US767833A - Electric-current regulator. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

E. E. PHILLIPS, ELECTRIC CURRENT EECULATCE.

APPLICATION FILEDVAPR. 13, 1904.

'No MODEL.

Fig. 7.

Witness v Qttovzwu y UNITED STATES Patented. August i6, 1Q@- PATENT Ormes.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,888, dated August 16, i904.

Application filed April 1S, 1904.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. PHILLIPS, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Hydepark, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Current Regulators, of which the following is e. specification'.

This invention relates to electric-current regulators, the object of the invention being' to provide a simple, cheap, and reliable device by means of which a current of any power or intensity may be decreased and regulated to the requirements of electrical appliances requiring a current of smaller or reduced power. By means of the regulator hereinafter described the current may be increased or diminished at will, thus enabling `an electric light, for example, to be raised and lowered or to be increased or diminished in its illuminating power in an ordinary gas-jet.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists lin the n'ovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated, and' claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a regulator embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail section showing the pinion and rack adjustment. Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the ratchet mechanism. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the manner of introdlleing the regulator in a circuit.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a suitable casing, 'preferably elongated vertically to contain the mechanism hereinafter described, the said casing being closed on all sides and at the top and bottom, any suitable provision being made for givingr access to the interior thereof. lVithin the lower portion ot' the casing is arranged a liquid-receptacle 2, forming whatl term a contact-chamber 3 and containing a resistance liquid, as shown at 4, and also containing a terminal 5, which is in the form of a contact plate or arch havingr the end portions thereof in contact with the same manner as Serial No. 202.950. (Re model.)

the outer metallic casing 1, as shown at 6, while the central portion of the plate is preferably arched, as shown, so as to'dispose the center thereof at the highest point. Located inthe upper central portion of the contactchamber is another terminal 7', which preierably consists of a Germansilver tip or head having a pointed pendent extremity 8 and mounted on and carried by a verticallyextending rack-bar 9, the toothed portion 10 of which cooperates with a pinion 11, which is mounted on a rack-adjusting shaft 12, the latter extending outward through an insulate d bushing in the side of the casing, where it is provided. with 4a thumb-wheel 14, by means of which the shaft may be turned for raising and lowering the rack-bar and correspondingly raising and lowering the terminal 7. The rack-bar 9 plays up and down within a housing 15, with which it lies in electrical contact, the contact being insured by the pinion 11, which presses the rack against the back of the housing, as shown in Fig. 2. At its lower end the housing is provided with a sleeve or bushing 16, which passes through an upwardly-extending neck 17 on the liquidreceptacle 2, the latter being preferably formed of glass. At its upper end the housing is flanged, as shown at 18, the flanges extending horizontally and being clamped between the sections of an insulating-bar 19, secured at a suitable elevation within the casing 1.

Electrically connected with one of the flanges 18 is abinding-post 20, through which one of the line-wires 2l is connected, said wire passing through an insulating-bushing 22 in the top of the case. Connected to the lower end of the binding-post 2O is a spring or detent 23, which engages a ratchet-wheel 2li, fast on the rack-adjusting shaft l2, hereinabove described, and serves to mainte-in the ratchet-wheel and its shaft in the position to which they have been adjusted, thus preventing the rack-bar 9 from accidentally descending. Connected to the upper end of the rackbar 9 is a contact-plate 25, which is adapted to come in contact with the top of the casing l when the rack-bar is moved outward. .26

designates a binding-post connected with the top of the casing and adapted to receive the other line-wire 27.

The device 4as Whole is adapted to be secured to a Wall or other support by means oi' screws or other suitable fasteners Any suitable liquid si. may be used for resisting the current passing through the terminals 5 and 7, the nearer together said rminals are adjusted the stronger being the current. in traversing the space between the terminals the liquid acts to resist the current, and thereby reduces the same in strength. Under the adjustment shown in Fig. l lie current is olf. As soon as the point 8 enters fthe liquid Weak current is established, and

as the point-is lowered or moved nearer the Y terminal 5 the strength. of the current increases until the terminals meet and the full power oi the Current is brought into operation,tl1e,current passing from Wire 27 through binding-post 26, casing 1, terminal 5, resistu ance liquid e, terminal 7, rack-b r 9, housing 15, flange 18, bindingpost 20, and other wire 21. Villien the racional is moved upward to its limit, the current passes from wire 2,7 to binding-post 26, casing l, contact-plate 25, rack-bar 9, liousino 15, iiange l, bindingpost 2O to Wire 2l. I The regulator is simple and extremely durable and after being adjusted is invariable as far as the strength of the current is corn cei'ned. The regulator may be placed at any desired point, is perfectly safe, and may oe used for reducing a current for desired purpose and in connection with any suital ve elee'rical applianceswsucli as alarm bells, burglanalarms, annunciators, lamps, clocks, is, and, in fact, in auf,v other pla-ce Where By means of increased or diminished at will. thus described the invention, what as new is- An electriecurrent regulator comprising liq receptacle, the terminal mounted herein and submerged in the liquid, asecond rack-lia connected with the second terminal, racload 3 ustin g sha'f,paWL-and-ratehet mech# anisrn for holding said shaft, and bmding- "posts in electrical communication with tlie terminals.

fzln electriocurrent regulator comprising a casing, a liquid-receptacle therein, a terminal submerged in the liquidreceptacle, aseoond terminal movable toward and away from the lirst terminal., a rack-liar towhich the second t Vrminal is connected, a contact-plate caried by said raclnbar and movable into and ut of Contact Wit'n the easing, a rack-adjustshait, and binding-posts, one of which is slectrically connected with the casing and the other with the rack-nan n testimony whereof aijx my signature in presence of two witnesses.,

FRANK E. PELPS. llitnessef FRED A. aren.

Lin'conu E. Wannen.

terminal movable Within said receptacle, a'

Images