US502105A

US502105A - Electric switching apparatus

Info

Publication number: US502105A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1910-07-25

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. R. ROB.

l ELECTRIC SWITOHING APPARATUS.

No. 502,105. Patented Juy 25, 189s.

TGRNEY WITNESSESP (No'Model.)

A. R. ROE.

2 sheets-sheet 2.

ELECTRIC SWITGHING APPARATUS.

WITNESSES:

Patented July 25, 1893.

INVENTOR -f'tur j?. Zoe f BY 5MM/. A

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR RICHARD ROE, OF DULUTII, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC SWITCHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,105, dated July 25, 1893.

Application filed October 28, 1892. Serial No. 450,274. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.,-

Beit known that I, ARTHUR RICHAEDROE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switching Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to electric switching apparatus, and also in connection therewith to mechanism for operating rheostats.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby any one of a number of combinations of electric switches and rheostats may be simultaneously operated. For instance, in theaters or other places where electric lights are arranged in groups, it is desirable to cut in and out more or fewer of the groups simultaneously, in order to light portions of the building or space while other portions remain dark. It is also desirable at times to Vary the intensity of the light in one or more of the groups simultaneously with the entire cutting in or out of the groups. In another applicated led by me September 24, 1892, Serial No. 446,765, I have described an invention for this purpose and the invention herein described and claimed is an improvement upon that set forth in my said application now on file.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation of my improved switching apparatus with a portion of the front plate broken away to disclose the mechanism behind the same, and portions of the mechanism being also broken away for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the mechanism being exposed, and Fig. 3 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A represents an inclosing frame or case through the front of which portions of the mechanism by which the apparatus is operated projects. This mechanism consists of a wheel WV and a series of mechanical push buttons c. There is also projecting through the front of the case, push-rods c which connect with electrical switches, inside of the case, and the segment plates and the contact arms of a number of rheostats a2 which will hereinafter be described. The apparatus illustrated in the drawings consists of four switches and four rheostats with the mechanism for operating them, but it will be obvious that any number of switches and rheostats may be operated in combinations in the same manner as these sets of four are operated. Between the front of the case and a diaphragm or another portion of the frame placed parallel thereto and some distance back of it, represented by the letter A', the electric switches and portions of the rheostat mechanism are mounted. The rheostats and switches are of substantially the same construction as those described in the aforementioned application for patent. The switches consist of a circuit closing cylinder b which is carried into and out of contact with the circuit terminals b', b', by a walking beam b2 pivoted at b3. A cross-head is fixed to each end of the walking beams and to one of these the contact b is attached. Each cross-head also carries a reciprocating rod represented by h4, b4, one of which projects through the front of the case and carries a knob c. before referred to. Both of these rods pass through openings in the diaphragm A in which they have bearings. It will be seen therefore that when one of the rods reciprocates in one direction, the other moves in the opposite direction, and the switches may be operated by pushing or pulling on either one of the rods. The rheostats are similarly operated; that is, they are provided with the push rods, cross-heads and the walking beam, but the rheostat arm c10 is connected with the walking beam so that when the latter is vibrated by the reciprocation of the rods, the arm is thrown from one end to the other end of the row of resistance segments or terminals. It is to be understood that these switches control various circuits including, for instance, electric lamps and the rheostats throw resistance into and out of the same or different circuits as the case may be; and it is the object of this invention to operate any combination of these switches and rheostats simultaneously, and with rapidity and ease. This set of frames constitutes an operating device which acts at intervals directly upon the switches and rheostats.

The switches and rheostats are preferably arranged in rows and behind each row a plate or frame B is located. These frames are rigidly connected together by end pieces B so IOO as to be movable together, and the set of frames is mounted upon tracks B2 on which it may slide toward and away from the diaphragm A. Upon the face of these frames B and directly opposite each switch and rheostat is a plate c, fixed in guides so that it will slide vertically. Each plate is provided with two slots c arranged in line with the respective push rods 0f the switch or rheostat to which it corresponds. The plates are caused to move into two positions, in one of which, one of the rods is in alignment with the slot c', while the other rod of the same switch or rheostat is out of alignment with its slot c. The frame B is open immediatelyback of the slots in the plates c, so that if the push rods pass through the slots they will have a free passage also beyond the frame B. The plates are normally in their lowest position where they are supported by pins.

