US2087636A - Electrical apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1937. w. c. BAUMANN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 25, 1932 Patented July 20,. 1937 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE Application November 25, 1932, Serial a... 644,156 Renewed June 3, 1935 16 Claim.

This invention relates to electrical apparatus and more particularly to an electrical transformer apparatus productive of various secondary voltages.

One object of the invention is the provision of an electrical transformer apparatus having relatively movable primary and secondary windings and embodying core elements so arranged as to produce a substantially constant flux path lo for all positions of the movable winding.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a transformer apparatus having relatively movable secondary and primary windings arranged on a closed core ring and an inner movable core cylinder both of which are uniformly slotted for the reception of the windings.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a variable voltage transformer of the character above mentioned, having a plurality of secondary windings provided on the stationary core element and arranged for individual connection to different loads so that as the primary winding is rotated slowly there will be a variation of phase displaced secondary voltages which gradually increase and decrease to maximum and minimum values.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a motor driven movable core transformer having a plurality of individual secondary windings connected to differently colored lights so as to provide a gradually changing color effect of illumination as the movable core is rotated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combination of a movable coil transformer as above set forth and having a number of movable secondary windings all cooperating with the same primary winding, the secondary windings being connected to the lamps of a chasing border sign so that the lamps will be successively lighted to create an apparent movement of an illuminated band in the border.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an electrical apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the winding relationship of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed end view of a portion of the fixed and movable core elements;

Fig. 4 is an end view, partly broken away, of

(Cl. l'11119) a modified form of an electrical transformer having a single movable secondary coil; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical connections and windings of a transformer and lamp arrangement productive of a chasing 5 border effect.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by reference numerals. and first with respect to Figs. 1 to 3, III designates generally the housing or casing of a movable coil transformer which has been generally designated by the numeral II. This transformer embodies a primary winding adapted for connection across an alternating current supply such as an ordinary 110 volt, cycle power line. Inductively related with re- 15 spect to the primary winding, in the example of the invention shown in Fig. 1, are three secondary windings, although it will be understood that the transformer may be arranged to have any desired number of such windings. The ar- 20 rangement is preferably such that the secondary winding is fixed, while the primary winding is rotatably movable within the secondary.

As shown, the primary winding I2 is arranged in the outer slots I3 of a substantially cylindrical movable core l4, being wound around the core from end to end in several of the slots so as to produce flux lines diametrically across the core I. The core may be constructed of a. number of fiat iron disks stacked together and suitably attached to a central supporting shaft IS. The fixed core element is also preferably built up of a stack of iron laminations or plates of ring-like form, providing an outer fixed closed core ring I! which surrounds the movable core.

The outer core ring I! is provided with inside slots l8 which are regularly or uniformly arranged completely around the ring. The secondary windings are provided in the slots l8, and, as shown in Fig. 2, there are three secondary windings I9, 20 and 2|, each of which is quite independent of the other but all of which are inductively related with respect to the primary winding l2. The secondary winding 2| for example embodies conductors or wires extending longitudinally or parallel to the axis of the core I 4 in the slots I8 of the fixed core element. The slots in which the secondary winding 2| is contained are diametrically opposite and the ends of the conductors of this winding are interconnected at the ends of the core element I! so that the winding 2| is inductively related with respect to the primary winding. When the windings are in the relative positions shown in Fig. 3, a maximum voltage will be generated in" the secondary winding as the current flows through the primary.

secondary windings i9 and 20 are similar to the winding 2i, but the three windings are anguiarly displaced with respect to one another. the geometric plane of one secondary winding being l20 away from the planes of the other two windings. If four secondary windings were employed these windings would be displaced angularly 90 apart.

The air gap between the fixed and movable core elements is only a small fractional part of an inch, and this air gap is constant regardless of the position of the primary or movable coil since both core elements are uniformly slotted throughout their entire circumferential extent. The number of slots in the movable core is preferably substantially less than the number in the fixed core, and the ends of the slots are of reduced size as shown in Fig. 3 so that the flux path will be practically constant at all times in order that the primary winding will have a very low exciting consumption. This allows a constant connection to the supply line through the slip rings 23 to which the ends of the primary windings extend.

