US2061887A - Electrical controller - Google Patents

Description

4NOV. 24, 1936. C, W, WYMAN 2,061,887

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER Original Filed June 30, 1953 u a, In l MH UNITED @FICE ELECTRICAL CONTRGLLER Charies lW. lillyman, lareinont, N. H., assigner to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application .lune 30, 1933, Serial No. 678,436 Renewed @ctober 3, 1934 20 @Claims My invention relates to electrical controllers, and more particularly to electrical controllers having incorporated therein protective devices for preventing the burning ci the contacts thereof.

An object of this invention is to provide an in proved electrical controller. Another object of my invention is to provide improved electrical controlling apparatus having improved means for preventing the burning of the contacts. Still anlo other object oi my invention is to provide an improvedv electrical controlling apparatus providing for the cutting out of resistance in steps but having associated therewith means operative automatically to prevent the burning of the contacts 15 of the resistance controller and to localize all arcing at a device particularly designed to withstand the arcing and to extinguish the arc. Cther objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, in which, for purposes of illustration, have shown one form Whi 3h invention may assume in practice.

Fig. l is a View from above, with the cover and other parts removed, oi a controller in which the illustrative embodiment of my invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a portion of the automatic controlling apparatus, the View being tali-en from a position approximately above Fig. l.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views, showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2, 3 and Fig. 6 is a Wiring diagram, simplified, and showing a smaller number of buttons than as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 'l is a detail view of a Contact carrying member.

Referring to the drawing, l denotes a part of a controller box or casing, herein a plate, upon which there is mounted a plurality of contact devices, herein contact buttons, rd, 5, "i, t and 9, the contacts and 3 being dead contacts, and contacts 4 to 9, inclusive, each having connected between them a stage of starting resistance. There is also mounted upon the plate i a series of buttons Il), suitably connectedy through blow-out coils Il with the contactor buttons i to 9 inclusive, and adapted to protect the main contactor buttons from arcing, by coaction with a roller i2 which is supported by the controller arm i3 in adjacency to the main moving contact member lli.

Still further to protect the controller box from the detrimental eiects oi arcing, have provided 55 .means for automatically breaking the circuit at Cil (Cl. R01-48) a point outside the controller box whenever the controller arm is moved toward oli position.

Referring now to the wiring diagram, the con troller arm is indicated at I3, the resistance controlled by the starting box at l; the motor to be controlled has its armature represented at A, its series eld at SeF, and its shunt field at ShF. The supply lines are indicated at lil and li, and at i8 is indicated a main circuit breaking contactor having a controlling coil l@ and a pilot 10 switch u whose construction I shall shortly de scribe in detail.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the pilot switch mechanism, which is generally designated 2t, is supported upon a bloei: 15 2l secured to the plate i of the controller. This block provides, upon its upper side, a surface E2 upon which, through a pin a contact carrying arm member 2d is oscillatably supported. The arm Ell is slotted', as at 25, and is provided in its 20 lower side with a recess 26 within which a spring 2li is housed. The spring 2l is so related to the recess and to the pin 23 that the contact carrying arm 2li is always yieldingly but firmly pressed toward the main controller arm lil. The end oi the arm 2i toward the controller arm is formed on an arc struck from the axis of the pin Q3, and is adapted to cooperate with a cylindrical surface ill formed upon a portion of the controller arm I3; the yielding pressure of the arm 2d, pressed 30 by the spring 2l, against the surface 29 causing the contact carrying block 2t to be swung, when free to move, in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the main controller arm i3 as the latter is moved about its pivot. A stop pin 223 on the block 2! and arranged in the path or" movement of the arm Eil, prevents the arm 2!! from swinging out too far, thereby always maintaining the arm 2li in frictional Contact with the surface 29 on the controller arm. The block 24 40 carries a yieldably mounted contact member tu which is adapted to cooperate with a stationary contact il carried upon an upstanding support 32 secured to the block 2 l. The contact members 3G and 3i, when closed, are adapted to energize, 45 through suitable connections. the operating coil i9 of the contacter i3, and when separated, to eect deenergization of the coil i9.