The plates c, constitute selecting devices, by means of which the switches and rheostats, which are to be operated by the set of frames, are determined.

The frames B, B, B are connected through pitman rods CZ with the cranks of crank shafts D, D, which shafts are mounted in suitable bearings attached to the case and carry at one end bevel gears CZ. Then these crank shafts are rotated a half turn, it is obvious that the frames B, B, will be moved either forward or backward a distance equal to the diameter of a circle which the cranks describe. When the frames move forward, the switches are either opened or closed according to which of their push rods are moved; or they may be left in the position in which they were when last operated. Likewise the current in the circuits which the rheostats control is alsoincreased or decreased.

The frames B, B, are thrown forward and backward manually by means of a hand wheel IN, from which motion is communicated through shaft tu, bevel gear to shaft tu', and bevel gear to shaft to2, the last mentioned shaft carrying bevel gears which engage with each of the gears on the crank shafts D.

The mechanism for altering the position of the plates c to change the combinations will now be described. Beneath each plate c is a pivoted plate vc2 to which is loosely engaged one end of the vertical thrust rod c3. The other end of said rod connects with a hell crank lever et pivoted at c5, and said bell crank lever carries a pin c6 which runs in a guide c' The guide is a straight bar having holes for the pins, placed in line with each other, there being one hole and pin and one rod and lever, for each plate c.

In the lower part of the casing is a frame consisting of two end pieces E, E, provided with rollers c, which run on tracks E. Between these two en d pieces is mounted a roller F on a horizontal axis, the aXis being in about the same horizontal plane as the row of pins c6. On the shaft with the roller is a pinion f, and a ratchet wheel f and a coiled spring f2,

shown in dotted lines, acts upon the roller to turn it in the direction indicated by the arrow f3. The roller and pinion are loose on the shaft, and this coiled spring is connected at one end to the roller and at the other end to the shaft.

g is a gear quadrant pivoted at g', and having an extension beyond the pivot to which is loosely connected a link g2. This link also connects with a cross-bar g3 which extends from one endpiece of theframe to the other,and its ends run in horizontal grooves in said end frames when it is moved inward as will hereinafter be described. Against this cross-bar a number of levers h, pivoted at 7L', bear, and they are adapted to be forced against the cross-bar and thus move it inward, by push rods or buttons a, respectively, before referred to. Each of the levers 7L has a shoulder h2. The frame with the roller and the other parts which it carries is bodily movable upon the tracks E and it is drawn toward the rear of the casing constantly by the springs E2. A downward projection t from the frame is held continually against a cam j on shaft w, and by rotating this shaft the frame is permitted to slide toward the rear of the case, or is d rawu toward the front of the case.

Adjacent to the ratchet wheel on the end of the roller is a pawl Zt' adapted to engage therewith and pivoted to one of the end pieces of the frame. This pawl has a finger Zt which engages at times with a pivoted finger 7a2. The last is not carried by the frame E, but it is stationary and its swing in one direction is limited by pin 7e3.

In the surface of the roller F are arranged longitudinal rows of pins Z. In each row these pins are arranged so that each one of them will be in the same vertical plane with one of the pins c6, and the number of pins Z in each row and their arrangement in the rows is determined by the particular combination of switches and rhcostats which the respective rows correspond with. There is one row of these pins for each combination and as the apparatus herein described is built for seven combinations there will be seven rows of pins Z. Diametrically opposite each row of pins Z is placed a single pin m. These pins are variously located between the ends of the rollers, no two of them being in the same vertical plane, and all are ont of line with the gins c, but in line with the respective levers h.

