US2692921A - Remote-control and interlocking switch - Google Patents

Description

.Oct. 26,1954

1.. J. A. LE GOFF 2,692,921 REMOTE-CONTROL AND INTERLOCKING SWITCH Filed Jan. 22, 1951 6 SheetsSheet 2 I NVE N TOR.

Lucien J. Le Goff MMM Oct. 26, 1954 L. J. A. LE GOFF 2,692,921

REMOTE-CONTROL AND INTERLOCKING SWITCH Filed Jan. 22, 1951 6 Shets-Sheet 3 57a 59 60a 58a 52 6/ 3 5/ 53 5 a 5'4 60,; 4/ 4a 3a 55 50a Fig.1O

//7 van for Lac/en J14 LeGaff By his aI/omeys 6, 1954 L. .1. A LE GOFF REMOTE-CONTROL AND INTERLOCKING SWITCH 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 22, 1951 Lac/en U1 5.560 '2 By his affameys w G Z 06L 1954 L. J. A. LE GOFF REMOTE-CONTROL AND INTERLOCKING SWITCH 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 22, 1951 l no F? Fig. 20

//7ve/7f0/ Lumen JA LeGoff By hi3 af/ameys i yxd 0mg! Patented Oct. 26, 1954 R'EMOTE-CGNTROL AND INTERLOCKING SWITCH Lucien Joseph Armand Le Goff, Clichy, assignor to Society dElectricite Mors,

France France, Clichy,

Application January 22, 1951, Serial No. 207,152

Olaims'priority, application France February 3, 1954) 7 Claims.

1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION It is common practice to group on one panel the remote control devices and indicating elements for apparatus controlling the flow of fluids (including both liquids, gases and electric current). The controlled apparatus may include electric circuit-breakers, section switches and/ or cut-off switches, where the fluid is electric current, or valves and/or movable fiashboards or gates, where such fluid is water.

Inasmuch as any operation capable of altering the conditions in the network may seriously affect the safety and integrity of the personnel and plant involved, it is important that such operations be efiected under the best possible conditions of reliability and that all possible causes of error be minimized. An essential requisite for this purpose is that the various control and. indicating elements be grouped in an array of such arrangement and character as to be very easily supervised, and, as a rule, within a minimum space in order to afford the operator with an over-all view of the situation prevailing at any time.

The new and improved arrangement according to this invention accomplishes just this purpose. It further affords the possibility of preparing or pre-conditioning or pre-setting the movements to be executed and of finally executing them only after a general survey of the situation has been made, as made possible by certain specific optical arrangements.

The essential features of the invention are:

(1) The control apparatus is provided with manually operable pre-conditioning or pre-setting elements and with executive elements, responding to actuating movements of total or partial rotation, or of push or pull translation. The pre-setting and the executive elements may be grouped in one, in which case the common element would be responsive to difierent modes of actuation, respectively for pre-setting, and for executive action.

(2) Separate code signals are made to correspond conventionally with the various positions (or operating conditions) of the load apparatus or apparatuses controlled, and are adapted to be illuminated in correlation with such positions or conditions, according to predetermined codes involving different colours and/or rhythms.

(3) The pie-setting action causes illumination of a preparatory signal corresponding to the contemplated position of the apparatus.

(-4) The executive action causes operation of the load apparatus being controlled. This re- '2 sults in a disappearance of the signal indicative of the old position, disappearance of the presetting signal, and display of 'thesignal indicative of the new position.

(5) A spontaneous change of position of the load apparatus causes-illumination of the signal corresponding to the :new position in the-corresponcling colour-and-rhythm'code, and the'display of a signal of the signal-lamp of the old position in a predetermined colour and rhythm code may if required be caused to be displayed in clear supervision over the signal corresponding to the pre-setting of the operation to be performed.

(6) The .pre-setting and executive elements actuate electric contact-switches; however, the executive elements may be adapted to act directly on a control fluid, non-electrical in character. The contacts of the pre-setting element are used:

(a) For selecting'the light sources of the signal lamps;

(b) For selecting the control circuits.

The contacts of the executive elements are adapted to make and break the control circuits.

A mechanical interlock between the pre-setting elements-and the executive elements provides the positive assurance that the contacts of the presetting element will only be actuated in opencircuit condition, inasmuch as their function is limited to allowing the flow of current, while the circuit-makingand -breaking operations are always performed by the executive element. This functional discrimination makes it possible to dimension the elements in direct correlation with the type of action performed by them and thus to minimize the size of the assembly.