Mounted on a support 24, which is common to the transformer housing I0, is an electric motor 25 connected by a suitable coupling 28 to a driving pinion 21 rotatably mounted in the end cap or plate 28 of the transformer housing. This pinion meshes with a gear 29 which is fixed to a pinion 30. Pinion 30 meshes with gear 3i fixed on the core supporting shaft l6. When the motor is energized it will be apparent that the core of the transformer will be driven slowly through the speed reduction gearing just referred to. As the primary winding and its supporting core is constantly rotated, the voltage across the ends of the secondary windings i9, 20 and 2| will rise from a zero value to a maximum value dependent on the ratio of turns and then fall again gradually, the voltages of the three windings being displaced as to phase so that when the voltage of one winding is increasing, that of another is decreasing due to the change in the inductive relationship of the primary with respect to the secondaries.

The secondary windings of the movable coil transformer may be connected to any desired loads. In accordance with one desirable arrangement, the three secondary windings may be connected to differently colored lights to provide a gradually changing color effect of illumination as the movable core is rotated. Thus the winding I9 may be connected to one or to a series of lamps 30 provided with light filters of any suitable character to produce a red light for example. Secondary winding 20 is connected to lights 3i productive of a different color such as green, and winding 2| may be connected to blue lights 32. Lights 30, 3i and 32 may be used collectively for the illumination of a display. For example they may all be arranged to illuminate a common area of a building or other object. It will now be apparent that as the movable primary is slowly rotated the color effect of the illuminated area will gradually change from one color to another, the change being a smooth variation which merges one predominating color into another as the lamps 30, 3| and 32 successively reach their maximum state of intensity. Lamps of additional colors in any desired number may also be employed and additional windings provided on the fixed core element. The

several connections of the several secondary windings are readily made without constantly making or breaking electrical connections, since the secondary windings are all fixed. As there is a single primary winding on the movable core element the supply of current to the movable member is readily eilected by the simple slip ring arrangement previously mentioned.

Fig. 5 shows the electrical connections of a slightly modified form of the invention, in which there are five secondary windings on the fixed core element, arranged equal mechanical degrees apart and all inductively related to the movable coil 30, the arrangement of the fixed and movable core elements and of the windings and other parts being similar to the construction shown in Fig. 1 except that the secondary windings are now five in number instead of three, although of course any other number of secondary windings could be employed. The secondary winding designated 21 is connected to lamps 31a. The secondary winding ll is connected to lamps "a, and in a similar manner the windings ll, I and ii are connected to lamps "a, a and lid. These various lamps are arranged in a series, as shown in this figure, to provide a chasing border effect of an illuminated sign, each sixth lamp being interconnected so that there will be a total of five circuits supplying any desired number of lamps in the light border. The lamps may be of a uniform white or other color, or the various lamps may be so arranged that all of the lamps 31a produce a certain color while the lamps 30a. produce another color. each of the lamps of one circuit being differently colored or diiferently shaded in a common color so that the overall color eilect of the chasing border will changeas the lamps of a circuit are gradually brought up to their maximum state of illumination and as the different circuits are successively brought to a. zero voltage. The driving motor which is connected to the movable primary winding and its supporting core may constantly rotate these parts at a speed of the order of SI revolutions per minute to produce an apparent movement of a path of light along the sign and cause the lamps to be energized and deenergized in a gradual manner.

In Fig. 4 an electrical transformer is shown having a movable core element provided with a single primary winding II. A single secondary winding 52 is provided on the fixed core element 53, the arrangement of the windings and of the cores being similar to the arrangement of these parts shown in Fig. 1, except that only one winding-is now provided ,on the fixed core element. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable for electrical welding. The primary winding Il may be supplied through simple rings from a 110 alternating current source, and the secondary winding 52, of comparatively few turns, may be arranged for the supply of low voltage current suitable for electrical welding operations. The core 50 is moved about its longitudinal axis by means of a suitable control handle 55. Normally the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the primary winding being connected to the supply source and the inductive ei'lect on the secondary winding being zero. The secondary winding is connected across parts to be welded together and then the handle 55 is rotated a desired amount and at a suitable speed so as to gradually raise the voltage from a zero amount to the amount required for the weld. When the handle 55 is moved through the maximum welding current flows through the secondary and through the weld. The handle 55 may be moved less than and then stopped for the desired welding interval where less than the maximum obtainable voltage of the transformer is required for the welding operation. A tapered voltage is therefore supplied to the welding electrodes which creates a tapered heat between the two metals being welded and prevents flashing or fusing of the metals, as there is no instantaneous rush of current when contactors are closed. The comparatively gradual increase in heat causes the melting point of the metals to be welded to be reached without splatter-ing the metal so that pressure of the electrodes on the metal insures a perfect weld. Moreover the arrangement is such that when the weld is completed the primary may be maintained energized, as a comparatively small energizing current is required for the transformer due to the fact that there is always a uniform large amount of iron in the transformers magnetic flux path.

