US1932146A

US1932146A - Magnetic motor

Info

Publication number: US1932146A
Application number: US658913A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Ruckelshaus
Original assignee: MOTION DISPLAYS Inc
Current assignee: MOTION DISPLAYS Inc
Priority date: 1933-02-28
Filing date: 1933-02-28
Publication date: 1933-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1950-10-24

Description

J. G. RUCKELSHAUS 1,932,146

MAGNETIC MOTOR Filed Feb. 28, 1933 L 6 3 INVENTOR;

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC MOTOR John G. Ruckelahaus, Newark, N. J., assignor to Motion Displays, Inc., av corporation of New York Application February 28, 1933. Serial No. 658,913

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of electro-magnetic motors of the oscillatory type and has for its object to produce a materially simplified structural arrangement adapted to be safe and reliable in operation and particularly adapted for use as a prime mover for animated advertising displays where economy of production cost, dependability, safety and economy in operating costs are important factors. Important features which contribute to the economy and simplification of my improved device consist in the employment, as the actuator or impeller member, of a pivotally supported or fulcrumed arm carrying at its lower end a magnet coil operative as a pendulum weight and cooperating with a fixed armature rod curved to conform to the path of movement of the coil; in conjunction with a make and break circuit control switch or interrupter connected or mounted to be actuated by the movement of the impeller arm. Preferably, the interrupter consists of a mercury switch mounted directly upon the arm at a suitable position to properly control the movement, this type of switch being specially desirable by reason of its non-arcing operation and enclosed terminal arrangement.

-The described and other important features and advantages of the present improvements will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals are applied to the corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation showing my improved electro-magnetic motor construction; Fig.2 is a view thereof in side elevation; and Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof. In the approved embodiment of the features 4 of the present invention as here shown, the improved oscillatory motor comprises a suitable supporting stand 1, including a vertical bracket 2 having a reverse bend at its upper end portion provided with horizontally aligned apertures forming bearings for a shaft or pivotal supporting bolt 3 having secured to its forwardly projecting end a swinging arm 4. The bolt 3, as shown, is provided with a threaded forward projecting end portion threaded to receive the nuts 5 and 6 between which the arm 4 is clamped and the bolt turns freely in the aperture bearings of the bracket 2. The swinging actuator or impeller portion within which is fitted an electro-magnetic coil 9 of solenoid type having a central longitudiarm 4 is formed with a loop 8 at its lower end' nal opening therethrough for the reception of an armature or core member.

In further accordance with the present invention, the armature employed is in the form of a fixed soft iron rod 10 secured to the stapd base portion and having a curved core portion 11, the arc of curvature of which is described from the axis from the pivotal bolt 3 as a center and with the curved portion centrally aligned with the coil opening whereby the active portion of the armature rod conforms to the path of movement of the coil allowing the coil to swing upwardly thereon.

In operation, the coil is energized from a suitable electric circuit to effect themovement of the coil in one direction and a suitable automatically operated switch or circuit interrupter is arranged to open the circuit to allow gravity return and reverse movement of the coil and swinging arm 4 and to again close the circuit to effect, continuous swinging or oscillation of the actuator or swinging arm. The circuit controlling means desirably employed, as shown, is a mercury switch element 12 mounted upon the actuator arm 4 adjacent to its upper or pivotal portion. The switch element is of standard form consisting of a sealed glass container into which the separate wire terminals are led at one end thereof and containing mercury for bridging the. terminals to close the circuit when tilted in one direction and withdrawing from the terminals to open the circuit when tilted in the other direction; the interior of the container being exhausted or containing an inert gas to prevent arcing. The wire leads, as shown, are supported to have flexible loops sufficient to allow of the proper movement of the swinging arm.

The curved armature rod 11 has its free end positioned to be elfectively within the magnetic field of the coil when the latter is in lowermost or rest position and the mercury switch element is angularly positioned to be then effective to close the energizing electric circuit and to retain the circuit closed until the coil moves upwardly in its swing over the armature rod the distance required for the desired movement. The mercury switch element, as shown, is supported within a small bracket of channel form indicated at 13, the latter being secured by means of a screw stud 14 upon theactuating arm thereby to allow adjusting of the angular position of the switch element to alter the position at which the circuit is broken with corresponding adjusting of the operating swing or movement of the actuator arm.

In operation, upon turning on of the current from a suitable source control switch, the solenoid coil will be energized and by its field attraction will be moved upwardly with relation to the curved, fixed armature until the angular position of the actuator arm causes the terminals within the mercury switch element to disengage the mercury and open the circuit whereupon the swinging arm and the coil mounted thereon acting as a pendulum weight will swing in the opposite direction by gravity and momentum and thereafter have a continued swinging or oscillatory movement receiving a power impulse upon the successive and intermittent closing of the circuit by the mercury switch element. The oscillating motion thus imparted to the actuator is transmitted by suitable connections for the operation of devices as desired such as articulated parts of animated display signs where economical power is particularly desired. For thus transmitting the motion a connecting link 18 may be pivotally connected at a suitable point to the actuator arm, as here shown, the arm is extended upwardly above the pivotal bolt 3 or fulcrum and apertured for the pivot 17 of a connecting link 18.

I have accordingly produced a simple and inexpensive structural arrangement adapted to be efficient and economical in current consumption as related to the employment of the cooperating pendulum arrangement wherein the coil is advantageously employed as a moving weight.

While I have shown anddescribed an approved embodiment of the features of the present invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope or the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is accordingly intended that all matter herein shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An oscillatory motor of the character described comprising a supporting member, a pendulum acting actuator arm pivotally supported thereon, an actuating magnet for operating the arm comprising a coil supported upon the arm at its lower end, a fixed armature to cooperate therewith having a portion curved to conform to the path of movement of the coil and a circuit interrupting switch arranged to be actuated by the movement of the arm for intermittently closing the energizing circuit.

2. An oscillatory motor of the character described comprising a supporting member, an actuator arm pivotally supported thereon, an actuating magnet for operating the arm comprising a coil supported horizontally upon the arm at its lower end and having an opening therethrough, a fixed armature rod to cooperate therewith having a portion of curved form positioned to register with the coil opening and curved to conform to the path of movement of the coil and a circuit interrupting switch arranged to be actuated by the movement of the arm for intermittently closing the energizing circuit through the coil.

3. An oscillatory motor of the character described comprising a supporting member, an actuator arm pivotally supported thereon, an actuating magnet for operating the arm comprising a coil supported horizontally upon the arm at its lower end and having an opening therethrough, a fixed armature rod to cooperate therewith having a portion of curved form positioned to register with the coil opening and having its curvature conforming to the path of movement of the coil, a circuit interrupting switch arranged to be actuated by the movement of the arm for intermittently closing the energizing circuit and means for adjusting the operating relation of the switch to the arm.

4. An oscillatory motor of the character .described comprising a supporting member, an actuator arm pivotally supported thereon, an actuating magnet for operating the arm comprising a magnet coil supported horizontally upon the arm at its lower end to act as a pendulum weight, a fixed armature to cooperate therewith having a portion of curved form conforming to the path of movement of the coil, adjustable supporting means on the actuator arm and a mercury switch element connected in series with the coil circuit and supported upon the supporting means for intermittently closing the coil circuit in response to movement of the actuator arm.

JOHN G. RUCKELSHAUS.