('7) A mechanical interlock device prevents repetition of the executive action, so that the position of the load apparatus cannot be directly restored or reset after a spontaneous change therein. The confirmative effect of a pre-setting, followed by an executive action, corroborates the newly acquired position and cancels the action of the anti-repeat interlock. This device may involve one or more positions of the load apparatus.

(8) To facilitate grouping within a restricted space, a control and indicating apparatus is used having reduced dimensions in a frontal plane, characterized by a linear arrangement of the presetting and executive switches, the use of luminous and optical systems in which the sources are located rearwardly to improve accessibility and facilitate dismantling, and the use of light conductors."

The invention is further characterized by a number of features and arrangements which will appear from the ensuing description relating to one specific and exemplative embodiment of the invention, as applied to the control or" the circuitbreakers in an electrical network.

In this example a signal code is used to indicate the closed or open condition of the breaker. A cross pair of luminous lines are interposed on the circuit diagram. One line indicates the circuit breaker to be closed; the other line transverse to the first shows the circuit breaker to be opened.

One advantageous form of construction for this cross-streak signal is that obtained by using strips of transparent material (e. g. methyl inethacrylate), the edge section of one end or which provides the streak or line, and which is illuminated from the other end or" the strip by one or more lamps, with the possible interposal of colour filters. Such strips of transparent material provide light conductors which operate by a series of successive reflections of the light rays from the side walls bounding the strip.

While this arrangement is applicable to an entirely luminous signalling system involving all the parts of an installation placed under electric tension, the ensuing disclosure, which is merely exemplative, is restricted to the application of such means to indications relating to cut-off apparatus.

Associated with the signalling element just mentioned is a control element, which may be a pull-rod in which only a strip member is visible and which is provided with the possibility of having selectively imparted to it a movement of translation and movement of rotation. In the disclosure, the signalling and the control elements are grouped in a common casing, thus forming a single apparatus unit. However, alternative embodiments of the invention may include arrangements wherein the signalling elements are grouped. in one unit, and the control elements in a separate unit.

The rotational movement of the control element is the presetting action required to set the apparatus to a position which corresponds, on the circuit diagram, to the position to which the strip has been placed.

The translatory of sliding movement is operative to start a current flow for executing the actual operation.

A combination or contacts, cams and mechanical interlock or latching means, on the pull-memher and the signal lamps, is organized in accordance with a circuit diagram which fulfills the following conditions, with the purpose of discriminating between the positional, pre-set and warning signals:

(1) A line or streak of light indicates the position of the apparatus. Preferably a fixed white light is used for this code signal.

(2) The pro-setting action, consisting in a rotation of the symbol, illuminates the light streak corresponding to the position to which the load apparatus is to be set, in a way differing from the signal code indicating the fact that the load has actually assured said position. Thus, a fixed red light may be used for the pro-set signal.

(3) Spontaneous operation of the load apparatus results in the display of a light diiifering from either of the foregoing, and called warning signal, in the streak representing the position which has just been given up. Preferably an intermittent light, e. g. white, is used for. the warn.- ing signal. This light is advantageously linked with a relay sounding an audible alarm. The warning signal is stopped upon confirmation of the operation produced by pulling the pull-rod.

The warning signal may be superimposed over the pre-set or disagreement signal; in the examples given above, this would result in an intermittent white light on a red background.

A judicious choice of the colours used makes it possible to reduce to a minimum the number of signal lights required. Thus with the white light erasing the red, and the intermittent white light being rendered invisible by the presence of a fixed white light, there may be provided a signal red (pre-set) lamp for both luminous lines in the circuit diagram. The same may be done for the in-- termittent white warning signal lamp.

The control contacts are preferably of the quick-acting type and there may be provided only one pair of such contacts the control current being switched selectively to the circuit-closing element or to the circuit-breaking element, by a reverser switch operated by the rotational movement of the pull-member.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively a sectional elevation on line 1-1 of Fig. 8, a plan view, a left-hand side view and a right-hand side view, of a combined control and indicating device assembly in position on a panel, said panel being partly shown.

Fig. 5 is an isometric perspective View of the signal-lamp assembly, extracted from the general assembly and seenv from the rear.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the signal-lamp in isometric perspective from the front.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a lamp-holder.

Figs. 8 to 13 relate to the rotary preparatory switch. Fig. 3 is an elevation, 9 a partial section, Fig. 10 a plan, Fig. ii an end view from the right of Figs. to 10, Fig. 12 a section on line XII. III of Fig. 10 and Fig. 13 a section on XIII-XIII of Fig. 10.

Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively an elevation and a side view of the quick-acting switch.

Fig. 16 is an isometric perspective showing details of the quick-acting making and breaking mechanism of the executive switch.

Fig. 17 is a partial longitudinal section of said mechanism.

