US799721A - Multiple switch. - Google Patents

Description

No. 799,721. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905. H. H. CUTLER.

MULTIPLE SWITCH.

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N0. 799,721. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905. H. H. CUTLER.

MULTIPLE SWITCH.

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H. H. CUTLER. MULTIPLE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1905.

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PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

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MULTIPLE .SWITGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. CUTLER, OF MILWAUKEE, IVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, IVISCONSIN, A CORPO- RATION or WISCONSIN.

MULTIPLE SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905,

Application filed March 24,1905. Serial No. 251,729.

To (ti Z who/7i, it may concern:

Be itknown thatI, HENRY H. CUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Multiple Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being h ad to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification.

My invention relates to a multiple switch, and more particularly to a multiple switch designed for use in connection with rheostats.

It has been proposed heretofore to associate the resistance of a rheostat with a plurality of switches, whereby the switches may be closed one at a time and in a definite order to cut out the resistance of the rheostat. present invention is particularly designed for employment in connection with rheostats having this characteristic; and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means whereby the operator is compelled to close all of the switches of the rheostat when starting a motor and prevent the leaving of any of the starting resistance in circuit, whereby they might become overheated and destroyed.

In accordance with the present invention I arrange the multiple switches so that the same can be closed only in a definite order, and, furthermore, I provide a means whereby the switches are adapted to be maintained in a closed position and automatically opened at the desired time. I further provide a means whereby before the switches will be retained in their closed position it is necessary that every one of the switches be closed.

I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention which I have worked out for practical operation; but it will be understood that my invention is susceptible of various modifications.

In the drawings illustrating the embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a view of the switchof my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of a modification of my invention. Fig. 1 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the Fig. 6 is a detail view of the latch mechanism for holding the levers in the closed position. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the swinging dogs employed. Fig. 8 1s a detail view of the retain- The ing-magnet of my invention. tail of my means for causing the first switcharm to be locked in the construction shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arrangement of the construction shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic View of the circuit arrangement of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the switch levers or arms 1 to 6, respectively, are suitably pivoted or journaled at one end and are provided at the opposite end with suitable handles. Ihave shown the several switch-levers as journaled upon a shaft or rod 7, mounted in bearings upon the brackets 8. The brackets 8 also support a rod 9, which is threaded through the rubber tube 10, which serves as a cushion or buffer, against which the extended ends of the switch arms or levers are adapted to impinge when thrown open. Each of the levers carries a contact device 11, made in the usual form from a number of strips of copper, laid face to face, the free ends being adapted to engage the contact-surfaces to complete the circuit therethrough. Upon the base-board 12 is mounted a contact-bar 13, with which one end of the contact device 11 of each arm or lever is adapted to engage, the other end of said device being adapted to engage one of the contact-terminals 14 to 19, respectively, of the rheostat. Upon the terminal 14 is provided a binding-post 20, which is connected with one side of the supply-circuit, and upon the terminal 19 is provided a binding-post 21, which is suitably connected through the armature of the motor to the opposite side of the supply-circuit.

Near the upper end of the switch-arm a lug 22 is provided, which carries a laterallyextending rod 23, which may take the form of a screw. Mounted upon the base-board above the arm 1 is a retaining-magnet 24:, having an armature 25 pivoted, as at 26. (Shown more particularly in Fig. 8.) The armature 25 carries a laterally and upwardly extending lug 27, and when the arm 1 ismoved to close the circuit the rod 23 engages the side of the armature 25 to move the same against the magnet-pole, and the magnetism of the magnet 24 retains the armature in this position. The swinging of the armature carries the lug 27 upon the exterior of the rod 23, so that Fig. 9 is a dedog.

"the circuit presents a vertical surface. upper part of the part 41 is inclined or chamthe same will rest in the slot formed between thelug 27 and the face of the armature 25. So long as the magnet 24 remains energized the arm 1 will be held in the closed position. hen, however, the magnet 24 is deenergized, the armature will be released and the weight of the arm 1 will carry the same to a position wherein the contact device 11 will break contact between the bar 1 and the terminal 14 and rock the armature 25 upon its pivot until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 8.

