US2272855A - Vibrator - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1942. R. H. SULLIVAN 2,272,855

VIBRATOR Filed April e, 19:59

LA' ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 10, 1942 u VIBRATOR- Y ARaymond H. Sullivan', Rochester, N. Y., assignor i to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, vMich.,

.a corporationof Delaware 1 Application April s, 1939 serial-no fassnaz y Y' 22 Claims. (Cl. 1-75-3'73) 4 This inventionrelates directfcurrent'voltage converting systems in which a vibryatory current v flow of low voltage direct current to the primary circuits of a transformerzfrom thesecondary of which is supplied a higher voltage alternating current which is rectified either by a tubefrecti- Vfier or by means of an additional set o f contacts More particularly, the present in the vibrator. linvention relates to improvements in the. vibra.-l tor, whether it be non-rectifying for use in a systememploying a tube rectier or whether it be a self-rectifying vibratorfwhich rectifies the..l

small magnetic -retarding action becausefthe contacts which short circuittfhe electromagnet do interrupter is used to controlthe intermittent .not open .untiltheair gap between the `armature and the pole face :is relatively large and therealternating .current from` the transformer sec.

ondary. Inneither case, thevibrator is of the .type comprising a contactcarryingreed carrying, atits free-end, an armature which swings parallel to andY past the pole face of the reed actuatv ing electromagnet of the vibraton 'I'he reed carries two contacts onv opposite sidesv thereof which alternately engage, respectively, two spaced side contacts connected 'withequal sections ofA the transformerl primary. The reed. .normally stands between the two side'contacts.' When ,the

reed operating magnet is closed byconnecting it with a low voltage current source, the reed arcuiting of the reed magnet. .".l'hereafterfrthe reed swings in the opposite direction to open the'shortVV circuit ofthe electromagnet 'and to close the other pair of contacts controlling the other half of the transformer primary.

In the conventional form of vibrator wherein; the armature swings backand forth past the pole face of the electromagnet, it must -swing past the magnetic center.

The result is that the'arma-v I 'ture when moving in the attracted direction is-` accelerated until it reachesith'e magnetic center.-v

fore the pull issniall Vcompared to the momentum of the armature. The flux in the electromagnet core takes time to build up, therefore it helps Y this condition. The armature then reaches the peak of `its swing and by that timethe electro- -magnet `has' become fully en ergised'and exerts a pull on the-armature and the complete cycle is repeated. n

It will beseen that since the armature is both accelerated and partially retarded when, moving in its attracted-,direction and'free of any such restraint when moving in itsopposite direction,

.the forcesi-n the two directions are unsymmetrical.- VAs the timing'of"thewtransformerused with with a vibrator is fixed by the inductance-capacityrelation, it isfvery desirable that the vibrator contacts close at a point where the voltage across themisvzeroonbelow:avalue which will cause destructive action.-;In order to do this in the conventionalforms of; vibrator, ithasbeen the practice to adjust the gaps in; the contacts on opposite sides of the .reed to different dimensions.

The gap between the contacts which short cir- ,cuitl the electromagnet, and which due to the retarding action o n the reedxoutlined above, is

- closed `for a shorter period `than the `other contact gap, is adjustedcloser.-thanthe latterV gap. For a given vibratorf-designvthere is a definite Y maximum.v gapvfor the contactswhichoperate the electromagnet .-(by shunting) yand this is determlned by the `starting voltage desired. `From this point on, the other contacts should be adjusted .to 'approximately the same gap opening as those. which operate the electromagnet. This condition cannot alwaysnbe obtained and the former contacts usually have to have a wider gap than the'latter. It oftentimes happens that when Its momentum then carries itfpast this centen cuit this cOiL'b-ut does so some' time afterwards,

result is that the'ilux remaining inthe electro- The contacts which short circuit the electro- ;l magnet con are-*closed atsome point which is subject to adjustment, but which is generally just s before the armatureY reaches the Amagnetic cenvavihrator'has been adjusted in accordance with this procedure it '.developswhat we call single footing. at certain applied battery voltages, usually about 5.5 volts. e This conditionvi'scaused by the reed swing being sufficient to close the condepe'r'ldent on the electrical time constant. The

magnet core tendstoreta'rd the movement of the armature after it passes the l'magnetic' center.