Fig. 18 is an isometric perspective, partly in section, of the anti-repeat interlock device.

Fig. 19 is an isometric perspective of the warning contacts-control device. And

Fig. 20 is a circuit diagram of the electric connections.

VISUAL SIGNAL STRUCTURE As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and there is pro= vided a front wall I of a panel upon which the component apparatus units and circuit elements of a network are represented by lines drawn or embossed thereon, such as 2 (Fig. 3). In the representation of the circuit, there is interposed a symbol element or signal light in the form of a vertical element 3a, 3b and a horizontal element 4a, 8b forming a cross, the element 3a, 3?) when illuminated establishing a continuous line through the circuit conductor on the diagram, while the element 6a, db indicates the disconnected condition of the apparatus.

Small blocks 5a, 52: secured to the inner surface of the front panel wall, support strips 5a, 51) at the end of each of which a groove serving to guide hooks la, lb subjected to the action of set screws 1; engaging nuts e, rigid with the strips 611,619. The hooks act on the body of the casing 8 of the control-and-indicator unit, applying said casing firmly against the front panel wall, accurate positioning being secured by means of notches in the casing into which the blocks 5a, 5b are adapted to engage.

The signal lights or symbol 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b constitute the ends of light conduits and to (Fig. 5) issuing out of light boxes provided with removable lamp-socket assembled on the bottom ll thereof and described in detaillater.

Alongside the crossed apertures for the symbol elements, the panel wall is formed with a circular aperture out of which a knob l2 ,pro-

jects, provided with a projecting strip 13 adapted to have two difierent movements imparted to it. It may be moved in rotation so as to occupy either a position parallel with the element 342, 3b symbolizing the connect condition of the load apparatus or a position perpendicular thereto. It can during this rotary movement and through mechanism to be later described, actuate a preparatory switch 14 (Fig. 1) which includes contacts and, accessorily, mechanical means are provided for stabilizing the normal positions of the knob.

The knob is moreover adapted to be actuated in translation by pulling action and during such movement it acts on a switch 15 described hereafter.

Safety means enclosed in the switch M provide the mechanical impossibility of pulling the strip when it occupies any one of its intermediate positions of rotation, and conversely prevent rotation of the strip unless the latter has returned to rest from its translatory movement.

The various conductors feeding the lamps and switches are grouped in a cable l6 leading to a connector member l! provided with multiple contacts 58 selectively adapted to engage fixed conductors 9 (Fig. 2) through connector parts p.

The above arrangements make it possible to obtain a greatly reduced over-all dimension in the frontal plane parallel to the panel as the various components are placed behind one another. The lamp-holder system is located at the rear to allow ready access in service. As Will become apparent, various combined control-andindicator units may easily be juxtaposed without any intermediate loss of space, owing (1) to the quick-attachment system to be described, and (2) to the fact that it is unnecessary to provide access clearances to the electric connecting terminals. This results in the possibility of highly compact circuit arrangements.

A combined control-and-indicator unit according to the invention may be easily dismantled since it is merely necessary to disengage the connector member ll, release the two set-screws v and slightly separate their supporting strips, in order to withdraw the unit rearwardly.

In Fig. 5, the component parts of the luminous equipment are shown extracted from the combined unit assembly just described, while Fig. 6

is a detail of the illuminatable symbol elements. The portions 30. and 3b of the symbol element indicating circuit continuity are the ends of a light conductor 9 slotted in the form of a fork. Similarly the symbol element 4a, 42) indicating the disconnect condition constitute the outer ends of a second light conduit l0 slotted .in the form of a fork. The elements 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b are assembled crosswise by double interfitting bevel (Fig. 3), so as to be assembled withoutany break in continuity, this arrangement providing a particularly attractive appearance of the circuit diagram owing to the continuity of the illuminated part. The light conductor in is brought out of the fork-slot of the light conduit 9. The rear ends of both light conductors are perpendicular to each other and are interfitted with 45 bevels. .An opaque wrapping strip r provides for the requisite light-insulation between the two light-conductors. Score lines of suitable configuration formed on the narrow edges of the light conductors, ensure the desired distribution of the emergent light flux and a proper utilization of the incident light flux.

Light sources 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20c are arranged adjacent to the rear ends of the light conduits. .An opaque screen partition means, partly illustrated at 2|, separates the lamps from each other and provides for the independency of their respective actions. The lamp 20a directly illuminates the light conductor 10, the lamp 20b illuminates the light-conductor ID with the interposal of a colour filter 22. The lamp 200 directly illuminates both the light conductors 9 and Ill. The lamp 20d illuminates the light conductor 9 with the interposal of a colour filter 23. The lamp Z'Oe directly illuminates the light conductor 9.

