US797398A - Electrofluid-pressure switching mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

W. J. BELL. BLEGTROFLUID PRESSURE SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

M f V m PATENTED AUG. 15, 1906.

W. J. BELL. ELEUTROFLUID PRESSURE SWITGHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.135, 190 1.

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PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

W J, BELL ELEOTROFLUID PRESSURE SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED AUG amu L...

msmam a c lllll lll lllllillll ST fllhl PATENT UT C l VALTER JOEL BELL, OF LOS ANGELEE UAL'l'FORNlA, ASSIGNOR OF "ONE-HALF TU LEON l MUSE), OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

lELlEtJ TWlUFLlJllDd FtE$SUl lE SWll'Ul-llllhlt WlEt3MANl$lVL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed August 25, 1904. Serial No. 222,175.

To (r/U/ who/7t it 'nuty concern:

Be it known that l, WALTER JonL BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful lm iirovements in Eleetrolluid- Pressure Switching Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved electrolluid-messure switching mechanism containing, among other novel and valuable features, an excitable electric element which has the double function of closing a starting-circuit whereby to establish an operating-circuit and of breaking said operating-circuit after the switching has been performed.

The invention in all of its details will be readily comprehended, reference being had to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention in its preferred form of embodiment, it being understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without exceeding the scope of the concluding claims.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a switching mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the controlling mechanism. Fig. 3 is a further enlarged sectional view of the pressurechamber and adjacent parts. Fig. 41 is a detail view of the valvecasing 63. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of l ig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the main trolley-wire, and 2 is the divergent trolley-wire, both of which are constantly charged. Adjacent to the main wire 1. and at a point in advance of the switch is a wire 3, from which depend a number of liexible contacts 4, arranged in the path of a con stantly-charged contact 5 on the car, which contact 5 is mounted to be elevated by the motor-man into position to engage the pendent contacts as, for example, through the medium of a rope or chain 6. Near the switch is the controlling mechanism inclosed by a suitable casing, (not shown, and said casing or another casing may be employed to inclose the fluidcompressor and compressor-aetuator. In the casing are two solenoid-magnets, the coils of one of which, 7, are connected with the wire 3 by a wire 8 and are grounded through a wire 9. The coils of the other solenoid-magnet 10 are connected by a wire 11 with a contact 12 closely adjacent to the divergent wire 2, but insulated therefrom, said wires 2 12 being bridged by the trolley-wheel of a switched car. The magnet 10 is grounded through a wire 13. The armature 14, which is slidable in openings in the magnets 7 10, is provided with setcollars 15 15 for limiting its stroke At the inner end of magnet 7 is a bracket 16, on the upper end of which is fixed a contact 17, insulated by a block 18. Likewise at the inner end of magnet 10 is a bracket 19 and contact 20 and an interposed insulating-block 21. A wire 22 leads from the contact 17 to the compressor-aetu ator, and the contact 20 is electrically connected with the wire 22 by a wire 23.

Supported preferably from the brackets 16 19, as shown, is a vertically-disposed. casing 24:, having a horizontal partition 25, providing an upper pressure-chainber 26, the latter be ing supplied with fluid, preferably oil, under pressure by a pipe 27, leading from the compressor. The compressor or pump 28 is preferably of the ordinary spur-gear rotary type.

and is operated by an electric motor. At the opening in the pump-casing for the projecting shaft 29 is a suitable stufling-gland, and the inner end of said shaft is 'journalcd in a closed extension or boss, as shown. The shaft 30 of the motor 31 carries a head 32, which is insulated therefrom by a disk 33 and is provided with pins 34:, removably entering correspondingly-placed openings in a head 35 on the pump-shaft. By this construction the pump and motor shafts may be quickly coupled and uncoupled. Oil supplied to the pump from a reservoir 36 through an inletpipe 37. In the pressure-pipe 27 is a check valve 38 and a pressure-gage 39. As a signal to indicate the pressure in the pipe 27 there may be employed a liuid-pressure-operated semaphore eh), the [)lSEOD-QYllIltlOl of which is connected by a pipe 41 with the pipe 27.

