US539863A - Elie f - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model) B. F. G. H.,FAURE, J. MAGHAFPIE &-S. H. LIBBY.

CONTROLLER FOR ELEGTRIG SEARCH LIGHTS. No. 539,863.

Patented May 28, 1895.

Wnrlzsacs (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. F. G. H. PAURE, J. MAGHAFFIE & S. H. LIBBY.

GONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SEARCH LIGHTS. No. 539,863. Patented May 28, 1895.

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(No ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. F. G. H. PAURE, J. MAGHAFPIE 8v S. H. LIBBY. CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SEARCH LIGHTS.

No. 539,863. Patented May 28, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIE F. G. H. FAURE, JOHN MAOHAFFIE, AND SAM I'l. LIBBY, OF SCHENEO- TADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SEARCH-LIGHTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,863, dated May 28, 1895. Application filed January 29, 1895. Serial No. 536,617. (No model.)

To all whom it WZCLZ/ concern:

Be it known that we, ELIE F. G. H. FAURE, a citizen of the Republic of France, JOHN MAOHAFFIE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and SAM H. LIBBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controllers for Electric Search- Lights, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of our invention are, first, to provide a controlling stand having one handle for operating both the horizontal and vertical movements of a search light, operating either separately or simultaneously, (in the latter case a motion in a diagonal direction would be imparted theretog) second, to provide means for stopping the movement of the search light instantly and automatically; third, to so construct the parts that the direction of movement of the handle will indicate the direction which the beam of light will travel.

Briefly, the method of operation of our apparatus is as follows: Two motors are mounted in the base of a search light, and provided with suitable belts or gears connecting them with the horizontal and vertical moving parts of the search light. The controlling stand for these motors may be located at any convenient point where the operator may have an unobstructed view. The motor fields are connected in shunt to the main dynamo, and the current through the armature is varied by suitable resistance.

In operating search lights it is desirable to be able to bring them to a stop instantly, as a very small angular movement at the light will make an immense amount of movement of the beam several miles distance. To accomplish this, we cut resistance into the armature circuit and then short-circuit it,which brings it to astop instantly. We do not, however, claim this method of control.

Our invention relates to certain mechanical features to be more fully explained hereinafter.

Although the invention is described in connection with a search light, We do not limit ourselves to this, for it is equally applicable to the control of motors when used in connection with other apparatus.

To attain the ends pointed out, we mount two ring-shaped castings having insulated resistance contacts thereon, on a suitable base. These contacts have brushes engaging therewith, which are mounted on suitable spindles operated by means of a circular rack and pinion in one case, and by beveled gears in the other. Springs are provided in both cases to bring the brushes back to the off position the moment the pressure is removed from the operating handle. The operating spindle is composed in part of a circular rack with which the pinion operating one set of brushes eugages. Around the upper part of the spindle is a bevel-gear provided with a sleeve extending upward through the cover of the box. Engaging with this bevel-gear is a similar one mounted on a shaft at right angles thereto operating a second set of brushes. A collar is secured to the sleeve surrounding the spindle, and from this projects a lug which forms a bearing for the end of the operating handle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is an end view looking from the left. Fig. 4: is a detail showing certain parts broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail view, and Fig. 6 is a diagram of connections.

A is the inclosing case.

B is the cover, and O is a flange preventing the splashing of waterinto the inclosing case.

The cast iron rings D, D" are mounted on a suitable base E, and are provided with contacts which are suitably insulated from each other and from the rings D, D by insulating rings D D The brushes engaging with these contacts are made of two metal pieces, enabling them to make good contact when the contacts a become worn. These are carried by a holder F, mounted on a shaft F and tending to be forced outwardly by means of springs d, d. The shaft F is mounted with bearings G G which are supported by the ring D.

To prevent lateral displacement of the shaft F, collars Q Q are made thereon which engage with the bearings G G On the end of the shaft F is mounted a segmental gear H engaging with the circular rack Ion the spindle J.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the spindle J has a collarf surrounding which is a sleeve g having an external flange h engaging with the inner surface of the cage K. On the lower end of the spindle J is a similar construction, except that a nut '5 takes the place of the collar F. A spring j tends to keep the flanges h h in engagement with the ends of the cage K.

To regulate the amount of movement of either g or g, a sleeve g 'is mounted on the spindle J and between 9 and 9.

