US1805021A - Electromagnetic selector device - Google Patents

Description

May l2y 1931.` c. w. soMr-:RsGALE ET Al.v 1,805,021

ELECTROMAGNETIC SELECTOR DEVICE Y A Filed May 7. 192s yiti Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED s'rlrras PATENT omer:

, CHARLES vvILLIAJiI` soimnsenn AND JOHN ANDREW BELILE, or MONTEVIDEO, I r o URUGUAY ELECTROMAGNETIC SELECTOR DEVICE Application filed Hay 7, 1928, Serial No. 275,806, and in Great Britain December 7, 1927.

`This invention comprises a radial selector which consists of a number of electro-inagnets corresponding to the number of kfunctions to be operated arranged in such a manner that their poles are equidistant from a common armature which is suspended or so held as to enable it to have the freedom of movement necessary to assure the required operation on its being attracted by any one electro-magnet.

`On any one magnet being energized, the armature is attracted and retainedl so long as the energizing current is applied and if duringthis period any other magnet or magnets in the system be energized, the attraction or resultant attraction thereof is insufficient to dislocate the armature since the attractive force to which the armature is subjected by the magnet to which it has been drawn is greater than the force or resultant of the total forces to" which it is subjected by the energization of any one or more of the other magnets in the system. f,This is due to the fact that the armature is at a greater distance fromthe poles of the other magnets ythan it is from the one by which it was attracted in the firstv instance'and further vto the fundamental law that the attractive force varies inversely as the square of the distance.

The attraction of the ball or equivalent by any one magnet is made usev of to operate a 'contacter bank of contacts for the making and breaking oflocal or other circuits the device being then purely and simply a selective relay with certain inherent peculiari ties.

It is possible to employ the device to perform some function other than the operation of contacts, thus the basic principle may be expressed as follows o Any number ofelectro-magnets are placed in such relation to a common armature as to enable any one of the said magnets to attract the said armature and to retain it so long as the energizing current be applied, with a magnetic attraction greater than thatto which it is subjected by the subsequent concomitant energization of any other magnet in the system or resultant attraction of any combination thereof, thus providing an electrically per plated to avoid rust and prevent physioperated selective device for the making and breaking of circuits or for other functions.

An embodiment -of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

' Fig. 2 a plan view.

Fig. 3 a vertical section.

- Figli a section on line 4.-4 of Fig. 3.

The device is shown as adapted to operate a plurality of pairs of contacts a, b, eight pairs being shown in the drawings, there being providedpfor each pair of contacts: an electromagnet c, mounted between two frame members d, e the cores c1 of said magnets being 05 secured to the base member l and projecting upwardly through the member e to a capping plate f. The member e is provided with a concave or dished surface e1 in which an armature, in the form of a ball g, normally rests, the concave surface being such that said armature Will have freedom of movement-in the direction ofthe energized magnet and the magnets being so arranged that their poles are equidistant from said armature in its nor.- mal position.

A ring h is interposed between the frame member e and the capping plate-f and is provided with inwardly directed shoulders or abutments h1, the shoulders being equally spaced between the cores of the magnets in such' a mannerthat when the armature is attracted by any one of the said magnets, it

'abuts against the adjacent shoulders, the armature being thus prevented from contacting 5 with any other magnet, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. l

The contacts a, b are conveniently mounted on the base member d as by means of screws d1, the inner one of each of said pairs of contacts being provided at its upper endwith an inwardlydirected pin or the like b1 passing through a hole 02 in the core c1 of eachmagnet and upon energization of'one of the magnets, the respective pin is engaged by the armature g to close the circuit between contacts a and b. c

The ball or equivalent should be of soft iron of high permeability and should be copelectro-magnet.

cal contact of iron to iron which is Vundesirable in all electro-magnetic devices where a small amount of residual magnetism can be a disadvantage. Y

One of the uses for which this device is suitable isin an intercommunication telephone system` wherein each instrument lis fitted with one of these selectors having vas many `ymagnetsas there are instruments in the system lesstone.