' While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A variable multi-voltage voltage transformer of the character described comprising an outer fixed closed core ring having inside slots, an inner movable core, a primary winding on the movable core adapted for independent connection across an alternating current supply and providing for generation of a magnetic fiux diametrically across the ring, and a plurality of independent secondary windings each having diametrically opposite longitudinally extending conductors provided in the slots of the ring and interconnected by end conductors, said longitudinally extending conductors of one secondary winding being spaced radially of the corresponding conductors of the other secondary windings about said ring, the end conductors of the several secondary windings overlapping each other, and means to move the inner core about its axis to vary the voltages in the secondary windings.

2. A variable multi-voltage voltage transformer of the character described comprising an outer fixed closed core ring, an inner movable core, a primary winding adapted for connection across an alternating current supply and providing for generation of a magnetic fiux diametrically across the ring, and a plurality of secondary windings electrically independent from said primary winding and adapted for connection to separate loads independent of said alternating current supply, each of said windings having diametrically opposite longitudinally extending conductors regularly spaced from the others through the complete circle of the ring and interconnected by overlapped end conductors, and means to move the inner core about its axis to simultaneously vary the voltages induced in said secondary windings.

3. A variable multi-voltage voltage transformer of the character described comprising an outer fixed closed core ring, an inner movable core, a plurality of independent fixed secondary windings provided on said ring and adapted for connection to separate loads, a movable primary winding on the movable core, electrically independent from said secondary windings and inductively related with respect to the secondary winding and adapted for connection across an alternating current supply, said ring and inner core providing a uniform flux path in all positions of adjustment of the inner core, and means for moving said inner core on its axis to vary the voltage across the secondary windings.

4. An electrical apparatus of the character described comprising an outer fixed closed slotted core ring, an inner movable core cylinder having outside slots, a movable primary winding adapted for connection across an alternating current supply and provided in the slots of said cylinder to produce magnetic flux diametrically of the cylinder, means for continuously rotating said cylinder on its axis, and a plurality of individual secondary windings on said ring electrically separate from said primary windings and electrical- 1y separate from one another and adapted for separate connection to independent loads, said secondary windings being angularly arranged with relation to one another on said ring.

5. An electrical apparatus of the character described comprising an outer fixed closed slotted core ring, an inner movable core cylinder having outside slots, the slots being uniformly spaced on the ring and on the cylinder to provide a substantially uniform flux path in all positions of adjustment of the cylinder, a movable primary winding adapted for connection across an alternating current supply and provided in the slots of said cylinder to produce magnetic flux diametrically of the cylinder, means for continu ously rotating said cylinder on its axis, and a plurality of individual secondary windings on said ring and adapted for separate connection to loads, said secondary windings being angularly arranged with relation to one another on said ring.

6. A variable voltage transformer of the character described comprising an outer fixed core and a rotatable core therein, said fixed and movable cores providing a substantial uniform flux path in all positions of the cylinder, a primary winding on the movable core providing a fiux direction in a predetermined diametrical direction, and a plurality of individual secondary windings on said fixed core spaced regular angular distances apart thereon and adapted for connections to individual loads, said secondary windings being electrically separate from said primary winding and electrically separate from each other and means for continuously rotating said movable core at a slow speed.

'7. A variable voltage transformer of the character described comprising an outer fixed core and a rotatable core therein, said fixed and movable cores having annularly spaced inside and outside slots respectively in which the secondary and primary windings are respectively arranged so that a constant flux path is provided for all positions of the cylinder, a primary winding on the movable core providing a flux direction in a predetermined diametrical direction, and a plurality of individual secondary windings electrically separate from said prim-arywinding and electrically separate from each other and provided on said fixed core spaced regular angular distances apart and adapted for connections to individual loads, and means for continuously rotating said movable core at a slow speed.

