US1915530A

US1915530A - Electric current flow interrupter

Info

Publication number: US1915530A
Application number: US564576A
Authority: US
Inventors: George C Hoisington; Omer E Brubaker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-09-23
Filing date: 1931-09-23
Publication date: 1933-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1950-06-27

Description

June 27, 1933. Q C, HolslNGTON ET AL 1,915,530

* ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW INTERRUPTER Filed Sept. 25, 1931 Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE GEORGE C. HOISINGTON, 0F COLTON, .AND OMER E. BR'UBAKER, OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW INTERRUPTER Application led September 23, 1931.

Our invention relates to an electric current flow interrupter and has for its principal objects, to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the existing forms of similar devices, further, to provide a current flow interrupter that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, practically noiseless in operation, very compact and further, to provide a device ofthe vcharacter referred to that will, in operation, effect accurate and regular interruption of the current flow or make and break of the circuit with which the device is used.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a current flow interrupter constructed in accordance with our invention and with the brush sup` ports and holders in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a practical embodiment of our invention, 10 designates a motor shaft on which is mounted a short cylindrical head or body 11, that is formed of suitable insulating material such as balelite, hard rubber, fibre or the like and formed on one side of said rota-ry head is a centrally arranged lug 12, in which is seated a set screw 13 and which latter when tightened secures the rotary head to the shaft 10.

Arranged on the periphery of the head 11 is a series of segments 14 of metal and the ends of which are spaced a slight distance apart to form gaps 15.

Projecting inwardly from the sides of the segments are ianges 16, which occupy corresponding grooves formed in the side faces 5 of the rotary head 11 and the outer faces of these flanges are flush with the side faces of the head. In order to accomplish the desired results there must be an even number of the segments 14, for instance, four, six, eight, ten or twelve or more. In the present instance we have shown the device provided with Serial No. 564,576.

eight segments andy four of said segments are alternately connected to each other by suitable electric conductors 17 and which arrangement leaves four alternately arranged segments that are not connected.

In order to produce the best results, the alternately arranged electrically connected segments are approximately equal in length and they are made slightly longer than the independent or unconnected segments for the reason that when the interrupter is utilized in connection with a induction coil it requires a fraction of a second longer to charge the induction coil than it does to discharge it.

The purpose of providing the independent segments between the electrically connected segments is to provide an all metal path or surface for the contact brushes that engage the outer faces of the segments while the device is in operation.

Arranged on opposite sides of the rotary head are suitable standards or brackets 18 and supported thereby are small cylindricalv housings 19 of suitable insulating material such as bakelite, hard rubber or fibre and said housings are arranged at diametrically opposite points immediately adjacent to the periphery of the rotary head.

Mounted for sliding movement in each housing 19 is a brush 20, preferably of copper gauze and arranged behind each brush is a small expansive spring 21 which normally eXerts pressure against the brush and maintains the outer end thereof in contact with the metal surface of the rotary head 11.

Where the interrupter is utilized in connection with an induction coil, one of the terminals of the primary winding of the induction coil is connected to one side of the battery and the other side of the battery is connected to one of the brushes 20. The opposite end of the primary winding of the induction coil is electrically connected to the other one of the brushes 20. These connections are illustrated diametrically in Fig. 1. I

During the operation of the interrupter and while the brushes 20 are in contact with the electrically connected segments current from the storage battery flows to the brush to which said battery is connected, from thence through the segment 14, with which the brush is in contact, thence through the conductors 17 and vconnected segments to the connected segment with which the opposite brush is in contact, from thence to the primary winding of the induction coil and from said primary winding back to the battery. s

As the interrupter continues to rotate and the independent segments make contact with ihe brushes 20, the current flow from the battery through the device to the primary winding of the induction coil is interrupted and thus as the head 1l continues to rotate, the circuit from the storage battery to the primary winding of the induction coil is interrupted at a comparatively rapid rate, thus producing the desired results.

The use of independent segments between the electrically connected segments on the periphery of the rotary head 11 provides a practically continuous metal path or surface Y for the brushes 20, thereby eliminating undue and uneven wear between the brushes and the surface of the rotary head and by making the ,.egments uniform in length, the interrup tion of the current flow is brought about with accuracy of regulation which is a desirable result in devices of the character to which our invention relates.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided an electric current flow interrupter that is simple in construction, very compact, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of our improved electric current flow interrupter, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of our invention,` the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

We claim as our invention:

455 In an electric current flow interrupter, a

rotary head, an even number of segments mounted on the periphery of said head, flanges projecting at right angles from the sides of said segments, which flanges occupy grooves formed in the side faces of the rotary head adjacent to its periphery, the outer faces of which iianges are flush with the side faces of the rotary head, alternate numbers of said segments being electrically connected, the electrically connected segments being uniform in length and such length being greater than the length of the unconnected segments and brushes engaging the outer faces of the segmets at diametrically opposite points. In testimony whereof, we affix our signaf tures.

GEORGE C. HOISINGTON. OMER E. BRUBAKER.