In the example shown therefore, the lamp 20a when energized illuminates the symbol 4a, 4b in white light. The lamp 201) when energized illuminates the symbol 4a, 4b in coloured light; the lamps 200 when energized with pulsing current cause intermittent illumination of both symbols 4a, 4b and 3a, 3b. The lamp 20d when energized causes coloured illumination of the symbol 3a, 3b. The lamp 206 when energized causes white illumination of the symbol 3a, 3b, the appearance of the resulting signals being in all cases uniform owing to the excellent light distribution obtained by the successive total reflections of the light beam from the walls of the light conductors. With the lamp 20b energized, if the lamp 20a is energized at the same time, the symbol 4a, 4b will appear illuminated in very slightly tinged white colour owing to the predominating action of the white light, with the light sources equal in illuminating intensity. The same is true for the symbol 3a, 3b in the case of the simultaneous illumination of the lamps 20d and 292.

With the lamp 26a energized, the pulsed energisation of the lamp 290 will cause white illumination of the symbol 4a, 47) at a variable brightness, while the symbol 3a, 3b is alternately lit and extinguished. The resulting physiological impression is that of a fixed permanent illumination of the symbol 4a, 4b and an intermittent illumination of the symbol 3a, 3b. If, starting from this condition, the lamp 2801 is energized, the corresponding added coloured light flux will not have any noticeable effect on the aspect of the symbol 4a, 417. On the other hand, energizing the lamp Zfld will cause illumination of the symbol 3a, 3b Over which the intermittent white flux issuing from the lamp 260 will be superimposed.

Owing to the predominant efiiciency of the white light, the symbol 3a, 3b will display a succession of white and coloured appearance at the same rhythm as the pulsing current supplying the lamp 260. Similar results will obviously be obtained if the lamp Zlle is substituted for the lamp 20a, lamp 20d for lamp 20b, under similar conditions as those previously described, with a '2" reversal of the apparent efiect's on the symbols to, 3b and Ga, db.

Each lamp with its lamp-holder is inserted into an insulating bushing 35 supported on the bottom wall H. A set of movable contacts enables current to flow as later described. Figs. 5 and 7 show in partial section the lamp-holder of lamp 28c and the bushing of the lamp-holder of the lamp 202;.

The lamp-holder consists of a tubular insulating body 24 formed with openings 25a, 251) (Fig. 7) through which the ends of a hairpin-like contact spring member 2'3 may project laterally. A body is also has openings 26a, 2th through which the ends oi a further hairpin contact spring member 28 may project laterally, the plane of spring is being at right angles to the plane of spring 2'l.

A screw-socket 29 secured to the holder body 724 is electrically connected with the hairpin sprin 28. A spring Ziil adapted to make contact with the central terminal in the lamp-base is electrically connected with the contact spring 2?. An insert strip 3i (Fig. 5) is provided for supporting the spring 39 and guiding springs 2'! and 28.

The laterally projecting ends of springs 27, 23 make contact with conductive rings 32, 33 within a bushing as. Extensions 35, 36 of the rings extend through the bushing and allow the currentinput conductors to be secured thereto.

By pulling on the outer extension of the insert strip 3i, the lamp-holder may be easily with drawn and the lamp may then be easily screwed in. or out of its socket. The arrangement described affords the further important advantage of having an extremely reduced size in crosssection; it secures faultless electric operation, especially owing to the high quality of the contact between the fixed elements and the lampholder, resulting from the use of long and hence very flexible springs making double contact with the inner rings in the bushing.

SWITCH CONTROL STRUCTURE Turning to Figs. 8 to 13, the knob l2 with its manual actuating strip 53 is integral with a spindle Th spindle Ell is extended through and beyond the rotary switch as far as a block operating the switch l5 to be described later.

(a) The interlock The spindle It? is slidably mounted in a tubular shaft The tubular shaft is supported in two bearings as in which it is rotatable. A key member il extending diametrically through and secured in the spindle 3?, projects through slots formed in opposite sides of the tubular shaft and extending towards the knob. The key member il ensures that the tubular shaft is driven upon rotation. of the spindle 3?, while the axial displacements of the spindle do not affect the tubular shaft, sinc the key will then slide in its slots. The bearing 3% is connected with the hearing as b a frame ii. formed with an enlargement extending the bearing 39 as far as a point adjacent to the key ll, this enlargement being formed with grooves Ma, Mb at right angles (Fig. 12) adapted to allow the projecting parts or the key ti to extend therethrough.