On ringing up any subscriber in the system by means of a mechanical stick button the battery current is applied to one coil of the callers, and onecoil of the called, instrument. It isonly necessary for the receiver to be removed from the latter instrument to establish communication. Owing tothe principles-mentioned any other stations calling those which are :thus in communication are unable to interfere or establish communication therewith .since although they are able to energize. the coils of the relays in the instrument calledv -they are unable to attract thearmature and their-lines remain dead. until the previous communication is terminated and the electro-magnets defenergized bythe replacementof the receivers.

-With this device the system can of course be elaborated to provideall the additional indicationsof. special combinationssometimes furnished in apparatus of this v.type for specialreasons. n f

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is.:--.,.- Y

l. AnA electro-magnetic ,selector device comprising incombination a plurality of in.- dependently energizable electro-magnets,

not less than three,disposed in aV circle about -acommoncentrean armature, and means for normally holding said armature at said .functions to be operated,a common armavturein 'theform of a ball, meanswhereby the said armature'is normallyfheld` equidistant from said magnets when the latter are not energized said armature having freedom of "movement in the direction ,of an. energized electro-magnet. f Y I 3.1An 'electro-magnetic selector device comprising in combination, a numberof elec-y tro-magnets corresponding to thenumber of functions tobe operated,a common armature 4in the formof a ball', al concave surface upon which said,I armature` is normally held equidistant'from'A said Vmagnets whenthe latter are not energized and allowed freedom of vmovement necessary to assure .the required operation in the direction of an energized 4. An electro-magnetic selector device comprising in combination a number of electro-magnets corresponding to the number of functions to be operated, a common armature, means whereby the said armature is rnormally held equidistant from said magnets when the latter are notenergized said farmature having freedom of movement in the direction of any energized electro-magnet, and

abutments interposed between the cores of said magnets to ensurecontact of the armature with only one of the cores.

5. An electro-magnetic selector device comprising in combination, `a number of pairs of contacts, a number of electro-magnets corresponding thereto, an inwardly extending pin on the inner of'each pair of contacts, the core of eachmagnet having ai hole for the passage ofsaid pin and acomm'on armature which upon attraction by the core of any of the vmagnets operates the contacts corre-` spending to said magnet.

. 6. An electro-magnetic selector device comprising in combination a number of vpairs of cont-acts, a number of electro-magnets corresponding thereto, a common armature in the `form of a ball, means whereby the said armature is normally held equidistant from said magnets ywhen the latter are not Aenergized, an inwardly extending'pin on the each magnet having a holefor the passage of said pin andsaid armature upon attractionby kthe core of an energized magnet enf the pair of contacts corresponding to said magnet.V e l .f f 7. An electroemagnetic selector device comprisingin combination a number of pairs of contacts, a number of `electromagnets corresponding thereto, a common armature in the forml of a ball, a member having a concave surface upon which said armature isnormally held equidistant from said magnets when the latter are` not energized and yallowed freedom of movement in the directionl of an energized magnet, an `inwardly extending pinjon the inner of each pair of contacts, thecoreofeach magnet havnga hole for `the .passage of said pm', said armature upon attraction by the core of an energized magnet .engaging the pineto ,close the circuit between the pairs ofcontacts corresponding to said magnet. n

8. An 'electro-magnetic selector device comprising in combination `af number of pairs of contactsa number OfelectrO-magnets corresponding thereto, a common armatureI in theformof a ball, a member having a concave surface upon which said armature is normally held equidistant from said magnets when thelatter are not energized'and allowed `freedom of movement inthe direction ofan energized 1nagnet,"abutments interposed between the cores of'said magnets,

)5 inner ofi each pair of contacts,f.the core. of

gaging the pin to yclose the circuit between 10 izo an inwardly extending pin on the inner of each pair of contacts, the core of each magnet having a hole for the passage of said pin, said armature upon attraction by the core of an energized ma et engaging the pin to close the circuit etween the pairs of contacts corresponding to said magnet.

In Witness whereof we have signed this specification. CHARLES WILLIAM SOMERSGALE. JOHN ANDREW BELILE.

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