Pivoted upon a horizontal pin 34 upon an upstanding wall of the block 2l, s a latch member 50 and a spring 3G is positioned within a recess 3i in the latch member and normally tends to raise the free end of the latch member. This latch member 35 has an upstanding portion 38 which is adapted, in the pri position of the contact carrying member 24, to move into a position which will prevent the movement of the contact member 24 to a position in which the contact 30 can engage the contact 3i. rThe controller member I3 carries upon its lower surface a strip of suitable material 3S providing a camming surface which is adapted to engage a beveled or curved upper camming surface 40 formed at one end of the mern'er 35. As the controller arm I3 reaches off position, it will be noted that its position relative to the member 35 is then such that the latter is approximately tangential to a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of the controller arm I3, at a point in such circle where a radial line extending along the arm I3 cuts the circle, so that when the controller arm is in off position the strip 39 overlies and holds depressed the outer or free end of the latch member 35.

It will be evident that, if desired, the pilot and main contactors could be replaced by a main contacter suitably actuated and controlled similarly to the pilot.

With the description given, the mode of operation of this apparatus will be readily understood. Referring to Fig. l, it will be noted that the controller i3 in "o`ff position; and referring to Fig. 2 it will be apparent that in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1 the outer or free end of the latch member 35 is depressed, as above indicated, and the projection 38 is held in a position such that it cannot interfere with arcuate movement of the contact carrying member 24. Upon starting of movement of the controller arm I3 toward its position in which it first connects the motor through the full resistance, to the line, the arcuate surface 29 heretofore referred to, by frictional engagement with the arcuate end of the contact carrying member 24, will move the contact carrying member 24 to bring the contact 30 into engagement with the contact 3I. This will immediately energize the coil IS and close the contactor i8. During further movement toward the full on position of the controller arm I3, the frictionai reaction of the surface 29 upon the end Contact carrying member 24 will simply tend to press the contacts 30 and 3I yieldingly together. The contactor I8 is closed before the first live button 4 is reached by the member I4.

As soon as the contact carrying arm I3 is moved sufficiently far to effect the connection of the motor, through the resistance, with the line, the strip 33 will run off the full Width portion of the latch member 35. Thereupon the spring 36 would be effective to move the latch member upwardly and bring the projection 39 into the position shown in Fig. 4, were it not for the fact that the projection is confined in its lower position by engagement with the lower surface of the member 24, which was moved over it when switch member 30 was moved to closed position. Let the operator, however, attempt to move the controller arm I3 toward off position, and the friotional engagement of the surface 29 with the arcuate end of the contact carrying member 24 will immediately throw the contact 3i! into open position, thereby causing contacts I 8 to open, and simultaneously, due to the movement of the member 24 to such a position that this is possible, the latch portion 38 will spring up into the path of arcuate movement of the member 24 and prevent closure again of the contact 3] in the event of a resumed forward direction of movement of the controller arm. To be able again to close the pilot switch it will be necessary to move the arm I3 back to depress the tongue and thereafter reversal of movement of arm I3 will be effective to drag the arm 24 over the depressed latch portion 38 and reclose the pilot. Obviously any reverse movement of lever I3 in an effort to shut off the current will result in opening the pilot switch, and so shut off the main line contactor, and thus prevent burning of the buttons 4 to 9 inclusive.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that I have provided a very simple but effective arrangement for protecting a starting rheostat-one in which the burning of rheostat contacts is prevented; and that a most inexpensive type of pilot mechanism, having a positive lock for holding it in open position when necessary, is associated in a most desirable manner with the operating mechanism of the rheostat.

While I have in this application specifically described. one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, a

and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an electric controlling apparatus, a controller arm, a pilot switch, means movable to close said pilot switch on movement of said controller arm in a circuit-establishing direction, and means operative on reverse movement of said arm to open and lock in open position said pilot switch, said locking means including a latch occupying one position when effecting its holding function and a different position to effect release and held out of said first mentioned position whenever said pilot switch is closed.

