US664594A - Means for transmitting motion to distant points. - Google Patents

Description

No. 664,594. Patented Dec. 25, 1900. n. P. mouse". MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION TU DISTANT POINTS.

(Appiication filed Sept. 29, 1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modal.)

Witnesses David F? Thomson n45 noflms PEYERS co, wow-urns. \VASHI Patente'd Dec. 25. 1900.

O. P. THOMSON. MEANS FOR TBANSIITTING MOTION TO DISTANT POINTS.

(Appficntion filed Sept. 29, 1900.)

2 Shaets$heet 2.

(No Nodal.)

T 1'] Inventor.

David D. Thomson.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID P. THOMSON, OE LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION TO DISTANT POINTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,594, dated December 25, 1900.

Application filed September 29, 1900. Serial No. 31,542. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, DAVID P. THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Transmitting Motion to Dist-ant Points, (Case No. 1,122,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for transmitting motion to a distant point, and has for its object to provide a new and improved system whereby an apparatus at a point removed from the point of control may be caused to move through a definite predetermined distance or step each time that a controlling device at the point of control is moved from one position to another.

While my invention is capable of general application Whenever it is desired to produce a predetermined movement at a point or points removed from the point of control, it is particularly adapted to a system of distance control for electric motors in which it is desired that a movement of a master-controller over one step shall cause a corresponding movement of a motor-controller at a distant point. Such systems of motor control are now frequently employed on electric-railway trains for effecting from any desired point on the train the simultaneous movement of the motor-controllers on a number of motor-cars. Since my invention comprises features which render it especially advantageous in this connection, I have chosen to illustrate it as applied to a train-control system.

The train-control systems in use at the present time may be divided into two classes, distinguished from one another by the construction of the motor-controllers. In systems of the one class the motor-controllers are of the type commonly used in streetrailway systerns-that is to say, the movable contacts of the controller are mounted on a common cylindrical support and areso arranged that as the cylinder is revolved they will be caused to engage with a set of fixed contacts to which the motor-circuits are connected. In systems of the other class the motor-controllers are of the separately-actuated contact type, or, in other words, the movable contacts instead of being mounted on a common cylinder are separately mounted adjacent to their corresponding fixed contacts and are provided with a controlling system so arranged that they may be independently operated. In both of the above-mentioned classes electromagnetic devices have been employed to actuate the controller-contacts, such devices taking in the one case the form of solenoids, one for each set of controller-contacts, and in the other the form of the ordinary electric motor geared or otherwise suitably connected to the shaft of the cylinder-on which the movable contacts of the controller are mounted. In the systems employing separately-actuated contacts it is a comparatively simple matter to produce simultaneously in all of the controllers governed from one master-controller a certain definite set of connections, since as the master-controller is moved into each of its operative positions certain actuating-coils of the motor-controllers are immediately energized while the others remain disconnected. When, however, the difierent controllers are operated each by an electric motor connected to a controllercylinder, it becomes necessary in order to secure the stopping of the cylinders at the desired points to provide additional devices operated by the motor-controller to open the circuit of the actuating-motor when the controller has been moved into the desired position. By my invention I am enabled to secure the simultaneous movement of any desired number of controller-cylinders upon each movement of the master-controller and the stopping of the controller at the desired point without opening the con Lrol-circuit between the actuatingmotor and the master-controller. I attain this end by so constructing and connecting the devices constituting the controller-actuating motors that the torque whichis created in each actuating device when the mastercontroller is advanced by one step disappears as soon as it has moved the controller-cylinder through the required angle.

The devices which I employ for moving the motor-controllers I have termed motors of position, since they are so constituted that they have definite positions of rest, into which the master-controller is advanced to each new position and in which they tend to remain until the master-controller is again actuated. These motors of position comprise two relatively rotatable members provided with suitable windings. The winding of one of the members is so connected to a suitable source of alternating-current supply that the memher will be polarized along a certain definite line or lines. The winding of the other memher is provided with a plurality of terminals so arranged and so connected to a mastercontroller that as the master-controller is moved from one position to another the said member will be polarized by induction in different directions. When thus polarized, the two members tend to come into a certain definite relation with respect to one another, and by controlling the direction of polarization of either of the members from the master-controller I am enabled to control the position of the motor-controllers connected thereto.