The armature continuesv ,itsiswinguntil Vthe stored energy in the 'reed balances A'the' tensionin thefspringend the armature "thenbe'gins, its reverse swings past the pole face without/anyorvery of the lectromagnet.

tacts which shunt out the electromagnet coil,

.but insufficient to close the other contacts. The

-`tion for-this-fcondition is to reduce the gap in those contacts which do not control the operation troubleis 4ofte'nj experiencedv due tothe fact that theftimingis` disturbed andI thecontactsclose at a time' when the voltage across them is toov great, and lduetto the very low resistance o f the .'circuit, heavy currents will lflow through the contacts. The contacts oftentimes stick' due to this'condi- In doing this, however,

tion and obviously cause early failure of the vibrator. It will be seen from the foregoing explanation that the adjustments are quite critical.

The wider the gaps, the lower becomes the eiliciency of the whole system. It is therefore very advantageous to obtain gaps of equal openings. The object of the invention described hereinafter is to provide a construction which permits both contact gaps to be adjusted equally and also appears to simplify and make easier the adjustment of vibrators. If the reed can be retarded on its swing away from the electromagnet, then by controlling the amount of this retarding action. the swing of the reed can be made symmetrical to the normal or at rest position of the reed. When this condition is attained, then both contact gaps can be made equal with the result that the eiTlciency can be increased, This is at present accomplished by securing a retard or buffer spring member to the side of the reed opposite to that which receives the pull of the electromagnet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of an apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention shown in conjunction with a transformer and shown in its normal position. .f

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a vibrator showing the features of the invention and in the attracted position.

Fig. 3 is a view of the device in its unattracted position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the reed structure with all parts assembled thereto.

Fig, 5 is a plan view of a bumper spring carried by the reed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a contact element carried by the reed.

Fig, 7 is a plan view of thereed with all of its component parts removed.

Referring to the drawing, a vibrator comprises a magnetic frame bent into U-shape with a yoke 2| and arms 22 and 23. A core 24 is formed integral with the frame and is punched from a portion of the arm 23 and the yoke 2|, the free end forming a pole face 25. The core is located between the arms 22 and 23 around which is a magnetizing coil 26 disposed between two insulating discs 28. The coil and discs are held in an assembled relation by a metallic sleeve 21 which has its ends 21a spun over respective discs 28. The assembly is held firmly against the yoke by deforming the free end of the pole face providing a narrow portion 25a and a rivet portion 24a. The rivet portion is forced against the upper spun-over portion 21a of the sleeve to hold the whole coil assembly firmly against the Disposed between the free end of the arms 22 and 23 is a stack which includes metal spacer plates 30. insulating members 3| of suitable design, vibrating reed 35 of spring steel or bronze and contact springs 36 and 31. The reed is located between two metal plates 30, while the springs 36, 31 are each disposed between two insulating members 3|. The free end of the spring members 36 and 31 carry relative stationary contacts 38 and 39 respectively.

The stack is adapted to be clamped rigidly between the arm 22, 23 by a bolt 4| and a nut .I

41a. In order to resist short-circuiting by the bolt, an insulating tube 42 surrounds the bolt 4| between the arms 22 and 23. It is to be understood that each element of the stack is provided With suitable apertures or notches to receive the tube 42. Tightening of the `nut 4Ia on the bolt 4| draws up the stack to hold the entire construction tight.

The vibratory reed 35 is of the cantilever type and is preferably formed so that it will have the desired flexing characteristics along its length beyond the supported end and which will permit the use of the reed of relatively small dimensions.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the preferred form of reed elements are shown. The reed 35 is of suitable resilient material, such as spring steel or bronze. The reed 35 has an anchor portion 43 provided with an aperture 44 therein to receive the tube 42, a transverse opening or slot 45 adjacent the anchor portion, a longitudinal opening 46 spaced from the transverse opening 45 and an end portion 41. The end portion 41 is the movable end of the reed 35. The purposes for the openings 45 and 46, respectively, are to facilitate the starting of the reed into vibration, and to permit greater freedom of vibration. The end portion 41 carries an armature 48. The armature is secured to the end portion 41 by rivets 49 which projects through aligned apertures provided in the end 41 and the armature 48. It is to Abe understood that the armature could be attached to the end portion in any suitable manner, such as by spot Welding.

