US1718478A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1929. H. F. MORSE ELE7TRIG swn'cn Filed llay 24, 1927 Inventor Harold F Morse, b5 M His Attofney Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES A 1,718,478 PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD I. MORSE, OF SO"UTIJHPOR'Jt, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL ELECTRIC 1 COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF-NEW YORK.

rinnc rmo swxron Application filed. my 24,

My invention relates toswitches for electric circuits. More particularly the Invention relates to switches adapted for use in connection with electric motors and the like and in particular for use in connection with threespeed motors.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a switch with rows of contacts on a rotatable element and a ratchet device for advancing the element one step at a time; to provide a device. of the foregoing character in which a series of brushes are used in connection with the rotatable clement, one of the brushes arranged to engage all of the con- (acts in a row and each of theothcr brushes arranged to engage one contact in each row;

to provide'a device in which alever' is mounted to oscillate. about th'eaxis of the rotatable element; to provide-ratchet means associated with said lever whereby the retatable device may be advanced one'step at a time upon each oscillation of the'lever; to provide contacts forthe drum in the form of links with T heads; the said heads form"- iug the contacts of the drum, the'links between the heads being en'ibedded in recesses in the drum whereby. the brushes may pass over the links without establishingcontact therewith; and to provide other features in the form of improvementsfor increasing the efliciency and serviceability of the device above referred to. Y t

The invention will be readily understood from "the following specification and drawing. in which drawing- Fig. 1 shows the switch of the invent-ion .m POI'HPGPHVGI 1 lg.

" 2 slums the details of the rotatable device and its contacts in a so-callcd exploded form: F ig. 3 shows the drum sections as-- Illll)l((l-\\'ll'll. their contacts 1n posit on and 'shows the shaft, the ratchet and the spring restoring mechanism associated with the drum; Fig. 4 shows the devlce of the 1nven-' tion in perspective and with a portion ofthe cap broken away showing the position of the brushes in thc device; Fig. 5 shows'a diagrammatic layout of the brushes, contacts and circuits leading to a motor under the control of the switch; Fig. 6 is a section through the drum corresponding to a plane through the line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Referring .more in detail to thedrawing, it will be seen that the drum is made up of a number of sections 2, 3, 4, 5' and 6, of insulating material. In Fig. 3 these sections or 1927. Serial No. 193,764.

elements are shown assembled upon a tube 7, The cylinder is provided with a head piece 8 which forms a portion of the ratchet mechanism. The other portion of the ratchet mechanism consists of the element 9 provided with the arm 10. In Fig. 3 there is shown a shaft 11 and the remaining elements in Fig. 3 are assembled upon this shaft. The elements shown in Fig. 3 are mounted on the shaft 11 in the order in which they are shown in this figure. First in order will appear the bushing 12, then the element 9, and then the cylinder A. The order of these elements in their assembled form within the device can be readily perceived from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2. \Vhen the, elements are assembled upon the shaft 11, the end of the retractilc spring 13 is caught in a spur 13 at the base of the lever 10. It will be understood that the shaft 11 and the bushing 12 are fixed with respect to the casing 14 of the, device. The bushing 12, it will be seen, is provided with the prongs 15, 180 apart, which prongs engage suitable openings in the casing 14 of the device as indicated in Fig. 1. It will also be seen that the prongs. 16 on the ratchet element 8 engage the corresponding recesses in the element 6 of the cylinder. The contact linksl7, 18 and 19 which are mounted on the cylinder are provided each with T heads ' 20'and 21, 22 and 23, 24 and 25.' The link 17 when in position in the cylinder lies in the recesses 26 and eitends through the slots 27 in the elements 3, 4 and 5 of the cylinder.

Similarly, the link 18 lies in the recess 28 of,

the element 4 of the cylinder and passes through the slots 29 in the elements 4 and 5.

