US607830A - Device for operating electric switches - Google Patents

Description

No. 607,830. Patented luly 26, I898. J; H. CARY.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

(App1ication filed Jan. 8, 1896.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 607,830. Patented July 26, I898. J. H. CARY.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

(Application filed Jan. 8, l 896.) (N 0 M o d e l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED ST T S rrrcn.

PATE T JAMES H. CARY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,830, dated July 26, 1898.

Application filed January 8, 1 896. Serial No. 574,690. (No model.)

T0 (2% whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. CARY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Operating Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to devices for operating switches, &c., at a distance remote from a central station, so that the necessary con tact may be made to complete an electric circuit and cause to be operated thereby a signal or cause the operation of any electromechanical device adapted to be so operated.

The invention is especially applicable to telephone systems where it is desired to provide an individual call for separate stations upon the same line. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, positive, and accurately operating device by which signals may be operated, such as bells rung, &c., or other mechanical contrivances caused to operate at a distance remote from a central station; and my invention consists in a means of accomplishing the desired result by the employment of an apparatus of the electromotor type; and it further consists in the general construction and arrangement herein set out whereby the beneficial advantages are attained."

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device as seen from the end of the armature carrying the commutator. Fig. 2 is a side view of the rotary armature. Fig. 3 is a view of the switch-ring, showing the operative parts acting therewith; and Fig. 4. is a diagrammatic illustration showing four stations and illustrating the relative positions occupied by each switch-ring when one of the calls is being sounded.

In detail, a indicates the armature-coil; b, armature-plates; c, the commutator; d, fieldmagnets of the electromagnetic type; e, a switch-ring mounted upon the armature-journal; f, contact-plates on thesWitch-ring; g, brushes bearing against the periphery of the commutator; h, contact-springs arranged to bear against the contact-pieces f when the switch-ring e is rotated; 2', an adj usting-screw; j, a stop; k, a tension-spring, and Z a tensionscrew.

Inthe drawings I have illustrated in Fig. 3 a call-bell m and a battery '11., and in Figs. 1 and 3 I have shown in diagram conducting Wires or lines.

The electromagnets and armatures are of the well-known motor type.

.When a current of the designated or predetermined and proper strength and polarity is passed through the coils of the electromagnet d, it Will cause a rotation of the armature.

-The extent of rotation of the armature is determined by a suitable stop mechanism such, for instance, as a set-screw and stoppin j. It is to be understood, however, that the stop mechanism is arranged to stop the rotation of the switch-ring after it has gone beyond its contact-making position, so that when the switch-ring is stopped by the stop mechanism the contact-springs 7L will rest on insulation.

It will readily be seen that if the contactsprings h be properly adjusted with reference to the contact-plates f upon the switch-ring e the necessary connection will be made, so that the supplementary current will pass through and sound the signal or operate such other device adapted to be operated thereof.

If the switch-rings are made adjustable on the journals, the contact-pieces f can be arranged at different points relatively to each other, so that no two shall be in contact at the same time.

If a current having sufficient intensity to rotate the armatures a certain distance be passed through the motor, it will cause each one of the armatures to rotate to that extent, provided the stop mechanism does not restrain some of the armatures from rotating to that degree, and if station 1. be the station desired to call a current of the requisite intensity to rotate the armature and with it its switch-ring to the extent required by station 1, thus making the necessary contact between the springs h and connecting the circuit through the supplementary battery or, and thus sounding the call-bell m.

The free movement of the armature will be limited to the proper degree by the actionof the retractile spring 70. For instance, a relatively light or weak current Will pull the armature forward sufficiently to make contact on the point which would operate the auxiliary mechanism at station 1; but this would not be sufficient to cause it to make contact at station 2.

In order to operate station 2, the current would be increased to such a degree as to f urther overcome the action of the retractile spring, thus pulling the armatures still farther forward, and passing the point of contact for station 1 would thus make station 2 the only one wherein the auxiliary mechanism would be operative.

