US562142A - mcelroy - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. P. MoELROY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 562,142. Patented June 16, 1896.

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6; WM W (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. P. MOELROY. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Patented June 16, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. MCELROY, OF ALBANY, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONSOLI- DATED CAR-IIEATING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,142, dated June 16, 1896. Application filed December 29, 1894. Serial No. 533,257. (No model.)

To (tZZ whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MGELROY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Albany, State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Electric Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for regulating and controlling the electric current and is an improvement upon the switch described and shown in Letters Patent No. 4119,3623, dated June 13, 1893, although embodying the same general principle of breakin g the circuit before shifting the switch, and

I 5 at the same time retaining the switch in a locked position until the circuit is broken; and it consists in certain modifications in the construction of the cylinder and the means for locking and unlocking the same, which are hereinafter described and claimed, and by means of which I am enabled to construct a simpler, more compact, and cheaper switch, as well as one less liable to be accidentally deranged. I attain this object by means of 2 5' the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan showing the switch in connection. Fig. 2 is a section along the line 1 1 011 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan showing the connection broken. Fig. 4 is a section along the line 2 2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section along the line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the plate P. Fig. 7 is a view of the handle-arm. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the contact-arm C. Fig. 9 is a section along the line 4. e on Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a view of the contact-plate 0. Fig. 11 shows the relative position of the brushes and contact-points in the position indicated by numeral 1 in Fig. 15. Fig. 12 shows the relative position of the brushes and contactpoints in the position indicated by numeral 2 in Fig. 15. Fig. 13 shows the relative position of the brushes and contact-points in 5 the position indicated by numeral 3 in Fig. 15. Fig. ll shows the relative position of the brushes and contact-points in the position indicated by numeral 0 in Fig. 15. Fig.

15 is an end elevation, partly broken away, showing the knob K and indicator 011 the frame of the switch; and Fig. 16 represents a series of electric heaters in a car.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

To the bottom a of the inclosed frame A, I secure the plate P in any suitable manner, the plate Pbein g nearly right-angled in form, having at about midway between its ends the upwardly-projecting spindle 1) and at one end the post B, at the other end a right-an- 6o gled upwardly projecting bracket I). lietween the spindle and the bracket Z) I arrange the spindle d. Near the outer edge of the plate P and separated a short distance from the spindle d I arrange the lug c. l place upon the spindle p the contact-arm 0, adapted to engage with the contact-posts D D, secured to the base-piece a of the frame. The upper surface of the eontactarm C is provided with the lug E, and near the hub p I arrange the right-angled lug f, and on the opposite side of the upper surface of the contact-arm from the lug f I arrange the upwardly-projecting lug g.

Upon the spindle p I place the arm II, and 7 5 on the upper surface and near one end of the arm H, I arrange the lug i. On the under surface of the arm II, just forward of the opening h, and therefore of the spindle p when the arm is placed in position thereon, So I arrange the downwardly-projecting plates I and J, which come into contact with the lug g on the arm 0.

I secure one end of a spring S to the lug E, projecting from the contact-arm C, said spring 8 5 being wound about the lug h on the arm H, the other end of said spring being attached to the lug e' 011 the arm II. The cap h is placed on the reduced portion of the spindle p above the hub of the arm II, held 0 by a pin 7L3 orin any other suitable manner. The arm II is provided with a handle II at one end. On the spindle d I pivot the catch L, which is acted upon by the spring I, which rests upon the lug c at one end and upon the 5 lug e, placed on the under surface of the catch L, at the other end. The catch I1 is adapted to engage the loose end 0 of the contact-arm C, the resiliency of the spring ltending to hold the catch L in contact with the end 0.

Upon the side of the arm II adjacent to the catch L, I arrange a lug M in such a manner that when the handle H is moved in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig. 1, the lug M will come into contact with the stud Z on the catch L, liberating the catch L from the end 0 of the contact-arm C, as shown by dotted lines in Fig 1.