Mounted upon a rod or shaft 28, supported in suitable bearings upon the base-plgte 12, are the rocking dogs 29 to 33. Each of these dogs has its rear so shaped as to engage the baseplate 12 and limit the downward movement of the dog when free, as shown more particularly in Fig. 6. Upon the end of the dog to the righthand side is an upwardly-extending lip 34, which has its front edge curved and its rear edge perpendicular to the upper surface of the The under side of the dog has a lip extending throughout its whole length, which lip is rounded off at the left-hand edge. The levers 2 to 6, inclusive, are provided with a latch 38, pivoted to the arm or lever at 37 and set in a slot 38 in said lever. The first lever upon the left has no latch. The wall of the slot 38 limits the vertical movement of the latch relatively to the arm. Below the latch and formed integrally with the lever is a lug 39, projecting toward the base-plate and consisting of two parts 40 and 41. The part 40 is square in section and flat upon the head and when the lever is in a position to close The fered at an acute angle, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The last lever 6 carries an upwardly-projecting arm 42, which has a contact-point 43, adapted to engage the contactbutton 44, mounted upon the base-plate 12. In the diagrammatic View of the circuit employed in this construction, as illustrated in Fig. 11, it will be seen that a resistance is provided, which is divided into sections connected with the contact-terminals 15 to 19, and one end of this resistance is connected by the conductor 46 with the contact-bar 13. The terminal 14 is connected by the conductor 47 with one side 48 of the supply-circuit, and the terminal 19 is connected by conductor 49, through the armature 50 of the motor, by

conductor 51 with the opposite main 52 of the supply-circuit. The shunt-field winding 53 of the motor is connected by conductor 54 with the contact-bar 13 and by conductors 55 and 51 with the opposite side 52 of the supplycircuit. One terminal of the winding of the magnet 24 is connected by conductor 56 with one side 52 of the supply-main, and the opposite terminal thereof is connected with the contact-button 44 by conductor 57.

In operation, assuming that it be olesired to start the motor, the switch-arm 1 is closed to first close the circuit between the terminal 14 and the contact 13. This closes the circuit to the motor, current being traced from the supply-conductor 48 through conductor 47 to terminal 14, across the switch-arm 1 to contact-bar 13, by conductor 46 through the resistance 45 to terminal 19, thence by conductor 49 through the armature 50 of the motor and by conductor 51 to the opposite side 52 of the supply-mains. The circuit through the shunt-field being closed at the same time through conductors 54 and 55 the motor will thus be started with all the resistance in circuit. In moving thearm 1 to the closed position the oblique wall 41 of the lug 39 engages the under face of the first rocking lug or dog 29 and moves the same in the position shown in Fig. 6 in full lines. The second switch-arm 2 is now closed and as the dog 29 is in its raised position the latch 36 of the arm 2 will ride over the lip 34 of the dog29 and will engage the vertical wall thereof and the switch-arm 2 will thus be held in a closed position. The moving of the switch-arm 2 to its closed position cuts outa portion of the resistance 45 and the motor will increase its speed. The wall41 of the arm 2 will engage and lift the second rocking dog 30, so that when the arm 3 is closed the latch 36 thereof will be engaged and held by the lip 34 of the dog 30. In a similar manner each switch-arn'i when closed raises the next rocking dog to thereby permit the latch of the next succeeding switcharm to engage the lip of the corresponding dog. As each of the switch-arms 2 to 6 is closed a corresponding coil of the resistance is short-circuited and the resistance through the armature is thus cut out step by step. When the last switch-arm has been closed, current passes from the switch-arm 1 to contact-bar 13, thence by the switch-arm 6 to terminal 19, so that the intervening switcharms do not have to carry current during the normal operation of the device. hen the last switch-arm 6 is closed, the contact 43, carried by the arm 42, engages the contact 44 and circuit is closed through the winding of the magnet 24, this circuit being traced from the supply-main 48 through conductor 47, terminal 14, switch-arm 1, contact-bar 13, switch-arm 6, the arm 42, carried by said switch arm, contact 44, by conductor 57, through the winding of the magnet 24 and by conductor 56 to the opposite side 52 of the supply-circuit. In moving the arm 1 to a closed position the armature 25 is engaged by the rod 23 and moved against the pole of the retaining-magnet 24, which when the current is closed therethrough by the closing of the last arm 6 serves to maintain the switch-arm in a closed position. If it be desired to cut in the resistance and open the circuit through the motor, the retaining-magnet 24 may be deenerglzed 1n any suitable manner and the ing the same in a closed position.

