US2081184A - Electric circuit controller - Google Patents

Description

May 25, 1937. R. w. R058 ET AL 2,081,184

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER File'd Jan. 23, 19-35 M m w a ATTORNEY.

Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE z,o a1,1s4

ntiic'mrc omourr CONTROLLER Raymond W. Ross, Philadelphia, Pa., and Sigurd H. Seb'erhagen, deceased, late of Philadelphia, Pa., by Sophie Seberhagen, executrix, Phila-.

delphia, Pa., assignors to Leeds and Northrup Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 23, 1935, Serial No. 3,194

IOCIalms. (Cl. 2001-11) This invention relates to electric circuit controllers and specifically to such controllers known in the art as distributors or selectors. While this invention is of general application, it is particularly suitable for use in connection with multiplepoint recording mechanisms such, for example, as those of the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application, Serial No. 75,208, filed April 18, 1936.,

The circuit controller of this invention comprises a pair of relatively movable contact structures. One of the contact structures includes a pair of spaced contact elements insulated from each other, while the other includes a substantially U-shaped contact element so disposed that relative movement of the contact structures is effective to slide the U-shaped contact element into and out of bridging engagement with the spaced contact elements of the other contact structure. The U-shapedcontact element is resiliently supported in its respective contact structure with a limited freedom of motion, in order to equalize the contact pressures at the contact surfaces of the circuit controller.

More specifically, in accordance with this invention, the stationary contact structure of the circuit controller comprises a disk of insulation material from which are supported a pair of concentric arcuate contact strips. The second contact structure is pivotally mounted with respect to the first contact structure about the-axis of the contact strips and the U-shaped bridging member is supported within a, slot in its respective contact structure extending radiallyof the movable contact structure. The U-shaped contact element is supported within the slot by r a loose pivotal mounting on the head of a: spherical spring-pressed plunger carried' in a recess viding a moderately close fit. i

. For a better understanding of this invention, together with other and further features thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended'claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a circuit controller embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the circuit conerably be molded directly in the disk l3.

trailer of Fig. 1 with the enclosing casing removed; and

Fig. 3 is an end view of the movable contact element and its support. g Referring now more particularlyto the drawing, there is illustrated a circuit controller embodying this invention comprising a supporting frame In which may comprise a cup-shaped member having ,a central opening Illa'in which is supported, as by a forced fit, a boss or hub ll.

Mounted within the hub II is a sleeve I! de-.

pending from the boss II and carrying on its lower end a disc or plate l3 of insulating material sueh as bakelite or other synthetic resin. The plate l3 may be molded directly to the sleeve I! in a well-known manner or, as illustrated, it may be provided with an elongated hub or sleeve l3a locked to the sleeve l2 by means 'of pin II. The upper end of the hub l3a of the disc I3 is brought into engagement with the lower shoul- 'der of the boss II by means of a lock nut l5 shown in Fig. 2 an arrangement of stationary contact elements which has been found particularly suitable for use in connection with an automatic indicating and recording apparatus which forms the subject matter of the aforementioned cope'nding application.

Specifically, the stationary contact elements comprise parallel contact strips such as a pair of concentric annular contact rings l6 and I], the contact ring I! being divided into a plurality of segments insulated from each other to provide aplurality of individual contact elements. There is also provided an additional pair of concentric annular contact rings l8 and IS, the ring I! comprising aseries of annularly arranged segments as in the case ofthe ring I1. The ring of contact segments l9 may cooperate both with the ring is and with an additional ring 20 disposed within the ring I 9. The terminals for connection of.the several stationary contact elements to external circuits may be formed directly in the disk l3 during the molding of the contact elements therein or, in certain instances, it may be desirable, in orderto reduce the number of external connections, to form certain connections .ting closely on the hub l3a to maintain it in proper relationship. The frame I0 has an opening-in which is mounted a bushing 22 of insulation material to prevent a chafing of the external conductors to the stationary contact segments, on

the edges of the metal supporting frame I0.

In the sleeve I2 is journaled a shaft 23 carrying at its lower end the movable contact structure. This structure comprises an elongated bar 24 of insulation material, preferably of synthetic resin,-

in which is molded a sleeve or hub 25, the member 24 and sleeve 25 being secured to the shaft 23 by a set screw 26 threaded in the sleeve 25. In order to aid in properly aligning the movable contact assembly after removal for repair, replacement or cleaning, the upper end of the sleeve 25 is slotted as at 25a, while the shaft 23 is drilled to receive a pin 21. The complementary slot 24a in the member 24 extends only on one side of the shaft 23, thus precludingmou'nting of the rotating con-' tact assembly on the shaft 23 displaced 180 from its proper position. The insulation member 24 is provided with a longitudinal slot 24?) in the bottom of which are drilled or otherwise formed a number of holes 240 in each of which is mounted a spherical headed plunger 28 biased upwardly by a surrounding helical spring 29. The upward movement of the plunger 28 is limited'by a split ring 28a fitted on the lower end of the plunger 28.

Supported from the head of each of the plungem 28 is a substantially U-shaped contact bridging element 30 secured thereto by a pin 3|. By the term U-shaped is meant any analogous shaped functionally similar; that is, one having two arms extending generally in the same direction from a common base member. The hole in the base of the U-shaped contact element is substantially larger than the shank of the pin 3| to provide a limited freedom of movement which, due to the spherical head of the plunger 28, constitutes substantially a universal mounting. However,'as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the width of the bridging element 30 is substantially the same as the width of the slot 241) in which it is mounted, so that the walls thereof, forming abutments, prevent any substantial movement of the element 30 in the direction of motion of the movable contact assembly, which as viewed in Fig. 3 may be to the left or the right, and in Figs. 1 and 2 either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

It will be apparent that the shaft 23 connected to the movable contact assembly may be operated in any desired manner either'manually or automatically. By way of example only, there is illustrated a bevel gear .32 secured to the upper end of the shaft 23 as by a set screw 32a, it being understood that the gear 32 may be driven by any suitable mechanism. There is provided also' a lower cover member or cup-shaped container" 33 having a bayonet slot engaging a pin 34 supported in the frame [0. In certain instances, it may be'desirable to fill the cover member 33 with oil or other suitable insulating fluid.