A U-shaped buffer or retard spring 50 having arms 5| and a pair of T-shaped spring members 52 and 53 are assembled on the reed 35 by rivets 54 (see Fig. 1). The bufferl spring 50 is located between the contact spring 52 and the reed 35. The spring being held in a superposed relation with respect to the reed. The free ends of the arms 5| extend toward the free end of the reed and rests on the metal of the reed opposite the opening 46 and is located on the side of the reed opposite to the magnetic pull of the electromagnet. Spring members 52 and 53 have, respectively, central arms 56 which are bent slightly toward each other so that they will extend within the opening 46 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The free ends of the springs 52 and 53 carry movable contacts 58 and 59, respectively; and thus provide a pair of aligned movable contacts. These contacts 58 and 59 are adapted to engage the relative stationary contacts 38 and 39, respectively.

Referring to Fig. l there is shown diagrammatically a transformer T having a primary P, a core C, and a secondary S, which has its center tap grounded. A timing condenser R is connected across the ends of the secondary S. The end leads of secondary S are connected with a rectifier (not shown) from which pulsating unidirectional current is passed through a lter and then through a work circuit such as the plate circuit of a radio receiver. The primary winding P is divided into two primary winding Pi and Pz, to provide a mid-point for the primary P. This mid-point of the primary is connected to one side of a battery B. The other side of the battery is connected to a switch 60 connected in series with the reed end 12 by a lead 6|. The coil 26 has one end thereof connected to one side of the primary P1 by a lead 64. The other end of the coil 26 is connected to the lead wire 6| by a wire 65.

The system shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1

' operates as follows: When the switch 60 is closed current will flow from the battery to switch 60, wire 65, coil 26, wire 64 to one end of the primary P1 back to battery. This will energize the coil 26 forming an electromagnet of the core 24 which will attract the armature 48 and cause same to move to the right as shown in Fig. 2. When this occurs the movable Contact 59 carried by the reed 35 will engage the relatively stationary contact 39. When the contacts close the coil 26 is short-circuited through the lead 6l. As shown in Fig. 2, when the reed is attracted the buffer or retard spring 50 ls inoperative, since the reed 35 recedes from the free ends of arm of the retard spring 50.

When the armature is attracted, the armature must pass the magnetic center. Thus when the armature is moving in the attracted position it is accelerated until it reaches the magnetic center after which the momentum of the armature carries it past the center. The contact 39 is so positioned that the contact 59 will engage the contact 39 just before the armature reaches the magnetic center to short circuit the coil 26. The flux in the core 24 does not diminish to zero immediately the contacts 59, 39 short circuit the coil 26. Therefore, the flux remaining in the core tends to retard the movement of the armature 48 after it passes the magnetic center, but the armature continues its swing until the stored energy in the reed balances the tension in the spring member 31. By making the pole face narrow, as at 25a, the retarding effect due to diminishing flux is greatest just where the armature leaves the pole tip. By the time the reed has completed its swing the flux in the electromagnet will have decreased to zero and the armature 48 swings past the pole face 25 toward the left to the position shown in Fig. 3, so that the contact 58 will engage contact 38. As soon as contact 59 separates from contact 39 the coil 26 is again energized so that the magnet begins to reassert its pull on the armature 49 to move the reed to the right. The opening of the contacts does not occur until the average air gap between the armature and the pole face is relatively large; therefore, the pull of the electromagnet is small compared to the momentum of the armature, since it takes time for the flux in the electromagnet core to build up. In order that the swing of the reed beyond normal position to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1 is substantially equal to that toward the right from the position shown in Fig. 1 the buffer spring 50 is utilized to retard the swing of the reed to the left.

When the reed 35 is on its swing away.from the electromagnet, the reed is retarded by the free ends 5| of the buffer spring 50 after the reed is well on its swing toward the left and until it reaches the end of its swing as shown in Fig. 3. The buffer spring 50 is then effective to urge the reed 35 through a portion of its travel to the right, as viewed in the drawing, when it is again moved toward its attracted position. y

When the contact 58 engages contact 38, a ow of current will be directed through the half Pz of the primary P but in a direction opposite to the ow of current in the primary P1. Vibration of the reed 35 between the member 31 and 36 will therefore result in the establishment of alternating magnetic flux threading through the secondary winding S of the transformer. This produces an alternating current which can be rectied by a tube rectifier or by rectifying contacts controlled by the reed.

