US242408A - anders - Google Patents

Description

' '1 4Sheets-Sh'eet 1. G. L. ANDERS & T. N. VAIL.

Relay 0r Circuit Closer. No. 242,408. a Patented May 31,1881.

Fig.1.

Witnesses: Inventors:

n. PLTE'R. whmuxmn m Washington. D c

. 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. L. ANDERS & T. N. VAIL. Relay or Oirouit Closer.

No; 242,408. Patented May 31,1881.

mt/wsses Inventors G. L. ANDERS & T. N. VAIL f s heet 4.-

Relay 1 Clroult Clo No. 242,408. Patented May 31,1881.

main, Z i7;

um mm W; z/m' 4 I re n'g r ne (idea.

NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

GEORGE L. ANDERS AND THEODORE N. VAIL, OF BOSTON, MASS.

RELAY OR CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,408, dated May 31, 1881.

Application filed May 16, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE L. ANDERS and THEODORE N. VAIL, both of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Relays, of which the following is a specification.

The invention consists in the combination, with a single line-wire and a central station containing a suitable battery and operatingkey, of several local circuits and a numberot' relays corresponding to the number of local circuits, the construction and arrangement of the relays being such that any one of them, and only one of them, can beopcrated at one time to complete its local circuit according to the intensity or the polarity, or the intensity and polarity, of the current sent'over the main line.

The invention also consists in certain details of construction.

It further comprises the use, in connection with one or more instruments causing a signal to be given by steady currents, such as furnished by a battery, of a bell or signal instrument located in the same line-wire and rapidlyalternating currents from a magnetogenerator.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a relay constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan with upper portions removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are diagrams illustrating the application of our invention to six local circuits. Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a circuit with six stations provided with relays operated by constant currents, and a seventh station provided with a magneto-bell.

Our invention, independently of the peculiar construction of the instrument we use, will be most easily understood by an examination of the diagram shown at Fig. 8, where there is shown a centralstation with battery and operating-keys, a main line, six relays, and six local bell-circuits. The battery at the central station need not be further described than to say that it has keys by which a positive or negative current may be sent over the line, and keys by which the strength of the full current may be twice diminished.

At each of the six local stations 0 G represent two spools ot' the electro-inagnet of the relay, and G represents a polarized armature. To the latter is connected one of the wires, to, of the local circuit, containing a local battery and bell, as shown, the return-wire 10 connect ing with a contact-screw, P.

At stations 1, 2, 4., and 5 is represented a metallic spring, always pressing against the contact-screw P except when pushed away by the armature G, as will be explained hereinafter. At stations 3 and 6 a similar spring is shown, which must be pressed back by the armature before the latter reaches the contactscrew.

At each station is shown a spring, the force of which is to be overcome before the armature G can establish a contact with the contactscrew P and complete the local circuit. Using letters which are used to represent springs in the instrument, the construction of which will be presently explained, we may anticipate by saying that the springs have the strength of those in the instruments which are lettered the same, viz: at stations 1 and 4 the springs have the strength of springs e and c,- at stations 2, 3, 5, and 6, of c and c and 0.

The poles of the polarized armature at stations 4, 5, and 6 are the reverse of the poles at stations 1, 2, and 3. It is therefore obvious that a current which will move, or tend to move, the armature G at stations 1, 2, and 3 to bring it in metallic contact with screw P will have no effect at the other three stations, and therefore the current which must be used for stations 4, 5, and. 6 will have no effect at stations 1, 2, and 3. Now, by construction the force of the spring 0 at stations 1 and 4 is such that when the current is in the proper direction it will be overcome, so that contact is made by the armature G with spring 0, thus making metallic contact with screw P, when both cut-out keys of the main battery are used and a current of very little strength is sent over the main line; but it only one or neither cutout key is used, and a current of greater force is sent over the main line, the armature G will strike against the spring 0 with such force as to push that spring away from screw P and insure a break in the local circuit. In like manner, by construction the coiled spring 6 c of stations 2 and 5 will be overcome and contact made between armature G and spring 0, and the local circuit established, when one cutout key only is used; but if no cut-out key is used the current will be so strong that the spring 0 will be pushed away from screw 1? and a break in the local circuit insured and by construction this strong current will overcome the springs c c and 0 at stations 3 and 6, and make contact with P.