As a result of this arrangement, in the idle position shown, rotation of the tubular shaft caused by the rotation of the knob and its spindle, can be accomplished without interference. Translatory displacement of the knob can be efiected only in either one of the mutually perpendicular positions corresponding to the positions of the manual strip [3 respectively indicating the connected and. disconnected conditions of the circuit, in which the projecting parts of the key are engaged in the grooves 43a, 43b or its, i ib but is impossible in any intermediate position. At the beginning of a pulling movement on the knob, the projecting parts of the key become engaged into the grooves d317,, 431) or Ma, lth, thus precluding any possibility of rotation.

(b) Indexing An indexing cam disc 45 (Fig. 11) is secured on the tubular shaft 33 and is provided on its periphery with four notches in opposite pairs, into which rollers 36-, il may engage, the rollers being urged towards each other by their long spring-lik pivots it, The springs are guided in their movement by notches 593a, 5012, in the frame formed with the strictly necessary width. Rotation of the knob acts to separate the rollers, owing to the action of cam d5. Conversely, the action of springs 5-9 tends to insert the rollers into the cam notches, and hence to stabilize the positions of the knob corresponding either to circult-continuity or -discontinuity.

(0) Rotary selector switch A further cam disc 5i (Fig. 13) is secured on the tubular shaft, and is formed with an elliptic groove its radial face having its center in the axis of the shaft El and having its major axis at right angles to the strip 53. A ro11er 53 rides in the elliptic groove, and is carried at the end of a lever 5 pivoted about the pin 55 mounted in parallel upward extensions of bearing 41] and laterally guided by parallel upward extensions to, 5th of the bearing (Fig. 10). This lever may occupy. either one of two positions corresponding respectively to the circuit-connecting and disconnecting positions of the knob, depending on whether the roller stands on the minor or the major axis of the elliptical groove.

Fins ti l extending laterally and downwardly from the lever 5d carry insulated contact-pusher members Tia, fills adapted to act on springy metallic strips such as 5% (Figs. 8 and 10) provided with contact buttons 59 adapted to make contact with similar contact buttons carried by free springy metallic strips such as 60a, $01) on the one hand and 55 on the other. These free strips are inserted under initial tension and their idle position is determined by springy metallic backing strips The contact strips and backing strips are maintained and insulated by interleaved insulating insert strips such as 63 provided with set screws (Fig. 12) the extensions of the strips allowing electric conductors to be soldered thereto. The number and character of the strips of the stack are so selected as to allow making contact selectively with or without a common strip, such contact being made or broken in the difierent positions of the knob as desired.

(d) Control circuit push-pull switch The switch designated it on the general view of 1 is shown in Figs. 14:, 15 and 16.

In these figures, 3'1 designates the extension of the spindle integral with the knob H2. The spindle 3'! projects into a block as in which it is freely rotatable, but the block moves with the shaft in its movements of translation. A traction spring 65 urges the sliding assembly towards the pushed-in position of the knob. The block 59 is connected through a quick-make and -break contact device with an insulating support 66 carrying a conductive rocker lever El provided with contact buttons 58c, $32) adapted to engage cooperating fixed contact buttons 68c, 68d then to complete the electric path between fixed terminals ma, 'ifib through the lever 5'1. The contact buttons are made from a suitable material to providev low contact resistance. and good are suppressing characteristics. The contacts are kept clean and the low electric resistance between them is maintained by the action of the insulating support 6.6. which for this purpose carries a stud 66a on. its bottom edge. (Fig. 17) engaged in a cooperating aperture formed in the plate H and retained thereagainst by a double spring rm, 72b. Continuing movement of the plate H for a certain period after the contact has been made causes the part 66 to pivot about its edge 14 as a fulcrum, flexing the spring 'l2a, 121). This lifts the lever 67 and hence causes the contact buttons 68a, 63b to slide over the lugs 680, 6303 during the compression stroke of the contacts, whereby a self-cleaning effect is obtained for the contacting surfaces.

The quick-acting make and break device shown in Fig. 16 includes four parallel plates ll, '52, 73 and 13a, movable in translation, guided in slideways formed in. the longitudinal frame members 15, 16 (Fig. 15) at three different levels thereof. As stated, the plate I! carries the contact device. The. plate 72 carries the. block 69 and is directly movable therewith. The. plates 73 and '53s: ar ranged in a common plane, are urged towards each other, by a pair of springs. 11A,, 'l'lB attached to each and arranged to either side of a block 69 which is interposed between the adjacent ends of said plates.

The contact-mounting plate 7.! is adapted to be blocked in its idle position by a latch 58a (Fig. 16) adapted to drop into a notch 7962.01'18 edge of plate 1! under the action of a leaf spring Bile. The. leaf spring is mounted onone side of the frame member l5 and engages a portion of the latch bar 7.6a which enters an aperture in the frame member 2'5. In the same way, the plate H is adapted to be blocked in its contact-making position by a latch bar (Fig. 15.) adapted to drop into a notch "5.911 in the opposite edge of plate 1| under the urge of a leaf spring 8th.