Likewise, the link joining the contact heads 24 and passes through the slot 30 in the element 5 of the cylinder .The positions of the links 17 and 18 are clearly indicated in Fig. 3. \Vhen the links are in place the contacts or heads of the links rest upon the shoulders of the elements 2, 3, land 5, as indicated in the figures and the contact elements 21, 23and 25 rest upon the element 5 as indicated in Fig. 6. Referring to the diagrammatic switch in'Fig. 5, the brushes 31, 32 and 33 are illustrated in alignment respectively with the contacts 20, 22, 24, while the brush 34 is illustrated in alignment with the contacts 21, 23,25. The direction of rotation of the cylinder A is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. This direction of moveare provided'withprojections 43. It will with the conductor 35 which leads to a suiti ment is also'indicated in Fig. 5'by an arrow.

Itwill be seen that the brush 34gis connected able source of potential, while the motor 36 is connected with the conductor 37, which also leads to the same source of potential, while the brush 33 is connected with the other side of the motor direct. On the other hand,' the brush- 32 is-connected with the with the same side of the motor-through the same side of the motor through a resistance element 38, while the brush 31 is connected resistance elements 39 and 38 in series. It

- will be seen, therefore,that' when the link 19 is under the brushes 33 and 34 thespced of the motor will be maximum, while when the link. 18 is under the brushes the circuit will extend through the brushes 34 and 32 and the' speed of .the' motor will be an intermediate speed. Finally, when the link 17 is under the brushes the circuit of the motor is closed through the brushes 31 and. 34 with the res. sult that the motor operates at minimum 3 speed. In. Fig. 5 I have indicated a dottedsection over the link 17 in'alignment with tl1eterminal22, Similarly, I have indicateda dott'e'd section over the link 18 in alignment with the Contact 19; This dotted'section is intended to indicate-that the brushes do not about the shaft 11 the ratchet device com- .prising the. elements 8 and '9 is brought into operation; Normally the teeth J40 on, the

.element S engage with the slots 41 on the 40' element 9a deach time that the lever 10 is pressed forward in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 the cylinder A isad- 'vanoed one step and the tension isincrea'sed in the spring 13. U on the lever 10 being released ;it is restore by said'sp'ring; Ifit is assumed that before the lever 10 is-pressed forward, the brushes tacts of the link 17, then when the cylinder -is rotated'the circuit is broken through the resistance element 39 and a new circuit established through the brushes 32 and 34 by way of the link 18 Upon again operating the er is advanced another .lever the circuit through the motor 36 is broken; Upon operating the-lever 10 once more connection is again closed through the motor 36 byway of the link 17. .This cycle ofoperation may repeated any number of 'contact simultaneously with one'of the segtimes. 7

' It will be seen that the linksf17, 18 and 19 to its normal poition also be seen that-the elements 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are provided witli recesses 44 which receive the proj ections-43 foranchoring the links and contactsin position. In order to hold all of the'elements of the cylinder -to ether, the

washer 42 is slid over the end 0 thetube,"

after which the end is. peened to form a head or rivet similar to the head 42. The

elements of the cylinder therefore areglield securely inposition on-thecylinder be-.

tween the heads 42 and 42?.

It will be seen,'therefore, that applicant has devised an improved electric circuit switch having a cylinder A of insulating material mounted to rotate about its longi tudinal axis, which extends through the cen- .ter of the shaft 11- The cylinder Axis formed by assembling the various sections --2, 3, 4, 5, each of which is provided 'with a set of detents, some of which are transversely cut by slots, such as the slots 27,, .29-and 30.