By this arrangement of the buffer spring 50, the reed can be retarded during its movement away from the electromagnet so that the swing can be made symmetrical to the normal position of the reed. When this condition is attained both contact gaps can be made equal or approximately so with the result that the eiciency converting system is increased.

The ends 5i of spring 50 can be readily bent with pliers to vary the force and also the time of application on the reed swing cycle. It has been found by actual test with an oscilloscope that in this way the wave form of the output current or voltage can be made symmetrical. With a symmetrical wave form and proper adjustment of the contacts, which by actual test is easily attained using this invention, the chances of the contacts closing at any other than a minimum voltage are rather remote. Tests which have been conducted on a vibrator using a reed made in accordance with the present invention indicate that an increased operating life will be obtained over that of conventional vibrators.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A vibratory circuit lnterrupter for use in a D. C. converter system comprising the combination of a vibratory reed; contacts supported by the reed; side contacts alternately engageable re.- spectively with the contacts of the reed and spaced therefrom in the normal position of the reed; an armature supported by the reed; an electromagnet having a pole piece past which the armature swings in approximate parallelism therewith; circuit connections including a winding of the electromagnet adapted to be connected in parallel with a pair of contacts, including one of the reed contacts and one of the side contacts. which are engaged as a pair during movement| of the armature toward the pole piece due to magnetic attraction, the engagement of said pair of contacts shunting the electromagnet winding, whereby the flux of the electromagnet begins to decay while the armature continues to move in the same direction and past the pole piece, the decay of magnetic flux serving to retard movement of the armature in said direction, the resiliency of the reed permitting it to bend and thus to store energy therein which effects movement of the reed in the opposite direction to close the other pair of contacts of th vibrator; and resilient mechanical means attached to an intermediate portion of reed for retarding movement of the armature and reed when same moves past the normal position in said opposite direction whereby the movement of the reed is symmetrical in respect to its normal position.

2. A vibratory circuit interrupter for use in a D. C. converter system comprising the combination of a vibratory reed; contacts supported by the reed; side contacts alternately engageable respectively with the contacts of the reed and spaced threfrom in the normal position of the reed; an armature supported by the reed; an electromagnet having a pole piece past which the armature swings in approximate parallelism therewith; circuit connections including a winding of the electromagnet adapated to be connected in parallel with a pair of contacts, including one of the reed contacts and one of the side contacts, which are engaged during movement of the amature toward the pole piece due to magnetic attraction, the engagement of said pair of contacts shunting the electromagnet winding, whereby the flux of the electromagnet begins to decay while the armature continues to move in the same direction and past the pole piece, the decay of magnetic flux serving to retard movement of thearmature in said direction, the resiliency of the reed permitting it to bend and thus to store energy therein which eiects movement of the reed in the opposite direction to close the other pair of contacts of the vibrator; and resilient means carried by the reed for retarding movement of the amature and reed when same moves past their normal position in said opposite direction.

3. A vibratory circuit interrupter for use in a D. C. converter system comprising the combination of a vibratory reed; contacts supported by the reed; side contacts alternately engageable respectively with the contacts of the reed and spaced therefrom in the normal position of the reed; an armature supported by the reed; an electromagnet having a pole piece past which the armature swings in approximate parallelism therewith; circuit connections including a winding of the electromagnet adapted to be connected in parallel with a pair of contacts, including one of the reed contacts and one of the side contacts, which are engaged dui ing movement of the armature toward the pole piece due to magnetic attraction, the engagement of said pair of contacts shunting the electromagnet winding,whereby the flux of the electromagnet begins to decay while the armature continues to move in the same direction and past the pole piece, the decay of magnetic flux serving to retard movement of the armature in said direction, the resiliency of the reed permitting it to bend and thus to store energy therein which effects movement of the reed in the opposite direction to close the other pair of contacts of the vibrator; and a retarding spring carried by the reed and located on the side of the reed opposite to that which receives the pull cf the electromagnet, said retarding spring being effective only when the reed moves past its normal position whereby the swing of the reed and armature is symmetrical to its normal position.

