US829841A - Switch-operating mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

T. E. BUTTON. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 0011,1904

4 8HEETBSHEI1T 1 Fiq] i r X m The doPeE-"i. utter-1.

PATBNTBD AUG. 28, 1906.

T. E. BUTTON. SWITCH OPERATING MBGHANISM.

APYLIGATIOH FILED 001. 1,1904.

4 B'BEBT8BHEET 3.

\NJENT OR: ThGOdOPGELBLlttOFP PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

'1'. E. BUTTON. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IIDED'OOT. 1, 1904- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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"switch may always UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE.

THEODORE .F. BUTTON, ()F SCHENEC"ADY. NEW YORK, .kSSltiNUli 'ili GENERAL EL )(J'lItlC COMPANY, A CORBORA'IIUN OF NEW "i'tlhli.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHAJISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28. 1906.

Application filed October 1. 1904. Serial No. 226,72 7.

To all HI/L07)? it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'Innononn E. BUTTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches, such as are employed in handling large currents at high potential, in which themovemcnts oi the switch are controlled through the agency of a simple controlling-switch Iocaicd in an auxiliary low-potential circuit and usually at a point distant from the main switch in order to insure saiety to the operator. It has been proposed heretofore to construct switches of this type so that the throwing of the control]ing-switch to operate the main switch will start the power-so pl means, usually an electric or air. motor, which will then apply its power directly to the movement of theswitch either solelyor sometimes with the assistant-cot spring mechanism previously energized.

()ne object of my invention is to provide a switch which will be imlcpendentin o eration of the direct action of the motor, wiiich can be closed or o )ened by the release of stored energy, and which will still be automatic in operation. I accomplish this by providill operating mechanism which is so constructeil that it may be energized by the motor and so maintained until tripped by the controlling means to throw the snitch and which will then automatically cut in the motor for a pr vdetermiucd period to again store up energy for a subsequent switch operation. In this connection I also make the storing ca Jacity of the mechanism such that the switch may be operated a plurality of times for each single operation of the motor, and I so arran e the 1notor-controlling mechanism that tie motor will be cut in only when the switch is open, the advantage of this being that the be opened by the power stored in the operating mechanism, even though the motor bedisablcd.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for automatically rendering the tripping means by which the switch-operating mechanism is set in motion ino erative during the operation of the motor, tlius preventing inadvertent tripping oi' the mechanism before the power necessary to operate the switch properly is stored.

Another object of my invention is in provide novel means for stopping the movable switch-contacts in their extreme open and closed positions. This is accomplished by providing means for silt ping the crank by which motion is trai sgiizlts d to the movable switch member alwaysafin a lmad-renter.

Other objects of my invci'iiirn i will he npparent from the following detailed desrrip tion taken in connection with the C((HHIHlr nying drawings, and the diil'ereut parts, im provements, and combinations which l reard as my invention will he speriiiraily sci orth in the appended claims.

In said accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a switch and its operating mechanism constructed in accorihince with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the operating mechanism for said switch. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations oi said mechanism, the former showing the motor-rontrolling switch and the latter the stop and tripping mechanism. Figs. 5, 6, and T are detailed views of the cam for operating the motorcontrolling switch and its cooperating parts. Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the parts shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 assembled and in the position which the i would occupy when the main switch is e osed. Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the parts in the. posi tion which they occupy when the switch is first opened and the motor is first cut in, and Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating principally the nuytor-circuit and the coiitrol-cireuits. In Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, .I have shown certain modifications of the construction illustr'atcd in the preceding figures by which I am enabled to dispense with one of the trippingcoils. Of these figures, Fig. 11 is a view simi lar to Fig. 4. Fig. 12 is a plan view. Fig. 13 is a die ramsimilar to Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a seotiona view taken on the line 1'4 14 of Fig. 12, and Fig. 15 is a detailubvicw oi the end of the spring-case and adjacent parts. i

Throu hout these several views like characters reIer to like parts.

