US656105A - Circuit-breaker. - Google Patents

Description

Uisursn` i STATnsMPaTE'r 'o @Uu/'720152, it ma'yconcern; j I Si le itlinoivnthatl, FRANK NV. GARRETT, of ,.lohnstcwmin the county of Cambriaand ;StatelofPennsylvania, have invented'a new' 5, Aand usefullmprovement-in Circuit-Breakers,

' of `which the followingi'sa full','cl ear, and' exact description, reference being had to the ac@ jcompanyingdrawings, which form a part-of this specification.

rc.l -vlil-y'invention has relaiionto automatic-cirlgcuit-breakers,fand-is. designed to provide a device of this class in which advantage is .-taken, by. means'y of simplelpliaracter, of the fact that Whenever lines of force forming part HIS Lof two separately-generated magnetic fields y ytraverse-a common space there is a decided actionsbetween the two sets of lines, tending `Vto so' alter their pathsthat as many lines as possible shallcoincidein direction` 'ze xTheinvenl'on is also designed toprevent -ffdestructive arcingat the contacts and to provide acircuit-breaker which in general is of eficientand reliable character. 'Myinvention consists, broadly, in 'a circuitbreaker .Whose movable contacts are carried ,"fbyfa member placed in a magnetic-field and 'ffit'sel'fi capable of generating a magnetic field {Whose lines` of force do not coincide in direcf a boris primarily placed, together with means 'forrestraining the movement of saidmem ber under normal conditions inthe-connected f circnit'and for permitting its movement un-A ei. abnormal conditions in said circuit.

g5' My' "invention also l'consists in a circuitffbreaker `having means whereby the circuit lis 'simultaneously broken'ata number of points orplaces connectedin series and. under cti: ir,

'conditions which prevent destructive arcing; lso, toprovide means whereby the circuit 'v may be 'broken arbitrarily whenever desired and for restablishing the same. f .i

-n'allyg-v invention consists infthe novel notion,'arrangement, and combination of arts, all `as hereinafterdescribed, and

hinted `outin the appended claims.y

' dure 1 isaiplan. viewof acircuit-breaker, en away. FigQ is a transverse ionfo't' Fig-Ii-v Fig. is-adiagramrt se mature.

' 'tio'nyith those of the field in which said memhea'e'companyingdrawings, in vwhich f shown an embodiment'of my invention, v

V`trios.

@sommersicnam infirmiers Patent NQ. 656,105, datecinngusr 14, ieoo. I lApplication tiled` December 1 1899.pSe1ial No.' 738,7 5li (No model.) V l f matic view showing' the circuit connections.

Fig'. 4 is a detail view of the pawl device which normally vrestrains the movement of the ar- Fig. 5 isadetail view of one of the 55 collector-rings and brushes, and Fig., (i is a detail view showing the 'main contacts and bridging-piece. i

The letter A designates the core or yoke of 'an electromagnet having parallel extended 6o pole-pieces A. Bis a coil ofcoarse insulated Wire Which is Wound upon said yoke or core' and included in the main-line circuitewire C.

D. is a movable member which I shall hereinafter term the armature and which consists of a number of similar iron plates se cured to a shaft E, from which they are insulated and upon which they are spaced from each other by interposed insulating blocks or pieces E. The shaft E is supported in bear# 7o ings E2 andpasses centrally throu gh the plates, W-hich extend diametrically theretogvit'n their ends adjacent to the tWopole-pieces A. ln the d lWings l have shown .five of these plates; but a greater or less number may be 75 employed, according to the pleasure of the A maker or the extent to which it is desired to subdivide the are in breaking circuit. Each plate hasin each of its arms a cylindrical recess (l, forminga scat for the Wires `oi the 8o coil F, Which is Wound longitudinally of the armature in a similar manner tol a coil of an ordinary drum e armature,l the Wire.r being Wound in through' the slots d', leading `tothe recesses. Fine insulated Wire is used for this coil, and itstivoendsare 'connected to collectoriings f f, insulatedfrorn each other upon the shaft E. Brushes g gf bear, -respectively, upon these rings, said brushes being connected to they line-ivire C upon opposite 9o sides of the coil B, so that said coil B and the'coil F are connected inparallel With each other.

' H designates aseries of'contact-piecos, pref` erably of copper, one of which is secured. to each end ofeachof the armature-plates over the slots d, as bestseen in 'Fig.'2.

