US2419819A

US2419819A - Circuit controlling device

Info

Publication number: US2419819A
Application number: US547250A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thaddeus W Buslawski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-07-29
Filing date: 1944-07-29
Publication date: 1947-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1964-04-29

Description

April 29, 1947. T. w. BUSLAWSKI CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed July 29. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l 25 Inventor 7%0051/3 M Z3054 Aws/n,

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CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 29, 1944 In vento r 77/HDDEl/S M BUSLHWSKI,

I By

Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Thaddeus W. Buslawski, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 29, 1944, Serial No. 547,250

Claims. 1

This invention relates to circuit controlling devices, and has more particular reference to a controller embodying a multiple-pole reversing switch for the electric operating motor of an overhead traveling hoist.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a controller of the above kind which is directly operable and suspended within reach of the operator from the motor of the hoist carriage.

Heretofore, the controller has been mounted directly on the operating motor of the hoist carriage, and depending mechanical or electrical means has been provided for remotely actuating the controller. Therefore, by suspending the controller from the motor of the hoist carriage and directly operating the controller as proposed by the present invention, the use of a remotely operated actuating means for the controller is rendered unnecessary, and a more efiicient, simpler and less expensive installation is had.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a controller that embodies a multiplepole reversing switch of simple and compact construction, and one that is easy and convenient to operate, safe to use, and easy to repair.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a traveling overhead hoist equipped with a controller constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view looking toward the left of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section on line 3-3 of Figure 4 and partly in side elevation.

Figure 4 is a view of the reversing switch with the casing in central longitudinal section and with the remaining parts in elevation, as seen looking toward the right of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the reversing switch.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram for the switch and the motor.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the present controller is particularly designed for use in connection with an overhead traveling hoist comprising a wheeled carriage running on an elevated track 5 and including hoist mechanism generally indicated at 6 and an operating motor 1 for said hoist mechanism. The motor 1 is a reversible motor of the three-phase alternating current type, and the present controller is designed for use in rendering the motor I operative in either desired direction while normally maintaining the same inoperative. In other words, the controller normally opens the motor circuit and is selectively operable to esta'blish reverse power connections for the motor.

The controller includes a multi-pole reversing switch generally indicated at 8 and which is suspended by a flexible cable 9 directly from the motor I so as to be within convenient reach of the attendant standing upon the floor beneath the hoist. The cable 9 is connected to the upper end of the casing ii of switch 8 and has its other end connected to a lead-in box ll rigidly carried by the motor I, the wiring to the switch 8 and from the. latter to the motor 1 being incorporated in the cable 9.

As shown, the casing ID of the switch 8 is preferably of vertically elongated cylindrical form and consists of a tubular body having end discs l2 secured therein by screws l3.

Arranged within the casing and spaced from the body of the latter is an insulating support of substantially U shape and including a plate l4 and bearing blocksv l5 and I6 secured by screws ll on opposite ends of said plate [4 as well as extending at right angles to the latter. The insulating support is mounted in a fixed position within the casing by securing the hearing block I6 to and against the inner face of the, lower disc l2 by means of screws, as indicated at 18. Disposed longitudinally of the casing and journaled in the lower disc I2 and in the bearing blocks I5 and 15 of the insulating support intermediate the side edges of the plate M, as well as in spaced parallel relation to the latter, is a rock shaft 19 whose lower end extends a short distance below the lower disc 12 and has an insulating block 20 secured thereon. The bearing block 20 has a fiat face to which is fixed the intermediate portion of a substantially U- shaped double-ended finger piece 2| whose legs extend in diverging relation from the shaft 19, as clearly illustrated in Figure 6. The intermediate portion of the finger piece 2| is preferably flat so as to lie in flat engagement with the flat face or side of the block 29, and said finger piece is secured to the block 20 by a screw 22. The lower end of the casing carries a vertical elongated handle or hand grip 23, which handle or hand grip is mounted on a stem 24 whose upper end is threaded into a cross bar 25, a at 26, intermediate the ends of the latter. The cross bar forms part of a U-shaped bracket for mounting the handle on the lower end of the casing, which bracket also embodies a pair of spaced insulating blocks 2'1 disposed at opposite sides of the lower end of shaft i9 and interposed between the ends of the cross bar 25 and the lower disc l2. Screws 28 pass through the ends of bar 25 and through the blocks 2'! and are threaded into the lower disc i2 to secure these parts together and thereby ri idly mount the handle 23 on the lower end of the casing. t will be particularly noted that the finger piece 2| is disposed close to the upper end of handle 25 so that it may be manipulated by finger of the same hand that grips the handle 23.

