US1682938A - Electrical controller - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1928.

A. SIMON ELECTRI CAL CONTROLLE R Filed Feb. 2 1 '2 Sheets-Sheet l ILJ INVENTOR. Mm fi/imm BY A TTORNEY Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,938

' A. SIMON ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 2. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i i A V L d 2 3 x. J 3 4 a 5 '13 I I V 26 7O 2* WHITE F001 wmTE MASTER &/ 110% g v fi 3e ol 7+ :2? 44. 25 W 55- as: .J

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mid WW BY Q W A TTORNEY' Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITE-D STATES ARTHUR SIMON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER m. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION WISCONSIN.

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER.

This invention relates to electrical controllers, and while not limited thereto, is particularly a plicable in illumination control systems or theatres and the like.

An object of the invention is that of concentrating, simplifying and generally improving the arrangement of the various Vo luntary control inst-rumentalities employed in such systems.

Another object is'that of concentrating and improving the structure of such instrumentalities and promoting standardization and interchangeability thereof.

Another, and more specific object. is that of providing a simple, rugged and reliable unit embodying the instrumentalities necessary to control an individual load circuit and adaptable, without substantial modification, to the needs of other coordinate c1rcuits.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a control unit embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view substantially at right angles to the plane of Flg. 1' a Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing arrangement, circuit connections and functions of such unit; while,

Fig. 4 is also a diagrammatic view showing a proposed physical arrangement of the units.

Referring first to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the same illustrates diagrammatically and in simplified form a type of theatre dimmer to which the present structure has been particularly adapted, although it is to be understood that the physical elements of the con troller are equally applicable to other types of dimmer and other control.

In said figure are illustrated lamp load circuits 5, 6, 7and 8 typifying the various lamp circuits ordinarily employed in theatres and the like, and for convenience and f clarity of description being designated respcctively as white foot, white border, red foot and red border circuits. Said circuits are adapted to be energized from a suitable source, or sources, of alternating current indicated at L L subject to control by means of individual variable reactors 9, 10, 11 and 12 and relays 13, 14, 15 and 16 which latter serve to control continuity of the respective load circuits.

The reactors 9 to 12 may be of known or conventional form each to comprise A. C. coils 17 and 18 and a control or pilot coil 19 to he energized from a source such as L L of unidirectional current or optionally of alternating current of lower frequency than that of lines L L Said coils are related in a known manner such that variation in an electrical condition such as current or voltage of the energization supplied to the coil 19 serves to vary the inductance of the coils 17 and 18 and thereby to vary the intensity of illumination of the lamps controlled by the reactor, whereas the degree of energization of the coil 19 required to efi'ect'such control may be exceedingly small as compared to the value ofenergy carried in the load circuits, whereby such coil 19 and the parts directly associated therewith may be of much reduced size and capacity and of simplified construction.

Rheostats 20, 21, 22 and 23 provide for control of the energization of the respective coils 19 associated with the several reactors whereby each rheostat serves to control the value of energization of the lamps of a particular circuit. I

The relays 13 to 16 are each provided with a closing coil 24 and an opening coil 25 to be energized from supply lines L and L and each of said relays is further adapted to remain in either closed or open position until positively actuated to the other position.

The closing coils 24 of the respective relays are provided with individual voluntarily operable switches 26, 27, 28 and 29, whereas the opening coils are controllable individually by similar switches 30, 31, 32

and 33. Each of said switches 26 to 33 is group being provided for each color of the illumination to be controlled, in the present instance two, the white color master group comprising an on switch 34 and an oif switch 36 and the red color master group similarly comprising an on switch and an off switch 37. Said color master switches are each structurally and functionally similar to the individual control switches just described, each serving inone on position to connect each of the coils whose control circuit has been relayed thereto directly across the supply circuit and also serving in its-opposite on position to further extend the control of such coils to the appropriate grand master switch. The grand master switches 38 and 39 may also be made structurally similar to those aforedescribed. However, the same when moved to either on position serve simply to connect across the supply circuit the C011 or coils Whose control has been relayed thereto.

The control of the several rheostats 20 to 23 may be preferably relayed mechanically through the red and white color intensity control levers 40 and 41 to a master intensity control lever .42 substantially as illustrated although of course this feature is not absolutely essential.

Each of relays 13 to 16 is also provided with an auxiliary contact 4?; serving, when its associated relay is closed, to effect energization of a pilot light 44 thereby providing visible indication as to the open or closed condition of the individual lamp load circuits.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the individual control for each lamp circuit may consist of but two double throw manual switches, a rhcostat and a ilot lamp, whereas the various groups 0 master switches may comprise fewer but not more elements whereby a unit embracing the aforementioned elements is entirely ade uate to the needs of any individual switch group, whereas in certain instances, as in the. color and grand master switches, the pilot lights may be omitted. Also since such instrumentalities are required to handle onl pilot or control currents of small magnitu e as compared with that of the load currents, such parts may all be of reduced size and capacity and of compact and simplified construction.

Referring to Figs. 1- and 2, the same illustrate such a switch unit comprising a pair of double throw switches such as 26 and 30, a rhcostat such as 20 and a pilot light 44.

A suitably flanged support indicated generally at 45 serves. to sustain and also preferably to house any desired number of such units, the necessary or desired number of supports together with their associated units constituting the controller switch board.