The movement of the contact-pieces upon the switch-ring while passing those at which they are not brought at rest will be so rapid that the signal connected with that station will not be sounded. As has before been stated, the stop mechanism is so arranged as tobring the contact-pieces upon the switchring to rest after they have passed the stationary contact-springs h, so that the stations which are not called the contact-pieces of the switch-ring are not in contact with the contact-springs. If the polarity be changed, it will be seen that the capacity of the system is doubled, so that the operation to actuate stations 3 and 45 would be precisely the same as for stations 1 and 2, except that the polarity of the current sent to line would be reversed, thus making stations 3 and 4 free to operate, while stations 1 and 2 would be held inoperative by the back contact-screw.

The system is preferably arranged in parallel, and any means of supplying the requisite electric energy may be employed.

I do not limit the number of stations to be operated on a line to four; but this number is sufficient to show the principle involved, which it is evident can be extended with the requisite graduations'of current and proper adjustment of parts.

I do not confine myself to a commutator, but employ it in the accompanying drawings for the purpose of illustration, it being obvious that the same result in regard to the partial rotation of the armature can be obtained by contact-springs bearing upon the ends of the armature-journals in the usual well-known manner. I can also operate upon the same line with the above-described apparatus a magneto-bell of the ordinary well-known form of construction such as is in general use upon telephone-lines, such bell being adapted to be operated only by rapidlyalternating currents.

By preference I place the instruments designed to be actuated by the weaker current nearest to the central or operating station, so that a current of low potentialsay from ten to fifteen voltswill be sure to operate those of this class, and a current of between fifty and seventy-five volts may be used on the instruments of the second class or those requiring a greater movement of the armatures to bring them into position to close the contact-points of the local circuit, thus giving a sufficient range of potential to obviate the liability of confusion occurring owing to the possible inaccurate operation of the machines.-

To render the device effective in the calling of station 2 and at the same time to avoid calling station 1, I take advantage of the principle explained in my patent of July 17, 1883, No. 281,450, wherein it is shown that a vibrating bell can be so adjusted that the rapid movement of the contact-points carried on the contact-Wheel or circular switch will not cause it to ring, since it would take a longer continuation of the actuating-current to bring the bell into full vibration, and thus cause the bell-hammer to strike the gong. I also in my patent dated January 6, 1885, No. 310,379, show the ordinary form of magnetobell connected in series with the others and described the action of the alternating and direct currents upon the same. The same principle applies in the present case. Ihave also fully shown and described in patent dated July 17, 1883, means of furnishing and applying the proper currents for ringing the various bells.

Having therefore described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a source of electrical energy; suitable conductors; means for switching in a predetermined amount of electrical energy; one or more rotary electromagnetic motors in the circuit; a switch-ring or equivalent device operated by the electromagnetic motor and a supplementary or derived circuit made or broken at will by the operation of the switch-ring, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

2. The combination of a source of electrical energy; suitable conductors; means to switch in a predetermined quantity of electric energy; a series of rotary electromagnetic motors; a switch-ring arranged to rotate with the armature of the electromotor; means to limit the extent of revolution; a supplementary circuit containing a signal or other operative device; suitable contact-springs hand contact-points mounted upon the switch-ring to complete the supplementary circuit, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

3. The combination of a source of electrical energy; suitable conductors; one or more electromagnetic motors having armatures free to move to a certain predetermined point without intermittent motion; means to reverse the current; a contact-piece operated by the armature; contact-springs h arranged to contact with the contact-points on the contact-piece; a supplementary circuit connected with the contact-springs and means to prevent movement of the contact-piece beyond a predetermined point, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

4. The combination of a source of elec- IIO trical energy; suitable conductors; an elec trolnotor having a rotating armature; a

switch-ring e mounted to rotate with the armature and having contact-points f; means to limit the rotation of the switch-ring, and a supplementary circuit made or broken by the revolution of the switch-ring, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

5. The combination of a source of elec- 1o trical energy; an electromotor having a rotary armature; a switch-ring e mounted to Witnesses:

ALLEN WEBSTER, BENJ. FRAGNANT.

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