It is believed that the operation of the above described circuit controller will be clear from the foregoing description. In brief, the rotation of the shaft 23 causes the movable contact'assembly 24 to rotate about its axis, the several contact bridging elements 30 sliding on'their respective contactrings and segments, successively completing the circuits between the contact rings and the several contact segments. The rigid bridging contact elements 30 may be termed semi-floating; that is, full floating except in the direction of normal movement, so that they readily take up any irregularities or misalignments in the stationary contact elements, securing satisfactory contact engagements under all operating conditions. Also, due to the universal mounting of the contact elements 30 on the spherical heads of the plungers 28, equalized contact pressures at the several contact surfaces are insured. At the same time the circuit controller is extremely simple to manufacture from a practical standpoint.

' While there has been described what at present is considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and therefore the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed:

1. In an electric circuit controller having relatively movable contact structures, one of which has a pair of spaced contact elements insulated from each other, and the other of which has a recess opposed to saidpair of contact elements, the combinatio n of a spherical headed plunger reciprocably mounted in said recess and having a pin secured in its head, a substantially U-shaped contact element loosely pivoted on said pin, 'said contact element being so disposed that relative 'movement of said contact structures effects a ,slot extending transversely to the direction of relative movement, the combination of a spherical headed plunger carried by said second contact structure with its head projecting into said slot,

a substantially U-shaped contact element supported from the head of said plunger with a limited freedom of motion and bearing thereon, said contact element being so disposed that relative movement .of said contact structures effects a bridging engagement and disengagement of said pair of contact elements by said U-shaped contact element, and resilient means for biasing said contact elements into engagement.

3. In an electric circuit controller comprising a stationary contact structure including a pair of concentric arcuate contact strips insulated from each other, a second contact structure pivotally mounted with respect to said stationary contact structure about the axis of said contact strips, a substantially U-shaped contact element, the combination of means for universally and resiliently supporting said contact element from said pivotally mounted contact structure for bridging engagement and disengagement of said contact strips upon' pivotal movement thereof, said supporting means having a slot whose wall portions substantially restrict universal movement of said contact element tangential to its 7 pivotal movement.

4. In a circuit controller having a pair of spaced contact members, supporting structure therefor, the combination of contact structure comprising a second supporting structurerelatively movable in a plane substantially parallel 5. In a circuit controller having a pair of concentric annular contact rings at least one of which is divided into a plurality of segments, supporting structure for said rings, the combination of contact structure comprising a second supporting structure, said structures being relatively pivoted abcutthe axis of said rings, abutments carried by said second supporting structure and extending substantially radially of said pivotal axis,

a U-shaped contact element so disposed between said abutments that its legs engage said contact rings respectively, and means for pivotally connecting said contact element to said second supporting structure for substantial movement between said abutments about an axis substantially normal to said first-named pivotal axis and to the radius therefrom to said second named pivotal axis, said abutments restricting movement of said element about an axis parallel to said radius.

6. In a circuit controller having a pair of spaced contact members, supporting structure therefor, the combination of contact structure comprising a second supporting member relatively movable in a plane substantially parallel to the faces of said contact members, a slidable plunger carried by said second supporting member for movement normal to said plane, resilient means for biasing said plunger toward said contact members, a U-shaped contact element carried by said plunger for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the relative movement of said structures, the legs of said element respectively engaging said spaced contact members, and structure for restricting movement of said element about an axis normal to the relative movement of said structures.

7. A circuit controller unit comprising a supporting sleeve, annular contact rings concentric with and carried by said sleeve, a. rotatable shaft extending through said sleeve, a rigid radial arm supported by said shaft and provided with a radial slot the open end of which is presented to said contact rings, a U-shaped contact element whose legs closely fit between the radial sides of said slot, an elongated plunger carried by said arm and having a spherical end terminating in said slot to provide a universal mounting for said contact element, a pin loosely supporting said contact element against said spherical end, and resilient means acting upon said plunger to press its spherical end against said contact element through and supported by said structure, at least three contact rings concentric to said shaft carried bysaid supporting structure, a rigid, radial arm rotatable with said shaft having a radial slot presented to said contact rings, at least two U- shaped contact elements radially disposed in said slot and closely fittingthe substantially radial sides thereof, the legs of each of said elements engaging different contact rings, plungers carried by said arm for independent rectilinear movement normal to the plane of said contact rings and terminating in said groove to provide base member, a pin loosely supporting said base member centrally of said spherical end of said plunger, and means associated with the opposite end of said plunger for limiting the outward movement oi'ssai'd plunger to retain said spring under compression.

10. A unitary contact assembly comprising a supporting member having anopening, an elongated plunger disposed within said opening and having a rounded end extending outwardly from one side of'said member, a spring within said opening for biasingfsaid plunger for movement toward said one side of said member, and a U- shaped contact element having legs extending outwardly from said plunger, the portion interconnecting said legs having an opening therethrough, and a pin extending through said open ing and loosely retainingsaid element against said rounded end of said plunger for universal movement of said element, said supporting member Last Will and Testament of

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