In the present application my invention is shown in connection with the switch A of the type shown in Patent No. 714,436, granted November 25, 1902, to Badcau. 'lhis switch has a reciproeatory member 10. which derives its movement from a rock-shaft H,

fir -ugh the agency of as suitable system of limits and l vers 12. Motion is transmitted. the roclcshaft 11 by the,connecting-rod l? which is connected at its up er end to the.

drive the shaft is obtained through a coiled spring 17, wound about the shaft and secured at one end to the shaft and at the other to the cylindrical case 18, which is mounted so as to rotate lrel ly upon. the shaft. At one end of the case 18 is an arm 19, which is rigidly secured to the shaft and by engagement with steps 28 prevents the rotation of the shaft While the sprin is being Wound. The power for winding t- 1e spring may be ob trained from any suitable source, such as the electric motor 21, mounted upon the base 16. Through suitable worm gcaring 2.2 and spurgearing 23 the ewe! of the motor is transmit ted to thesprmg-case 18, and whenever the mot r is supplied with current the case 1 8 is rotated, so as to wind the coiled spring 17, and thereb 1 store up energy in the mechanism, so that w on the obstructixw-stop is removed from the path of the arm 19 the shaft will befrce to rotate. The stops 20 consist, essentially, 0t upwardly-extendmg links 24 24, ivoted at their lower ends to the base 16 an provided 3 with rrillers 25 at their up er ends and adapted to extend into the pats of rotation of the arm 19, the end of the arm 19 hearing against the rollers 25. Toggles made 11 J of links 26 and??? connect the upper ends 0 the links 24 to fixed lugs 28 on the frame 16, and springs 28!" tend to hold the toggles in the osition shown. These toggles serve to hold t ie etc 5 30 in engaging position and are adapted to e tri ped 3/ means of solenoids or tri pingcoiis 29, located below the toggle an suitably secured to the frame 16. These mag nets 29 are provided with cores 3U,which are drawn u ward when the solenoid is energized wit sufiicient force to trip the toggle, and thereby remove the stops;

In order to automatically cut in the motor 21 when the spring 17 is run down, the motor- .controllin switehC is provided. This switch consists 0 the arm 31, having contacts 32 adapted to bridge fixed contacts 33 33 when in one position and fixed contacthBd: 34 giihen in another. These contacts 1 are *fii i it'bbly mounted upon and insulated from the frame 16. The contacts 33 33 are included in circuit with the solenoids 29 and the contacts 34 34 in circuit with the motor 21 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 10. As shown 111 that figare, one of the terminals 33 is connected to a suitable supply-main 35 and the other contact 33 is connected by Way of two branches 36 37, extending through the solenoids 29 in iarallel to the fixed terminals 38 39, respectively, of a simple switch 40, Whose movable i'nen'iher is directly connected to the other supply-lead 36. From this it will be seen that when the switclrarm 31. is in the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 10 a circuit may be completed through either solenoid by simply throwing the controlling-switch 40 to the proper position. Obviously this controlling-switch may be located at any desired point. It wil be clear from the preceding description that if the arm 19 is in con-- tact, sa with the stop 20 at the left in Fig. 4, the t rowin of the controlling-switch 40, so as to close t 10 circuit through the solenoid 29 at the ri htin said ure, will have no cfl'ect upon t 1e rotationo the shaft 15, and consequently no eilect upon the operation of the switch. However, if the controllingswitch 40 is thrown in the opposite direction the solenoid at the left will be energized and its stop will be drawn out of the Way, so that the shaft 15 will be free to make c halfrevolution---that is, free to rotate until the arm 19 brought up against the under side of the sto 20 at the right, as indicated by the dotte lines in Fig. 4. Thusdt is apparout that each position of the switch 40 always corresponds to a definite position of the main switch A, and the position of the latter may be known by the position of the former. It is ap arent that if the spring 17 were Wound up by and the above manipulation of the controlling-switch 40 would have the desired effect of properly throwing the switch A; but in order to make use of the motor 21 for this purpose the motor-controlling switch 0 is em loycd. This switch is operated upon eaci complete rotation of the shaft 15 to close the circuit betweeii the contacts 34 34, and thereby through the motor 21, as will be apHarent upon an inspection of Fig. 10. 1 It wi then be dirccth connected between the supply- mains 35 and 36. The movable 1nem-' ber 31 of the switch C is pivoted at the oint 41 to the frame 16 and is normally hel by a spring 42, with its end 43 in contact with a cam 44, loosely mdunted on a sleeve 45 of the spring-case 18.