arm 1 will be released and fly outward. In moving outward the first rocking dog 29 is permitted to fall and the latch of the second switch-arm 2 is thus released and said switcharm likewise flies outward. The switch-arm 2. permits the second rocking dog to fall, thereby releasing the third switch-arm, and in a similar manner each switch-arm releases the next succeeding switcharm until all of the same have been released.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 instead of having the magnet 24 for the purpose of retaining the first switch-arm in a closed position it is arranged upon the opposite side of the panel 12 and holds the last switch-arm 6 in position. By this construction an additional locking-dog 58 is provided and the first lever is provided with a catch 36. The locking-dog 58 instead of being free to rotate upon the rod or shaft 28 is secured thereto by pins 59 and rotates therewith. The last lever 6 is not provided with a locking-dog 36, but carries the rod 23, which engages the armature 25 of the magnet 24 and is held in a closed position thereby. The arm 6 carries a lug 60, having an inclined face 61, which engages under adog 62, mounted upon the-rod or shaft 28. This dog62 is secured upon the shaft 28 by means of the pin 63 and is thereby adapted to rotate therewith, whereby when the last lever is moved to a closed position the inclined face 61 of the lug engages beneath the dog 62 upon the rod or shaft 28 and raises the same, rotating the rod or shaft and with it the first locking-dog 58, moving the locking-dog up and into engagement with the catch 34, carried upon the first lever. In this way the first lever is locked in a closed position. The circuit arrangement, as illustrated in Fig. 10, for this construction is slightly modified from the circuit arrangement for the construction shown in Fig. 1, and it will be noted that one terminal of the winding of the magnet 24 is connected by conductor 64 with the contactbar 13, the opposite terminal of the winding being connected by a conductor through the shunt fieldwinding of the motor with the opposite side of the supply-circuit. In the operation of this construction, assuming that it is desired to start the motor, the operator with his left hand closes the first switch, hold- Circuit is thus closed through conductor 47, terminal 14, switch-arm .1, contact-bar 13, conductor 46 through the resistance 45 to terminal 19 and by conductor 49 through the armature 50, and thence by conductor 51 to the opposite side 52 of the supply-circuit. Circuit is also closed through conductor 64, the winding of magnet 24 to the shunt field-coil 53, and by conductors 55 and 51 back to the opposite side of the supply-circuit. Closing the first switch-arm moves the rocking dog 29 for the second lever in a position to be engaged by the catch 36 thereof, and the operator may then move this lever in a closed position with his right hand. The several levers are closed, as described With respect to the construction shown in Fig. 1, until the last lever, which carries the rod 23, is closed. The rod. 23 engages the armature 25 of the magnet 24 and moves the same against the pole of the retaining-magnet, whereby the retaining-magnet holds the arm in a closed position, the circuit for the retaining-magnethaving been previously closed by the closing of the first switch. When the last arm is moved to a closed position, the inclined face 61 of the lug 60, carried by said arm, engages beneath the dog 62 and raises the same, rotating the shaft or rod 28, and by this movement raises the locking-dog 58 of the first lever until the lip 34 thereof is engaged by the latch 36, carried by the first switch-arm, thus locking said arm in a closed position. If it be desired to cut in the resistance and open the circuit through the motor, the retainingmagnet 24 is deenergized in any suitable manner, and the arm 6 will be released and fly outward to an open position. When the arm 6 drops to an open position, it permits the dog 52 to drop down, permitting the shaft or rod 28 to rotate and allowing the locking-dog 58 to drop. This releases the catch 34, carried by the lever 31 and permits the switch-arm 1 to likewise fly outward. The switch-arm 1 permits the second rocking dog 29 to fall, thereby releasing the third switch-arm, and in a similar manner each switch-arm releases the next succeeding switch-arm until all of the arms have been released. Any attempt to close one of the switch-arms out of its regular order will be prevented, due to the fact that the Hat face 40 will engage the end of the locking-dog when in the lowered position,

and it is only when the dog has been raised in the proper position that the flat face 40 is permitted to pass beneath the end of the locking-dogs. Moreover, unless the rocking dog is in its raised position the latch 36 will not engage the lip 34 between the dog. Furthermore, the locking-dog will be held in its raised position only when the immediatelypreceding switch-arm has been closed. Furthermore, by the arrangement of the magnet it will be noted that the switch-arms will not remain in a closed position until the last switch-arm has been closed, thereby compelling a careless or ignorant operator to close all of the switches when starting the motor and preventing the leaving of any of the starting resistance in circuit for any length of time, which might overheat and destroy the resistance of the starting-rheostat.

