US692779A - Controlling apparatus for electric motors. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb; 4, I902;

ZSheetw-Shogt l.

F. F. BRUSH. v CONTROLLING APPARATUSFOR'ELECTRIC MOTORS.

(Application filed Apr, 27, 1.901.)

in model.)

THE NORRIS PETERS vnmaufim, Wmqmu, D c.

' No. 692,779. Patented Feb-)4, I902. F. F. BRUSH. CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

(Application filed Apr. 27 1901.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE."

FREDERICK FARNSWORTH BRUSH, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO NIELS A. CHRISTENSEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CONTROLLING'APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPEGI-FIGAEEION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,779, dated February 4, 1 902.

Application filed April 27,

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK FARNS- WORTH BRUSH, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Apparatus forElectric Motors, of which the following is a specification, referencebeinghad to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part thereof.

Thlsinvention relates particularly to a multiple-unit system of electric motors.

The main objects of the invention are to stop and start the'severalmotors in such a system indirectly by electromagnetic switches the operation of which is governed by a single automatic controller or by any one of a series of such controllers, according to variations in fluid-pressure, to avoid the danger and objections incident to running'conductors together in thesame cable or in proximity with each other for controlling the operation of independent electromagnetic devices, particularly when they are employed in electric-railway service,and generally to i m prove the construction and operation of apparatus of this class.

It consists in a certain novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown and described apparatus specially designed for air-brake service on electric railways; but the invention is applicable to other uses.

In the installation of my controlling apparatus for electric-railway service the equalizingwire is usually placed in a cable with other conductors used in connection with the reversers and with the relays controlling pilot-motors which operate the controllers for stopping and starting the propelling: motors of the cars. As heretofore connected and arranged in a multipleunit system, this equalizing wire may under certain contingencies impart sufficient current to operate the controllingdevices of the propelling-motors, and thus occasion accidents. This objection is overcome by the construction and arrangement of aphereinafter explained.

1901. Serial No. 57,661. on; new.

In the accompanying drawings like characters designate the same parts in the several figures. i

Figure l is a diagram illustrating so much of the equipment of two cars as is essential to a clear understanding of the controlling apparatus for multiple-unit service. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section, on agreatly enlarged scale, of the switch and operating magnets of one of the automatic controllers or relays; and Fig. 3 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the fluid-pressureoperated devices for controlling the circuits of the-controller or relay magnets.

Referring to Fig. 1, A and B designate the main'conductors by which current is supplied to both the propelling-motors (notshown) and to the com pressor-motors, A bein the trolley or supply conductor and B the ground or return conductor.

O O are the compressor-motors, which are connected on one side with thesupply-com ductor A and on the other side with contactpieces 1. ofelectromagnetic switches D D. Other contactpieces 2 of said switches are connected with the return-conductor B'. One terminal of each main-switch magnet is connected with the supply-conductor A and the other terminalwith an equalizingorbalancing conductor E, which runs through the entire train and is provided between the cars with couplings e.

Switches of any suitable form and construcnets are deprived of current, the contactplates 3 drop against stops 4, and thereby open the circuit through the associated m0- tors.

F F are automatic controllers adapted to be operated by variations of pressure to open and close switches or contacts by which the passage of current through the main-switch magnets D D is governed. These controllers, as well as the main electromagnetic switches, may be of any well-known form and construction suitable for the purpose; Controllers like those shown in the drawings as adapted for the purpose comprise, as generally shown in Fig. 1, a switch or circuit-breaker having fixed contact-pieces 5 and movable contactpieces 6, two solenoid-magnets7 and 8, which are arranged to operate the, movable contactpieces of said switch, maximum and minimum pressure contact-pieces 9 and 10, a pivoted contact-arm 11, movable between said contact-pieces 9 and 10 and adapted'to be actuated by variations in fluid-pressure, and an auxiliary circuit-breaker controlling the passage of current through one of said magnets and consisting of two contact-springs 12 and 13, adapted to be separated by an insulating-strip 14, carried by the armature or core of the magnets 7 and 8. The magnets 7 and-8 and the switch or circuit-breaker which they operate constitute, in effect, a relay, and for convenience they may be so designated, and the arm 11,with the contactpieces 9 and 10, forms a switch which maybe called the primary switch.

One terminal'of the magnet 7 is connected with the supply-couductor-A and the other terminal with the pivoted contact-arm 11.

One terminal of the other magnet 8 is connected with fixed contact-pieces 5 of the relay-switch and theother terminal with the contact-arm 11. Another contact-piece 5 of said switch is connected with the ground or return conductor B, and still another contactpiece 5 is connected with the equalizing-wire E. The contact-spring 12 of the auxiliary circuit-breaker is connected with the ground or return conductor B, and the contact-spring 13 is connected with the minimum-pressure contact-piece 10. The maximumpressure contact-piece 9 is connected with the supplyconductor A.

The connections of the various parts of the apparatus with the main conductors A and B may be reversed without change in results.