. The cam 44 is provided with projecting lugs 46 46, (shown y the dotted lines in Fig. 6,) which cooperate with similar lugs 47 47 on the face of an engaging member 48, which is rigidly secured to the spring-case 18'. These lugs 46 and 47 are so located that the cam 44 has considerable lay with reference to the member 48. On t e 0p ositc side of the cam 44 from the member 48 is a member 49, which is keyed to the shaft 15 and provided with a lug 50 which is adapted to enga e a coopersting lug 51 on theouter face 0 the cam to transmit motion from the shaft 15 to the cam. The cam 44 is rovided with a depres sion 52, into which t e and 43 of the switch 5 illustrated in Fig. 9,

i inF 20 eighty degrees from its lied to full to bring said in position illustrated in Fig. 3. The purposcoi the incmbcr4i) on the shaft is to rotate the cam into the posit ion so as to close the |notorautomatically start thi- 17, and the purpose spring-case IR is to member 31 is ada member 31 into i circuit, and thereby motor to wind the sprin of the member 46 on the bring the cam 44 into the i 8,-so as to break the motor-circuit, and there hy stop-the winding of the spring and to restore the circuit through the tripping-so-- lenoids 29 29. In order that this may be more full understood, if it be assumed that the switc A is 0 on and the spring is wound, then the parts Wlll oceupy the position shown in Fig. 8, except thatthe'meinber 4!) would lie in a ositi on'to bring the lug 50 directly bcneath t e shaft l5-that is, one hundred and present position. ll then the operating mechanism is tripped for the purpose of closing the switch A, the shaft 15 will make a half-revolution clockwise, which will bring the parts into the position illustrated in Fig. 8. if the operating nieehanism is again tripped, the semirotation of the shaft will bring the lug 50 into engagement with the hi I 51 on the cam 44 and move the cam into the position illustrated in Fig. 9,

6 thereby throwing upward the end 43 of the iswitch member 3 breaking the circuit at the terminals'33 335 and closing it between the terminals 34 34, thus starting the motor. .As l the motor drives thes ring ease 18 it will carry the "lugs 47 47 in a c ockwise direction, con sidering the parts as illustrated in Fig. 8, into engagement with the cooperating lugs 46 46 on "the cam 44 and continue to rotate the cam until the end 43 drops into the depression 52,

thus breaking the motorcircuit and restor ing the controHing-circuit. Although not essential to the operation, I provide a spring 53, which is coiled about the cam 44 and'secured at one end to said cam and at the other to the member 48, which is mounted on the spring-case for the purpose of bringing the cooperating lugs 46 and 47 into engagement when unrestrained by the operation of the mechanism.

Referrim now particularly to the modiiicd structure iilustrated in Figs. 11 to 14, inclu sive, it will be seen that the shaft 15 is provided with two arms .19 H), which coo icratc with a single stop 20 to permit the desired half-revolution of the shalt necessary to give the proper niovcn'ient to the movable element of the switch A. The construction of the tripping and stop mechanism is identical with that, shown in. the other figures and previously described. However, in this form of the invention, where one tripping-coil unit is used, it is necessary to provide some men us for dcinergizing it as soon as the mechanism has been released in order that the stop in may return to its engaging position soon position illustrated i l l l l i i J l l l l l l l l l l g l l i enough to catch an arm I!) and stop the shell. l5 when il has made it hall-rcvolution. For this purpose l provide one ol the arms 15) with the contact 54, which is adapted to electrically connect the iixcd ontacts 55 55 when in one position and the contacts 56 56 when in the other. 'lhesc tixed contacts 55 5b are secured to and insulated from the l'rmnc It} nt their lower ends by a bar 57, which is securely bolted to the under side oi the lhingcd portion of illustrated. The u ipcr ends of the contacts 54, 55, and 56 are lrcc and by reason of the resiliency of the metal make a satisfactory electrical engagement. 'lhe contacts 55 and 56 are provided with bmdmg posts 58 and 59,

