US1863694A - Relay mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1932. R PADMORE 1,863,694

RELAY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l WNW ax? QQ'W June 21, 1932. B. R. PADMORE RELAY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 21, 1932.

B. R. PADMORE RELAY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 06'. 12PM, L-X'W Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BERTRAM READ PADMORE, 0F NEWPORT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNION SWITCH 8c SIGNAL COMPANY, 033 SWISSVALE, PENN- SYLVANIA, A COR-POBATIQN OF PENNSYLVANIA RELAY MECHANISM Application filed. Augustm, 1930, Serial No. 474,851, and in Australia August 14, 1928.

The present invention refers to the control of related circuits, with timed intervals be? tween the functioning of same, by electrical relay mechanism, principally in train control equipment, which is applicable to the performance of eithera time element closing relay or a time element opening relay, the latter being differentiated from the former in that the front contacts are closed immediately when the relay is energized and are not opened until a predetermined time after the relay is deenergized.

Briefly stated the improvements reside essentially inthe provision of means interposed between the usual toothed quadrant or seg' ment, directly operated by the energization of the relay and the usual slotted link controlling the pivoted carrier of the contacts of the related circuits, which contacts are actuated into the open or closed positions at the expiry of a predetermined timed interval, which means will (inter alia) constitu'te a materially simplified construction with reduction of assembly and manufacturing cost.

In the present forms of these relays in the case of a closing relay, the energization of the relay is utilized to store energy in a spring (hereinafter referred to as the spring type.) while in'the case'of an opening relay the fall of the segment on deenergization of the relay and which was previously raised by energization of the relay would be utilized to store the energy mentioned. consequent 1y in-the functioning of the closing relay in the case of a reduced voltage condition the tension. applied to the spring is below normal and'thus the retarding mechanism can only be operated at a slower speed than normal or for which it is set, resulting in a greater time interval.

In the caseof both opening and closing relays of the spring type mentioned, the energization of the latter to raise the segment and thedeenergization of the former to allow the segment to drop immediately operates to store energy in the spring, which lat terthen actuatesthe retarding mechanism which uses the energy from the spring as it is being stored in the latter.

It has been found in the spring type of relay mentioned that a certain indefinite and uncontrollable variable period occurs before the energy being stored in the spring can commence to operate, resulting in variation of the timed interval between the opening or closing, or vice versa, of the contacts.

According to the present improvements the storage of energy for subsequent utilization in actuating the retarding mechanism is completely and positively effected during the period of time occurring after the said mechanism has operated, and in which period the contacts are restored to the normal position, which is a distinct advantage over the abovementioned presentspring type insofar as the energy is stored in readiness at all times for immediate and direct actuation of the retarding mechanism.

Various practical means for the storage of energy during the period states may be used, as for example,a spring or a counterweighted lever controlling the usual pawl bracket and actuated into the energy stored position either by the weight of the segment when falling in the case of a closing relay, or by energization of the usual induction disc motor in the case of an opening relay.

A further feature of the invention consists in the provision for relative or independent movement between the usual segment and the usual pawl bracket so that when the segment is released from the stored energy position in both opening and closing relays, it will permit the movement mentioned which can be utilized to control a contact in a circuit functioning for any desired purpose, as for example a proving circuit. As a practical means for providing said last mentioned further feature, the link which occupies said segment and pawl bracket has a slot and pin connection at each end connection.

The accompanying drawings depict a practical application of these improvements. In these drawings Figure 1 is a plan of the relay with the usual overhead contact carrier removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line II-lI of Figure 1, but including the contact carrier which is notshown in Figure 1.

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Figure 0 is a similar View to Figure 2, showing the parts in the reverse position to that shown in Figure 2.

These figures of drawings are directed towards constructions in an opening relay, only the parts thereof with which the invention is directly concerned being illustrated in detail.

At the outset it is necessary to state that the position of the parts illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 corresponds to that of an opening relay in the normal or energized position with the front contacts closed, whereas in Figure .3 the position of the parts corresponds to that of an opening relay during the period of time directly following the completion of the operation of the retarding mechanism with the front contact in the open position.