8. An electrical apparatus of the character described comprising an outer fixed closed core ring having inside slots, an inner movable core cylinder'having outside slots, a primary winding adapted or connection across an alternating curiy and provided in the slots of said cylad arranged for the generation oi magnetic flux diametrically of the cylinder,- and a plurality or individual secondary windings each inductively related with respect to the primary winding and angularly spaced on said ring, said secondary windings being electrically separate from said primary winding and electrically separate from each other, each secondary winding having diametrically opposite longitudinally extending conductors in the ring slots interconnected by end conductors, and means for continuously rotating said cylinder to provide phase displaced voltages which gradually rise and fall in the secondary windings.

9. A variable voltage transformer comprising a primary winding and a plurality of inductively related secondary windings, said windings being electrically independent of one another relatively movable core elements supporting said windings and so arranged as to produce a. substantially constant flux path for all positions of the movable winding, means connecting the primary winding to an alternating current supply, and means for connecting each secondary winding to a separate load independent of electrical connection with said primary winding and its current supply.

10. A variable voltage transformer comprising,

primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings electrically independent of one another and adapted for separate load connection, relatively movable closed core elements supporting -the respective windings and arranged to provide a substantially constant flux path for all positions of the movable winding, means connecting the primary to an alternating current supply, and means for separately connecting the several secondary windings to their respective load connections independent of electrical connection with said primary winding and its current supply and in inductive relation with said primary whereby the progressive relative movement of one core effects in the secondaries a variation of phase displaced secondary voltages increasing and decreasing to maximum and minimum values.

11. A variable voltage transformer comprising a single primary winding and a plurality of second-aiy windings, concentric relatively movable closed core elements supporting the primary winding and the group of secondary windings respectively and having between them a constant and minimized air gap, said windings being inductively related and electrically independent, means connecting the primary winding to a source of alternating current supply, means connecting each secondary winding to a. separate load and means to effect relative movement between the cores for effecting progressive variation in secondary voltage between zero and maximum values.

12. An electrical apparatus of the character described comprising an outer fixed closed core ring having a plurality of secondary windings angularly spaced apart thereon, differently colored lamps one connected across each of said secondary windings, an inner core and a primary winding on said inner core inductively related to and electrically independent of said secondary windlngs to provide gradually increasing and decreasing voltages in the secondary windings relatively displaced as to phase, said primary winding being adapted for connection across' an alternating current supply, and means for slowly rotating said inner core.

13. An electrical apparatus of the character described comprising an outer fixed closed core ring having a plurality of secondary windings angularly spaced apart thereon, diflerently colored lamps one connected across each of said secondary windings, an inner core, and a primary winding on said inner core electrically independent of and inductively related to said secondary windings to provide gradually increasing and decreasing volt-ages in the secondary windings relatively displaced as to phase, said primary winding being adapted for connection across an alternating current supply, an electric motor, and a speed reducing gearing between said motor and said cylinder for slowly operating said cylinder in a continuous manner.

14. An electrical apparatus of the character described comprising a rotatable core and an associated fixed closed core, a primary winding on the rotatable core adapted for connection across an alternating current source, and a plurality of in: dividual secondary windings inductively related to the primary winding and angularly spaced apart on the fixed core, a driving motor for rotating said movable core, and differently colored lights connected to said secondary windings and providing gradually changing color effects of 11- lumination as the movable core is rotated.

current supply to'produce magnetic flux diametricallyof its core, the other of said windings constituting secondary winding independently connectible to a load and means to effect relative rotation of said cores and associated windings for impressing voltages varying from zero voltage to maximum voltage on the load while said primary winding remains constantly energized.

16. In a device of the class described the combination of a plurality of independent lamp circuits including different colored lamps, a closed ring. transformer core, a concentric relatively movable transformer core providing between itself and the ring core a constant and minimized air gap, a plurality of secondary windings in angularly related and overlapping relation about the ring core electrically independent of each other and electrically connected respectively to the several lamp circuits and a primary winding on the movable core for connection to a source of alternating current supply whereby progressive relative movement of said cores effects progressive variation in secondary voltage in said secondary windings and associated lamp circuits from zero to maximum values for effecting progressive variation in intensity of color light value in each of said circuits whereby changing total color light values are attained.

WILLIAM C. BAUMANN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,087,636. v July 20. 1937.

WILLIAM C. BAUMANN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second column. line 18, claim 4, for "windings" read winding; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of Gotober, A0 D. i937.

Henry Van Arsdaie (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORREC'IIOIi.

Patent No. 2.087.636 Jul 20. 1937.

WILLIAM C. BAUMANN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3; second column, line 18, claim 4, for "windings" read winding; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

'Signed and sealed'this 5th day of October, A. 0. 937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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