respectively. In making the electrical connections for this form of'thc invention the motor-circuit is com )lcted, as below, by the switch (1 engaging tie contacts 34 34, but the circuits for the tripping-coil 29 are orrangcd somewhat. dillercntly than illustrated in Fig: it).

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 13, the tenni no] 38 of controlling-switch 40 is connected to one of the contacts 55, and the other contact 55 is connected directly to the brunch 6U, leading from one of the contacts 33 to the tripping-coil 29. The other terminal 3!) ol the controlling-switch is connected to one of the connicts 56, and the other contact so is connected by the wire (51 to one of the contacts 33. With this arrangement of circuits it will be seen that two branches extend. from the controlling-switeh 40 to the tripping-coil 29. ()ne of these extends through the contacts 5. F5 and the other through the contacts 56 56 and contacts 33 33. These connections are so arranged that in order to open the main switch A the circuit is completed through the contacts 55 55, and to close the switch the circuit is completed through the other branch embracing the contacts so so and 33 33. By having the opening cicruit broken ill-0110 instead of two points the likelihood oi failure in opening the switch due to poor contact is greatly reduced. If now it. is desired to open the main switch, assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 13, the controlling-switch 40 is thrown to the left and the controlling-circuit is completed bciwccn the supplyonuins 35 so through the branch including' the contacts 55 55. This will then energize the coil 2!) and release the shalt 15, which will immediately begin to rotate, and thereby break thccircuil between the contacts 55 .55. 'lhis will dcenergizc tfhecoil 2i! and allow the stop 31) to lull back into its engaging position in time to catch the arm it) and slop I he rotation of the shaft l5. At the ilIHlPl! 1 the coil 3!! is tripped by this movcincni. o; ihc cl:ntrollingswitch the cam '14, whi h minutes the niotor-conti'olling switch (I and its coi'ip iuting parts, is in the posisaid frame, as clearly .tion illustrated in Fig. 8, and as the shaft 15 l at the completion of n Loiilithl'i'i) movement rotates it simultaneously breaks the con-- trolling-circuit at the contacts 55 and cor ries the lug 50 on the member 49 into engage-- ment. with the h1g5} on the Quit, and therchji' sctuatcs the cum to LllIOW the motoocow trolling switch C across the terminals 34 34 in the motor-circuit. The motor being time set in motion continues to rotate until its circuit is broken through the action of the springease 18 and the cam 44, as previously described. In the rotation of the shaft 15 the hrid ing contact 54 will he carried over to the fixed cont sets 56 56 practically at the some time that the motor-circuit is closed; but a movement of the controllin switch to the contact 39 will not energize the tripping-coil 29, since this branch of the controlling-circuit is broken at the contacts 33 33. After the spring has been fully wound, however, the circuit at. the contacts 33 33 is closed, and thereafter {my movement of the controllingswitch 40 to the contact 39 will close the (-ir cuit through the coil 29 and again trip the mechanism, this time to close the main switch. From the above it will he seen that, as in the other arrangement of circuits illustrated in Fig. 10, the tripping mechanism can never be operated while the motor is in operation.

