US269476A - Half to wm - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. T. STARR.'

SYSTEM POR UTILIZING TIME SWITGHES FOR ELEGTRIG CIRCUITS.

No. 269,476. Patented De0.19,1882.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 3. E. T. STARR.

SYSTEM FCR UTILIZING TIME SWITCEESEOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Patented De0.19, 1882.,

IfrfzznAf-ESSE Q gy v UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ELI T. STARR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONF- HALF T() TVM. J. PYTON, OF \VASHINGT()N, D. C.

SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING TIME-SWITCHES FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

I SECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,476, dated December 19, 1852.

Application filed November 13, 1852.

To all whom it muy concern:

Be it known that I, ELI T. STARR, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and uset'nl Improvetnentsin Systems for UtiIiZ- ing Time-Switches l'or Electric Circuits, of' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to a system ot distributing electrical energy or powerfrom a generator or generators by means ot'-automatic or time switches, whereby an r lectric current or currents may be automatically directed to and eut olii" from apparatus to be acted upon or worked by the current or currents at predetermined tines.

The subject-matter claimed herein is distinctly pointed out at the close ot' the specification, while the objects and some of the capabilities ot' my invention willalso hereinafter sufciently appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my improvements as embodied and organized in the best way now known to me.

Some ot' my said improvements may be used withoutthe others and in ways diit'ering i'rom that particularly shown in said drawings.

In said drawings, Figure l -is a diagram showing` an organization ot' my improvements, there being illustrated two sets ot' apparatus to be worked by the current ot' the main or vcharging line, with their respective automatic switches to throw them intoand cut them out ot said line, or a branch thereof, at predeterapparatus heilig thrown into and cut out of 3 is a detached view of the setting device of the automatic switch on a still larger scale than that ot' Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a section through said device and through a portion of the clock-work mechanism on the line 4 4 ot' Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the (No model.)

switch for throwing the apparatus into and cutting it outot' the main circuit as controlled by electro-magnetic clock-work operated by a clock at a central station, an independentline beingrun from said last-mentioned clock, and a suitable generator of electricity at the main or charging station to the clock-work of the switch or switches. Fig. 6 is a diagram somewhat similar to that ot' Fig. l, with the apparatus to be, worked by the current ot' the generator or generators arranged in branches ot" the main line; and Fig. 7 is a view showing a modilication ofthe devices depicted in Fig. 3.

A generator or generators ot' electricity', A, (preferably a dynamo or magneto electric machine or 1nachines,) is shown as organized to throw current upon a main line, B, in which, or in branches thereof', are included the apparatus (l to he acted upon or worked by the current ot' said generator. This apparatus t) to be acted upon by the current is'shown as consisting of a secondary battery or accumulator ot' electricity, which is to be charged from the main-line or charging current, and then cut out to constitute an independent source of electricity, so as to work, when required, electrical appara-tus included in the working-cir cuit ot' said battery.

In order to automatically throw said secondary battery or electric accumulator C into the charging-circuit and automatically cut it out at linedetermined times, I provide said circuit with a switch,-D, which when in one position directs the current through the battery, while when in another position it detlects or carries the current around said battery, so as to have no effect thereon. The position ot'said switch I) is determined by clock-work mechanism E, which may be setor adjusted to throw the battery into the charging-circuit at the time desired and eut it out ot' said circuit after submitting'it to the charging operation for a req uisite time. Said switch l) preferably consists of a conducting lever pivoted to a suitable support at one end-tor instance, upon the clock face or trame-by an insulated pivotal connection, e, the said pivoted end ot' the leverbeingelectrically connected with the charging-line, so as to constitute the switch a part of the charging-circuit. Said lever-'switch ICO extends, in the present example, across the face of the controlling clock-work E thereof, and its weight causes it t0 restY lightly upon the periphery of the setting .device F of said clock-work, which device, by determining the position of said switch around the pivot, determines whether the current shall be conducted through or directed around the battery, the range of movement of the switchlever being limited by contact pieces or pointsV g g', forming part of the circuit-connections. Said cont-.ict pieces or points g g' may be mounted, as shown in Fig. 2, upon an upright support, G, the said contact-pieces being independently insulated.