Referring now to the drawings, the relay mechanism is shown mounted in a suitable frame comprising a base plate 1 having upstanding side members 2. A top plate TP of suitable insulating material, such as porcelain, is supported on the upper ends of the side members 2, and suspended from this top plate in suitable spaced relation is a fixed front contact F C and a fixed back contact B0. A contact carrier CC is pivotally mounted at 3, and is provided with two contact springs 10 and 11 which are adapted to engage the front contact FC or the back contact BC ac cording as the relay is energized as shown in Fig. 2, or is deenergized as shown in Fig. 3. The contact carrier is also provided with a counterweight 13 and with a substantially horizontal arm a. The counterweight 13 serves to bias the contact carrier to the position shown in Fig. 2, excess rotation of the contact carrier due to the counterweight being prevented by suitable stop 14. The arm a is pivotally connected to the upper end of the usual link SL, the lower end of which is provided with a slot 16. The slot 16 receives a pin 17 carried by a pawl bracket PB. The pawl bracket PB is pivotally mounted at 5 in a suitable framework 18 secured to the base plate 1, and is adapted to drive the retarding mechanism RM of the relayin a manner which will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The retarding mechanism RM is similar to that shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,272,972, granted to Lloyd V. Lewis, on July 16th, 1918, for circuit controllers, and briefly comprises a brake disc 20 which is arranged to be driven by a ratchet wheel: 19 through the medium of a train of gears G interposed between the ratchet wheel and the disc. The brake disc 20 is intended to cooperate with permanent magnets not shown, in such manner that rotation of this disc will set up eddy currents in the disc which will consume energy and oppose the rotation of the disc with a torque which depends upon the speed of the disc.

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The ratchet wheel 19 is adapted to be rotated by means of pawls P which are pivoted on an arm 21 on the pawl bracket PB.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen, that, if the pawl bracket PB is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the pawls P will drive the ratchet wheel 19, thus actuating the retarding mechanism RM, which, of course, retards the movement of the pawl bracket. At the same time, the pin 17 carried by the pawl bracketwill gradually move upwardly in the slot 16 in the lower end of the link SL, so that, after an interval of time, it will engage with the upper end of the slot, and cause the contact finger 10 to open the front contact FC and the contact linger 11 to close the back contact BC. WVhen' the pawl bracket PB is subsequently restored to the position shown in Fig. 2, the pawls P will ride freely 011 the ratchet wheel 19, and the pin 17 will move downwardly to permit the back contact BC to be opened and the front contact FC to be closed by the action of the counterweight 13.

The reference character DM designates a motor, here shown to be of the well known induction disc type, and comprising the usual disc 22 of suitable material, such as aluminum, fixed to a rotatable shaft 28, and adapted to be inductively influenced by the fluxes which are set up in an electromagnet 24 when the associated winding or windings 25 are energized, the parts as here shown being so arranged that, when the windings 25 are energized, the disc 22 will be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed inFigs. 2 and 3. Mounted on the shaft 23 of the motor DM, and connected thereto by a suitable friction clutch 27 of well known construction, is a pin gear 26 which meshes with the usual segment S. This segment is supported on, and is fastened to a spindle 8 which is journalled in suitable bearing screws 28. lVhen the relay is energized, the motor DM rotates the segment S from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which latter position its lower arm engages a pin 30 mounted upon a slider 31 capa- Me of vertical sliding movement along aguide rod 32. The position of the slider 31 is arranged to be vertically adjusted by means of a screw threaded rod 33, traversing a corresponding screw threaded aperture in the slider 31, and adapted to be rotated by inserting a suitable tool, such as a screw driver, into a saw kerf provided in a head 34: located on the upper side of the top plate TP through which the rod 33 passes.

It will be readily understood that when the motor DM has rotated the segment S to the position shown in Fig. 2, due to the energization of the windings 25, the motor will continue to hold the segment in this position as long as the windings, 25 remain energized. As soon, however, as the supply of current to the windings 25 is interrupted, the torque exerted on the disc 22 will cease, and the segment S will then descend, under the influence of gravity, to the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 3.

According to the present invention and as before stated the period of time which occurs following restoration of the parts from the deenergized position shown in Figure 3 to the energized position shown in Figure 2, energy stored in readiness for actuation of the retarding mechanism RM at its next succeeding operation, and during which period'the contactsare restored to the normal position in Figure 2 by the action of the counterweight 13 on the contact carrier.

' In order to achieve this storage during the particular interval of time mentioned, the pivoted pawl bracket PB is controlled by a counterweighted lever CWL, which is conveniently fashioned to constitute an extension of the pawl bracket beyond its pivot 5, V

the pawl bracket PB being linked to the segment- S through link 6 and crank arm 7 on the spindle 8 of said segment S.

In order to provide for the beforementioned further feature of the invention, the link 6 has a slot and pin connection 9 at each end with the pawl bracket PB and arm 7, so that movement of the segment as for example from its elevated position in Figure 2 downwardly is efiected independently of any movement of the link effected by the connection of the latter to the pawl bracket PB.

In order to prove that the segment has dropped, it can be utilized as a switching medium controlling sprin contacts SC.