In the partition 25 and lower casing portion are three passages or ports, one of which, 122, is connected by a pipe 13 with a cylinder 4: 1

' at the rear of a slidable piston 45, said piston being connected by a rod -16 with the switchtongue 17. Another passage or port 18 is connected by a pipe 4:9 with said cylinder in front of the piston. These pipes 43 19 serve alternately to convey oil under pressure to the cylinder, whereby to obtain the operative and retractive movements of the piston, and consequently of the tongue 17. To indicate the proper working of the parts, fluid-pressureoperated semaphore-signals 51 are respectively connected with the pipes 13 19. Intermediate of the passages or ports 12 and 48 is an exhaust passage or port 52, connected with the oil-tank by a pipe 53. Controlling the passages or ports 12, a8, and 52 is a recessed slide-valve 5i, normally positioned to establish intercommunication between all of said passages or ports, as shown in Fig. 2. Extending transversely of the casing 2 1 is ashaft 55, on which is fixed a depending arm 56, having its lower end confined between shoulders on the valve. Fixed to a projecting end of the shaft is an arm 57, having toward its upper end a slot 58, receiving a laterally-extending pin 59 on the armature 1a, which pin is headed to prevent turning of the armature. The arm 57 carries at its upper end a contact 60, insulated therefrom by a block 61 and connected with the divergent wire 2 by a constantly-charged feed-wire 62.

Extending inwardly from one wall of the pressurechamber 26 is a casing 63, the inner end of which is closed and to the outer end of which is connected a pipe 64;, leading to an air-chamber 65. In the pipe 6% is a by-pass valve 66, the discharge-outlet of the valvecasing being connected with the oil-reservoir 36 by a pipe 67. In thelower wall of the casing 63 is an opening 68, affording communication between the interior of the casing and the pressurechamber 26, said opening being controlled by a valve 69, normally pressed against its seat by a spring 70, the tension of which is regulated by a set-screw 71.

72 is a lever pivoted to the under side of the casing 63 and intermediately loosely attached to a stem '73, depending from the valve 69, the outer end of the lever being beveled and arranged to be engaged and elevated by the slide-valve 5 1 in its movement to the left. The engaging surface of the valve is beveled to conform to the shape of the lever end.

The upper stem 74 of the valve 69 is provided with two collars 75, between which is loosely confined the bifurcated or forked end of one arm 76 of abell-cranl; lever 77, pivoted at 78. The other and shorter arm 79 of the lever is provided with an opening 80, in which is slidably held the stem 81 of a valve 82, normally separated from its seat about an opening 83, which affords communication between the interior of the casing 63 and the pipe 6 1. The valve 82 is pressed in the direction of its seat by a relatively light tension-spring 84a The opening for the valve-stem is sufficiently large to allow the valve 82 lateral play to insure proper seating of the latter.

In one wall of the casing 24. is an opening 85, to which is connected a pipe 86, leading into a cylinder 87 below a piston 88 therein, said piston being normally depressed by a relatively heavy tension-spring 89. The piston-stem 90 is flexibly connected with a yoke 91, the ends of which are pivotally attached at 92 to the side members of a buffer 93, hinged at their outer ends to a bracket 9 1, which forms the support for the cylinder 87. The buffer members extend forwardly at the sides of the magnet 7 and are offset in front of the latter to bring their inner ends 95 in the path of the collar 15 to provide in the elevated position of the bufifer a stop for limiting the final movement of the armature 1 1 to the left. The member ends are preferably connected at their lower sides by a bridgepiece 96. insulating-block 97, .to which is attached a contact 98,electrically connected with the wire 8 by a wire 99. In the path of the contact 98 is a preferably flexible contact 100, secured to the bracket 16, but insulated therefrom by a block 101. The contact 100 is electrically connected with the contact 20 by a wire 102.

In operation the motorman or operator of a car to be switched elevates the contact 5 into the path of the pendent contact 1, and when said contacts come into engagement an impulse of electricity is sent, by means of the wire 8, through the coils of magnet 7 and through the wire 9 to ground. The magnet thus energized by what may be called the starting-circuit attracts and moves the armature to the left, thereby rocking the arm 57 in the same direction and effecting engagement of the contacts 60 and 17. Currentnow flows from the divergent wire 2 through the wire 62, contacts 60 17, and wire 22 to the motor and is then grounded A wire 103, connected with the wire 22, leads to signals, which may be one or more lights 104 and one or more semaphores 105, the latter being of the usual magnetic type operated by an arma- 'ture or solenoid, and from thence to ground.