A switch plate 46, which in practice may comprise a single casting or the like is ada ted to have the aforementioned )arts of t e unit bolted or otherwise secured t ereto for support thereby. Said plate 46' is provided with projecting flanges 47 and 48 to rest upon and be secured to the corre and thereby afford access to the adjacent surfaces of said two bases. If desired the foregoing parts may preferably be so designed and proportioned as to provide for securement thereof in assembled relation by common means such as the bolts 52 illustrated. The rhcostat contactor 53 and its operat ing means may be of conventional construction, the contactor being preferably carried by the usual operating lever 54 and spring biased to engage the various turns of the resistor substantially as shown in a usual manner. The operating lever 54 is itself mounted preferably upon a shaft 55 and movable with reference thereto but provided with conventional means such as those illustrated for locking the same to said shaft.

The pilot lamp 44 which may also be of known construction, is preferably carried by 3 and within a suitable socket provided in the switch plate 46 as shown.

The switches 26 and 30 are preferably of similar construction, eachcomprising a pair of similar spring pressed fixed contacts 56 each carried by an angle bracket 57 bolted to the base 49 to provide opposed positioning and suitable spacing of the respective pairs of contacts as shown. Similar flexible contactors 58,- 58, which in practice may be consimilar operating means comprising a double faced cam element 60 mounted for oscillation upon a suitable stafi'fil projecting from the base 49. A suitable operating handle is formed integral with or otherwise suitably secured to each cam element. Further, said element is particularly designed, preferably substantially as shown, whereby upon move-' ment of .the switch handle in one direction, as to the right, for closure of the right hand contacts the resiliency of the latter is maintained effective for causing o ening of the switch automatically'when re ease'd. However, upon movement of the switch handle to the left the active cam projection tends to become cocked, whereas the flat portion (32 of the cam element comes into register with the unactuated contactor whereby the resiliency of the latter serves, in conjunction with the aforementioned cocking action to maintain the closed contacts in closed relation until positively released. Also the resiliency of both eontactors serves to bias the operating members to their intermediate or neutral position wherein both switches are open. In ractice the right hand contactors of each switch which thus require holding 1n closed relation are preferably so connected in circuit as to control the connection of their associated relay coils directly to the supply circuit, whereas the left hand contacts, which do not require such holding, are arranged to control the connection of the coil to the master switches.

A suitable face plate 63 is arranged to cover the aforedescribed instrumentalities, being secured to the switch plate 46 and the housing 45 preferably as illustrated, said plate having suitable openings for the swltch operating members and for the lamp 44 and being further provided at its edge with an interrupted portion as illustrated at 64 to receive the rheostat lever 54 and permit operation thereof. By the foregoing arrangement the face plate may be removed laterally with reference to the rheostat lever, the projecting portions of the other levers being also shaped to permit such removal.

Also the general arrangement of the unit is such as to permit side by side mounting of any desired number of units with their several face plates abutting one another laterally as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. Further, it is apparent that any necessary or desired number of such rows of units may be banked one above the other as illustrated particularly in Fig. 4. Thus the extreme compactness of arrangement to which the aforedescribed system of units lends itself is strikingly apparent, whereas the individual units, being required to handle only pilot circuits, may be of minimum size, capacity and complexity.

Referring again to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the various circuit connections of the controller may be described as follows: The circuit of the lamps 5 extends from line L by conductor 65 through relay 13 thence by conductor 66 through coils l7-and 18 of the reactor 9 and through lamps 5 to line L. The other lamp circuits are precisely similar.

The control circuit for the reactor 9 extends from line L by conductor 67 through coil 19 of said reactor, thence by conductor 68 through rheostat 20 and by conductor 69 to line L, whereas the other control current circuits are also similar to that last traced.

The energizing circuit of the closing coil ductors 74 and 7 5 to grand master switch 38 and through said latter switch when in either of its on-positions by conductors 76 and 73 to line L.

The remaining control circuits are either similar to that last traced or so obviously related thereto and associated therewith as to require no further description, whereas the circuits of the several pilot lights are likewise obvious.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controller for a plurality of light-- ing circuits, in combination, individual electromagnetic switches for controlling the continuity of such circuits, individual current control means for said circuits each including a rheostat, and a remote control switchboard comprising interchangeable sections each including an operating member for certain ofsaid. rheostats and a pair of double throw switches, certain of said double throw switches being arranged to directly control one of said electromagnetic switches or to extend the control of said electromagnetic switch to another of said double throw switches.

2. In a controller for dimmers and the like, the combination with a plurality of variable reactors to regulate the energy consumption of individual load circuits and individual control rheostats for said reactors, of individual electro-responsive switches for controlling continuity of the load circuits, voluntarily operable switches for the energizing circuits of said electro-responsive switches and voluntary control means, such voluntary instrumentalities being arranged in compact and interchangeable units each unit comprising those elements required to control a single load circuit and each of said elements being of lesser energy handling capacity than that of its associated load circuit.

3. In a controller for dimmers and the like, -the combination with a plurality of variable reactors to regulate the energy consumption of individual load circuits and individual control rheostats for said reactors, of continuity control means for said load circuits comprising individual relays each having independent opening and closing coils, control means for said coils comprising individual double throw switches each adapted in one position to complete the circuit of its associated coil directly and in a different position to extend the control of such coil to a master.

4:. In an illumination control system the combination with a plurality of lighting circuits and magnetic amplifiers associated with said circuits respectively, of a rheostat for controlling the magnetic amplifier of each of said circuits, individual electroma netic switches for control ofthe continuity 0 such circuits anda remote control switch board comprisin interchangeable sections each having a r eostat operating lever and a pair of manuall operated swltches, certain of said manual operated switches being adapted to direct y control one of said electromagnetic switches or to extend the control of such switch to a manually operated switch of another of said sections.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name. a I

a r ARTHUR SIMON.

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