My invention will be better understood by referencevto the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, while its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l. is a diagram illustrating my invention in one of its simplest forms. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a train of cars, showing the application of myinvention thereto; and Fig. 3 is a diagram representing the apparatus and circuit c011- nections required for a single car of a traincontrol system when operated according to my invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, in which I have shown several motors of posit-ion connected to a single controlling device or master-controller, A, A, and A represent three dynamoelectric machines arranged to operate as motors of position, and E indicates a switch constituting a common controller for the several machines. Each of these machines comprises two relatively movable members provided with windings which may be of any desired type. For convenience in illustration 1 have shown ring-windings on both members, the member having the winding B being mounted for rotation and provided with collectingrings, to which its winding is connected at diametrically opposite points a and Z). The collecting-rings on each of the machines are connected through brushes to the leads 1 and 2, which in turn are connected to a source of alternating current, (indicated at D.) The winding C of each of the machines is tapped at three equidistant points 0, d, and c, and leads from these points are carried to mains 3, 4, and 5, to which the master-controller E is connected. This controller comprises a number of fixed terminals connected to the mains 3, at, and 5 and a movable contact-piece f, arranged to electrically connect any two of the aforesaid terminals. The operation of myinvent-ion as thus embodied may be described as follows: The alternating-current source D, to which the windings of the rotatable members of each of the machines A, A, A are connected, operates to produce in said windings an alternating polarization along the line (L b. If now the winding 0 on the fixed members of each of the machines is short-circuited between any two of its points, as by connecting together any two of the terminals c, d, and 6, each of said windings will operate as the short-circuited secondary of a transformer with respect to its corresponding winding B as a primary and the movable memher will tend to take such a position that the current induced in the winding on the fixed member is reduced to a minimum. This condition occurs when the lines of polarization of the two members are at right angles to each other, and therefore whenever the windings on the fixed members of the machines diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l are shortcircuited between points located along any chosen line the rotating member carrying the winding B will turn until its line of polarizationthat is, the line joining the points a and blies at right angles to the line along which the fixed member is polarized.-

From the description already given it will be evident that it is not necessary that the winding on the fixed membershould be tapped at the three points illustrated in the drawings. The winding may be tapped at any desired number of points arranged at any desired angle with respect to each other, it being essential only in order to produce a rotation of the movable member of the machines A A, &c., by definite steps that the winding on the fixed member be short-circuited along lines which are successively angularly (lisplaced from one another. The particular arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 has been chosen for illustration because of its simplicity and its especial adaptability to a traincontrol system by reason of the small number of train-wires required for its operation.

The master-controller E, as shown in Fig. l, is provided with fixed contacts equal in number to twice the number of the points at which the windings of the fixed members of the machines A, A, and A are tapped, each contact being cross-connected to a similar contact diametrically opposite thereto. This particular arrangement is evidently not essential, but has been chosen for illustration for the reason that when the contacts are thus arranged a complete rotation of the mov able contact of the master-controller will produce a complete rotation of the rotatable member of each of the motors of position.

