US704496A - Automatic circuit-breaker. - Google Patents

Description

No. 704,495. Patented July l5, I902. B. BALLANTYNE.

AUTOMATIC CIRDUlT BREAKER.

(Application filed Aug. 8. 1900.)

(N0 Model.)

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UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

BRIGHAM BALLANTYNE, OF SUMPTER, OREGON.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

SZECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 704,496, dated July 15, 1902.

Application filed August 8, 1900. Serial llo. 26,271. (No model.)

To aZZ 1071,0717, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BRIGHAM BALLAN'IYNE, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Sumpter, Baker county, Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auto maticCircuit-Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic circuit-breakers; and the object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple arrangement which will guard against the efiects of dangerous excesses of current, while at the same time providing means whereby the circuit shall be restored to normal con- I5 dition immediately upon the current being reduced.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a side elevation of the switch and operating-magnets with the line-wires shown diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawing by reference-letters, a and a represent the line-wires of an electric circuit, including, for instance, a series of lamps B.

H represents a switch-lever pivoted at I and having a contact 0 cooperating with a stationary contact 0 the switch formed thereby being representative of any well-known 0 form of switch-such, for instance, as spring- I copper brush, carbon-point breaks, mercurycup contacts, or the like. To the opposite end of the switch-lever are secured the cores N N of two solenoids m 021 the solenoid m being wound with coarse wire in such a manner that the ordinary current flowing therethrough does not magnetize it sufficiently to overcome the tension placed upon the lever either by the adjustable weight F or the spring E, or both. The line-wire a is connected with the coil of the solenoid m the connection being then by wire a to switch point or contact 0', whence it passes by switclnpiece c to the lamps or other point of distribution.

The solenoid m is arranged in a shunt-circuit around the switch, being connected by wire a with wire a -and by wire a with the line-wire. This solenoid m is Wound with fine wire to produce a resistance sufficient to prevent effective current at the normal strength passing therethrough.

In case of a dangerous excess of current on the wires, therefore, it will be seen that solenoid m will be sufficiently energized to operate the switch-lever to break the circuit at c c and the entire current will be turned through the high resistance coil, thereby energizing the same strongly and holding the switch-lever in its open position, the high-reresistance coil, however, being Wound for a sufficiently high voltage to prevent the current injuring the coil itself. The parts will, however, be maintained in this position until the current is restored to its normal condition or completely out off, when the spring or weight will immediately restore the switchlever to normal position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an automatic circuit-breaker,the com bination with the conductors a, and (L ,Of a stationary contact c ,connected with said conductor a, a pivoted switch -lever havingacontact c normally in engagement with said stationary contact, asolenoid of low resistance electrically connected with said movable contact and with the conductor a a core for said solenoid connected directly to said lever for positively operating the same to separate the contacts on the presence of an excess of current in the solenoid-coils, an independent solenoid of high resistance, a core therefor connected directly to said lever, said high-resistance solenoid-coil being in closed circuit with said conductors a and a substantially as described.

2. In combination with the main conductors a and a a stationary contact 0 connected to said conductor a, a centrally-piv oted switch-lever carrying a contact 0 on its front end, means whereby said lever is held with the front end normally depressed, a pair of solenoids arranged beneath the rear end of the lever, one of said solenoids being of low resistance and the other of high resistance, electrical connections from said low-resistance coil to the movable contact and to conductor a ,electrical connections from the highresistance solenoid to the conductors a and a and a core in each solenoid directly connected with the rear portion of the switch lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BRIGHAM BALLANTYNE.

Witnesses:

.IAMEs l3. S'roDDAnD, Fnnnn'lioit TIETJEN.

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