The setting device F preferably consists ofa main wheel or disk,f, having, say, one half of its periphery of less diameterthan the other, as shown (partially by dotted lines) in Figs. 3 and 7, and of another wheel, j", of similar construction, fitted to turn around a hub,f2, of said main wheelf, said last-mentioned wheehj'. being mounted by friction, for instance, upon the tubular spindle or arbor H of the hourhand H of the clock-work mechanism, so as to tu'rn therewith while adjustable thereon, when necessary, as shown in Fig. 4. A semicircular slot,f3, is formedin the wheelf, concentric with its axis, and a set-screw, h, working` through this slot into the tnain wheelfenables the two wheels of the setting device F to be adjusted circumferentially relatively to each other and tixed together. as desired. When the two wheels or disksff are adjusted so as to have their largest diameters or portions opposed it will be obvious that a wheel is presented the periphery of which is of substantially the same diameter throughout, while if adjusted so as to have the parts of largest diameter cross or overlap-each other a recess or depression, (t, in the periphery of the setting device is formed, as shown, for instance,in Fig. 3 and the other figures of the drawings. This interruption in the continuity of the periphery of largest diameter of the setting device F, or, in other words, the extent of the recess c, may be varied as desired, the limit in the example shown heilig to one-half of the periphery of the device, which maximum limitation, it will be readily understood, is equal to six hours, inasmuch as the setting device rotates with the hour-hand ofthe clock-work, as before stated.

I have stated that the weight of the switchlever D causes it to rest lightly upon the periphery ofthe setting` device. The lever is su pported upon the setting device by an institory, which is thus consequently cut out. \Vhen, however, by the lapse of time and by the rotationof the setting device bythe clockwork mechanism, the predetermined space or` depression t in the largest diameter ot' said setting device arrives opposite the tooth d of the lever D, said tooth will drop quickly down into said recess, and will cause thc lever to break contact with the contact-pointy and make contact with the contact-point g', whereby the charging-current will be directed through the battery C to charge it, and the said battery will be continued in the chargingcircuit until, by the rotation of the setting device with the clock-work, the shoulder fl of said device comes against the inclined face otA the tooth l and gradually wedges or l'orcesit outward, thus separating the lever from the contact-point g and again making contact with the contact-point g. The battery will thus be cut out of the charging-circuit, and will constitute an independent source ot' electricity to work, when desired, electrical apparatus-such as lamps and motors, for examplewhich are included in the workingcircuit C' of the battery.

The length of time the battery or other apparatus C reina-ins in the charging-cn'cuit or subject to the action of the main current will ofcourse be determined hy the extent of the recess or depression a. of the setting device,

and this may be varied by adjustment, as before described, while the period at which said apparatus is put into the circuit to be acted upon may be determined by adjusting said setting device by its frictional or equivalent connection around the spindle or shaft of the clock-work mechanism which carries it.

In order that the make and break or change of the circuit in throwing in and cutting out the apparatus G may be practically simultaneous, or the make effected with one contactpointjust beiore the break with the other, so as to avoid sparks, which would occur on breaking from one contact before making with another, I construct the contact pieces or points g '0' in the form of plungers surrounded by light or weak springs, as shown in Fig. 2. The plungers have a range of movement endwise in their guides or boxes sufficient to enable them to follow the lever-switch in its movements fora limited distance.` Said lever in its inovementthns makes contact with the opposite contact-point just before breaking contact with the point with which it has been in contact, and from which it is to be separated. 'lhe current is thus shifted from one contact-point to the other without an actual break of the circuit. 'lhe weight ofthe lever, after the lever has been shifted from the contact-point g to the contact-pointy', depresscs said point g', and thereby carries the lever away from said point g to direct the current wholly through the point g', while when said lever in moving upward under the action of the setting device F has made contact with the IOO ILD

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point g its contact with g is then broken by the continued upward movement due tothe continuation of the wedging or lil'ting action of said setting device and the yielding orendwise movelnent ot' said contact-pointy.

In order to lessen friction between the tooth l ofthe lever D and the setting device It", said tooth may be provided with a friction roller, as shown in Fig. 7.

