US447177A

US447177A - Thomas m

Info

Publication number: US447177A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 1908-02-24

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. M. EDWARDS. REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

N0. 447,177. 4 Patented Feb. 24,1891.

1 1 You, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

THOMAS M. EDWUXRDS, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS \Y. \VILLIAMS, OF SAME PLACE.

REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC ClRCUlTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,177, dated February 24, 1891.

Application filed November 5, 1890. Serial No. 870,866. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

lSe it known that I, THOMAS M. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing atNew London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulators for Electric Circuits, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact specification.

The invention relates to a regulator eniploying a liquid-resistance medium and two relatively-adjustablecontact-pointsimmersed in the liquid, and has for its object to provide means for controlling the respective circuits of the several sets of electric lights in a theater or similar audience-room, it being desired to afford means for regulating to a nicety the intensity of the light in the central set and the setsof side and foot lights, as may be necessary in producing different effects upon the stage.

The regulator more particularly consists in a suitable receptacle having bottom contactplates connected to one line and one or more pivoted levers having upper controlling-arms provided with suitable locking devices, and lower insulated contact-arms having moving contact with curved tension-spring conductors connected to the respective local circuits to be controlled. A suitable quantity of liquid, which may be water or acidulated water, is supplied to the receptacle, and the resistance to the circuit may be varied so far as the regulator is concerned from zero, as when the contact-arm is on the contact-plate, to any number of ohms, as when the arm is moved at a distance from the contact-plate, or the circuit may be broken by removing the contacting-arm from the liquid. Just above the re ceptacle are inserted in the circuits indicaton lamps, so arranged as to show just the intern sity of the light emitted by the lamps in the circuit controlled. The lighting-circuits are preferably arranged to supply derived or secondary circuits, and for this purpose suitable converters and secondary circuits are arranged in each primary circuit.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a side elevation of my improved regulator, the end of the receptacle being removed. Fig. II is a front view showing the arrangement of the series of regulators, and Fig. III is a diagrammatic view illustrating the application of my invention.

1 represents a suitable receptacle, which may have the vertical front 2, the horizontal top 3, the curved bottom 1, having metallic lining 1L, and a supporting-back, and is provided with the bottom contact-plates 5 and pivoted contact-levers 6. An indicator-lamp 7 and bindingposts S and 8 are provided,

The binding-posts S are mounted on the top of the receptacle and are connected with the circuits to be controlled. The said bindingposts are also electrically connected to the movable contact-lever 6 through the pin 9 and the curved tension-spring 10, to which it is attached by screw 11, passing through an insulation-sleeve12 in the receptacle. The tension-spring is provided with an additional face-spring 13, and the friction between the spring 13 and the pin I) is sutlicient to hold the lever where it is placed.

11 represents a binding-post having connection 1t with the metallic lining and through it with the bottom contact-plates 5. This binding-post 1 1 is adapted to be connected with one line-wire. The movable contactlever consists of the hub or collar 15, lower contact-arm (1, attached to the hub by means of insulatin g-sleeves and washer 17 an d screws 18, and the upper arm 20, having threaded socket 21 for reception of the locking-bolt The lovers are mounted on an axle 2 3, and the locking-bolts 22, being screw-threaded, as shown, and provided with handles it, screw down into the sockets till their ends impinge on the axle, when the levers will be kept from moving on the axle. The contact end of the lever has a nose 19, adapted to ride upon the contact-plate 5 and insure an intimate contact between said contact-plate and a curved terminal 5".

In Fig. II are shown a number of lovers, one being connected with each of the hinding-posts S. The contact plates 5 and terminals 5* are all connected to the line through metallic lining 4t", wire 14:, and binding-post It. It is obvious that the terminals and contact-plates-could be made integral or in a single long plate. The axle 23 can be rotated in its bearings, and by locking any number of levers upon it they may be operated simultaneously and without interfering with the others, the friction between the pins 9 and springs 10 being suflicient to hold them.

The bottom 4 of the receptacle or tank 1, with its metallic lining 4, describes an arc of a circle \vhose center is located a short distance to the rear of the axle. The object of this is to have nose 19 of movable contactlever 6 gradually draw away from the metallic bottom 4, which acts as a partial conductor of the current, so that the lights are lowered gradually.