4. A vibratory circuit interrupter for use in a direct current converter system comprising the combination of a vibratory reed having a transverse cut out portion anda longitudinal elongated cut out portion; contacts supported by the reed; side contacts alternately engageable respectively with the contacts of the reed and spaced therefrom in the normal position of the reed; an armature supported by the reed; an electromagnet having a pole piece provided with a narrow pole face past which the armature swings in approximate parallelism therewith; circuit connections including a coil of the electromagnet adapted to be connected in parallel with a pair of contacts including one of the reed contacts and one of the side contacts, which are engaged during movement of the armature toward the pole piece due to magnetic attraction upon energization of the coil, the engagement of said pair of contacts shunting the coil, whereby the flux of the electromagnet begins to decay while the armature continues to move in the same direction and past the narrow pole face, the decay of 'the magnetic flux serving to retard the movement of the armature in said direction, the resiliency of the reed permitting it to bend and thus store energy therein which effects movementoi the reed in the opposite direction to close the other pair of contacts of the vibrator; a resilient U-shaped member having a pair of arms; means for securing the U-shaped member to the reed between the slots and so arranged that the arms straddle the elongated cut-out portion with the free ends of arms normally engaging portions of the reed opposite the longitudinal slot, said arms retarding the movement of the reed in said opposite direction when the reed moves past its normal position whereby the swing of the reed is symmetrical to its normal position.

5. In a vibratory circuit breaker the combination of a frame having a magnetizable pole piece provided with a narrow pole face thereon; a magnetizing coil therefor; a reed mounted on the frame and having an armature adjacent the pole face for swinging past the pole face; contacts carried by the reed; relative stationary contacts carried by the frame and spaced from the reed contact in the normal position of the reed; circuit connections between the contacts and the coil for actuating the reed in one direction upon circuit energization to close one set of contacts to shunt the coil, the resiliency of the reed permitting the momentum of the armature due to magnetic attraction to bend the reed and store energy thereon, the decaying flux in the electromagnet retarding the movement of the reed in said one direction said stored energy effecting movement of the reed in the opposite direction to open said contact `and close the other set of contacts of the vibrator; and resilient means carried by the reed for retarding the movement of the reed past its normal position in said opposite direction whereby the movement of the reed is symmetrical with respect to its normal position.

6. In a vibratory circuit interrupter the combination of a vibratory reed; a contact supported by the reed; a relative stationary contact engageable with the contact of the reed and spaced therefrom in the normal position of the reed: an armature supported by the reed; an electromagnet having a pole piece past which the armature swings; a magnetizing coil for the pole piece; circuit connections between the coil and reed contact whereby the reed and armature will move in one direction upon energization of the coil` to close the contacts, the engagement of the contacts short circuiting the coil; to permit the decaying flux in the electromagnet to retard the movement of the reed in said one direction; the stored energy in the reed operating the reed and armature to move in the opposite direction; and resilient means carried by the reed for retarding movement of the reed in the opposite direction after it reaches its normal position and eective at the end of swing of the reed in said opposite direction to urge initially the reed in said one direction.

7. In a circuit nterrupter the combination of a vibrating reed adapted to have one end thereof move in an arcuate path; electrical means for actuating the reed in one direction; and cooperating means carried by the reed, said means being eiective upon movement of the reed in the opposite direction following attraction to restrain the movement of the reed in said opposite direction and effective at the completion of movement in the opposite direction for urging the reed through a portion onlyin said one direction.

8. In a circuit interrupter the combination comprising a vibrating reed adapted to have one end thereof move in an arcuate path; electrical means for attracting the reed in one direction; and yieldable means carried by the reed for dampening a portion of the movement of the reed beyond its normal position in the opposite direction following attraction and effective at the end of said movement for urging the reed through a portion only in said rst mentioned direction.

9. In a circuit interrupter the combination comprising, la flat resilient reed adapted to be supported at one end having a normal position and adapted to have one end thereof move in one arcuate path; a fiat spring member secured at one end to the intermediate portion of the reed and having its free end extending toward the free end of the reed; an electromagnet connected in a circuit, said electromagnet adapted to attract periodically the reed in one direction to swing the reed and move the reed away from the free end of the spring member, the free end of the spring engaging an intermediate portion of the reed when the reed is well on its swing in the opposite direction, to retard said swing whereby the swing of the reed is symmetrical to its normal position.