Referring to Fig. 2, which shows the relaymagnets and switch and the auxiliary circuitbreaker in detail, the movable contact-pieces 6, made in the form of spring-arms, are attached at one end to a rocking bar 15, which is provided with an arm 16, carrying a roller at its free end in the path of an incline 17. The incline 17 is attached toaplate 18, mounted on the movable core 19, between the magnets 7 and 8, so that when said plate and core are moved to the left by the magnet 8 the incline 17 will lift the arm 16 and disengage the contact-arms 6 from the contact-pieces 5. The bar is also provided with a depending arm 20, with which the plate 18 engages when I it is moved to the right by the magnet 7, thereby turning the contact-arms 6 down into engagement with the contact-pieces 5. plate 18, besides the insulating-strip 14, car- :may be formed between them.

The

ries an insulating-strip 2], which is thrust between the contact-pieces 5, and 6 when they are separated, thereby extinguishing arcs that The strip 14, the incline 17, and the arm 20 are so constructed and arranged that when the contactpieces 5 and 6 are in engagement with each other the contact-springs 12 and 13 will be separated, as shown in Fig. 2, and vice versa.

Referring to Fig. 3, which illustrates in detail, on a larger scale, the primary switch, 22 is a curved spring-tube which is connected at one end by a pipe 23 with a reservoir (not shown) supplied with compressed air from the com prcssors-for the operation of the brakes. The free end of the spring-tube is connected by a link 2t and a segment-gear 25 with a pinion 26 on the pivot-pin ot' the contact-arm 11. The contact-pieces 9 and 10 are made adjustable, so as to vary the maximum and minimum limits of the pressure to be maintained.

Each car is provided according to my invention with an air-compressor, a reservoir connected with the discharge of the compressor, an electric motor for operating the compressor, a main switch for controlling the supply of current to said motor, an automatic controller for opening and closing the circuit through the main-switch magnet according to variations in the pressure produced by the compressor, and an equalizing-conductor for connecting the main-switch magnet with corresponding magnets on other cars, so that a single automatic controller on any car will govern the operation of all the main switches on several cars coupled in a train, and the several main switches will in turn control the operation of the associated compressor-motors each independently of the others.

The apparatus hereinbefore described operates as follows: When the fixed contactpieces 5 of a relay-switch are connected by the contact-arms 6, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, circuits will be closed from the conductor A through all of the main-switch magnets D, the equalizing-conductor E, and the relayswitch to the return-conductor B. A circuit will also be closed from the supply-conductor A through the magnets 7 and 8 in series and a part of the associated relay-switch to the return-conductor B. The magnets D being energized close the main switches through the contact-pieces 1 2 and plates 3, thereby connecting the compressor-motors C with both the main conductors A and B. In this condition of the apparatus the compressors will be operated by the motors and supply compressed air to the reservoirs on the several cars. As the pressure in the reservoirs rises the contact-arms 11 of all the controllers will be turned to the right, and when the contactarm 11 of the controller at the left (which is assumed to have control of the entire system) engages with the maximum-pressure contactpiece 9 it will short-circuit and denergize magnet 7, leaving the magnet 8 incircuit and energized, current passing from, the supplyconductorA through contact-piece 9, arm 11, magnet S, and relay-switch to the return-con: ductor 13.. The magnets will thereupon move the armature and core 18 and 19 to the left, separate thecontact-pieces and 6, and withdraw the insulating-strip 14 from the contact-- springs-12 and 13, allowing them to come together. This breaks the connection between the return-conductor B, and the equalizingconductor E, openingthe circuits through the several. main-switch magnets D, which will thereupon release the contact-plates 3 and al-, low them to drop away from the contact-. pieces 1 and 2., The circuits, of the several ,compressor-motors are thereby opened and;

the compressors are simultaneously stopped, As the pressure falls in the reservoirs the contact-arms ll'will gradually turn to the left away from the maximum-pressure contactpieces 79.. No arc will-be formed by the separation of these contacts, since the ground connection of the contact-arm 11 through magnet 8 is brokenby the associated relayswitch. When the movable contact-arm 1lmain-switch magnets D on .theseveralconnectedcars engages the minim'mn-pressure contact-piece 10, current will pass from the supply-conductorA through the coil of magnet 7, contact-arm 11, contact-piece 10, and the contact-springs 13 and 12 of the'auxiliary circuit-breaker to the return-conductor B.