The light-signals may be in series with the semaphores or otherwise, as desired. Preferably lights 106 are inserted in the motor-circuit as a signal to indicate that the motor is in operation. The pump being started by the motor, oil is forced under pressure through the pipe 27 into the chamber 26, and the valve 5 1, having been shifted to the right by movement of the arm 57, the oil flows through the uncovered passage or port 4E2 through the pipe 43 into the cylinder 44: and moves the piston 5 to the right to throw the switclr tongue 17, the existence of pressure in the pipe 43 being indicated by the semaphore, as above explained. The switcl'i-tongue is maintained in its thrown position by the pressure of oil created by the continued operation of the motor and pump, which pressure acts to unseat the valve 69 against the action of its spring, the raised valve allowing the surplus oil to pass through the casing-opening 68, casing On one of the buffer members is an 63, pipe 64:, and into the air-chamber 65. As the chamber lills the increased pressure due to the con tinned pumping unseats the by-pass valve, and the surplus oil flows through the pipe 67 back into the oil-reservoir The switch-tongue being in thrown position, the car enters on the divergent track, and the trolley-wheel thereo'l bridging the wire 2 and contact 12 an impulse of electricity is sent from the wire 2 through the wheel and contact 12, through the wire 11, through the coils of magnet 10, and thence through the wire 13 to ground. The energized magnet 10 attracts and moves the armature to the right and breaks the operating-circuit at 60 17 but said operating-circuit almost SililllltztDGOflSlV1'6- established by the ei'igagement of the contacts 60 and 20, whereupon current flows from the wire 2 through wire 62, contacts 60 20, wire 23, wire 22 to the motor and from thence to ground. In the movement ol the arm 57 to the right the arm 56 is rocked to the left, and the valve 54 is thereby shifted to uncover the passage or poi-H8, whereupon oil under pres sure flows through the pipe a9 and into the cylinder 4A in frontot' the piston to retract the latter and the switch-tongue, it being understood that in this position of the valve the oil exhausts from the rear side of the piston tin-ough the pipe as, passage or port 4L2, valverecess, exhaust-passage 52, and pipe 53, back into the oil-reservoir. The existence of pressure in the pipe 4L9 is indicated by the somaphore 51. The movement of the valve 54 to the left also eti'ects the unseating of the valve (39 by the engagement of the beveled surface of the valve with the lever 72, whereby oil flows from the chamber 65 back into the chamber 26 and from thence into the forward end of the cylinder 4A. Usually after the tongue is thrown there is present in the chamber 65 a suliicient accumulated oil-pressure to effect the retraction of the piston and tongue independent of the continued action of the pump; but it the pressure so obtained is insutlicient it is raised to the requisite degree by the still active pump. in the unseatingmovement ot' the valve 69 by the lever 72 the valve 82is carried in the direction of its seat by the bellcrank lever 77; but as the spring of the valve 82 is of relatively light tension said valve is held from seating by the pressure of the retm'ning oil until the pressures in the chambers 65 and 26 are uniform, whereupon the valve 82 is pressed against its seat by the spring Set and communication between the chambers interrupted, and all of the pressure now derived from the continued action of the pump is directed against the piston to retract it. The provision of the (lGSClllJQtl pressure-controlling means is desirable,owing to the necessity of obtaining a quick retraction of the piston and tongue. The energy exerted by the pump after the switch is thrown is stored in the chamber 65, and thus stored energy is utilized for the retraction of the tongue. It the accumulated pressure is, however, insullicient for the stated purpose, the chamber 65 is cut oil by the seating of the valve 82, and the pump acts to furnish pres sure directly to the piston. Ordinarily the stored, pressure in the cluunber 65 is su'llioient to retract the tongue, and the necessity of getting up pressure by pump il or this purpose is avoided; but by the provision of the described means a timely retraction of the tongue is assured regardless of varying pressure conditions. The action of the pump continues after the retraction of the tongue, and the increasing oilpressure tinding no vent is exerted against the piston 88 in the cylinder 87 to move said piston against the action o'l its spring 89, the tension of which is sulliciently heavy to resist the action of the former pressures. When the pressure re; :hes asullicient degree, the piston is moved to elevate the bu tl'er 9 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the contact 98, carried by the butter, is brought into engagement with the contact 100 to send current from the wire 2, through wire 62, contacts (50 20, wire 102, contacts 100 98, wire 99, wire 8, coils oi magnet 7, and wire 9 to ground. The magnet 7 being thus energized, the armature is moved to the left until the stop-collar 15 thereon comes against the bufler 93. This limited movement of the armature returns the contact (50 to its normal disengaged position and eliects the breaking of the circuits through the motor and through the magnet 7. The 1nag1'iet7 is thus employed both to close and open or break the operatingcircuit, and the function of the magnet 10 is to retract the ari'nature and the contact 60 after their initial movements. The arm 57 is brought by the limited movement of the ar' mature midway between the contacts 17 and 20, and said movement also brings the valve 54L into position to establish commnnieation between both pressure-pipes -l-;: and T9 and the exhaust-pipe With the valve so positioned the surplus oil exhausts from the cylinder and leaves the piston 4L5 tree from pressure, and the tongue may readily be moved by hand in either (.lirection, if occasion requires. in the retractive mowment of the valve the lever 72 is released, the valve ('39 is seated, and the valve 82 is unseated by the movement of the bell-crank lever 77, due to pressure of the sprii'ig 70. The pressure in the cylinder 87, pipe 8b, and chamber 26 now linds vent by raising the valve (59 and passing by the unseated valve 82 into the air-chamber. The pressure being thus reduced, the spring 89 acts to retract the piston 88, buller U3, and contact 98, thereby releasing the armature, to be again attracted by the magnet 7 in the next o eration. No sparking occurs in the separation of the contacts 98 and 100, the circuit having previously been broken.