2. In an electric controlling apparatus, a controller arm, a switch, means movable to close said switch on movement of said controller arm in a circuit-establishing direction, and means operative on reverse movement of said arm to open and lock in open position said switch, said lockin@T means including a latch occupying one position when effecting its holding function and a different position to effect release and held out of said first mentioned position whenever said switch is closed, by said movable switch-closing means.

3. In an electric controlling apparatus, resistance controlling means including a controller arm, a main circuit breaking contactor, controlling means for the latter including a pilot switch, means moving with said controller arm from off position for moving said pilot switch to closed position, and latch means releasable only by movement of said arm in the reverse direction and released when said arm is in full off position, for locking said pilot switch in open position when opened.

4. In an electric controlling apparatus, resistance controlling means including a controller arm, a main circuit breaking contactor, controlling means for the latter including a pilot switch, means moving with said controller arm for moving said pilot switch to closed position, and latch means releasable only by movement of said arm to its extreme position in the reverse direction, for locking said pilot switch in open position when opened, while said controller arm is in a circuit establishing position.

5. In an electric controlling apparatus, resistance controlling means including a controller arm, a main circuit breaking contactor, controlling means for the latter including a pilot switch,

means moving with said controller arm for moving said pilot switch to closed position, and latch means held in releasing position when said pilot switch is closed, and, when operated, releasable only by movement of said arm to its extreme position in the reverse direction, for locking said pilot switch in open position when opened.

6. In an electric controller, a resistance controlling means including a controller arm, a main contactor, an operating circuit for the latter including a pilot switch, a pilot switch controlling latch precluding closing movement thereof except during the initial portions of the movements of said controller arm from off to on position, pilot closing means including a part movable to effect pilot closure and a cooperating part moving with said arm and providing, when said arm moves in horizontal planes, a vertical wiping surface engaging said lrst mentioned part and constituting moving means therefor, and latch controlling means including a wiping surface moving with said arm and extending horizontally when said arm moves in horizontal planes and a portion whose movements control latch position engaged and controlled by said horizontal Wiping surface.

7. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever pivotable about an axis parallel to the pivot of said controller arm, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch lever respectively whereby movements of said arm effect movements of said switch lever, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby, said latch means moved to releasing position as said arm approaches full off position and held in such position until material reverse movement of said arm takes place.

8. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever pivotable about an axis parallel to the pivot of said controller arm, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch lever respectively whereby movements of said arm effect movements of said switch lever whenever the latter is free to move and thereafter slipping takes place, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby, and released from control prior to the establishment of any circuit by the latter, and rendered inoperative again when, but only when, said arm is again in circuit interrupting position.

9. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever pivotable about an axis parallel to the pivot of said controller arm, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch lever respectively whereby movements of said arm effect movements of said switch lever, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby, and released from control by said arm prior to the establishment of any circuit by the latter, and rendered inoperative again by said arm when, but only when, said arm is again in circuit interrupting position, said latch means underlying said switch lever and held immovable by the latter in certain positions thereof.

10.1n an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever pivotable about an axis parallel to the pivot of said controller arm, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch lever respectively whereby movements of said arm effect movements of said switch lever, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby, and released from control by said arm prior to the establishment of any circuit by the latter, and rendered inoperative again only when said arm is again in circuit interrupting position, said latch means underlying said switch lever and Iheld inoperative by the latter, when the latter is in closed circuit position but movable to hold said switch lever when the latter is in open circuit position.

ll. In an electric controlling apparatus, resistance introducing and eliminating means, a switch, means operative to effect closure of said switch on operation of said irst-mentioned means to establish a circuit including resistance, and means operative on operation of said rst mentioned means to reintroduce resistance once eliminated thereby, to open and lock in open position said switch, said locking means including a catch maintained in retracted position when said switch is in closed position.

l2. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever, irictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch lever respectively whereby movements of said arm effect movements of said switch lever, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions oi movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby for unlatching said latch means when said arm is in full oit position.

13. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch lever respectively whereby movements of said arm effect movements of said switch lever, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby, and released from control prior to` the establishment of any circuit by the latter, and rendered inoperative again by said arm when, but only when, said arm is again in circuit interrupting position.

14. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch respectively whereby movements of said arm effect movements of said switch, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby, and released from control by said arm prior to the establishment of any circuit by the latter, and rendered inoperative again only when said arm is again in circuit interrupting position, said latch means underlying said switch lever and governed by the lower surface of the latter.

15. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch lever respectively whereby movements of said arm eifect movements of said switch lever, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby, and released from control prior to the establishment cf any circuit by the latter, and rendered inoperative again by said arm only when said arm is again in circuit interrupting position, said latch means underlying said switch lever and held inoperative thereby, when the latter is in closed circuit position but movable to hold said switch lever when said arm is in open circuit position.

1G. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a movable element whose position alters with the variation in effective resistance, a switch element, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said elements respectively whereby movement of the inst-mentioned element effects movement of the second when the latter is free to move, and latch means governed by movement of the inst-mentioned element but only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit-establishing connections are made thereby, and released from control prior to the introduction of any resistance by said resistance controlling means and rendered inoperative again only when said resistance controlling means is in open circuit position.

17. In an electric controlling apparatus, a controller element, a switch el. nent, means operative to close said switch element on movement of said controller element in circuit-establishing direction, and means including a latch held in open position during such movement of said controller element and operative on reverse movement of said controller element to move said switch element to open circuit position and preclude further control thereof by d controller element until the latter been brought back to open circuit position.

18. In an electric controlling apparatus, a controller element, a switch element, means operative to close said switch element upon movement of said controller element in circuit-establishing direction and to open said switch element upon opposite movement or" said controller element, and means operative to preclude reclosure of said switch until said controller element is returned to its full off position including latch means opened by said controller element and held open by said switch element during normal current supply through said apparatus.

i9. In an electric controller, resistance controlling means including a pivoted controller arm, a switch lever, frictionally engaged surfaces associated with said arm and switch lever respectively whereby movements of said arm effect movements of said switch lever, and latch means governed by said arm only during the portions of movement of the latter when no circuit establishing connections are made thereby, and between the establishment of a circuit by said arm and reverse movement of the latter governed by said switch lever, and released from control by said arm prior the establishment of any circuit by the latter, and rendered inoperative again by said arm only when said arm is again in circuit interrupting position, said latch means underlying said switch lever and governed by the lower surface of the latter.

20.111 an electric controller of the type in which provision is made for establishing a circuit through a resistance and then cutting out the resistance, resistance controlling means including a swingable controller arm, a switch closable to effect current supply through the resistance, coacting surfaces, one movable upon swinging movement of said arm and the other movable by said first-mentioned surface, for closing and opening said switch by movements or" said arm, a latch for controlling switch movements operative to preclude closing of the switch except in positions of said arm in which no resistance has been cut out, and coacting camming surfaces one movable upon movement of said arm and one movable with said latch for controlling the latter, one of said sets or" coacting surfaces having its elements extending generally radially of the axis of arm swing and the other set having its elements extending generally longitudinally of such axis.

CHARLES W. WYMAN.

CERTEFICATE OF CORBECTON.

Patent No. 2,061,887., November 24, 1936.

CHARLES W. WYMAN.

it is hereby oeriified that error appears in Jshe printed specification of the above numbere` patent requiring correo-Lion as follows: Page 3, second Column, lines 57 emi 59, claim 14, after "switch" insertJ the word lever; and line 65, before "onljg insertthe Words by said arm; page 4, first oflumn, line 9,. claim l5, after "position inseri. a. comme; and that the said Let'bers Patent Shculd. be read. with these corrections therein that, the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed utshis 8th day of June, A. D. 1957.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Gommissioner of Patents.

cERTiriCATE or coRRECrloNe Patent No. aceras?. November 24, 193e.

CHARLES w. WYMAN.

t is hereby certified that error appears n the printed specification of' the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page T5,v second column, lines 57 and 59, claim 14, after "switch" insert the word lever; and line 65, before "only" insert the Words by said arm; page 4, first celumn, line 9, claim l5, after "position insert a comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record o1 the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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