It will be appreciated rom the foregoing that when the relay becomes energized, the counterweighted lever CVVL, being initially in the position shown in Figure 3 will, by operation of the motor DM be raised into the elevated and energy storage position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As a consequence when the relay next becomes deenergized, the energy stored in the counterweighted lever Cl/VL is immediately and positively available to effect actuation of the retarding mechanism through the driving pawls P carried by the pawl bracket PB.

In the case of a closing relay as will be well understood the front contacts will be normally in the open position and consequently the position of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be difi'erent to the extent that the arm 7 will be located at an angle of anti-clockwise to the position shown in Fig ure 2-, and the segment is in a position at 90 clockwise from the position shown in said Figure 2, the wei ht of the segment S in that case being sufficient to raise and maintain the counterweighted lever in its elevated position. Further, the contacts SC will be located in the upper portion of the relay case and be operated b the segment when the latter is raised by t 1e energizat-ion of the relay.

As before indicated the storage of energy during the period beforementioned may be offected in a spring, in which case in lieu of the counterweighted lever CVVL a spring SP may be fitted as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. with one end attached to a fixed point, as for example the casing and the other end to the pawl bracket PB as shown in said figure.

Obviously a spring such as SP can be contrived in various effective ways for the storage of energy during the period of time beforementioned, which energy will be applied subsequently to the actuation of the pawl U opposite direction independently of said I.

motor, means for retarding the movement of said member when said member is being moved by said counterweight but not when said member is being moved by said motor, a pivoted con-tact carrier biased to one position, and a pin and slot connection between said movable member and said contact carrier for moving the contact carrier to another position during the latter part of the movement of said member by the induction motor and for permitting return of the contact carrier by its bias during the early part of the movement of said member by said counterweight.

2. Relay mechanism comprising two movable members each biased in one direction,

power means for moving said one member in opposition to its biasing means, a rigid link connected with both of said members by pin and slot connections in such manner that movement of said one member by said power means causes positive movement of the other member in opposition to its biasbut that movement of said one member by its bias permits free movement of the other member by its bias, means for retarding the movement of said other member when and only when it is being moved by its bias, and a contact device controlled by said second member.

3. Relay mechanism comprising a first member which is moved in two directions, a second movable member biased in one direction, a :pin and slot connection between said members so arranged that movement of said firs't member in .one direction positively moves said second member in opposition to its bias but that movement of said first member in the opposite direction permits free movement of said second member by its bias, slow acting means for causin a slow movement of said second member by its bias but not for retarding the movement of said second member by said first member, and a contact device controlled by said second member.

4. Relay mechanism comprising a. first member which is moved in two directions, a second movable member, a counterweight for biasing said second member in one direction, a pin and slot connection between said members so arranged that movement of said first member in one direction positively moves said second member in opposition to the bias of said counterweight but that movement of said first member in the opposite direction permits free movement of said second member by said counterweight, slow acting means for causing a slow movement of said second member by its bias but not for retarding the movement of said second member by said first member, and a contact device controlled by said second member.

5. Relay mechanism comprising a first member which is moved in two directions, a second movable member, a spring for biasing said second member in one direction, a pin and slot connection between said members so arranged that movement of said first member in one direction positively moves said second member in opposition to the bias of said spring but that movement of said first member in the opposite direction permits free movement of said second member by said spring, slow acting means for causing a slow movement of said second member by its bias but not for retarding the movement of said second member by said first member, and a contact device controlled by said second memher.

6. Relay mechanism comprising a rotatable spindle, a segment fixed to said spindle and biasing said spindle to one position, a motor for swinging said segment to a different position, a pivoted pawl bracket, a counterweight for biasing said pawl bracket to one position, an arm attached to said spindle, a pin and slot connection between said arm and said segment so arranged that rotation of said spindle in response to rotation of said segment by said motor positively moves said pawl bracket in opposition to the bias of said counterweight but that rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction permits free movement of said pawl bracket by said counterweight, retarding mechanism controlled by said pawl bracket and arranged to be actuated when and only when said pawl bracket is moved by said counterweight, and a contact device controlled by said pawl bracket.

7. Relay mechanism comprising a rotatable spindle, a segment fixed to said spindle and biasing said spindle to one position, a motor for swinging said segment to a different position, a pivoted pawl bracket, a spring for biasing said pawl bracketto one position, an arm attached to said spindle, a pin and slot connection between said arm and said segment so arranged that rotation of said spindle in response to rotation of said segment by said motor positively moves said pawl bracket in opposition to the bias of said spring but that rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction permits free movement of said pawl bracket by said spring, retarding mechanism controlled by said pawl bracket and arranged to be actuated when and only when said pawl bracket is moved by said spring, and a contact device controlled by said pawl bracket.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

BERTRAh I READ PADMORE.

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