With the movable contact fof the mastercontroller in the position shown in the drawings it will be seen'that the windings on the fixed members of the several machines are short-circuited along the line connecting the terminals 0 and (1, these terminals being connected together through the contacts 3 and t and the contactfof the masKer-controller. As above stated, the movable member of each of the dynamo-electric machines tends to come to rest in such a position that its line of polarization will lie at right angles to the line along which the fixed member is polarized, and for the particular position of the mastercontroller shown in l the movable members of the machines A, A, and A are evi dently in the position of rest, the line joining the points a I) being at right angles to a line joining the points 0 and cl. If now the movable contact of the master-controller is rotated righ t-handedly into the position shown in dotted lines, in which position it connects the cont- acts 3 and 5", the terminals 0 and (1 will be disconnected and d and e connected together. The fixed members of each of the machines, therefore, will be short-circuited along the line d e, and due to the fact that the line of polarization of the rotatable memher now lies at an angle to the line along which the Winding on the fixed member is short-circuited. the winding on the rotatable member, acting as the primary of a transformer, will set up a considerable current in the winding on the fixed member and the torque produced thereby will cause the rotatable member to move.into such a position that its line of polarization will be at right angles to the line joining the points 6 d. This evidently requires that the rotatable member shall move through an angle of sixty degrees. If after the rotatable member has been brought to this position the master-controller is moved into its next position right-handedly where its movable contact connects the cont-acts 5 and 4:", the points 0 and 6 will be connected together, thus short-circuiting the winding of the fixed member of the dynamo-electric machines along a line which is again displaced by sixty degrees from the line of polarization of the rotatable member. Secondary currents will be generated in the fixed winding, as before, and the torque produced thereby will cause the rotatable member to move another sixty degrees until its line of polarization lies at right angles to the line joining the points 0 and c. A further rotation of the movable contact of the master-controller will short-circuit the winding of the fixed member of the dynai'no-electric machines again along the line 0 d, and this line being displaced by sixty degrees from the line on which the secondary member was previously short-circuited the rotatable member will move through another sixty degrees, and so on for each successive movement of the master-controller, until finally when the movable contact of the master-controller again reaches the position shown in full lines in the drawings the rotatable member of the dynamo-electric machine will have moved through an angle of three hundred and sixty degrees back to its original position. Since the torque which tends to cause rotation of the movable member of the dynamo-electric machine is produced by reason of the angular relation existing between the line of polarization of the member excited from the source of alternating current and the line along which the winding on the fixed member is short-circuited, it is essential, in order that the movement of the dynamo-electric inachines may correspond exactly with that of the m aster-controller, that the excitation be strong enough to cause the movable member to change its position as quickly as the master-controller can be actuated from one position to another, or else that the master-controller be permitted to remain in each of its operative positions long enough for the movable member of the dynamo-electric machine to come to rest before itis moved forward to another position. This result may be accomplished without rendering the torque of the dynamoelectric machines excessive by providing the movable member of the mastercontroller with a suitable retarding device operating to enforce a slow movement of the same. Also since the position of rest of the dynamo-electric machines constituting the motors of position is a position of zero torque, while at the moment of moving the master-controller into each of its successive positions the torque is a maximum, a suit able stepped device, such as the star-wheel of the ordinary controller, may be advantageously employed for forcing the movable member into its position of rest.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have illustrated an application of my invention to a train-control system for actuating the motor-controllers on a plurality of cars from a master-controller located at any desired point on the train. In Fig. 2, L, L and L represent a plurality of cars united to constitute a train and each provided with motors N N, the controllingcircuits of which are connected to a motorcontroller K. At each end of each car is provided a master-controller M, the contacts of said controllers being connected to a system of conductors V, running throughout the train and suitably connected to the actuating devices for the motor-controlling switches. Fig. 3 illustrates in diagram the apparatus and car-wiring for each car of the train illustrated in Fig. 2. In this figure the numerals 3 to 9, inclusive, indicate the several trainconductors of the system V, each of these conductors being provided at each end with a suitable terminal t, by means of which it may be connected to the corresponding trainconductor on the adjacent cars. The controller K on each car is actuated through suitable gearing by means of a dynamo-electric machine A, the windings of which are connected according to the diagram of Fig. 1, and the alternating current necessary to excite the rotatable member of the dynamoelectric machine A is obtained in the system illustrated (which is supposed to be the ordinary direct-current system in common use for operating electric railways) from a rotary converter D, the direct-current winding of which is connected across the direct-current source between trolley and ground.