From this description it follows that each cal circuit may be established by sending over the main line a current of suitable intensity and polarity; but this is not all. It follows equally that if a current is set over the main line of suitable intensity'and polarity to cause the completion of anyone of the local circuits, that current will establish breaks in all five of the other local circuits. A bell can therefore be rung at any one of the six stations by an operator at the central station, but cannot possibly be rung at any twoof them at the same time.

The diagram Fi 8 to which the foregoing description relates is intended mainly to illustrate the operation of a series of six relays in accordance with the invention, and in it, for the purpose of more simple illustration, the relays are shown with a single armature, it being obvious that a polarized armature, in ad dition to the attraction and movementdepending on the polarization, may, like a soft-iron armature, be made to overcome a regulated spring-pressure according to the strength of the magnet. In practice we employ two armatures, one polarized, so that the relays will bring in their local circuits only under the action of currents of one polarity, and the other a neutral armature for overcoming the tension of springs c 0. hen there are only two relays on the same circuit, or even where there are four, two of each polarity, one armature polarized may be use with good effect in each relay. It is obvious, also, that if the relays at stations 1, 2, and 3 only were used there would be no need of employing a polarized armature.

To a line having six stations provided with relays, as j ust described, a seventh station may be added by providing a magneto-bell, which maybe rung by a magneto-generator at the central ofiice independently of the vibrating bells at the other six stations. It is obvious that a magneto-bell of this character could be used to give a signal at its own station independent of the others on a circuit connected with instruments operated by constant currents, when the number of said instruments is less than six. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the six relays, as represented in Fig. 8, without their local circuits, and a seventh station provided with a magneto-bell. The bell is represented by Z.

Having now described the nature and mode of operation of our invention, we proceed to describe in detail the construction of the relay used at the local stations, premising the description, however, by saying that while we claim some of the details of construction as our invention, the principal feature of our invention can be worked out independently of the precise details represented and described.

Ais a wooden bed; B, abrass frame; 0, an electro-magnet supported by the frame B.

D is a soft-iron armature, attached to one end of a vibrating brass rod, E, which is rigidly secured at its center to a rock-shaft, F, whose ends have bearin gs in the inner ends of two adj ustin g-screws, a a, in the upper part of the frame 13.

Projecting downward from the rock-shaft F is a rod, b, whose lower end is attached to a spring, a, the tension of which is regulated by the adjusting-screw d, as shown. The force of the spring 0 tends to lift the soft-iron armature D from the electro-magnet.

G is a polarized armature swinging on a post, H, which is insulated from the frame by a plate, 1'.

A spring, 0, secured to the polarized armature, and pressing against one of the spools of the magnet, exerts its force against a current sent through the electro-magnet in one direction, as hereinafter explained.

J is a metallic post secured to the frame B. It supports a piece of insulating material, K, whose office is to give support to four pieces of metal-via, an elbowpiece, m, a pin, a, a bent spring,o,and an elbow-piece, 1). Of these four pieces the pin n and bent spring 0 are at times in contact with each other, otherwise the four parts are insulated from each other.

The upper arm of the elbow-piece m supports an end of the rod E when the soft-iron armature is not attracted to the electro-magnet. Through the other arm of the elbowpiece on is an adj usting-screw,j, in contact with the inner end of which the nearer end of the polarized armature is brought to close, or assistin closing, a branch circuit, as will be hereinafter described. In like manner the upper arm of the elbow-piece p has an adjusting-screw, 1, against the lower end of which the rod E is at times lifted.

S S are screw-cups connecting with the line, and O O are the screw-cups connecting with the branch circuit.

, A light current sent through the electromagnet has no effect upon the soft-iron armature, and does not disturb the contact between the end of the rod E and the elbow-piece m. A current of any strength, however, if in a proper direction, will cause the polarized armature to overcome the force of the spring cand bring the polarized armature into contact with the adjust-in g-screw j. A wire, 10, connects the screw-cup O with the post H, and a second wire, 10 connects the screw-cup O with the frame B, say, at adjusting-screw a. This is the condition at stations 1 and 4, the two stations differing only in the polarity of the armature G, and the bell rings when the polarized armature swings against screw j, the local circuit being then completed, and being, as before stated, from screw'cup O, by wire 10, to

IIO

post H, through that post to thepolarized armature Gr, then to adjusting-screw j, elbow-piece m, rod E, rock-shaft I frame B, by wire w to screw-cup (See Fi .5.)