K designates spring contact-fingers are ranged in. tw'o series, the fingers of oneseries engaging with the respective contacbpieces roc lI at vone end of the armature-plates and those of the other-seriesenmaging with thcrespecocation tive contact-pieces at the opposite ends of l the contacts li the arc is subdivided to such said plates, "lhe fin gers of both sets are normally all connected in series by short connections la and the contacts H and armature.-

plates in the manner clearlyshovvn in Fig. 3, the connections 7.,' uniting 'adjacent pairs of .lingcrs'ot vcach set, androppositeiingers on 4 the two sets being connected. through the arl anaturesplatcs and contacts. K of one set electricallyconnected to a main cont-act L, to which one side of the circuit C is also connected, and the last contactnger of the opposite set is similarly conn nected to a second main cont-act L', to which the other side the circuit C is connected.

lil is a bridging-piece, composed of copper laminzc, (sce Fig. {L} but which may be ot any other suitable character, 'for connecting the contacts L L. l

N is a handle on the pio`j .cting end portionl of the shatt- E, by means of which the latter, with the armature, maybe manually operated.

.j is a'catch or detent pla-te secured ou the shattl and formed with a noichp and a stop projection p.

Vit is a pawl which normally engages the notch p tc hold the armature in the position shown in Fig. 2

S is a conipression-spring bearing at one end ou the patri-arm and seated-at its opposite end against a cap S', upon'which bears an adi ustingscrew Si.

It will be readily seen from Fig. Z that inasmuch as the plane of the coil F is normally parallel to thelines of force of the electromagnet A il the lines of force of its field will be projected at right angles to those of the said magnet and that consequently there is a force tending to move said coil and the armature to a position Where the lines of force of the two fields will coincide in direction, or, in other words, to move the armature through an arc of ninety degrees. This movement is, however, under normal conditions forcibly restrained by the action o' the pawl R. When the current passing in the circuit C becomes abnormally great,the strength of the magnetic elds becomes proportionately increased, thereby increasing the torque on the coil vF to such an extent as to overcome the restraining action ot the said pawl and turn the armature, the pawl riding out of the notch p'. By reference to Fig. 3 it will oe seen that under normal conditions, with the armature .in the )osition shown in Fi. 2 the contacts The Afirst lin ger v.

mature journaled an extent as to prevent its destructive action,-

particularly in View oi the fact that the break occurs in the magnetic field of the coil By adjusting the spring S the restraining action of the pawl t n be increased ordecreascd, and this cual ,the instrument to be so adjusted as to i; )ond and break circuitupon any predetermined increase ot cu rrent in the circuit C. ily turning the handle N circuit may be arbitrarily broken at any time. Said handle also forms means for rcsetting the armature to operative position.

l do not wish to limitvmrselt to the par- `ticular embodiment of my invention herein shown and described, as my invention ob# viously much broader than such embodiment and `Various instruments may ce constructed which involve all the essential features of the invention, although differing consider'- ably from the construction and arrangement shown.

Having thus described my in vcnlion, what l claim, and desire to protect by .ietters Patent, is

l. ln a circuit-brealier, the combination of means in the main circuit of the instrument for producing a magnetic field, the ,armature movably supported in said field and carrying a coil Whose plane is normally substantially parallel to the lines of lorce o said field, means for normally restraining movement ot' said armature, and forJ ermitting such movement under abnormal conditions, means t'or effecting a circuit through the body of said armature independent ot" its coil, and a normal short circuit around the last-named circuit.

2. A circuit-bren lier having a movable arin a magnetic field, a coil on said armature and connections to said coil from the main circuit, means for normally holding said armature in a position invrhieh the lines of force et the said coil do not have a maximum coincidence with ihelines of force of the field in which the armature is journalcd, means for effecting a circuit through the body ot said armature independent of itscoil, and means whereby said circuit is broken bya predetermined movemeut of said armature.

. 3. A cirouitdirealicr having a movable4 member or armature situated in a magnetic field, a coil on said member or armature, a series of contacts on the periphery ofsaid member or armature within the said field,`

and means for effecting a circuit throughthe said contacts and for breaking the same at each oF said contacts upon a predetermined movement of the said member or armature.

i. in a circuit-breaker, an electromagnct whose coil is energized from the main circuit, an armature movably supported between the poles of said magnet, and carrying the movable contacts of the instrument said contacts.

being situated in the arc-disrupting field of .said magnet and a coil on said armature couetonne nected parallel with the coil of said `inagnet,:together r with lmeans:whereby said coil is normallyilield in such a'positionfin the *L field otsaidmagnet thatatheflines of force generated by the coil vdo noti-have a maximum coincidence in direction with. the lines 'of force generated by the said magnet. f

ln .a circuit-breaker having fixed and movable-contacts, the combination with an ing part of the short circuit lose their connections in such circuit upon movement of said armature before the other of said circuits 'is broken, said armature having a coil connected in parallel with the held-magnet coil,

- and means for normally holding said coil in a plane parallel to the direction of the lines of force of the said magnet.