The movement of the handle II not only releases the catch L and increases the tension of the spring S on the arm 0, but also causes the plate I on the lower surface of the arm H to come into contact, as soon as the catch L is released, with the lug g on the upper surface of the contact-arm O, when a further slight movement of the handle H will cause the plate I, being in contact with the lug g, to release the contact-arm C from the spring contact-post D, when the resiliency of the spring S will cause the contact-arm O to be thrown back in an abrupt and positive manner, which releases the lug J from the notch r in the ring R on the cylinder N, as shown in Fig. 3.

To the post B at the end of the plate P, I secure one end of a cylinder N by means of a bolt 71, the other end of the cylinder being mounted in the bracket N and having attaehed thereto the knob K outside of the frame A, the knob K being provided with an indicator-point K. About midway between the ends of the cylinder N, I provide an upwardly-projecting ring B, into which I cut a series of notches r,with which the right-angled lug f on the contact-arm C engages. The position of the notches is such that when the lug f is engaged in one of them the cylinder is in one of the positions indicated on the dial, and contact cannot be made at the posts D D except when the lug f enters a notch. To the end of the cylinder through which the bolt n passes, I arrange a plate 0, constructed of some metallic substance, which fits over the end of the cylinder N, and has a projecting portion 0, curved to correspond to the contour of the periphery of the cylinder, and fitting into the cylinder in the position shown in Fig. 2. Near the opposite end of the cylinder N, I arrange a metallic c011- tact-piece T, which is provided with a curved portion corresponding to the contour of the periphery of the cylinder, and which is held in position by means of a screw 2, as shown in Fig. 2, or in any suitable manner.

To the post B, and on the side opposite to that to which the cylinder N is mounted, I arrange the support of the brush V by means of the bolts u a or in any suitable manner, insulating said brush and bolts to a from contact with the post B by means of rubber, asbestos, or other suitable material, as shown by u. The brush V extends above the cylinder and has its end arranged to rest upon the surface of the cylinder in the plane thereof in which the contact-piece O is placed. In contact with the same plane of the cylinder N, I arrange the brush U, which is secured to the rod U. Near the opposite end of the cylinder I arrange the brush IV, secured to the bracket N and in the same plane of the cylinder in which the contact plate T is placed. The brush X, also secured to the rod U, is also arranged in the same plane with the brush IV. The brush V is connected by wire Z to the heaters in the car.

T is the trolley-wire, connected with the contact-posts D D. The rod U is connected by the wire Y to a circuit-of heaters. The bracket N is connected by the wire Z to the ground.

The circuit when the brushes U and V are in the position shown in the upper portion of Fig. 11 and the brushes W and X are in the position shown in the lower portion of Fig. 11 is as follows: The current comes through the plate P, therefore through the post B and bolt 02 into the plate 0 in contact with the bolt 12, into the contact-plate 0, a portion of the plate 0, where it is in contact with the brush U, whence it goes to the wire Y, from whence it is conducted to the heaters.

Referring to Fig. 16, the position of the brushes by which the connection of the wires is made is indicated on Fig. 16 by the numbers 1, 2, and 3, which are the numbers corresponding to those on the indicator. Thus in the first position, as already stated, the current passes from the brush U into the rod U through the wire Y, from whence it passes to heaters 4, 5, 6, 7, S, 9, 10, and 11, from whence it passes to the ground through wire G, makingeight in series. It will be noticed that the brushes IV and X are neither one in contact with the metallic connecting-plate T in the first position. In the second position, the brush V is in contact, and the current passes into the brush V through the wire Z into heaters 8, 9, 10, and 11, through the wire G to the ground, neither one of the brushes \V and X being on the contact-point, making four in series. In the third position, the brush V is on the contact-plate O, and the current passes through the wire Z into heaters 8, 0, 10, and 11 through the wire G to the ground, and the brushes 7 and X are both on the contactplate T, the current passing to heaters 7, 6, 5, and 4 through wire Y into red U through brush X into plate T through brush \V through wire Z to the ground, all four being in multiple series. In the 0 position. neither of the brushes is in contact, and the current is oif.