When, for example, the handleLis thrown 1 down, it forces the spindle J downward and compresses the spring j until the sleeve h engages with the sleeve 9 On relieving the pressure on the handle L, it immediately flies back to its normal position, and the arrangement of the parts is such, that when the flange h engages with the top of the cage K, the spindle will stop, for any continued movement would serve to compress the spring from the opposite end. The converse of this is also.

4 Above the cover of the box is a collar M rigidly attached to the sleeve M and 'havin g a projection extending therefrom forming a bearing for the end of the handle L. The gear M en'- gages with a similar bevel-gear N on the shaft at rightangles thereto, the said shaft carrying a brush holder and brushes engaging with a set of contacts similar to those described "in conmotion with the ring D". To bring the gears back to their normal position, a device similar to that described with the vertical movement is utilized, the only difference being'tha't the cage K is hinged to the frame 0, to allow the point of pivot is to travel in the arc of a circle. The contacts on ring D being connected in the proper manner, any movement of the handle L, either right or left, will cause the brushes to make the desired connections, and the instant the handle is released,it will fly back to its normal position, due to the action of the spring, as "previously described. A switch P is mounted on the base E to open and close the circuit.

It being desirable to have the handle L indicate as far as possible the direction of the beam, the contacts on D are connected to the motor, which imparts motion to the search light in the vertical plane, while those on ring D are connected to the motor giving a movement in the horizontal plane.

Referring to Fig. 6, T is the drum o'fa'pro- Q jector and q q are the contact rings permanently connected therewith. S is the generator, and R is a resistance regulating the current flowing in the lamp. The fields of motors 1 and 2 are permanently connected in shunt to the main generator S, the switch P serving to interrupt the circuit in the controller.

The contacts a and c are mounted on the outer insulating rings D and contacts I) b are mounted on the inner insulating rings D A current entering the controller by closingthe switch P would flow through the field of motor 1 or 2, depending on which way the operating handle was thrown, or a current would divide and flow through both motors if the handle L-were thrown down, and at the same time to the right or left, the same would be true if the handle were raised, and by so doing a diagonal motion would be imparted to the Searchlight; the angles of the diagonal depending upon the relative speed given the two motors.

What we claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination in a controller, of a switch handle adapted to control two motors, separately or simultaneously, with springs adapted to be compressed by a movement of the handle in any direction, and acting to bring said handle back to'the ofi position.

2. The combination in a controller, of a switch handle adapted to move simultaneously'in a horizontal and vertical plane, thereby imparting a diagonal motion to the handle and springs acting to bring the handle back "to its normal position.

'3. The combination in a controller, of a switch handle adapted to move from its normal position'in a horizontal and vertical plane, with compression springs mounted in cages and acting to bring the handle back to its normal position.

4. The combination in a controller, of a switch handle adapted to move above and below its normal 'plane, with a spring adapted to be compressed from either end bya move ment up or down of the said handle.

5. In asingle handle controller fortwo motors, the combination of a circular rack, a'pine ion gear engaging with the rack, and adapted to operate the contact brushes for varying the resistance in one motor circuit when actuated in a. vertical plane, and remaining idle with respectto said contact brushes when the bandle is moved in a horizontal plane, to vary the resistance in the second motor circuit.

6. In a controller for electric search lights,

the combination of acircular operating rack, a compression spring mounted in a cage tending'to keep said rack, in its normal position, with means within the cage for limiting the movement of the rack, a pinion gear engaging with said rack, and adapted to operate con- "tact brushes-for varying the resistance in the armature circuit.

7. In a controller for electric search lights IIO I'I'S the combination of a'switch handle adapted to indicate by its relative angular position the position of the beam, with compression springs mounted in cages with means therein for limiting the angular movement of the handle, said springs tending to hold the handle in its central position.

8. In a controller for electric search lights, the combination of resistance contacts operated by bevel-gears, a spring-actuated rod pivoted to one of said gears for returning them to an intermediate position, said rod being mounted in a cage pivoted at one end, and means within the cage for limiting the movement of said rod.

9. In a controller for electric search lights, the combination of a handle adapted to indicate by its relative angular position the position of the beam, two sets of resistance contacts, brushes for said contacts operated bya rack and pinion in one case, and by bevel gears in the other, and compression springs mounted in cages and arranged to return the brushes to their normal positions.

10. A search light operated by electric motors, in combination with a controller having a switch handle for controlling said motors, adapted to indicate by its relative angular position the angle of the beam.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 19th day of January, 1895.

ELIE F. G. H. FAURE. JOHN MAOHAFFIE. SAM H. LIBBY. \Vitnesses:

B. B. HULL, A. F. MACDONALD.

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