The action of springs 39a, 80b may be overcome respectively by the inclined camming surfaces 8ia, Bib formed in the plate 72 and acting on the latches lila, 18b as plate 12 moves lengthwise.

Fingers or posts 32, 33 integral with the plate ll extend freely through the plate 12 in the elongated apertures Ma, 84?) therein, and extend into slots 85a, 852) respectively formed in the plates '53 and 13a.

This switching arrangement operates as follows: A pull on the spindle 3'! stretches. the spring 85 and carries the plate 12 with it. The plate 73a is driven by the block 69 while the plate 13 remains stationary, since it is retained by the post or finger 82 integral with the plate H which is blocked by latch 18a. Springs 11a, 771) are tensioned, placing stress on the finger 82 and hence plate 1!, but no action ensues. After a sufficient length of displacement, the incline 8la operates the latch 18a. The assembly including plate 7|, finger 82 and plate 13 is then allowed to respond to the urge of springs 71a, Tlb and moves, causing a sudden closure of the contacts 68a, 6811 against the cooperating contacts 68c, 6801. The latch 78b then drops into. the notch 19a, latching the contacts in closed condition. At the end of the stroke, the end wall of the notch 10 841) may when necessary'act on the finger 83, thus confirming the contact-closing action.

In the return movement, the spindle 3'! is released, the predominating spring moves the block 69, placing the springs Zia, ill; under tension between the plate 7.3a, blocked by the finger 33 integral with plate. H, latched by latch 78b, and the plate. l3. urged by the block 39; at the end of a predetermined length of travel the incline Bib raises the latch 78b. The assembly including platev ll, finger 83 and plate 73a can then respond to the springs 78a, 18b and is moved, causing a sudden opening of the contacts. At the end of the stroke, thelatch 78a falls back into the notch 79a, locking the contacts in open position.

The above-described quick-making and -breaking arrangements, associated with the use of a suitably selected materials for the contact buttons, make it possible to provide a switch having a high circuit breaking capacity while retaining reduced size.

According to the invention, and as will be further apparent from the electric wiring diagram of Fig. 20, the different control, and make and break circuits are selected in the rotary or preparatory switch by the action of the contacts established in the corresponding positions. These contacts, owing: to the interlocking means provided, can only be made and broken in the contact breaking (unpulled) position of the executive switch 15. The selection contacts are arranged in series with the high breaking capacity contacts of the switch 45 just described. Owing to the afore-mentioned interlocks, this switch 15 can only be operated when the preparatory switch I4 is occupying one of its operative positions, and not any of its intermediate positions. As a result, the rotary switch contacts will pre-set or pre-condition the control circuits in the open-circuit condition, while the actual executive circuit-making and -breaking actions are efiected in the. high-breaking capacity switch 15. This functional discrimination allows each element to be provided with the strictly necessary dimensions and participates in reducing the over-all dimensions of the device.

(e) Anti-repeat device It may be necessary, in some cases, that the executive action of the breaking switch l5 be necessarily preceded by a pre-setting action of the preparatory switch [4 in order to prevent the occurrence of two consecutive operations of similar nature, especially in the case where the spontaneous operation of the apparatus controlled is the result of a mishap which does not allow of the situation being restored by simply repeating the executive control action.

The anti-repeat device of Fig. 18 makes it possible to achieve this result in one of the positions of the rotary switch. Duplicating this device would obviously enable the same result to be obtained, if necessary, in either position of the switch [4.

Secured on the shaft 31 is a bushing 86 carrying two strips Bic, 8Tb diametrically opposite each other and projecting axially beyond the end of the bushing into cooperating grooves formed in the periphery of a ring member 88 larger in diameter than the bushing 86. The ring 88 is slidable on the spindle 37 between two positions. In order to define these two positions, a wire spring has one end portion located in a longitudinal groove in a shaft 3'! with a crimp or hump formed on said end adapted to seat in one or another of axially spaced recesses 9m. til) inside the ring 88 as the ring 88 is moved along shaft 3?. The other end 98 of said spring is secured to the spindle outside the ring. A further and symmetrical spring may be provided to duplicate the action of the first spring.

A U-shaped rocker lever 94 is rockable about a fixed axis XX by means of its journals 92a, 92?) mounted in fixed bearings, not shown, and is urged in the direction towards the spindle 3i by a leaf spring 93. The rocker lever is pro vided with a bridging cross-member 94a adapted to engage the spindle 31.