As shown in Fig. 16, I arrange the heaters 4:, 5, 6, '7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 in two series. In Fig. 16, the positions of the brushes in connection with the wires are indicated by the letters of the brushes \V, X, U, and V, and the wires that are connected are shown by the Figs. 1, 2, and 3 corresponding with the ligures of the indicator and in the first position, the two circuits of heaters are in series; that is, all the heaters are placed in series and I obtain a flow of about two and one-half amperes. In the second position, the current passes through but one circuit, that is, onehalf of the heaters are placed in series and the other half standing open, and I obtain a flow of about four amperes and a corresponding increase of heat. In the third position, in which the two circuits are placed in multiple, I have a flow of about eight amperes with a corresponding increase of heat.

The switch overcomes the difficulties heretofore experienced in operating switches on very high potential currents, in that the opening of the circuit is not effected at the surface of the cylinder, but is effected at the end of the long lever or connecting-arm. It also prevents the burning out of the switch by persons attempting to rotate the cylinder and causing sparking of the contacts on the surface of the cylinder.

It is noticeable that the contact-arm cannot be closed unless the rotating cylinder is in one of the four positions for making contacts on its surface, since the wing or lug f strikes against the flange in all other positions.

My switch is usually placed on the end of a car where it can be operated by the c011- ductor or motorman. It is very compact in form, protected from dirt and foreign matter by the box or frame A, leaving the knob K and the handle H exposed and provided with an indicator showing the position of the switch. When it is necessary to diminish or increase the temperature of the car, by moving the handle II, the contact is broken suddenly and positively, allowing the cylinder to be revolved to the position deemed advisable and which is shown by the figures on the indieator, the handle H is forced into position and the contact is made without sparkin g, and the cylinder is locked automatically.

By means of the construction described, the cylinder can be constructed with much less trouble and expense than the one heretofore described and patented to me in the patent referred to. The arrangement of the switchlever is also simpler and in a position which permits of the switch occupying much less compass, is less liable to be deranged by accident, blows, or other contacts with moving substances. These are decided advantages when it is considered that such switches are to be principally used for the purpose of 0011- trolling the electric heating of street-railway cars operated by motors and other sources of electric supply.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric switch, a cylinder principally composed of insulating matter carrying a connecting-plug at one end thereof in permanent electrical connection, with a source of electrical supply through the axle thereof, brushes arranged to receive electricity from said plug, and secondary plug in the periphery thereof adapted to electrically connect corresponding brushes, one of which is electricall y connected with one of the first-named brushes, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In an electric switch, a cylinder principally composed of insulating matter carrying a connecting-plug at one end thereof in permanent electrical connection, with a source of electrical supply through the axle thereof, brushes arranged to receive electricity from said plug, and secondary plug in the periphery thereof adapted to electrically connect corresponding brushes, one of which is electrically connected with one of the first-named brushes, a locking-ring rigidly surrounding said cylinder and means for locking the same in predetermined positions, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric switch, a cylinder principally composed of insulating matter carrying a connecting-plug at one end thereof in permanent electrical connection, with a source of electrical supply through the axle thereof, brushes arranged to receive electricity from said plug, and secondary plug in the periphery thereof adapted to electrically connect corresponding brushes, one of which is electrically connected with one of the first-named brushes, a locking-ring rigidly surrounding said cylinder, and means for locking the same in predetermined positions, means connected with said locking device whereby the circuit is opened in advance of unlocking and closed independently of said cylinder and in ad- 9 vance of locking, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

l. In an electric switch, the combination and arrangement of a cylinder suitably mounted and adapted to be rotated and carry ing electrical contacts in its periphery, means whereby one of said contacts is electrically connected with the source of electrical supply, brushes adapted to be engaged with said electrical contacts, a compound spring-actuated lever adapted to make and break contacts in an electrical line independent of said cylinder, and to lock and unlock said cylinder, said lever operating in a plane substantially parallel with the axis of said cylinder, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

5. An electrical switch, a contact-arm adapted to engage with poles, an actuating-arm provided with a plate adapted to engage with a lug on the contact-arm, a spring attached at one end of said contact-arm wound about the hub of the actuating-arm and attached at the opposite end to a lug 011 said actuating-arm, a catch adapted to engage with the contactarm when the contact is made and a cylinder provided with contacts suitably mounted and adapted to be locked by the transverse movement of a wing formed upon said contact-arm, substantially as described. and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES F. MOELROY.

\Vitnesses:

H. J. NODINE, G. H. DIACK.

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