6. In a circuit-breaker, the combination` with an electromagnet and an armature supported in the field of said magnet andv itself capable ot' generating a magnetic field, of a plurality of contacts secured to said armature and a series of contact-lingers engaging said;

contacts and connected in series with each other and also connected to line, said contacts and contact-lingers forming a shunt-circuit through the body of said armature.

-7. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with an electromagnet,oi` an armature journaled in the iield of said magnet, and carry,-

ing the movable contacts of the instrument, i

a coil on said armature, means for energizing the said coil and a pawl device for normally holding the armature against movement and for releasing the same under abnormal conditions of the said coils.

8. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with an electromagnet, of an armature jonrnaled in the field of said magnet, and carrying the movable contacts of the instrument, a coil on said armature, and means for energizing the said coil, and a paWl device for normallyholding the armature against movement and for releasing the saine under ab- .,normal conditions of the said coils, together with means for adjusting the action of said paul to vary its restraining action on the armature.

9. ln a circuit-breaker, the combination of an electromagnet, an armature in the field of said magnet and carrying movable contact devices,lsai l armature having a coil, means for energizing the said coil, and fixed contact devices coopera/ting with the said movable V contact devices, together with means for restraining the movement of lthe-said armature under normal conditions, means for normally short-circuitin g the circuit through said .movable contacts and fixed contact devices, and for breaking such short circuit upon theinitial movement of said armature,

10. ln a circuit-breaker, the combination et an electomagnet whose coil is connected with the circuit, an armature inthe eldofl saidl magnet and carryin g movableiconthctsg said larmature having-a coil and circnitconnections 'for energizing with said coil, billigere' foreugagement with the said contacts, said fingers being-electrically connected 'with the circuit and with each other, a pair of main contacts, a bridging-pieoe'for said contacts carried by the armature and forming with said main contacts a short circuit for the'said f movable contacts and lngers in the normal position'of the armature.

11.1n a circnit-breahenthe combination with .an electromagnet whose coil is connected with 'the circuit, of an armature. jonrnaled in the iieldcf said magnet and having a coil also connected in circuit, a plurality of insulated contacts on said armature, a plurality-of contact-fingers for engagement therewith, said fingers being connected to opposite terminals of the line and inseries with each other, and means for normally connecting the line-terminals to short-circuit said lingers.

12. In a circuit-biealrerof the characterdescribed, the combination with an electromagnet connected with the circuit, of an armaturejonrnaled in the iield of said magnet, Y

and composed of a plurality of insulated plates secured to a shaft, a coil seated in. slots of the said plates,and also connected with the circuit, a plurality of contacts carried by thesaid plates', and lixed contact-fingers cngaging the said contacts and connected with the circuit.

13. In a circuit-breakerof the characterdcscribed, the combination with an electromagnet, of the armature journaled in the field et" said magnet, said armature comprising a scries otl insulated plates centrally secured on a shaft, and slotted at each end portion, and a coil seated in the slots ofjsaid plate, con nections for energizing th 'said coil, and means for normally restraining the movement of the said armature, together with a series of contacts closing the slots in said plates, and cooperating fixed contacts and connections for effecting a circuit through the said plates.

ll. The herein-described circuit-breaker,

comprising the electromagnet having its coil iv-ith its coil ina plane substantially parallel' to the lines-of force of said-lelectroinagnet, and for releasing said armature und-ei? abnormal conditions in the circuit l l 15. in a circuit-breaker, mi armature conrposed of a shaft, a, series of separated metal 'plates secured thereon and insulated therefroif andvfrom each other, and having con tactpieces at their ends, a coil seated in slots in said plaies, and brushes bearing,` on said shaft and .electrically connected to the line in which the circuit-breaker is placed.

16. In a circuit-breaker,an arlnature,1neans carried thereby for producing a magnetic eld, external means for producing :L surrounding non-coincident ield; a, series of contacts' carried by 'lille said armature, and. fixed Contact devices fgeoiporgring therewith and engaging the same in the said magnetic field, whereby fires formed oy the separation of said contacts are subject'. Lo the disrupting' lotion of Said ield.

In testimony whereof l 'have affixed my iignature in presence of two Witnesses.

- FR.=\NH. WV. GAIHU'V. Tvlitnesses:

MYRTLE E. SHARPE, 1I. W. SMITH.

Images