WVhile in Fig. 10 I have shown the magnet 24 connected in series with the shunt fieldcoil 53 and in Fig. 11 I have shown it only connected across the line, it will be understood, of course, that changes in this circuit arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as, for in- &

stance, in Fig. 10 the magnet may be connected in series with the shunt field-coil or in Fig. 11 the magnet may be connected directly across the line. In event the magnet is connected in series with the shunt field-coil, as shown in Fig. 10, or the circuit through said coil is broken for any reason, the magnet will immediately become deenergized and the switch-arm permitted to fly open, thereby opening the circuit through the armature ot' the motor. Other changes may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

While in the accompanying claims I have referred to a plurality of switches arranged in series, it will be distinctly understood that this term is used with its mechanical meaning and not with respect to the electrical connection of the switches. So far as the electrical circuits are concerned the switches are arranged substantially in parallel, but with respect to their mechanical arrangement they are arranged in series, and it will be understood that this is the interpretation to be placed upon this term in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, ofa retaining mechanism for holding said switches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism will be operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

2. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of electromagnetic retaining mechanism for holding the same in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism will be operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

3. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of a magnet for holding said switches in a closed position, and means whereby said magnet will be operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

4. The combination with a plurality of manual switches arranged in a mechanical series, of a retaining mechanism for holding said switches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism will be operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

5. The combination with a plurality of manual switches'arranged in a mechanical series, of electromagnetic retaining mechanism for holding the same in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism will be operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

6. The combination with a plurality of manual switches, arranged in a mechanical series, of a magnet for holding said switches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism will be operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

7 The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of means for preventing the closure of the same except in a definite order, a retaining mechanism for holding saidswitches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism will be operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

8. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of means for preventing the closure of the same except in a definite order, electromagnetic retaining mechanism for holding said switches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism will be operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

9. The combination with a plurality of switches, of means for retaining one of said switches in a closed position, a plurality of interlocking devices for holding the remaining switches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining means will be oper' tive only when the last of said switches is closed.

10. The combination with a plurality of switches, of a retaining-magnet for holding one of said switches in a closed position, a plurality of interlocking devices for holding the remaining switches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining-magnet will be operative only when the last of said switches is closed.

11. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of interlocking mechanism for preventing the closure of the switches except in a definite order, a retaining mechanism for holding the switches ina closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism is operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

12. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of interlocking mechanism for preventing the closure of the switches except in a definite order, electromagnetic retaining mechanism for holding the switches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining mechanism is operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

13. The combination with a plurality of switches, of electromagnetic retaining means for holding the same in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining means is operative only when the last switch is closed.

14. The combination with a vertical baseboard, of a plurality of like levers mounted in alinement upon one face thereof and adapted to move in planes perpendicular to said face, means for preventing the closure of the same except in a definite order, a retaining means for holding said switches in a closed position, and means whereby said retaining means is operative only when the last switch is closed.

15. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of interlocking mechanism whereby each switch controls the next succeeding switch, an electromagnetic retaining device for the first switch of the series, and means whereby said retaining device is operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

16. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of interlocking mechanism, whereby each switch controls the next succeeding switch, a retaining-electromagne-t for holding the first switch of the series in a closed position, and means whereby said electromagnet is operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

17. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of a retaining-magnet for holding the first switch in a closed position, interlocking devices controlled by said first switch for retaining the succeeding switch in position, and means whereby said retaining-magnet is operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

18. The combination with a plurality of switches,of a retaining-magnet for holding the first switch in a closed position, a plurality of interlocking devices for holding the remaining switches in position, and means whereby said retaining-magnet is operative only when the last of the switches is closed.

19. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of a retaining-magnet for holding the first switch in position, means controlled by said first switch for holding the remaining switches in position, and means whereby said retainingmagnet is operative only when the last switch of the series is closed.

20. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of a magnet for holding the same in a closed position, and means carried by the last switch in the series for closing the circuit through said magnet.

21. The combination with a plurality of switches arranged in a mechanical series, of interlocking mechanism whereby each switch controls the next succeeding switch, a retaining-magnet for holding the first switch of the series in a closed position, and means carried bythe last switch for closing the circuit through said retaining-magnet.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY I-I. CUTLER.

Witnesses F. L. PRICE, F. R. BACON.

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