US269805A - Uuccu a - Google Patents

Description

a DIIGGUS'fSHGGt 1. H. S. MAXIM.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES. No. 269,805.

Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. S. MAXIM.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES. No. 269,805. Patented Dec.26,1882.

frwezzzor: 175mm ,3 Mxm.

n. PETERS. Phalo-Lllhnflmpher. wmmmw. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM S. MAXIM, ()F PARIS, FRANCE.

SPECIFICATICiN forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,805, dated December 26, 1882,

Application filed August 31, 18852. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM S-.l\I'AXIM, a citizen of the United States, at present residing In a patentgranted to me under date of June 18,18S0,No.228,543,'1 have shown and described a device for regulating dynamo-electric machines in respect to the amount of electricity produced, the principle of construction of such devices being substantially as follows: The collecting-brushes are carried by a sleeve capable of rotary movement about the commutator. A toothed sector projects from the sleeve and engages with a bevel-gear on a spindle that is driven in one direction or the other or allowed to remain stationary, according to the position of an armature-lever operated by an electro-magnet in a shunt to the circuit of the regulated machine or a machine whose field is excited by the same, and which operates to shift the position of a double disk, between which revolves afriction-wheel. By this arran gemcnt the brushes are shifted toward or from those points of the commutatorfrom which the maximum amount of current passes to the line,and,asisnow well understood,theamount ot' currentis thus regulated to meet the req uirements of the line or external circuit, for. assuming, by way of illustration, that the resistance of the main circuit,in the caseof a system involving a number of incandescent lamps or similar electrical devices run in multiple arc, is increased by the sudden withdrawal of a number of the lamps,the increased flow of current through the shunt containing the regulating-magnet causes the magnet to attract and shilt its armature, and to thereby ett'ect the shitting of the brushes away from the maximum points of the commutator, so that they take oif less current. The reverse of this operation, which takes place when lamps are inserted and more current needed, will be readily understood.

Now, it will be observed, in the case of an apparatus ot'the mechanical construction above described, that the character of the work perregulating-magnet is relieved of practicallyall.

of its load.

The invention further embraces improvements in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts of the apparatus, and in the combination therewith ot' a safety device, the character of which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a machine and regulator combined. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same at right angles to the armature-shaft.

The machine or generator is mounted on a base, A, and consists of field-magnets B B, between which revolves an annular armature, O, mounted in standards I) D. Upon the coinmutator E bear collecting-brushes F F, that are carried by an arm or plate, f, fixed to a sleeve, G, that surrounds the armature-shaft c and extends through the bearingsin the standard D. A toothel sector, g, extends downward from the sleeve G.

The regulating mechanism is mounted on a plate, A, secured to the top of the field-magnets B. From plate A rise four or other proper number of supports, 1), sustaining a smaller plate, B. Upon this plate are secured two electro magnets, M N, with vertical cores wound with tine wire, and standards H H H, in which are suspended by short arms or ears 6 c and the straps c armature-levers M N.

In aframe, I, secured to base A, are spindles p I, each of which carries a ratchet-wheel, with teeth turned in one direction, and aplain cog wheel of smalier diameter than the ratchet-wheels.

Mounted in one side of frame I and in a standard,K.is a shaft,L, carrying a cog-wheel, K,at one end, that engages with both the cogwheels P T, and a bevel-gear, 7c, meshing with a similar bevel-gear, It", on a shaft. R, that revolves in hearings in an arm of the standard K and in a bracket, It, secured to the standard D. A bevel-wheel, 1", at the lower end of the rod It meshes with the sector 9.

On the base A, between the poles of the magnet, is mounted a pnlley-wheeLG, on the shaft of which is a smaller wheel, F. In bearings attachedto the upper connectingplate of the magnets is a second shaft, G, carrying alarge pulley-wheel, O, and on the armature-shaft is another pulley-wheel, F. These several wheels are connected by cords or hands, the wheel F with the wheel 0, the wheel F with the wheel C, so that the rotary movement of the armature will be imparted to the shaft G,but so much reduced that the latter will have a comparatively slow motion.

In arms I) bis mounted aroclt-shaft, U, that receives a reciprocating movement from shaft G by a connectingrod, g, hinged to the end of a short arm, a, fixed'to rock shaft U, and eccentrically pivoted to adisk, 9, on the end ot'the shaft G. An arm,V, is clamped to rockshaft U, and to the end of this is hinged a lever, arranged to act as a double pawl. in conjunction with the wheels P T and vibrating armature M, with which it is connected by a wire or spiral spring, S.