An insulating plate 29 is fixed at one end on the shaft l8 directly below the upper insulating block l5, and projecting upwardly from this plate 29 is an eccentric pin 30 which is engaged at opposite sides by the ends of a spring 3| whose intermediate portion is coiled and secured to the block l by a screw 32. The legs of spring 2| are tensioned so as to maintain the shaft IS in a predetermined rotatably adjusted position and yieldingly permit rocking of said shaft in either direction by manipulation of finger piece 2|.

Secured on the shaft H3 at considerably spaced points are

eccentric insulating plates

33 and 34, each of which carries a. cross piece 35 that constitutes a contact bridging element. Each element 35 is secured intermediate its ends to the associated

block

33 or 34 by a screw 36, and it is seated in the associated block within a groove 31 of the latter so as to be maintained in a position parallel with shaft l9.

Disposed at each side of each bridging element 35 is a pair of laterally yieldable contacts 38. The spring 3| normally positions shaft l9 so that the bridging elements 35 are spaced from and intermediate the pairs of contacts 38, as illustrated in Figure 4. This constitutes the open position of the switch, but it will be apparent that shaft l3 may be rocked in one direction to engage the contact bridging elements 35 simultaneously with all of the contacts 38 at one side of shaft l3, or it may be rocked in the other direction to simultaneously engage them with all of the contacts 38 at the other side of the shaft l9. As shown, each contact 38 consists of an elongated strip of metal loosely mounted at one end on the stem of a screw 39 extended through an arm of an angle bracket 40 fastened at 4| to the insulating plate l4, a nut 42 being threaded on screw 39, and a spring 43 being interposed between said nut 42 and the outer side of the associated Contact 38. Spring 43 is a helical compression spring and normally acts to hold the contact 38 in a position perpendicular to the plate I4. However, the upper ends of contacts 38 are permitted, by reason of this mounting, to yield laterally outwardly as the bridging elements 35 come into engagement therewith. This allows the bridging elements 35 to have a wiping engagement with the contacts 38 so as to effect a good electrical connection with the latter and much better than would b established by 4 mere abutting engagement of the elements 35 with rigid contacts.

The manner in which the switch 8 is utilized to control the motor I is illustrated in Figure 7. As shown in this figure, one contact of each pair is connected to the one contact of the opposed pair by a wire, as at 44. Also, the remaining contact 38 of each pair is connected, as at 45, with a remaining contact of a nonopposed pair located at the opposite side of the shaft l9. It will be seen that three line wires L1, L2 and L3 extend into the lead-in box II, and the line wire Li extends to and is connected to one contact of the upper pairs that is connected to an opposed contact, as at 44. The line wire L2 similarly extends to and is connected with the one contact of the lower pairs of contacts which is connected at 44 to an opposed contact. The other line wire La extends directly to the motor and a wire 45 extends from the upper contact of a pair at one side of shaft I9 while another wire 46 extends from the upper contact at the other side of shaft l9, both wires 45 and 46 extending to and connecting with the motor 1. Thus, when haft I9 is turned to the left of Figures 4 and 7, bridging elements 35 effect engagement with the contacts at one side of said shaft 19 so that line wire L1 is connected with terminal T2 of motor I and line wire L: is connected to terminal T3 of motor 1. On the other hand, when the shaft I9 is rotated to the right, bridging elements 35 engage the contacts at the other side of shaft l9 so that line wire L1 is connected with terminal T3 and line wire L2 is connected with terminal T2. It is therefore evident that, in one position of the switch, motor I will be operated in one direction, and, in the other position of the switch, said motor will be operated in the reverse direction. When the finger piece 2| is released, spring 3| returns the switch to normal condition so as to open the circuit of the motor.

The line wires L1 and L2, as well as the wires 45 and 46, are incorporated in the cable 9, and any suitable means may be provided for connecting the lower end of the cable to the casing H), such as a coupling element 41 arranged to have threaded engagement in a central threaded opening 48 of the upper disc 12 of the switch casing. A similar coupling element 49 may be provided on the upper end of the cable 9 for engagement of an opening in the lead-in box I on motor I.

It will be noted that the screws 4| extend completely through the plate M and have nuts 50 threaded on the lower ends thereof so as to form binding posts for connection of the wires with the contacts 38. Also, the contacts 38 are retained against lateral tilting by means of U- shaped clips 5| disposed on the screws 38 and embracing the side edges of the brackets 40 and contacts 38 where the screws 39 extend there through.

