US2807694A - Carbon pile regulator - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1957 w. G. NEILD CARBON PILE REGULATOR Filed May 6, 1954 INVENTOR. WILLIAM G NE/LD AT TORNE Y 2,807,694 Patented Sept. 24, 1957 United States Patent Office CARBON PILE REGULATOR Application May 6, 1954, Serial No. 427,963

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 201-51) The present invention relates to variable resistance regulators and more particularly to carbon pile regulators.

Variable resistance regulators, for example carbon pile regulators, have come into general use for controlling the voltage, frequency and current of dynamoelectric machines. Carbon pile regulators operate on the principle of varying the pressure applied to the carbon pile. One end of the pile is relatively fixed. Operatively associated with the other end to apply pressure on the pile is an armature carried by a spring which tends to urge the armature towards the pile. An electromagnet, when energized, tends to withdraw the armature from the pile against the bias of the spring. For proper operation, it is necessary that the electromotive forces acting upon the armature match the spring characteristics as the air gap varies.

Heretofore, the armature, which is completely supported by the spring assembly, has been kept small and the regulator requirements have been such that the small mass of the armature could be considered as negligible. However, under new regulator requirements involving increased shock, vibration and acceleration, the effect of the mass of the armature cannot be disregarded even though the mass be held to a minimum.

The present invention provides a novel arrangement for counterbalancing a floating type armature without aflecting the operation of the diaphragm or spring. This construction permits the regulator to withstand greater shock, vibration and acceleration without materially affecting the operation of the regulator.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved carbon pile regulator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved armature assembly for a carbon pile regulator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carbon pile regulator having a novel balance armature assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel regulator adapted to withstand shock, vibration and acceleration.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cutaway view of a carbon pile regulator illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the regulator of Figure 1 taken along the line of 22.

Referring now to the drawing, a carbon pile regulator is indicated generally by the numeral 5 and has an electromagnet coil 6, armature assembly 7 and carbon pile 8. The coil 6 is surrounded by a casing 9 of a suitable ferromagnetic material. The easing 9 has a flange 10 extending inward and forming the pole face for the electromagnet assembly. A bottom plate 11 is secured to casing 9 by screws 12 or in any other suitable manner. A core member 13 of a suitable ferromagnetic material is screw threaded to the plate 11 and projects into the coil 6.

A carbon pile housing 14 having heat radiating fins 15 is secured to the casing 9 by post 16. The housing 14 has a plate 17 formed integral therewith and a counterbore portion 18. A cap member 19 is insulated from the plate 17 by an insulating member 20 and is secured thereto by screws 21. The cap member 19 has a threaded portion 22 adapted to receive a pile adjusting screw 23. Mounted in the housing 14 and extending longitudinally therein is a tube 24 of a suitable non-conducting material. The tube 24 carries carbon disc 25 forming the carbon pile 8. The carbon pile 8 is carried between contact plugs 26 and 27.

The armature assembly 7 has a diaphragm type spring 28 seated on the flange 10 of the casing 9. An armature plate 29 is positioned on the side of the spring 28 adjacent to the core 13. On the opposite side of the spring 28, a clamping plate 30 is positioned so that the spring 28 is clamped between the plates 29 and 30 by suitable screws 31. A cup shaped member 32 adapted to hold the contact plug 27 is mounted on the plate 30 by screws 33. An insulating member 34 insulates the member 32 from the plate 30.

A novel feature of the invention is the provision of counterbalancing means for an armature supported or floated by the armature spring. A member 35 is secured to clamping plate 30 by the screws 31. The member 35 may have ribs 36 to provide rigidity. Secured to the member 35 by screws 37 is a counterbalance 38. One side of a spring like member 39 is clamped between the member 35 and the counterbalance 38. The other side of the member 39 is secured to the casing 9 by a clamping plate 40 and screws 41. An opening 42 is provided in the housing 14 for the member 35. The member 39 serves as a pivot for the counterbalance yet has suflicient flexibility to permit movement of the diaphragm 28.

In operation, the counterbalancing means have the effect of making the armature assembly weightless. The armature and counterbalance are so designed that the center of gravity for the armature assembly will be the center of the pivot member 39. The counterbalance is so shaped that a line drawn through its center of gravity and through the center of gravity of the armature will pass through the center of the pivot member 39. Hence, under conditions of shock, severe acceleration, and vibration, the mass of the armature does not affect the operation of the regulator. The pivot member 39 is sufiiciently flexible and does not substantially affect the normal operation of the spring. Thus, by providing a counterweighted armature, the regulator is capable of operation under adverse conditions of shock, acceleration and vibrations such as may be expected in modern high speed craft.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes in the form and relative arrangement of the parts which will now appear to those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a regulator having a variable resistance element, a housing, spring means for actuating said resistance element in one direction and an electromagnet for actuating said resistance element in the opposite direction in opposition to said spring means; the improvement comprising an armature assembly carried by said spring means and having a counterbalancesecured thereto, and a spring like pivot member secured to said housing for said counterbalance.

2. A carbon pile regulator comprising a stack of carbon discs, a movable member in operative relationship with said stack of carbon discs, a spring member for mounting said movable member and biasing said movable member in a direction to compress said stack of carbon discs, an electromagnet for biasing said movable member in a direction opposing said spring member, a housing for said regulator, an arm extending from said movable member to an opening in said housing, a weight secured to said arm, and a spring like pivot member connected between said arm and said weight and secured to said housing, said Weight being so proportioned that a line drawn through the center of gravity of said movable member and said Weight Would pass through the center of said pivot member.

3. For use in a carbon pile regulator having an electromagnet and a housing, the improvement comprising an armature assembly having a diaphragm type spring, 15 2,400,136

5 turc member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 252,347 Ball Ian. 17, 1882 359,101. Shallenberger Mar. 8, 1887 596,515 Ihlder Jan. 4, 1898 865,383 Handy Sept. 10, 1907 1,700,040 Grob Jan. 22, 1929 1,857,149 Grob May 10, 1932 Rady May 14-, 1946

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