With either form of the switch mechanism illustrated I am enabled to obtain a strong positive switch movement and provide means which prevent the tripping oi the mechanism except when the spring is properly wound. It is also apparent t mt many of the ports and combinations which I have illustrated in the present forms of niy invention are capable of implication in other connections, and i therefore do not wish to he limited to the specific application herein disclosed. it will also he apparent that many alterations and modiiicw tions may be made in the spcvilic structure illustrated without departing from the spirit of my invention. and 1 therefore aim to cover hy the towns of the appended claims all such alterations and modifications.

\Vhnt I claim as new, and (it-sire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In switehmperating mechanism, the combination of a movable member, a motor, connecting means hctwcon said motor and member whcrehy energy suflicicnt for one or more movements of sold mcinhcr may histored by a. single operation of said motor, and means for mitometicnlly starting fitit'i motor only at the completion of so id movements to store up ei-icrgy for suhsoqu nt movements.

2. ln switchniperating mechanism, the combination of n ri iprocntory lmrmhcr, It motor connecting menus between said motor and memhor wherehy energy may he stored for the operation ol' said nmmlwr. and

means for automatically sterling: said motor i trump: Sing 2 rwi of said momhcr to store up micron for suhsc quent movements.

3%. The continuation oi n swit'rh. a motor, romnwtiogr means between sold motor and till ll UYitlJlfl element oi :seii'l snit h whcrirhy energy may he non-(l. for the mmieiocnt oi sniii element, and means for notionalicnlly starting sniii motor at the (-ompletion oi the opening movement. of swirl switch to store up cnerg r for subsequent movements.

4. The comhinntion of it switch a motor connecting means lltlwttll seiil motor and the movable clement. oisnid switch wher'd y energy sui'hrient to open and lose said switch may he stored h 2!, single operation of sold motor, and moons 'l'or entomnticiilly starting said motor only at the completion of each closing and opening of the switch to store n J energy for suhgeqnerlt mo ements.

5. The i-omliiimtion of on electric switch, menus for storing ltll'ig' to o erate seit'l swit h, means for releasing thestored no orgy, and moons for setting; sni i. storh fr muons in operation only after snid switch leer: completed its movement ti. The combination of an electric switch, moons. for storing energy to operate said switch. menus for releasing the stored en ergy, ttlltl menus for setting said storing means in operation end rcndcringithe relensi ing means inoperative during the one-ration of said stoi ing means.

7'. ln switchmpernting mechanism, the continuati n oi e llltlVitlllt' member, a. motor, vonnm'tifog nwims lietiuei-ii snial motor ni'izl mcmhcr for storing: one; n van fe l ll} seria motor. nae-ens f r ItlvllFll in to operate sold momlwr. and 1::- im; sent! momr moi rendering menus inoperative (luring; 1hr sw rl motor.

8. in switch-opcroting comhinritioii oi n ltllji'ttl lt tric motor, connecting! {lit'ullS lwiwoei motor nod nwoihcr For Morin; o plied f' sold motor. 11. con ruin-iron: inn ilwlllmlljvmotilrilcil Ilit'itllc. ior'i'tn i the stored tltll'll t t opelntr htilii mezni and switching moons for limiting: nod larotlcin; the coon-ctcircuit eltemntely with the l!lUl'. H" ('l1l'l!lli it. in switch -opt-rnling mm-luinism, the romhinntion til it nnwnhlo member. an oh 11- l'ric motor courier-tinginc tin lwlwcen said motor and UHl'Hiitl' for storing energy sore plied h) snio motor, at control cir nit incln'rl mg oiet-tritnlly-m mitt-ii means for releasing! the stored encrgy to perme siiiil noimlier. and it :hin;3 menus Hi'ltlllltli in; said oor. net-ting, memo to imiliic and break the Con rrol-rircuit. itlti'ltfthilv with the motor--ciruitv lit The voiia iliittioi" i 2U: imilr r- .i prom ar switch hzemhefi it n for sisrtr leasing? vrliti-n'i of all the shaft against rotation, an electric mospring-actuated crank-shaft for governing its 2 movements, one or more arms rigidly secured l to said shaft, and one or more stops coiipersting therewii b, said arms and stops being so located -that said crank will be sto ped on 1 dead-center to hold said switch mem er in its extreme open and closed positions.

11. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of two rotatable members, ai s ring for transmitting motion from one to the other, a motor for rotating one member J to energize said spring, a movable stop for J preventing the rotation of the other member, and motor-controlling means operated by the latter member to start said motor and by i the former member to stop said motor.

12.. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of a crank-shaft, a spribgi-case rotatably mounted thereon, a spring coiled about said shaft and secured at its opposite ends to said shaft and said case, a motor, geared to said case and adapted to wind up E said spring, a movable stop for preventing the rotation of said shaft, motorrcontrolling means operated by said shaft to start said motor and b said case to stop said motor.

13. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of a crank-shaft, a spring-case l rotatably mounted thereon, a spring coiled about said shaft and secured at its op osite ends to said shaft and said case, an el ctric motor geared to said case and adapted to wind up said spring, means for permitting an intermittent rotation of said s aft, a switch for making and breaking the motor-circuit, a cam for operating said switch means actuated i by the crank-shaft to move said cam to close I said switch, and means actuated by the spring 1 case to move said cam to open said switch. i

14. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of an operating-shaft, spring mechanism for storing up ener to rotate said shaft, a movable stop adapte o prevent said rotation, an electric motor for ene': bin said sprin mechanism, and a motor-contro ling switcii operated by said shaft.

15. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of an operating-shaft, spring mechanism for storing up energy to rotate said shaft, a movable stop adapted to hold said spring, a controlcircuit inclu ctrically-actuated means for moving sai sto from its engaging osition, and a contro ling-switch operate by said shaft to close the motor-circuit and open the control-circuit or vice versa to close the control-circuit and open the motor-circuit.

16. The combination of a tripp' -coil, mechanism to be freed thereby, BIILZFGCUIC motor for operating said mechanism, a controlling-switch included in circuit with said coil, and means operated by said mechanism J tor for enesgizmg l e e 1 including said coil and switch and comprising to make and break said circuit and the motorcircuit alternatel l 17. The combination of a trippin -coil, mechanism to be freed thereby, an e ectric motor for operatin said mechanism, a con trolling-switch inc uded in circuit with said coil, means operated by said mechanism to make and break said circuit at one point, and means to make and break said circuit at another point and the motor-circuit alternate] 18. In switch-operating mechanism, t e combination of a movable member, an electric motor, connectin means between said motor and member w ereby energy may be stored by said motor for the o eration of said member, electrically-operate means for releasing said energy comprisin a trippingcoil, a controlling-switch mclu ed in circuit with said coil, means operated by said connecting means for making and breaking said circuit at one point, and me ans operated b said cbnnecting means to niake and brea said circuit at another point and themotorcircuit alternately.

19. The combination of a tripping-coil, mechanism to be freed thereby, a controllingswitch, a circuit including said switch and coil and comprising two branches leading from saidswitch to said coil, and means operated by said mechanism to make and break said branches alternately.

20. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of a movable member, an electric motor, connectin means between said member and motor w ereby ene may be stored by said motor for the o eratlon of said member, electrically-operate means for releasing said energy comprising a trippin coil, a controlling-switch, a control-circult two branches leading from said switch to s coil, means operated by said connecting means to make and break said branches alternately, and means operated by said OOHIIBC-tfi ing means to make and break one of said branches and the motor-circuit alternately.

21. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination of an operatingahaft, spring mechanism for storing up energy to rotate said shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, a movable stop adapted tulie in the path of said arm to prevent the rotation of the shaft a tripping-coil for moving saidstop from said path, fixed contacts included iii? bn-cuit with said coil, and a bridging contardcarried by said arm and adapted to engage said fixed contacts to close the circuit through said coil.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th da of Se tember', 1904.

TH JODO E E. BUTTON.

Witnesses:

' BENJAMIN B. HULL,

HELEN ORFORU.

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