10. In a circuit interrupter the combination of a vibrating reed adapted to have one end thereof move in an arcuate path on both sides of a normal position; contacts carried by the reed; a cooperating stationary contact disposed on lopposite sides of the reed contacts; electrical means connected in a circuit for attracting the reed in one direction to close a set of contacts and shunting the electrical means whereby the ux of the electrical means begins to decay as the reed continues its movement in said one direction, the decay of the fiux retarding the movement of the reed in said one direction; and resilient mechanical means carried by the reed in superposed relation, said means being effective following attraction for' retarding the movement of the reed in the opposite direction after the reed has moved past its normal position in said opposite direction, whereby the movements of the reed in both directions are symmetrical with respect to its normal position.

11. In a vibrator the combination comprising, a frame having a pole piece provided with a pole face; a magnetizing coil therefor; a reed mounted on the frame and having an armature adjacent the pole piece for vibration along the face of the pole piece; a contact carried by the reed; a. cooperating contact carried by the frame; circuit connections between the coil and the reed contact; circuit connections between the coil and the stationarycontact; means for connecting the coil with a current source whereby energization of the coil will cause the reed and armature to move in one direction due to magnetic attraction to close the contacts and shunt the coil, the decay of magnetic ux operating to retard the movement of the armature in said one direction, the resiliency of the spring permitting is to bend and store energy therein and upon completion of the swing of the reed the stored energy in the reed operating to move the reed in the opposite direction to separate the contacts; and spring means carried by the reed for retarding the movement of the reed in said opposite direction only after the reed is past its normal position, whereby said swing 'of the reed on both sides of its normal position is symmetrical.

l2. In a vibrator the combination comprising a frame having a magnetizing pole piece provided with a pole face thereon; a magnetizing coil therefor; a reed mounted on the frame and having an armature adjacent the pole for `vibration along the face of the pole piece; a contact carried by the reed; a cooperating stationary Contact carried by the frame; circuit connections between the coil and the reed contact; circuit connections between the coil and stationary contact; means for connecting the coil with a current source whereby energization of the coil will cause the reed and armature to move in one direction due to magnetic attraction to close the contacts and shunt the coil, the decay of magnetic flux operating to retard the movement of the reed in that direction, the resiliency of the reed permitting it to bend and store energy therein and upon completion of the reed swing the stored energy operating to move. the reed in the opposite direction to open the contacts; and spring means carried by the reed for retarding the movement of the reed in said opposite direction only after it passes its normal position whereby the swing of the reed is symmetrical to its normal position.

13. A vibratory reed construction comprising a resilient reed and a fiat spring attached at one end to an intermediate portion of the reed in superposed relation; electrical means adapted for attracting the reed in one direction causing the intermediate portion to leave the free end of the flat spring, said free end engaging the intermediate portion of the reed upon movement of the reed in the opposite direction whereby the swing of the reed is symmetrical with respect to its normal position; and electrical contacts controlled by the movements of the reed in both directions.

14. A reed mechanism for an electrical system comprising a resilient reed and a U-shaped flat spring member; means for securing the spring member to the reed in superposed relation; means for supporting the reed in a neutral position; electrical means adapted to pull the resilient reed in one direction and away from the free ends of the arms of the spring member, the free end of the arms engaging an intermediate portion ofthe resilient reed upon movement of the reed past its normal position in the opposite direction following the attraction thereof by the electrical means, said spring operating t0 retard the movement of the reed in said opposite direction whereby the swing of the reed is symmetrical with respect to its normal position.

15. A vibratory reed construction comprising a resilient reed; means for supporting the reed in a neutral position; a buffer spring xed at one end to the reed in superposed relation below the supporting means; electrical means for attracting the reed in one direction from its normal position to control a pair of contacts, the engagement of said contacts causing an intermediate portion of the reed to leave the free end of the buffer spring, the free end of the buffer spring engaging Vthe intermediate portion of the reed upon movement of the reed in the opposite direction following attraction to restrain the movement of the reed in said opposite direction, whereby the swing of the reed symmetrical with respect to its normal position; and

another pair of electrical contacts controlled by the movement of the resilient reed in said opposite directions.