The description of the switch construction and its operation having been described, it is believed that the exact nature of the invention, as well as its advantages, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the. It will be seen that the switch is com art. paratively simple and economical to manufacture, compact and durable in construction, and easy to install and manipulate. The handle 23 and finger piece 2| are effectively insulated, and the switch is therefore safe to use. All wires of the cable 9 are effectively insulated except at their points of connection with the binding posts 4!, 59, where they are effectively spaced from the casing Ill. Minor changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A controller for the motor of a traveling overhead hoist, comprising a vertically elongated casing, a U-shaped bracket attached at its ends to the lower end of the casing, a handle fixed to and depending from the intermediate portion of said bracket, reversing switch mechanism within the casing, said mechanism including fixed contacts, a vertical rock shaft journaled in the casing and provided with elements for bridging said contacts, said rock shaft having its lower end projecting through the lower end of the casing to a point between the end portions of the bracket, and yieldable means acting to resist rocking movement of said shaft in either direction and to normally position the shaft with the bridging elements disengaged from said contacts, a double-ended finger piece centrally mounted on the projecting lower end and projectin to opposite sides of said shaft in position for actuation by fingers of the hand gripping the handle, a cable, and means to facilitate connection of the cable with the upper end of the casing for suspending the switch, said cable containing wires extending to the switch mechanism and from the switch mechanism to the motor.

-2. In a reversing switch for electric motors, a vertically elongated casing, a substantially U- shaped insulating support arranged within and rigidly secured at one end to the lower end of the casing, a vertical rock shaft journaled in the end portions of said support and projecting through the lower end of the casing, an elongated handle fixed to the lower end of and depending from the casing, an actuating finger piece carried by the projecting end and projecting to opposite sides of the shaft, yieldable means acting to restrain rotation of the shaft in either direction, two opposed pairs of laterally yieldable contacts arranged at each side of the shaft, and two contacts bridging elements of elongated form mounted in aligned relation on and extending parallel with the shaft, one between and coacting with each pair of laterally yieldable contacts at one side of the shaft and the opposed pair of contacts disposed at the other side of said shaft, said yieldable means acting to normally disengage the bridging elements from the contacts.

3. In a reversing switch for electric motors, a vertically elongated casing, a substantially U- shaped insulating support arranged within and rigidly secured at one end to the lower end of the casing, a vertical rock shaft journaled in the end portions of said support and projecting through the lower end of the casing, an elongated handle fixed to the lower end of and depending from the casing, an actuating finger piece carried by the projecting end and projecting to opposite sides of the shaft, yieldable means acting to restrain rotation of the shaft in either direction, two opposed pairs of laterally yieldable contacts arranged at each side of the shaft, and two contacts bridging elements of elongated form mounted in aligned relation on and extending parallel with the shaft, one between and coacting with each pair of laterally yieldable contacts at one side of the shaft and the opposed pair of contacts disposed at the other side of said shaft, said yieldable means acting to normally disengage the bridging elements from the contacts, insulating plates mounted on said shaft and carrying said bridging contacts, and an insulating block mounted on the projecting end of the shaft and carrying said finger piece.

4. The construction defined in claim 2, wherein each laterally yielding contact includes an angular bracket fixed to the intermediate portion of the support and having an outstanding apertured arm, a bolt extending through said apertured arm and an end of the associated contact member, a nut threaded on said bolt, a helical tension spring interposed between said contact member and said nut to yieldingly resist lateral movement of the other end of said contact member, and a U-shaped bracket embracing the adjacent ends of the outstanding arm of the angular bracket and the laterally yieldable contact member to maintain the latter against swinging about said bolt.

5. In a reversing switch for electric motors, a vertically elongated casing, a substantially U- shaped insulating support arranged within and rigidly secured at one end to the lower end of the casing, a vertical rock shaft journaled in the end portions of said support and projecting through the lower end of the casing, an actuating finger piece carried by the projecting end and projecting to opposite sides of the shaft, yieldable means acting to restrain rotation of the shaft in either direction, two opposed pairs of laterally yieldable contacts arranged at each side of the shaft, and two contacts bridging elements of elongated form mounted on and extending parallel with the shaft, one between and coacting with each pair of laterally yieldable contacts at one side of the shaft and the opposed pair of contacts disposed at the other side of said shaft, said yieldable means acting to normally disengage the bridging elements from the contacts and including an eccentric pin mounted on said shaft and a spring mounted on the upper end of said support and having ends engaging opposite sides of said pin.

THADDEUS W. BUSLAWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,686,683 Daly et a1 Oct. 9, 1928 2,148,473 Joy Feb. 28, 1939 1,969,263 Gaynor Aug. 7, 1934 1,491,532 Holder Apr. 22, 1924 1,744,245 Sandin June 21, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 753,398 French Aug. 7, 1933