The operation of the system is as follows: Suppose it is desired to operate a combination which is numbered 4; the key or button a numbered et would be pushed inward, pressing the end of the lever 7L against the crossrod g3 and pushing said cross-rod inward. This swings the quadrant g and rotates the pinion which carries the roller with it. The key is pushed inward until it is stopped by one of the pins m coming against the shoulder h2 on lever 7L. While the roller is making this movement the pawl 7.: runs loosely over ITO the ratchet teeth and the spring in the roller is wound up. Vhen the roller stops, the pawl prevents its backward movement. The position of the roller now is such that the row of pins Z corresponding to combination No. 4 is in front of the row of pins c. Now by turning the hand wheel IV, cam j permits spring E2 to slide the frame and roller toward the rear, thus forcing the pins Z against the corresponding pins ci". The cam permits the frame to move far enough to impart movement to the pins cf", which movement is communicated to the bell cranks and rods and to the pivoted plates under the corresponding` sliding plates c. These sliding plates are therefore lifted into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and the positions of the slots in said plates are changed with respect to the pushrods of the switches or rheostats to which the plates correspond. Then by a further movement of the wheel WV in the same direction the cranks d are thrown over and the frame B, B, B is pushed forward, and the rods of the several switches are each operated. Continuing the rotation of the wheel in the same direction, the frame B, B, B is first withdrawn to its original position. Then the roller F is thrown forward by the cam j, thus releasing pins c6, and allowing the plates c to assume their normal position. While the roller is traveling back the projection 7c on the pawl 7c strikes finger k2 and is lifted from the ratchet wheel, which immediately is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow f3 and unwinds the spring. The operation may then be repeated with the same or any other combination.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The combination of aplurality of switches or circuit controllers, of an operating device acting at intervals and adapted to open one or any number of the switches or circuit controllers and simultaneously close others or the remainder of them, and a plurality of independent adjustable selecting devices carried by said operating device and corresponding respectively with said switches, the switches or circuit controllers remaining in the positions to which they were last thrown, during the intervals when the operating device is not acting substantially as described.

2. The combination with a plurality of electric switches, movable rods or levers controlling the respective switches, a plate or frame adapted to move against said rods or levers to operate the switches and selecting devices carried by the plate or frame, determining how many and which of said switches shall be operated, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a plurality of switches each of which has two operating levers or rods, of a plate or frame for moving one or the other of the rods or levers of each switch and selecting devices carried by said frame or plate determining which of said rods or levers shall be operated.

L The combination with a plurality of switches each of which has two operating levers or rods, of a plate or frame for moving one or the other of the rods or levers of each switch and selecting devices carried by said frame or plate determining which of said rods or levers shall be operated, and mechanism for simultaneously setting said selecting devices.

5. The combination of a plurality of switches, respective selecting devices determining which of said switches shall be operated, a series of pins or levers connecting with and operating the selecting devices, a plurality of rows or groups of pins arranged to engage with various pins or levers of said series, and means for determining which of said rows or groups shall engage with said pins or levers, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a plurality of switches, respective selecting devices determining which of said switches shall be operated, a series of pins or levers connecting with and operating the selecting devices, a roller carrying a plurality of groups or rows of combination pins adapted to engage with said series of pins or levers, and rotating means for said roller to determine which of said groups shall engage with the series of pins, said roller being bodily movable to carry the group into engagement and operate the pins of said series, for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of a plurality of switches, a switch operating apparatus, respective selecting devices determining which of said switches shall be operated, a series of sets of levers through which motion is imparted to said selecting devices respectively, a combination apparatus determining which of said sets of levers shall be moved, and a main shaft first acting upon the combination apparatus and then on the said switch operating apparatus, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a plurality of switches and a combination apparatus for determining which of said switches may be operated, said combination apparatus consisting of a roller having a rotary and a sliding motion,groups of combination devices such as pins set in its surface, a stop for each group, manually operated levers engaging with said stop and gearing for rotating the roller operated by said manually operated levers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR RICHARD ROE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD FULLER, A. R. COLEMAN.

IOO