-It will be seen that the slots in certain s'ections of thecylinder constitute depressions between. detents on enclosing segments of the cylinder, for example, the slot 26 con:

stitutes a depression extending to the right of segment 2 of the cylinder Fig, 2. The

detents in each segment are, of course, located ll'l alignment in transverse order .of

the cylinder; Likewise, the depressions in each segment of the cylinder are located in ahgnment'm transverse order ofthe cylinder. The commutator segments are con nected by link sections such as' the link sections 17, 18 and 19.. Furthermore, the seg-. ments 20 and 21 are disposed transversethe longitudinal axis of the-U formation of the metal element. The U formation of the 5 metal elements is distinctly shown in Fig. 2. In the assembled device as shown "in Fig. 4 the brushes 31, 32, 33', 34,. are shown mounted transverse the cylinder'and rest in freeengagement with the cylinder so that the cylinderma'y bereadilyfrotxited under the brushes in-the direction of the arrow. With the arrangement described, for ex- M v 'ample,'the brushes 31 and 34, when the cylfi g g m i the 0011- 'i'mder reaches a given position, snapsimultaneously'from detents on the cylinder into" engagement with the commutator segments 20 and 21, that is, the brush 31 will snap from the toe of onept the teeth of the segment 2 on to'the heel'of the next tooth andon top of the segment 20, while thebrush 34 will snap from the toe of the detent 'in ment elements and making-contact simu taneously with another segment element. It will be seen-that the commutator segments tion. It will be seen that'the cylinder cona similar sists of as many. segments as there are brushes and that each segment is formed oi a drum element with detents arranged in consecutive order around the drum and that the drum is provided with a head flange, which head flange is transversely slotted in order to provide depressions in the cylinder for receiving the link portions of the metal elements, the ends of which form the commutator segments. It will be understood that the cylinder can only be rotated in one direction indicated by the arrow Fig. 4 inasmuch as the detentsin combination with the brushes operate to prevent the cylinder from rotating in a direction counter to that indicated by the arrow in Figs. 3 and 4. In the construction shown it will be seen that the teeth are all in phase. This is indicated, for example, in Fig. 2,. that is, the teeth are in alignment in a direction transverse the flanges of the drum sections which form the body element or cylinder. This arrangement enables the brushes to all snap simultaneously from the toes of one set of teeth to the heels of another set of teeth. However,'the slots ordepressions for receiving the link sections of the metal elements are notin phase." 7

While I have disclosed my invention in connection with specific apparatus and circuits, I do not wish .to be so limited inasmuch as in view of the disclosure variations may obviously be produced without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the claims contained herein.

\Vhat 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is r 1. An electric switch having a body elen'ient of'insnlating material mounted to 'ro tale about its'longitudinal axis, a series of detents forn'ied lengthwise said body element. :1 metalelement having a pair of terminals and a metal link connecting the latter, one such metal element being mounted on each of said detents with the link thereof extending lengthwise the detent, a plurality of brushes. one individual to one terminal on each detentand one common to one terminal on each detent, the terminals common to the common brush being located in alignment with each other and with their.

brush along a plane transverse the said body element and each individual brush being mounted in alignment with its contact along plane. one of saidplanes being interposed between two others, said brushes being so mounted with respect to their contacts and with respect tothe detents that one end of each brush snaps from detentto detent as the said body rotates, the said in- .terpos'ed plane extending transverse one of said links on one of said detents, a depres sion in the latter detent between the terminals thereon, the link joining said terminals being located in said depression whereby when the switch rotates, the brush along the interposed plane will not make contact with the link in depression.

2.; An electric switch having a body element of insulating material mounted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, a series of detents formed lengthwise said body element, a metal elementhaving a pair of terminals and a metal link connecting the latter, one such metal element being mounted on each of said detents with the link thereof extending lengthwise .the detent, a plurality of brushes, one individual to one terminal on each detent and one common to one terminal on each detent, the terminals common to the common brush being located in alignment with each other and with their brush along a plane transverse the said body element. and each individual brush being mounted in alignment with its contact along a similar plane, one of said planes being interposed between two others, said brushes being so mounted with respect to their eon-' tacts and with respect to the detents that one end of each brush snaps from detent to detent as the said body rotates, the said interposed plane extending transverse one of said links on one of said detents, a depression in, the latter detent between the terminals thereon, the link joining said terminals being lo -ated in said depress -n whereby when the switch rotates, the brush along the interposed plane will not make contact with the link in said depression, said contacts and brushes being so related that when the said body element is rotated contact is made and broken simultaneously between a pair of said brushes and one of said'metal elements.