, Magnet '7 being thus energized, while. the op posing magnet 8 remainsinert, will move the armature and core18 and 19 back to the right,

as shown at the left in Fig. 1, and turn the arms 6 of the associated switch into engagement with the contact-pieces 5, therebyclosing the connection between the return-conductor B and the equalizing-conductor E. This closes the circuits of the several mainswitch magnets D, which are thus energized and caused to close the circuits of the as-;

sociated compressor-motors through the contact-pieces 1 2 and plates 3. At the same time the circuit is closed through the magnets 7 and 8 of the dominating controller at the left, and the insulating-strip let-is thrust between and separates the associated contactsprings 12 and, 13, thereby breaking the connection between the minimumpressure contact-piece 10 and the return-conductor B. The compressors being started by the closing of the main switches, as above explained, deliver compressed air to the reservoirs and raise the pressuretherein, causing the contact-arms 11 to turn back again toward the maximum-pressure contact-pieces 9. In this way allthe electromagnetic switches D are operated, and the compressor-motors are started and stopped simultaneously by one of the several automatic controllers. The separation of the contact-arms 11 from the contact-pieces 10 will not produce arcs, be-

cause when such separationtakesplace the connections between said contact-pieces 1O andithe ground or return conductor B are all broken --by the associated auxiliary circuitloreakers. I That controller which is adjusted to close the circuit at the highest minimum pressure will be brought into service and will operate all the main-switch magnetsD and control all the compressor-motors on the several cars, aslon gas it is in working. condition, in preference to other controllers which are adjusted to close the'circuit at a lower pres-.

sure.,. v

The coils of the main-switch magnets D are made of high resistance, so that in case ofta cross between the equalizing-wire or its branches audan y of the other. wires contained withit in thesame cable or branches of such wires the current that could pass by way of the equalizer or its branches through the controlling devices of the propelling-motors would beinsufficient to operate them.

Pumps operated by motors controlledrac- 1 and close the circuits of vthe relay-magnets. of the automatic controller-which governs the t The number and arrangement of the con- 1 tact-pieces through which the circuits of. the relay-magnets areopened and closed, either by variations in absolute pressure or in vac- .uum, may be ch anged-as, for example, the maximum and minimum pressure contactpieces may be movable while the other contactisfixed.., y t, ,r t

Various, changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts maybe made within the spirit and intended scope ofmy invention without aifecting the principle or mode of operation of the apparatus.

I 'claimt 7 1. In controlling apparatus, the combination with main conductors and an electric motor, of a main switch controlling the motorcircuit, a magnet for operating said switch,

a relay-switch in the circuit of the main-switch magnet, a magnet for operating the relayswitch, and-a primary switch controlling the circuit of said relay-magnet and adapted to be operated by variations in fluid-pressure, substantially as described.

2. In controlling apparatus, the combination with main conductors and a number of electric motors arranged in parallel, switches controlling the supply of current to the several motors, magnets for operating said switches, and an automatic controller comprising a switch in the circuit of said several magnetsand means adapted tobe operated by variations in fluid-pressure for automatically opening and closing the controllerswitch, substantially as described.

3. I11 controlling apparatus, the combination with main supply and return conductors andan electric motor, of a switch controlling the supply of current to said motor, a magnet for operating said switch, an equalizing-conductor for connecting said magnet with other switch-operating magnets, and an automatic controller adapted to open and close a connection between said equalizingconductor and one of the main conductors according to variations in fluid-pressure, substantially as described.

4. In controlling apparatus, the combination with main supply and return conductors and an electric motor, of a switch controlling the connection of said motor with one of said conductors, a magnet for operating said switch, having one terminal connected with the supply-conductor, an equalizing-conductor for connecting the other terminal of said magnet with the corresponding terminals of other similar switch-operating magnets, and an automatic controller adapted to be actuated by variations of fluid-pressure and to electrically connect and disconnect said equalizing and return conductors, substantially as described.

5. In controlling apparatus, the combination with main conductors and an electric mo tor, of a main switch controlling the supply of current to said motor, a magnet foroperating said switch, a magnetic relay comprising a switch controlling the passage of current through the main-switch magnet and two magnets for operating the relay-switch, a primary switch having maximum and minimum pressure contact-pieces and adapted to be operated by variations of fluid-pressure and to control the supply of current to the relay-magnets, and an auxiliary switch controlling a connection between one of the contacts of the rimar Y switch and the return conductor and adapted to be operated by said relay-magnets, substantially as described.

6. In controlling apparatus, the combination with an electric motor and main conductors, of a switch controlling the supply of current to said motor, a magnet for operating said switch, an equalizing-conductor for connectingsaid magnetwith othersimilar switchoperating magnets, an automatic controller comprising a relay-switch governing the passage of current through said equalizing-conductor and the maiu-switch-operating magnets connected thereby, a primary switch having maximum and minimum pressure contact-pieces and a movable contact-piece adapted to be actuated by variations of fluid-pressure, two magnets for operating the relayswitch, one terminal of each of said relaymagnets being connected with the movable contact-piece of the primary switch, the remaining terminal of one magnet with one of the main conductors and the remaining terminal of the other magnet with a contact of the relay-switch, the maximum-pressure contact-piece of the primary switch being connected with one of the main conductors and the minimum-pressure contact-piece be ing connected through an auxiliary circuitbreaker operated by the relay-magnets, with the other main conductor, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK FARNSWORTII BRUSH.

\Vitnesses:

JEAN DE TRAZ, EDWARD P. MACLEAN.

Images