Since in almost all motor-control systems it is necessary at times to reverse the direction of rotation of the motors, I have indicated at R a reversing-switch for this purpose, the said reversing-switch being actuated by the solenoid-coils r and r in a man ner now commonly employed in the art. I have not deemed it necessaryin the diagram of Fig. 2 to illustrate the connections of the motor-windings to the contacts of the controller K and the reversing-switch R, since these connect-ions are well understood and have nothing to do with my invention. At each end of the system of conductors V is connected a master-controller M, the controller at the left being shown with its contacts developed on a plane surface, as is customary in diagrammatically illustrating such structures, while the controller on the right is indicated in outline merely. A switch S is provided between each of the master-controllers and the conductors of the train-control system, and all of the said switches except the one associated with the master-controller from which the train is for the time being controlled are normally open. Assuming the parts to be in the positions illustrated in Fig. 3, with the switch S at the left in its closed position, direct current entering by way of the trolleyshoes T on each car and the train-conductor 8, to which these trolley-shoes are connected, will flow through one of the members of the switch S to the train wire 9 and thence through the direct-current winding of the rotary converters D on each car to the other side of the supply system, here represented as ground. The rotary converter on each motor-car will he immediately set into operation and will supply an alternating current to the movable memberof each of the dynamoelectric machines A, thereby polarizing the said members. In the zero position of the master-controller the fixed contacts 5 and 4c are connected together through the cross-connected contacts shown in the development at P. The movable member of the machine A therefore has no tendency to move, since it is in the position to which it was brought when the master-controller was moved to its off position. If, however, the master-controller be moved forward to its first operative position, the contacts 5 and 4: will be disconnected from one another and a connection made between the contacts 4 and 3, thus short-circu-iting thewinding on the fixed member of the machine A along a line displaced by sixty degrees from the line of polarization of the movable member, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The movable member of the machine A will therefore be caused to rotate and will be moved until the lines of polarization of its two members lie at right angles to each otherthat is, through an angle of sixty degrees. Through the two gears F and F the cylinder of. the motor-controller K is moved through a corresponding angle. The motor-controller is provided with the ordinary star-wheel (not shown) for determining its positions of rest; but, if desired, the star-wheel may be applied directly to the machine A. When the master-controller is moved into its second operative position, the contacts 3 and t are disconnected and the contacts 3 and 5 connected to one another. The movable member of the machine A will now move forward through another sixty-degree angle, thereby advancing the cylinder of the motor-controller K to its second operative position. 111 the next position of the master-controller the contacts 5 and 4: are again connected to one another and the movable member of the machine A again moved forward through sixty degrees.

The motor-controllers now ordinarily used have in the neighborhood of nine or ten operative positions, and I have shown in the drawings a system arranged to move the motor-controller through such a number of positions, the ratio between the gears F and F being such that one rotation of the machine A will rotate the controller cylinder connected thereto through one hundred and eighty degrees. It will be noted that at each third position of the master-controller the connections are similar, and evidently by a suitable choice of the ratio of gears F and F the con? troller K may be brought to rest in any desired number of positions in one revolution.

The construction and operation of the reversing-switch RS of the master-controller are well understood in the art and requires no extended description, it being suflicient to state that when the movable contacts of the said switch are in one position current is caused to flow through one of the solenoids r and r on each motor-car from trolley to ground, and when in the other position through the other of said solenoid s, the motorreversing switches being operated by means of a yoke r, to which said solenoids are connected.

Although I have illustrated my invention as applied to a railway system operated from a directcurrent source only, the changes which would be required when the propelling-motors are operated from an alternatingcurrent source will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1. In this case the machine D (shown in Fig. 3) would be omitted and the conductors 1 and 2 connected to the two sides of the alternating-current source of supply either directly or through a transformer. It is also evident that in a direct-current train system there need be but one rotary converter on the train; but in this case it would be necessary to add two train-conductors to take the place of the conductors 1 2, which connect each rotary converter to its corresponding motor of position.

In illustrating my invention I have shown only the simplest form of connections for the dynamo-electric machines,the rotatable member being polarized along a single line only. It is clear, however, that instead of a simple bipolar winding a winding producing any desired number of poles may be substituted.

Also I have illustrated the fixed member of the dynamo-electric machine which reproduces the movement to be transmitted as provided with three terminals only, and this for the reason that such an arrangement offers considerable advantages in that six different positions of rest may be obtained with the use of only three conductors connecting the dynamo-electric machines to the mastercontrollers. It is evident, however, that any desired arrangement of the terminal connections for the fixed member of the dynamoelectric machine may be employed and that these terminal connections may be so arranged that the said dynamo-electric machine will move through different angles as the master-controller is advanced in position instead of through angles which are always equal, as in the arrangement shown in the drawings. The arrangement of the terminals of the secondary member which would appear most simple to the eye would be such that in the operation of the master-controller each terminal would be connected to a diametrically opposite terminal in the winding. Such an arrangement would, however, evidently involve a larger number of conductors between the dynamo-electric machines and the master-controller than the arrangement shown in the drawings. Even with the arrangement shown in the drawings it is evidently not necessary that the secondary member should be connected in a single short circuit. In Fig. 1, for example, instead of short-circuiting the winding on the fixed member along a single line it may be short-circuited at the same time along a line joining the points 0 e and along anotherlinejoining the points ed, thereby producing a resultant polarization along a line parallel to the line 0t 12, and by arranging the master-controller so that it will close two such circuits between each of its operative positions, as shown, a movement of the motor of position through an angle of thirty degrees instead of through an angle of sixty degrees may be obtained.