3. An electric switch having .a body ele-' ment of insulating material mounted to 1'0- tate about its longitudinal axis, a series of detents formed lengthwise said body element, a metal element having a pair of terminals and a metal link connecting the lat-' ter, one such metal element being mounted alignment with its contact along a. similar plane, one of said planes being interposed between two others, said brushes being so mounted with respect to their contacts and with respect to the detents that one endof each brush snaps from detent to detentas plane exten ngtransverse one of said links on gne of said detents, a depre'ssion in the latter detent between the terminals thereon, the link joining said terminals being locatedin: said depression whereby the said body rotates, the .said interposed 'when the switch rotates, the brush along the interposed plane will not make contact with the link in said depression, said body element being formed of a series of sections,

each section bounded by two parallel planes 3 transverse the axis of the body element, and

means for securing said sections together along the axis of the saidbody element.

4. An electric switchhaving a body elementof insulating material mounted to ro-' tate about its longitudinal axis, a series of thecommon brush being located in 1 align ment with each other and with their brush along a plane transverse'the said body elemerit and each individualbrushbeing mounted in alignment with its contact along a similar' plane, one of said planes being in terposed between two others, said brushes being so mounted with respect to their con tacts and with respect to the detents that'one I end of each brush snaps from detent to detent as the said body rotates, the said interposed plane extending. transverse'one of said l. links on one of said detents, a depression in the latter detent between the terminals thereon, the link joining said terminals being located in said depression whereby when the switch rotates, the brush along the inter- .posed plane will not make contact with-the "FYGISG the axis of the body element, and

means for securing said sections together toialong the ax s of the said body element, one brush being providedfor each section, each section having alfiange head extending beyond the detents, one of the heads be ing located along one of said planes transverse pgovided said depression, said head being with a slot in alignment wit h saidde ressionto permit said link corresponding to said depression being imbeddedtherein.

ment of insi lating'material mounted to T0: tate about its longitudinal'axis,a series of detents' formed lengthwise said body elecommon brush, said brushes being mounted n operative relation with respect to their .link in said'depression, said body element -be-[ h ing formed of a series ot sections, e'ach-sec 7 :--t i on boun'ded-l'iy two parallel .plan'es .transsaid brushes being mounted in operative relation with respect to their corresponding ment, a metal element havinga pair of terminals and ,a metal link connecting the latter, one such metal element being mounted .'on each of said detentswit-h the link thereof extending lengthwise the detent, aplurality v of brushes, mire-individual: to one terminal .ment and each individual brush being mounted in alignment with its contact along a similar plane, said planes being, displaced with respect to each other, the planes throughthe individual brushes being all located to one side of the plane through the corresponding'contacts whereby the contacts are engaged by their corresponding brushes as the body element is rotated, certain of said links extending transverse. certain of said planes, the links thus crossed by such I planes being deflected out of the path of the brushes corresponding to such plane. 6. An electrieswitch having a body element of insulating material mounted to rotate about its longitudinal axis, a series of detents formed lengthwise said body element, a metal element having, pair of termina-ls and a metal link connecting the latter, one such metal element being mounted on each of said detents with the link thereof extending lengthwise the detent, a plurality of brushes, one individual t0= one terminal on each detent and one common to one terminal on eachdetent, the-terminals common tothe common brush being'loc-ated in alignment with each other and with their brush along a plane transverse the said body element and' each individual brush being mounted in alignment with its contact along a similar plane, said planes being displaced with respect to each other, the planes through the individual brushes being all located-to .one side of the plane through the commonbrush,

contacts wheirby the .contacts aieengaged by their correspondingbrushes as the body element is rotated, certain of said links 'exele ment whereby the brushes corresponding to the intercepting planes are prevented from. 'makmg contact with such links; An electric switch having a body ele- HAROLD IF. MoasE."

tendin transverse certain of said planes, the links t as intercepted by said planes being). -imb'edded in depressionsi-n .said bod r

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