In the position shown in Fig. 18, a previous rotation of the spindle 31 has caused the strip lb to act on the cross-member 94a of the rocker, thus rocking it and tensioning the spring-plate It is possible, in this position, to pull on the spindle in the direction of arrow ii, the strip then sliding over the cross-member 94a throughout the pulling action. If this pulling movement is not effected, the movement of rotation, which still remains possible, will, at a position 90 displaced from that of the figure, allow the rocker member urged by springs 93 to engage the spindle 3?. The member 94a will then prevent pulling or" the spindle 31 by its engagement against the face of the bushing 86.

In the position shown in Fig. 18, if the spindle 3'4 is pulled out, in the direction of the arrow 1'1, to order disconnect operation of contacts W5, H16, till, the ring 88 will tend to compress the spring 95 against the stationary stop 96. At a certain time, the action of this spring will overcome the retaining effect of the projecting spring part 89 in the groove 9lb whereupon, the ring will move axially to engage the bushing. That position will be stabilized by the engagement of the projection 89 into the groove 9m, and the ring will retain this position after the spindle 3'? has been moved in by spring 95 and restored to its former idle position. Assuming rotation 90 away from the position of the Fig. 18 preconditions the mechanism for the connect operation of the switch of Fig. 16, that operation is executed by pulling the spindle 31.

Referring again to Fig. 18, the cross-member Bic, prior to the pulling action, rested upon the ring 88; during the pulling action, it slides along the bushing 86. The same occurs in the return movement, until the time where said member 94a engages the ring 88 larger in diameter than is the bushing. The member 9401. then retains the ring 88 which is separated from the bushing 8'5.

The cross-member sea drops down under the action of its spring 93 into engagement with the spindle, preventing any immediate repetition of the pulling action until the shaft 31 is again rotated 90.

(1') Interlocking switch According to the invention, and as indicated in the circuit diagram of Fig. 20, a specific electric circuit is completed when the controlled load apparatus is in a condition different from that which has been imparted to it by the last preceding executive control operation. This circuit however remains unresponsive to any presetting actions not followed by executive actions.

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view of the contactcontrolling device used to achieve this purpose. Some of the elements shown in this figure have already been described previously; these are: the knob 112 with its strip I3; the spindle 3'! integral with the knob; the block 69 of the sliding switch; the elliptic cam 5i actuating the roller 53 which actuates the lever 58 in relation with the normal switch contacts. An extension 91 of the lever carries a roller $18 which projects into the slot 99 in the plate 5&8 provided with an arm extension till pivoted on a pin m2 projecting from a block 69. As a result of this arrangement, the plate 13%? is slidable in translation with the block 69, the plate being capable of thus sliding at either one of two different levels, depending on whether the cam is positioned with its major or its minor in engagement with the ioilower roller 53.

An insulated member N33 is formed with a double bevel and defining sharp edge ilid adapted to act on the end of central flexible contact strip I causing it to engage either one or the other of the free flexible contact strips Hit or it? above and below and parallel to the contact en the knob i2 is pulled out, the r is disengaged from the strip e knob is pushed in, the edge Ell -l e the strip H5 depending on whether the roller is engaging the major or the minor axis, respectively, of elliptic cam 5|. On pushing the bevel edge ifi l will cause the strip )5 to engage one or the other of the strips Hit or iiil depending on whether the executive control action performed is for connect or disconnect operation.

The pre-set action involving a rotation of the knob will cause the level of the shuttle member to be shifted resulting in a change in flexing of the contacts previously established, without however changing it from its connect condition and without any action on the contact strip of the open contacts. Such rotation cannot occur when the shaft 2's is pulled out because of the engagement of key ii in the slots 33a, 31), or Ma, Mb.

It will be apparent from this arrangement that the particular contacts made will depend exclusively on the position of the knob (i. e. whether it occupies its connect of its disconnect position) for which an executive control operation has actually been accomplished.

The internal connections of the control-andindicating unit and its connections with the executive apparatus are illustrated in the circuit diagram of Fig. 20.

The controlled load apparatus, contained in the block its includes:

(1) Solenoid windings 159 for electromagnetic control of the connect operation, ill] for the disconnect operation, acting directly or through a hydraulic fluid on the main components of the apparatus.

(2) A set of auxiliary contacts: IHH2 in the control circuits, Nil-lid in the indicating circuits.

The control circuits extend: from negative battery of the control source, through quick-make and -break contacts 63c--tlfi8d actuated by pulling the knob 52, selector contacts H5 or H6 or" the rotary switch, limiting contacts H! or H2 of the controlled apparatus, control winding Hit or H8, to positive battery. The presetting operation completes the circuit through contacts H5 or H6, while the executive operation is efiected by pulling the knob. The circuit is broken by the contacts ill or H2 as soon as the operation is completed.