16. A reed mechanism comprising a long re silient member adapted to be supported at one end and a short resilient member; means for supporting one end of the short resilient member intermediate the ends of the long resilient member and in superposed relation; electrical means for periodically drawing the free end of the long resilient members in one direction with the long member leaving the free end of the short member after the long resilient member is on its swing past a neutral position in said one direction whereby energy is stored in said member, said stored energy effecting movement of the long member in the opposite direction the free end of the short resilient member engaging the long member and for retardng the movement of the long member in the direction and effective in the completion of the swing in said opposite direction to urge the long member in said one direction; and contacts on each side of the long resilient member controlled by the vibratory movements of the long resilient member. y

17. In a circuit interrupter the combination of a vibrating reed adapted to have one end anchored to a support and having theother end move in an arcuate path; electrical -means for actuating the reed in one direction to control a pair of contacts; and resilient means carried by the reed below the anchoring point for dampening a portion of the movement of the reed in the opposite direction whereby the movement of the reed is symmetrical with respect to its normal position, said resilient means being effective and the end of movement of the reed in said opposite direction for urging the reed through a portion only in said one direction 18. A vibratory reed mechanism comprising in combination a resilient reed, contacts supported on each side of the reed, means for supporting one end of the reed; an armature carried by the reed at the free end thereof; a resilient member supported by the reed intermediate the supporting means and the armature, side contacts supported relative to the reed and normally spaced from the contacts on the reed; an electro-magnet adapted to pull periodically the armature in one direction causing one of the reed contacts to engage one of the side contacts during the movement of the reed in said one direction, the engagement of said contact permitting the reed to bend below the supporting means of the resilient member and move away from the free end of the resilient member and thus store energy therein which effects movement of the reed in the opposite direction following the attraction of the armature by the electro-magnet, causing the other contact of the reed to engage another side contact, said free end of the resilient member engaging the reed on its movement in the opposite direction after the reed passes its normal position to retard the movement of the reed whereby swing of the reed is symmetrical to its normal position.

19. A vibratory circuit interrupter comprising a resilient leaf spring adapted to be fixed at one end and having the other end free to move in an arcuate path, said spring having an aperture therein and having an integral bridging portion extending across the aperture; a buffer spring located on one side of the leaf and having surface to surface contact engagement with the bridging portion and portions of the leaf spring defining the aperture toward the free end of the leaf springra contact on each side of the leaf spring; and means for securing the contacts and the buffer spring t0 the bridging portion.

20. A vibratory circuit interrupter comprising a resilient leaf spring adapted to be xed at one end and having the other end free to move in an arcuate path, said spring having an aperture therein and having a cross piece secured to the leaf spring for bridging the aperture; a U-shape resilient member located on one side of the leaf spring with the arms thereof extending toward the free end of the leaf spring, said arms being effective to dampen the movement of the leaf spring in one direction; a conducting member carrying a contact disposed between the marginal walls of the aperture; and common means for attaching the conducting member and the U-shaped member to the cross piece.

2l. A vibratory circuit interrupter comprising a resilient leaf spring adapted `to be fixed at one end and having the other end free to move in an arcuate path, said leaf spring having spaced apertures to provide a supporting portion beyond the end of the leaf spring adapted to be xed; a retarding spring located on one side of the leaf spring, said spring having arms extending toward the free end of the leaf spring with the free end thereof engaging side portions of the leaf spring defining the aperture nearest the free end of the leaf spring, said arms being effective to retard the movement of the leaf spring in one direction from a normal position; a contact member carried by the supporting portion of the leaf spring; and common means for attaching the retarding spring and the contact member to the supporting portion.

22. A vibratory reed for a device having an electromagnet for actuating the reed in one direction, the resiliency of the reed permitting it to bend to store energy therein which effects movement of the reed in the opposite direction upon deenergization of the magnet comprising in combination; an elongated thin flat resilient member having an integral center portion formed between openings in said member, said member being fixed at one end the other end with relatively great magnitude when actuated in one direction by an electromagnet; a thin fiat U-shaped resilient member located on one side of the member with the arms thereof extending toward the free end of the elongated member and normally contacting opposite sides of the elongated member defining the lowermost opening, said arms being effective to dampen the movement of said elongated member only when said member has moved a predetermined distance in the opposite direction; contact members located on each side of the elongated member; and means for attaching the U-shaped member and contacts to the central portion of the elongated member.

RAYMOND H. SULLIVAN.

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