The working circuit or circuits C of the battery C are pro\ided with a switch or switches, c, by which to make and break said circuit or circuits, as desired.

1t will be noticed that I have shown the clocl; work mechanism E and switch I) as mounted on the battery-vessel; but ot' course this is not necessary, though in some cases it is preferable. l have not shown the gearing and other internal connections of the clock-work, as that is unnecessary. Any suitable form ot' clock work in common use may be employed to rotate the hands andthe setting device, and are preferably such as are capable of ruiming for a long time-say a week or more---whcn once wound up.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the main circuit as organized for charging two secondary batteries-the one at the right ofthe ligure to be charged between the hours of siX and seven oclocl; and the one at the lel't hand to be charged between the hours of seven and eight ocloclt or, in other words, when the tirst battery is charged and cnt out, the next battery is thrown in to be charged in turn. In practice, in electric lighting in'cities, for example, there will be a large number or series of separate batteries having independentworking-circuits U in one district (into a number ot' which dis- 'tricts the city will be divided) to be charged simultaneously at one hour or other lengthof time, another large number or sexies in another district to be charged during the next hour or length of time desired, and so on, whereby it will readily be understood that l may utilize a comparatively small generator or small number ot' generators to charge a vast number of secondary batteries, inasmuch as but a comparatively small number ot' the batteries will be charged at one time, the operation of cutting out and throwing in the batteries in succession or order being accomplished automatically, as before fully described. Each house to be lighted will preferably be provided with a secondary battery or set ot' batteries provided with an independent working circuit, while the charging-circuit or its branch at each house will be provided with a cut-out switch, l, whereby any one or more ot' the batteries and the apparatus worked by it may be cut out ot' the main-lineor chargingcircuit, when desired, for an indetinite period without cutting out or affecting the others. The dotted lilies in Fie'.

-l show the cutout switch ot' one of the batteries in the position to cut out its respective battery.

It one or more ofthe batteries or sets of batteries in any district or series is of greater capacity or requires longer time to be fully charged than the others, the setting device or devices will of course be adjusted to keep said battery or batteries in the charging-circuitfor the time required, it being understood that each battery or set ot' batteries of each series or district is independent ot -the others in the same series or district, and may be charged tor a greater or less time.

I have particularly described secondary batteries as the apparatus to be affected by the current ot the mainline; butit will be obvious that in distributing electrical energyas a source of power the apparatus C may, for instance, be electric lnotors to be automatically thrown into and cut out ot' the main circuit or its branches at txed times. For example, the motors may be thrown into the main circuit during the usual working-hours ot' the mechanic during the day and then cutout, while the current otn the generator may be utilized to run other aptmratus during the remaining hours ot' the daylight and during the succeeding night. In some instances, as tor electric lighting with secondary batteries, it will bc desirab'e to throw the batteries or apparatus C into the tnain or charging circuit but once only during the twenty-four hours ot' the day, instead ot' once during every twelve hours, so that the batteries, tor instance,-may be charged during the daylight, and then cnt out to constitute sources tor running electric lamps at night. ln these instances l. prefer that the clock-face be gaduated to show twenty-tour hours instead ot' twelve, as is usual, with the hands and the settingdevieeotthe switch organized correspondently, so as to make but one revolution in twenty-tour hours. The change is so obvious and may be accomplished in so many different ways as to need no illustration.

Instead ot' employingcloclt-worlt to be wound up by hand to control the switch or switches l), l may, and `preferably in some instances do, employ an electro-magnetic clock or clocks to control said switches. Said clocli or clocks are included in au independent circuit, J, and their movements aie governed by a clock, K, and battery or generator' L, also included in said circuit and located, t'or instance, at the central or charging station. Such an organization is shown in Fig. 5, and it is advantageous, in that it avoids the necessity ot' separately winding up each of the clocks in each district, for example, which clocks, may be very numerous and some ot' them widely separated.

By the electroanagnetic'cloclt system l have described all the switch-controlling clocks in oneor more districts may berun and controlled in their movements from a central station. The clock-circuit J is provided with a switch, j, by which said circuit may be made and broken. Running or controlling one or a series ot' separate electro-magnetic clocks from a distant point or central station is very common, and may be accomplished in many ways.