The contacts H3 and H4 are alternately made depending on whether the control apparatus is 13 in its connect or disconnect condition. The circuit completed by them extends from positive battery, through contacts H3 or H4, lamp 20c or 20a to negative battery. The lamps illuminate the corresponding signals indicative of the conditions of the load apparatus.

A branch circuit extending through lamps 20b and 2011 is switched by the contacts HT or H8 and extends back to negative battery. The preset operation, by rotation of the knob I2, completes the circuit for either one of the lamps 20b or 20d through either one of contacts H7 or I I8. The positional-indicating symbol remains illuminated while the signal for the other position is illuminated in coloured light, as previously explained.

A further branch circuit is switched by contacts llifi -lilfi on the one hand, and IilE-Iii'l on the other, lamp 200 and back to negative battery, through a totalizer relay H9 and a current-pulsing device I20, adapted to complete the circuit periodically. As already explained, the contacts at I06 or I01 are made correspondingly with the position actually ordered by the operator by pulling the knob. These contacts are unresponsive to the pre-set actions of the knob. Any spontaneous change in the condition of the executive apparatus will close either the contacts H3 or I I4, corresponding to the pre-set contacts I05 or I01. The warning circuit is then completed, causing intermittent illumination of the lamp 200 and hence of the signal, as previously described, and energizing relay H9 adapted to actuate any desired audible or visible alarm signal. The relay H9 and the pulsing device I may be common to a plurality of combined control and indicating units, and a valve I2l may then be inserted between each lamp such as 200 and the common wire supplying the relay II 9 in order to prevent backfiow of current over the common supply wire for relay H9 interconnecting the various lamps such as 200.

It will be understood that various modifications may be provided in connection with various particular requirements in use, and involving all or part of the arrangements described, without exceeding the scope of the present invention. Thus the lamps 20b and 20d may be omitted and replaced by a lamp 20] adapted to act simultaneously on the light-conductors 9 and I0, as described herein in connection with the lamp 200.

Many details in the shape, constituent material and dimensions of the component elements may be altered according to specific requirements.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising a plurality of contact means, a rotatable and axially movable shaft, cam means operated by rotation of said shaft, contact actuating means operable into different positions in a predetermined path by said cam means in order to chose which of the contact means shall be actuated, and means connecting said shaft and said contact-actuating means for causing movement of the contactactuating means in a path transverse to said predetermined path when said shaft is moved axially, said axial movement of the shaft causing actuation of the chosen contact means.

An electric switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said contact-actuating means and said contact means are constructed and arranged to cooperatively maintain the existing condition of engagement or disengagement of said contact means when said shaft is merely rotated.

3. An electric switch as claimed in claim 2 having interlocking means which is caused to engage by axial movement of said shaft to prevent rotation of said shaft in one axial position thereof whereby choice as to which of said contact means shall be operated can be exercised only in another axial position of said shaft.

4. An electric switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said cam means and said actuating means are constructed and arranged to be operable while the shaft is in contact-actuating position, for selecting which of said contact means shall be actuated on the next movement of said shaft into contact-actuating position.

5. An electric switch as claimed in claim 4 having interlocking means which is caused to engage by axial movement of said shaft to prevent rotation of said shaft in one axial position thereof so as to allow said selection only in the other axial position of the shaft.

6. An electric switch as claimed in claim 1 in which said cam means and contact-actuating means are constructed and arranged to be operable while the shaft is in contact-actuating position and without affecting the existing condi tion of engagement or disengagement of said contacts, for selecting which of said contact means shall be actuated on the next movement of said shaft into contact actuating position.

7. An electric switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the contact-actuating means is a member which is moved to one side or the other of a critical plane by said cam means whereby the choice of contact means to be actuated is exercised, and said member is moved substantially parallel to said plane to cause contact-actuation when said shaft moves axially.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1, 27,840 Pardee Sept. 10, 1929 1,798,128 White Mar. 24, 1931 1,806,831 Simmen May 26, 1931 2,035,998 Thompson Mar. 31, 1936 2,122,643 Golemb July 5, 1938 2,205,483 Krieger June 25, I940 2, 42,16 Bentley et al. May 13, 1941 2,244,326 Bone et al. June 3, 1941 2,305,135 Merkel Dec. 15, 1942 2,462,495 Harrison, Jr. Feb. 22, 1949 21 Merkel May 16, 1950 2,554,580 Le Goff May 2 1 1 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 212, Switzerland Apr. 1, 1941

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