At stations 2 and the screw-cup O is connected with post H by wire w, but the wire w from screw cup 0 is attached to the pin a; and to ring the bell at stations 2 and 5 a current of medium strength is sent through the electro-magnet, sufficient to lift the rod E from the elbow-piece and bring it into contact with bent spring 0, but not of sufficient strength to lift the bent spring 0 from contact with pin n. A third wire, also connects elbow-piece m with the vibrating rod E, and whenever the current through the electro-magnet brings the polarized armature into contact with the screw j the bell rings, the bell-circuit being from screw-cup O, by wire, to post H, and through post H to polarized armature G, thence to screw j, elbow-piece m, by wire 10 to vibrating rod E, bent spring 0, pin n, by wire 10 to screw-cup 0. (See Fig. 6.)

At stations 3 and 6 screw-cup O is still connected with post H, but screw-cup O is connected with elbow-piece p, the additional wire, 10, in this instance connecting the elbow-piece m with llJG spring 0, and the current has sufficient strength to cause the rod to strike the adjusting-screw l, and at the same time to lift the spring 0 from the pin a. The bell is rung when the polarized armature G strikes the adjusting-screw j, the local circuit being then completed as follows: from screw-cup O, by wire 20, to post H, polarized armature G, thence to screw j, elbow-piece m, by wire to 10 to spring 0, rod E, adjusting-screw l, elbow-piece p, by wire 10 to cup 0. (See Fi 7.)

It is obvious that the spring 0, pin n, and elbow-piece 12 may be removed from the instrument used at stations 1 and 4, and that the elbow-piece 12 may be removed at stations 2 and 5. At whatever station used the instrument shown requires the wires '10 and W. The instrument used at stations 2 and 5 requires an additional wire, 10 and the instrument used at the stations 3 and 6 requires the additional wire to. The wires are shown in the diagrams 5, 6, and 7.

Referring again to Fig. 8 it is obvious that stations 3 and 6, or that stations 2, 3, 5, and 6 might be omitted without departing from the principle of our invention.

We are familiar with the construction and operation of relays in use in systems of multiple telegraphy, and make no claim to such construction and mode of operation. Such systems resemble our invention in making use of a single line-wire over which are sent currents of different intensity and different polarity, but here the resemblance ceases. In those systems it is provided that several local circuits and their respective instruments may be operated simultaneously, which provision must be guarded against, for it is no less essential in our system that an operator shall not be able to ring more than one bell at a time than it is that he shall be able to ring any one bell at will.

We claim- 1. A main electric circuit, in combination with a series of local circuits, and a series of relays constructed substantially as described, whereby any one of said relays, but only one at a timefinay be operated to bring in the local circuit, the currents for operating the several relays differing from each other in intensity or polarity or intensity and polarity, as set forth.

2. In an electric circuit,a series of relays, part of one and part of the opposite polarity, the relays of the same polarity being adapted to connect in a local or branch circuit by the action of currents of different intensity, substantiall y as described.

3. The polarized armature G and the vibrating arm E, provided with the soft-iron armature D, in combination with the electro-magnet 0, the arm m, screw j, and wires 20 and w substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. The polarized armature G and the vibrating arm E, provided with the soft-iron armature D, in combination with the electro-magnet (3, the arm m, screw j, spring 0, pin a, and wires w, 10 and 1 0 substantially as described.

5. The polarized armature G and vibrating arm E, provided with the soft-iron armature D, in combination with the electro-magnet O,

arm m, screw j, spring 0, screw l in metallic connection with wire 10 and the wires w and w, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

6. The combination, with instruments for causing signals to be given at one or more stations on the line and operated by constant currents, of a magneto bell or signal placed on the same line-wire and operated by the rapidlyalternatin g currents of a magneto-generator for giving a signal independent of aforesaid instruments.

7. In a telephone signal apparatus, a series of relays comprising each a neutral and a polarized armature and contact-points as indicated, the neutral armatures being adjusted differently, and the polarized armatures being of unlike polarity in difl'erent instruments, substantially as described.

GEORGE LEE ANDERS. THEO. N. VAIL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. SWAN, H. G. ()LMSTED.

IIS

Images