()f theabove-deseribed apparatus the operation is as follows When an increase of resistance in the external circuit takes place, as by 'the withdrawal of lamps, a greater amount of current is diverted through the shunt or derived circuit(designated byVV W) and the magnet M is in consequenceenergized to a sufticient degree to draw down its armature and the lever M. This lowers the lever V, so thata tooth on its under side engages with the lower ratchet-wheel, T, and causes the'latter to revolve one tooth for every forward movement of the lever V. This movement being transmitted by the system of gears to the sector g, the brushes are moved away from their former position, and less current taken off. Acondition of equilibrium is in this way rapidly attained, when the magnet M, being incapable of longer holding its armature down, allows it to rise until the lever V takes a position midway between the two ratchets P and T. No change will then occur in the production of current until a further change in external resistant-es takes place. If more lamps be inserted between the main conductors, the magnet M loses strength,lever M rises still higher, carrying with it lever V. The latter, engaging with ratchet P, turns back the brushes until the'amount of current generated again causes the magnet M to draw down its armature to a point where the lever V will engage with neither ratchet.

In order that the ratchets may not be turned so far as to reverse the brushes in case the armature-lever M should fail to raise or lower the lever V at the proper times, a portion of the pe ipheries of the ratchet-wheels is formed without teeth, as shown in thedrawings. When either ratchet has been turned sufiiciently to bring the smooth portions under the teeth of the leverV, no further movement of the ratchet in that direction is possible.

On the plate B is shown a safety-magnet, N. This magnet is included in the same circuit with magnet W, and is of practically the same character. Its armature-lever is, however, adjusted by means of a spring or weight in such manner as to be drawn down only by a very strong current.

The field-magnets B B of the machine are wound with a conductor, the ends of which are at the binding-posts 0c 00. To excite the field, therefore, a conductor, y, is brought from one of the brushes to the binding-post 00, and the post 00 connected with one of the line-wires. A wire, 2, is carried from post at to the metal standards, by which the, armature'lcver N is supported, and a wire, z, from the other post, 00, is connected to an insulated standard, H, provided with screws nn,thatlimit the movement of the lever N. This magnet N and its appurtenances are designed as a safety device for the protection of the machine or lamps in case of such accidents as the sudden extinguishment of a large number of lamps or the rupture of the main conductors at a point where the lamps or other devices remaining in circuit would be liable to injury. It operates to close a shunt circuit around the field-magnets of the generator on the occurrence of an abnormal tlow of current through the magnet circuit by drawing down the lever N upon the lower screw,n, thus bringing together the two ends of the circuitzz. The closing of this circuit stops the generation of current in proportion to the amount of current diverted from the field by the shunt, so that although the stoppage is only momentary the regulator in the meantime has had time to shift the brushes to a position of safety, and the lamps in the circuit are not injured.

The above-described regulator and generator, in the condition in which it has been described, is designed particularly for use in a system in which the field-magnets of one or a number of machines are energized by a separate machine, called the exciter, in which event the circuit of the magnets M N. will be derived from that of the generator or generators, the regulated machine being used as the exciter. From the nature of the case, however, it will be readily seen that whenever it may be necessary to effect an automatic regulation of a machine or machines in respect to the amount of current generated the present invention is of the highest value.

Though shown in combination with a special form of machine, the regulating devices may be equally well applied to many others, and although I consider the arrangement'of parts shown as the most convenient and practicable, I do not restrict myself to the same.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a dynamo-electric machine, of brushes arranged to revolve about the commutator, a system of gears for shifting the brushes, a reciprocating lever or pawl arranged to impart movement to the gears in either direction, and an electro-magnet controlling the position of the reciprocating pawl, all substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a dynamo-electric machine, of brushes arranged to revolve about the commutator, a system of gears for shifting the brushes. a rock-shaft oscillated by the armatureshaft, a lever or pawl for imparting movement to the system of gears in either direction, connected with and reciprocated bythe rock-shaft, and an electro-magnet for control ling the position of the reciprocating pawl, all substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination, with a dynamoelectric machine,otbrushes arrangedtorevolvearonnd the commutator, a system of gears for shifting the same, a rock-shaft and connecting-gear between the same and the armature-shaft, said gear being constructed to reduce and convert the movement of the armature-shaft, as described, a lever or pawl reciprocated by the rock-shaft and arranged for engagement with the brush-shitting gears, and an electro-magnet for controlling the degree of elevation of 5 the pawl, whereby the brushes may be turned in either direction, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a dynamo-electric machine, of a bed-plate secured to the fieldo magnets, a brush-shifting mechanism mounted on said plate, gearing with a revolving brushholder, a second base or plate supported by standards above the first, electro-magnets mounted thereon, and connections from the 5 same to the brush-shifting mechanism, these parts being constructed and combined in substantially the manner described.

5. The combination, with a dynamo-electric machine and regulator, substantially as herein 50 described, ot' a normally-open shunt-circuit around the field of said machine, and an electro-magnet in a circuit derived from that or the machine, constructed or arranged to close said shunt-circnit, substantially as set forth.

6. In a regulator for dynamo-electric machines, the combination, with a reciprocating pawl and electro-magnet controlling the same, ot' ratchet-wheels formed as described, a revolving brush-holder, and a system of gears 60 between the holder and the ratchets, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of June, 1882.

HIRAM S. MAXIM.

Witnesses:

E. P. MACLEAN, DAVID T. S. FULLER.

Images