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l therefore do not show the details ofconstruction of such clock-work nor describe them, as such description would extend this spccitication to an unnecessary length.

In order to at't'ord aready means of utilizing the current ot' the generator or generators A, either while it is employed to work the apparatus C or after said apparatus shall have been cnt out-as, for instance, at night, when the apparatus is a secondary battery or batteries and they have been cut out-I include in the main circuit, or in a branch or branches thereot', an armature lever or levers, M, the upper or outer ends ot which, when the said levers are in their normal position, rest against contaetepoints 1, thereby directing the current along the main line without affecting the apparatus N, which may be electric lamps, for

instance, for street-lighting purposes. The said armature-levers are maintained in their said normal position in 4contact with the contact-points l by means ot' the springsm. their the current otl the main line is to be directed to the said lamps N-at night, for instanee,.

when the batteries, having been charged during daylight, are cut out-the electro-inagnets O, included in an independentcircuit, I, are excited by closing said circuit by means, for example, of the switch Q, (leading from a suitable battery or conducting ot't' a portion ot' the current of the generator A,) whereby the arniature-switches will be attracted by the magnets and will be caused to make contact with the contact-points 2. The current of the main line will thus obviously be directed through the lamps N, and said lamps will continue to be supplied with current as long as the independent circuit I remains closed. As soon as said circuit is broken the magnets will be no longer excited, thearmature-switches will be released, and said switches will be thrown bari; to make contact with the Contact points l, thus cutting the lamps N out ot the main circuit.

lhe organization ofthe lamps N to be run directly by the charging or main current and thrown into and out ct' action from a central or charging station is shown in Figs. l and 6. Ihe advantages ot' such an organization are obvious. At eacli apparatus N the circuit is provided with a cut-out switch, a, whereby any one of the said apparatuses may be cut out when desired without affecting the flow of lcurrent. along the line.

In Fig. o I have shown both the apparatus l and the apparatus N as arranged in branch circuits. is so clearly shown as to need no description. By opening the switch b2 the circuit through the branches is broken. lt is to be understood, however, that other organizations of The method ot' running thefeircuits branches and switches may be employed without departure from my invention.

Before reciting what I claim herein, it is proper to say that this application is restricted to the three combinations hereinafter set forth. This present application is a division ot' my application tiled June 15,18S2,No.6et.244,and I wish it to be distinctly understood that I rcserve the right to claim in my said application of June 15, 1882, or in suoli other applications as I may elec-tto tile, all the patentable subject matter herein shown or described or snbstan tially indicated, save that specilicaily recited in the three following clauses of claim.

I claim herein- 1. 'Ihe combination ot'a switch forming part ot' an electric circuit, an apparatus to be acted upon by the electric current, and automatic mechanism acting by direct mechanical action upon said switch so as to direct the current through orarouiid said apparatus, (in contradi.` tinction to acting through an electric circuit,) said automatic mechanism being provided with an adjustablesettingdevice,substantially as described, and with an adjustable connection between said dcviee and the shat't. ot said automat1c mechanism which carries it,thecom bination being and acting `substantially as described, whereby the apparatus to be acted upon by the, current is automaticallyinserted in and withdrawn trom the circuit by direct:- actiug mechanism, while the period at which said apparatus is put into the circuit to be acted upon, as well as the time the apparatus remains subject to the action ot' the current, may be varied.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ot' a switch forming part ot' an electric circuit, an electric clock to control said switcli,a clock to controlsaid switcli-coiitrolling clock, and an independent circuit including said clocks and a generator ot' electricity.

3. rIlie combination, substantially as hereinbet'ore set iorth, ot'- a generator ot' electricity, a circuit to conductthe current ot' said generator, a series of independent electrical apparatuses to be worked by said current, a series ot switches to control the admission ot' said apparatuses to said circuit, a series ot' electric clocks to control said switches, a clock at a central station to control said switch-controt ling clocks, and an independent circuit including said clocks and a source ot' electricity.

In testimony whereot' I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day ot' November, A. D. 1852.

hill T. STARR. Witnesses WMJJ. PuY'roN, E. EUGENE STARR.

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