The construction of certain features of the invention allows of a number of modifications. For example, the solenoid-magnets, the contact 60, cylinder 87, pipe 86, and valves 69 and 82 may be omitted and a handle may be secured to the arm 57, whereby said arm may be manipulated by an operator to move the valve 54:, and thereby efiect the throwing of any one of a number of tongues at crossings or other points having a number of switches. In this modification a spring may be inserted at either side of the piston 45, dependent upon the direction of setting movement of the tongues.

I claim as my invention 1. In a switching mechanism, fluid-pressure means for moving the switching element, an electric actuator for said means, an operatingcircuit for the actuator, and an excitable electric element for making and breaking the said operating-circuit.

2. In a switching mechanism, an electromagnet energized from the car, an armature arranged to be moved by the energized magnet, an operating-circuit including a contact connected with the armature to be moved thereby to close the operating-circuit, and means for reenergizing said magnet to again move said contact to break the operating-circuit.

3; Inaswitchingmechanism,an electromagnet energized from the car, an armature arranged to be moved by the energized magnet, an operating-circuit including a contact connected with the armature to be moved thereby to establish the operating-circuit, a second magnet adapted when energized to move said contact to break and then reestablish the operating-circuit, and means for reenergizing the first-named magnet to again'move said contact to break the operating-circuit.

4:. In a switching mechanism, an operating electric circuit, means for establishing said circuit, means for breaking and then reestablishing said operating-circuit, and connections including the first-named means for finally breaking said operating-circuit.

5. In aswitchingmechanism,an electromagnet energized from the car, a second magnet, an armature arranged to be moved by the energized magnets, an electric actuator, and an operating-circuit for said actuator including a constantly-charged contact movable between fixed contacts said movable contact being connected with the armature, whereby the operating-circuit is first established, then broken and reestablished and finally broken, substantially as described.

6. In aswitching mechanism,an electromagnet energized from the car, a second magnet, an armature arranged to be alternately moved and retracted by said magnets, an electric actuator, an operating-circuit for said actuator, fixed contacts both in said operating-cir cuit, and a constantly-charged contact movable between the fixed contacts.

7. In a switching mechanism,an electromagnet energized from a car, a second magnet energized from the car after traversing the switch an armature attracted alternately by said magnets, an electric actuator, an actuator-operating circuit including two fixed contacts, and a constantly-charged contact connected with the armature and movable thereby to alternately engage said fixed contacts.

8. In a switching mechanism, a solenoidmagnet energized from a car, a second solenoidmagnet energized from the car after traversing the switch, an armature attracted alternately by said magnets, an electric actuator, an actuator-operating circuit including two fixed contacts, and a constantly-charged rockcontact connected with the armature and movable thereby to alternately engage said fixed contacts.

9. In a switching mechanism, a solenoidmagnet, a second solenoid-magnet, an armature common to said magnets, an electric actuator, an operating-circuit including two fixed contacts, a constantly-charged contact movable by the armature to alternately engage said fixed contacts, said charged contact operating in its movements to first establish the operating-circuit by engagement with one of the fixed contacts, then to break and then reestablish the operating-circuit by engagement with the other contact and finally to break said operating-circuit, and a buffer operating to limit the final movement of the charged contact to position it between the fixed contacts.

10. In a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connected with said element, a fluid-pressure chamber provided with two fluid-ports and an intermediate exhaust-port, pipes leading from the fluid-ports to the piston-cylinder at the front and rear of the piston, fiuid-pressure-operated signal devices connected with said pipes, a valve normally covering the ports but allowing intercommunication between them, and means for shifting the valve to alternately uncover the fluidports.

