantially constant-speed driving means to actuate said members in alternation.

9. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a series of electric-switches, a fulcrumed cam common to and designed to operate said switches, a lever having a loose connection with said cam, a spring mechanism to snap said lever in either of two directions after it has reached a definite point in its travel, and driving means to actuate said lever, including a pair of members movable in opposite directions and designed to alternately engage and to rock said lever in opposite directions, independently adjustable stops against which said members bear when inactive, and substantially constant-speed driving means to actuate said members in alternation.

10. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a series of electric-switches, an expansible and contractible cam common to and adapt ed to operated said switches, a lever having a loose connection with said cam, a spring mechanism to snap said lever in either of two directions after it has reached a definite point in its travel, and driving means to operate said lever.

11. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described, the combination of a series of electric-switches, an expansible and contractible cam common to and adapted to operate said switches, actuating means for said cam including a pair of members movable in opposite directions, the one member when actuated designed to close one oi said switches, the other member when moved adapted to close another of said switches, adjustable stops against which said members respectively hear when inactive, the adjustment of said stops determining the closing periods of said switches, and means to cause said driving means to operate said members in alternation. l

12. In an electric-switching appliance of the character described. the combination of a series of electric-switches, a fulcrumed expansible and contractible cam common to and adapted to operate said switches, a lever havinga loose connection with said cam, a spring mechanism to snap said lever in either of two directions after ithas reached a definite point in its travel, an abutment adjustable on said lever to vary the action of the latter on said cam and switches, a pair of members movable in opposite directions and designed to alternately engage said abut ment and rock said lever in opposite directions, independently-adjustable stops against which said members hear when inactive, and substantially constant-speed driving means actuating said members in alternation.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR J. EV ERS.

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