In the embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated the alternating-current source is connected to fixed points in one of the windings and the other is short-circuited along successively angularly displaced lines. It is clear, however, that a system in which one of the windings is short-circuited along a definite fixed line and the alternating-current source successively connected to points in the winding of the other member lying along angularly-displaced lines would fall within the scope of myinvention.

What Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relatively movable members provided withsuitable windings, an alternatingcurrent source connected to the winding on one of said members, and means for shortcircuiting the winding on the other member along a predetermined line or lines.

2. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relatively movable members provided with suitable windings, an alternatingcurrent source connected to the winding on one of said members, and means for successively short -circuiting the winding on the other member along lines angularly displaced from one another.

3. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relatively movable members provided with suitable windings, an alternatingcnrrent source connected to the winding on one of said members, a plurality of leads connected to points in the winding on the other member, and a switch for connecting together different leads in its different operative positions.

4:. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relatively movable members pro vided with suitable windings, an alternatingcurrent source connected to the winding on one of said members, a plurality of leads connected to points in the winding on the other member, and a switch for successively connecting the said leads in different combinations.

5. In combination, adevice to be controlled comprising relatively movable members provided with suitable windings, means forsupplying alternating current to the winding on one of said members, a short-circuiting'device for the winding on the other member, and means for producing a relative movement between the points in the Winding connected to the alternating-current source, and the points through which the short circuit is completed.

6. As a means for transmitting a determinate movement, a device comprising relatively movable members provided with suit.- able windings, an alternating-current source of supply for one of said members, a shortcircuiting device for the other member, and means located at a distant point for relatively shifting the points of connection to the source of su pply and the points through which the short circuit is completed.

7. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relatively movable members, a source of alternating-current supply connected to the winding on one of said members, means for short-circuiting the winding on the other member, and means for changing the line of short circuit of the latter member relatively to the line of polarization of the other member.

8. In combination, adevice to be controlled comprising relatively movable members provided with suitable windings, a source of alternating current, means for supplying current from said source to the winding on one of said members, a short circuit for the other member, and means for relatively displacing the line of short circuit of one member and the line of polarization of the other.

9. In combination, a device to be controlled, an actuating device therefor, an alternating- IIO current source for supplying current to said actuating device, and a controlling device for closing a circuit to produce a definite movement of said actuating device.

10. In a system of train control, a motorcontroller having a series of operative positions, an actuating device therefor, an alternating-current source for supplying current to said actuating device, a master-controller having a series of positions corresponding to the positions of the motorcontroller, and means whereby a movement of the mastercontroller, from one position to another, produces in the actuating device, a torque which gradually decreases as the motor-controller is moved to the corresponding position.

11. In a system of train control, a motorcontroller having a series of operative positions, an actuating device therefor, an alternating-current source for supplying current to said actuating device, and a master-controller having a series of operative positions corresponding to the positions of the motorcontroller, said master-controller operating to produce in the actuating device, a torque gradually decreasing with the movement of said device and disappearing when it reaches a position corresponding to that of the controlling device.

12. In a system of train control, a motorcontroller, an actuating device therefor, an alternating-current source for supplying current to said actuating device, a master-controller,and means whereby a move ment of the master-controller produces, in the actuating device, a torque which gradually decreases with the movement of said device and disappears when the motor-controller reaches aposition corresponding to that of the master-controller.

13. In a system of train control, a motorcontroller, an actuating device therefor comprising relatively movable members, a source of alternating-current supply connected to the winding on one of said members, a system of train-conductors to which the winding on the other member is connected, and a master-controller connected to said trainconductors and arranged to successively short-circuit the said winding along lines angularly displaced from one another.

1%. In a system of train control for directcurrent motors, a motor-controller, an actuating device therefor comprising relatively movable members, a rotary converter operated from the direct-current source and having its alternatirig-current side connected to the winding on one of said members, a system of train-conductors to which the winding on the other member is connected, and a master-controller, connected to the said trainconductors, constructed and arranged to suecessively short-circuit the winding on said member along angularly-displaced lines.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of September, 1900.

DAVID P. THOMSON. Witnesses:

DUGALD MOKILLOP, HENRY O. WESTENDARP.

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