In Fig. III is shown a lighting system to which my invention is applicable. 1 repre sents the regulators. '26 represents three primarycircuits for the chandelier 2'7. 28 represents a primary circuit for the side lights 29. 30 represents a primary circuit for the foot-lights 31. 32represents the primary circuits for the several borders 33. The sets of lamps are in secondary circuits 34, running from converters 35 in the respective

primary circuits

26, 28, 30, and 32. All the primary circuits connect with a single return-conductor 36. The chandelier, as shown, may have a number of sets'of lamps and circuits, and the primary circuits may be under the control of a single lever. The different sets of lights are only provided with independent regulators where it is desirable to modify their light independently of the other sets.

It is obvious that without departing from the spirit of my invention the levers could all be connected to a single line-wire and the contact plates or blocks in the bottom of the receptacle connected to the respective ci-r-' cuits to be controlled.

The arrangement :above described with the regulator constructed as set forth will admit of a perfect control of the lights and adj ustment of their intensity to a nicety, whereby any desired effect may be produced on the stage.

Having thus fully described my invention and the manner of using the same, what'I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In an electricregulator, substantially as described, the combination of the liquid-resistance receptacle, the pivoted lever having the locking-screw handle and the contact end,-and the contact-plate immersed in the liquid, said lever being adapted to be moved upon or away from the contact-plate in the liquid or out of the liquid, :all substantially as and :for the purpose set forth.

2. In a regulator for electric currents, the combination, with the liquid-resistance receptacle, of the horizontal shaft, the levers pivoted on said shaft and having the lockin g-hand-les and'the contact-ends, thecontactplates, and circuits including the respective levers and corresponding coi'rtact-plates, as set forth.

3. Ina regulator for electric currents, the combination of the liquid-resistance receptacle the pivotedlever provided with the upper locking device and the lower contact end, the tension-spring adapted to contact with the lever and connected with the circuit to be controlled, and the contact-plates immersed in the liquid and connected with the line, all substantially as set forth.

4. In a regulator for electric currents, the combination of the liquid-resistance receptacle having a suitable back for supporting the connections, the axis, controlling-levers mounted on the axis and provided with upper locking-screws and the lower insulated contact ends, the contact plate or plates in the bottom of the receptacle adapted to connect with the line, the binding-posts and indicator-lamps on the back, and electrical connections between the contact ends of the respective controlling-levers and the corre sponding lamps and binding postsall substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the liquid-receptacle having the curved bottom provided with the metallic lining and the contact-plates, the lever, andthe axis of said lever, the bottom being formed in an arc slightlyeccentric to the arc in which the end lever moves, whereby the said lever Withdraws gradually from the bottom, as explained.

0. In a regulator for electric circuits, the

combination of the liquid receptacle, a moving contact-lever journaled in the receptacle and having the transverse pin or projection, the curved contacting and tension spring fixed to the receptacle and having the bifurcated end bearing on the transverse pins on opposite sides of the movable lever, and the contact in the liquid-receptacle, all substantially as set forth.

7. In a'regulator for electric circuits, the combination of the resistance-medium movable lever having the transverse pin or proj ection and the curved contactvspring provided with the additional curved face-spring by which it is adapted to contact with the transverse pin of the movable lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In aregulator for electric circuits, the

combination of the liqu-id-receptacle or other resistance medium, the horizontal shaft capable of being rotated in its bearings, a series of controlling-levers mounted upon said shaft and each provided with a suitable device for locking it upon the shaft, and thecontacting tension-spring bearing against thelevers, whereby said levers and the circuits controlled by them may be manipulated independently or in groups, substantially in the manner hereinbefore specified.

9. In an electric/lighting system, the 'combination of the several series of lights, the secondary circuits including said lights, the converters supplying said secondary circuits,

IO springs mounted on the receptacle and bean ing' constantly against the lovers, connection between the curved springs and the other ends of the respective primary circuit, and the lockingscrew handles carried by the respective levers, all substantially as and for 15 the purpose set forth.

JIIOMAS M. EDWARDS. l/Vitnessesz H. L. CRAXDALL, THOMAS F. MORGAN.