11. In a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connected with said element, a fluid-compressor, an electric actuator for the compressor, a chamber receiving the fluid under pressure, said chamber having ports, a valve at said ports movable to direct the pressure alternately to the ends'of the pistoncylinder, a rock-arm connected with the valve, a constantly-charged contact on the arm, an armature to which the arm is connected, an operating-circuit for the actuator including fixed contacts, and magnets adapted to attract the armature to move the arm and effect the closing of the operating-circuit and the movements of the valve.

12. In a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connected with said element, a chamber receiving fluid under pressure and verses having fluid and exhaust ports, respectively connected with the 1:)iston-cylinder and a fluid tank or reservoir, a valve controlling said ports, an air-chamber having pipe connection with the pressure-cl'iamber said pipe extending into the latter, and valves in said extension one of which unseats in the direction oi the air-chamber and the other in the direction of the pressure-chamber.

13. in a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connected with said element, a valved pressure-chamber through which fluid under pressure passes to the piston, an air -chamber, a pipe leading from the airchamber into the pressure-ch amber, and valves in said pipe unseating in opposite directions.

l l. ln a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connected with said element, a valved pressure -chambor through which fluid under pressure passes to the piston, an airchamber, a pipe connecting the two chambers and having a by-pass valve, a spring-pressed valve in the pipe unseating in the direction 01 the air-chamber, and a relatively light tension-spring-pressed valve unseating in the direction ol the pressure-chamber.

15. in a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connected with said element, a valved pressurechamber through which fluid under pressure passes to the piston, an air-chamber, a pipe connecting the chambers, a spring-pressed valve in said pipe unseating in the direction of the air-chamber, a second valve in said pipe unseating in the direction of the pressure-chamber, a bell-crank lever connecting the valves, and a relatively light tension-spring at the second valve.

16. In a switching mechanism, a switching element, a piston connected with said element, a chamber through which fluid under pressure passes to the piston, a slide-valve controlling the cl'ian'ibcr-ports, an air-chamber, a pipe connecting the chambers and extending in the rn'essure-chamher, a lever in the path of the slide-valve, a spring-pressed valvein the pipe extension connected with the lever and unseating in the direction of the air-chamber, a second valve in the pipe unseating in the direction of the pressLire-chamber, a bell-crank lever connecting the said valves, and a relatively light tei'ision-spring for pressing the second valve in the direction of its seat.

17. .lna switching mechanism, the combination ol a ll [lid-pressure chamber, an air-chamher, a pipe connecting the chambers and extending within the pressure-chamber, a valve in said pipe unseating in the direction of the air-chamber, a spring for pressing said valve to its seat having tension-regnlating means, a bell-crank lever connected at one arm to the valve-stem, an opening in the other arm, a valve unseating in the direction of the pressure-ch amber and. having its stem loosely confined in the arm-opening, and a relatively light tension-swing for the last-mulled valve.

18. in a switching mechanism, fluid-pressure means including a con'ipressor and a pressure-chamber for operating the switching element, an electric actuator for the compressor, an operating-oircuit tor the actuator including fixed contacts, a eonstantly-charged contact movable between said Iixed contacts, an armature connected with the movable contact, electromagnets for moving the armature, a cylinder connected with the pressure-chamber, a piston in the cylinder, and a butler connected with the piston and arranged to be moved into the path of a stop on the armature to limit the movement of the movable contact upon the creation of a certain pressure in said chan'iber.

19. in a switching mechanism, a ll uid-pressure-operated switching element, a fluid-compressor, an electric actuator for the compressor, an operating-clrcuit for the actuator, an armature adapted in its movements to effect the closing and opening of said circuit, and a stop for limiting the final movement of the armature to break said circuit, said stop being brought into position by the fluid-pressure created after the retraction of the switching element.

20. In a switching mechanism, a switching element arranged to be thrown and retracted by fluid-pressure, a lluid-compressor, an electric actuator for the etmpressor, an operatingcircuit for the actuator. electric means including an armature for making and breaking said circuit, and a movable stop interposed in the path of the linal movement of the armature by the pressure created after the retraction of the switching element.

21. in a switching mechanism, a switching element, fluid-pressure means including a compressor for moving said element, means for storing pressure for retracting said element after movement, and means operated by an increase of pressure after such retraction for stopping the compressor.

22. in a switching mechanism, a switching element, fluid-pressure means including a compressor for moving said element, means for storing prcssure'ior retracting indepeiulent oi the further action oi the compressor the element after movement, and means operated by the increase of pressure after such retraction for stopping the compressor, said last-named means including a piston and a spring the tension of which is sullicient to resist the Former pressures.

.l n testil'nolrv w hereof l allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VAlJ'llClt JOEL BELL l Vitnesses:

H. ll. Annals, E. A. ll a'rnlmaiv,

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