US832705A - Circuit-breaker. - Google Patents

Description

No. 832,705. PATENTBD OCT. 9, 1906. S. B. STEWART, JR.

\ CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED mn.2o,19o5.

s smmssnnm 1 64- Witnesses Inventor 4557 46 flmzz Samuel BStgwart, Jr.

- Atria No. 832,705. PATENTS-ID OCT. 9. 1906.

S. B. STEWART, J11.

CIRCUIT BREAKER. APPLICATION rum) MAR.20,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses lnvsntor f E Samue! BStewarLJr.

B v WW No. 832,705. PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906. I

S B STEWART, JR CIRCUIT BREAKER. APPLICATION nun MAR, 20, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3v r. w m Wm; mam

L W nB d Witnesses ,Ky KM 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'SAMU EL'B. STEWART, JR.,-F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO "GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1 Application in! man 20,1906. s mi No. 250,895.

Patented Oct. 9, 190a.

To all icltom it may concern.-

.Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. STEWART,

" J12, a citizen of the United States, residing in able contacts. Fig. 3 is a plan of the breaker.

cordance with the present invention.

Schenectady, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful .lm rovements in Circuit- Breakers, of which t e following is a specification.

Thepresent invention relates generally to circuit-breakers, and more particularly to that type of circuit-breaker employed in street-railway work, Where the breaker is of large capacity and is located at a point dis tant from the motorman, usually on the bottom of the car-body, and is controlled .by. the

manipulation of control switches located within reach of the motorman.

Obviously the invention is not limited to street-railway equipments, but may be used inother relations where it is desired to control thcopcration of the breaker from a distant point.

The present invention comprises a novel arrangement of parts by which the breaker is rendered mechanically .rigid and compact is a sectional elevation of the same, the section being taken on a center line'through the actuatingecoil and in the plane of the mov- Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the breaker, showing particularly the blow-out coil and a the deflecting arc'chute. 1 Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the movable contacts in lan, this section being taken on the line 5 5 of i'g. 2; and Fig. 6 is a diagram of the breaker and its electrical connections.

Re'ferring in detail to; the drawings, 10-

designates the main supportin frame or skeleton of the breaker, compr sing metal heads 11 12., held together by retaining-bolts 1'3 and inclosingthe actuating-coil or solen- Fig. 2'

oid 14 of the breaker. The frame l0 also comprises two substantially parallel metal walls 15, which extend downwardly from the lower head 12 and inclose the greater portionof the moving contacts of the breaker and their holding and tripping-mechanism. The L actuating-coil 14, w 10b is securely held in place between the heads 1 1 and 12,is provided with a fixed core 16 and a cooperatin mov-' able core 17, which extends down t rou h an aperture in thelower head 12 of t e frame 10 and is pivotally secured at 18 to the contact-arm 19, which in turn is pivotally supported at one end b the pivot 20, whic extends through the wa ls 15 of the frame 10.

The free end of the arm 19 is rovided with a brush-contact 21 and an auxi iary shunt-eontact 22, which are ada ted to cooperate with a fixed contact 23.' T e arm 19 and its conitacts normally tend to 0 en in response to their own weight assisted y the coiled spring 24, which bears against the upper face of the arm 19 and the lower face of the head 12 off the supporting-frame. Cooperating with the contact-arm 19 is an auxiliary contact-arm 25, which is also connected at an intermediate point to the movable core 17 of the solenoid y the pivot 18.

The free end of the auxiliary contact-arm 25 is provided with a removable contact 26., which cooperates with a carbon contact-.-

block 27 in making and breaking the circuit- -eontrolled by the breaker.

tacts 23 and 27 are mounted upon a conduct: ing-block 28, located between the side Walls 29 of an arc deflecting-chute which extends laterall from the supporting-frame 10..

This 0 ute also com rises the obli ue1' arranged walls 30 an the upper wal 31. These walls of the arc chute, together with the contact-block 28, are connected to an in sulating-plate 32 which is secured. at its 0 osite ends to the heads-11 and 12 oft e ame 10 and partially incloses the actuatingcoil'14i The walls of this chute, together with the supporting-wall 32, are preferably composed 0 indurated fiber, although it is obvious that other suitable insulating material might equally well be employed. A

dovetailed groove is formed in the contactblock 28 by the addition of a plate 33, and in i j this groove one end'ofthe contact 23 and the greater portion of the carbon contact-block As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the contactblock 28-is' provided with an outwardly-extending flange 34, which is electrically connected to the blow-out coil 35, which abuts against this flange at one end and at the 10 other end against a flange 36 of one of the terminals 37 of the circuit-breaker. Allof these arts are compactly arranged between the si' e walls 29 of the arc chute. An iron .boltw38, constituting the magnet-core, ex-' 5 tends through thecenter Qfrthe blow-out coil 35.and is secured at its o posite ends to polepieces 39, which .take t e form of substantially rectangular plates, which extend downward .from the outside of. the walls 29 of .the arc-chute, so as to embrace the breakoints .of the breaker. Inconnecting the I reaker incircuit a lead is passed througha suitableop'ening 40 inione of the walls 29 of the arcchute and clamped in firm enga ementwith the terminal 37 by turning up :t e screwsetl. The circuit from this point 'is completed to the fixed contacts 23 and 27 by .way of the flange 36, blow-outcoil 35, flange 34 ,andcontact-block 28.

Y'Ilheoperation of the breaker zis such that movedinto and out ofengagement in a definite order, thecontacts 26 and 27 breaking the circuit atter the contacts 22 and 23'and making .the circuit prior to said contacts; while ;the contacts 22 and'23 break the one cuit subsequent to the contacts 21 and 23 and make the same prior thereto. "This is v v brought about by-means ,of :the pivotal ar- 40 rangement of the contact- arms 19 and 25, as heretofore described, and by the intermediate member .42, which is connected at an intermediate point to the movable ;core 117 .byQ-the pivot 18 and at its end adjacent the Wot-2040 the side walls 15 of the-supporting.- rame by va pivot 43. The pivot extends through openings 44 in the contact-arm 19, whicharaelongated, so that this interfere with the 'movement 0? I The opposite end ofthe intermediate mem-' ber 4,2 yieldin lyzengages the auxiliarycontact-arm 2.5, :t e yie. dingengagement being obtained ,byacoi ed .s ring .45. The end of the auxiliary arm 25 a jacent to the pivot 20 is.electrically. connected by; a flexible conductor-stri 4,6;to aportion ofthe metal frame 10 cf .the' reakeras, for example, the -head 112+'the connection between the strip and thezheadi hi case being pr vid d b pass strip. The same end of the auxiliary cont'actsarm 25.ex tends under the contact-arm 1'9, soas to engagethe same.

From the above it will be seen that the pivots 20 and 43 .are fixed relatively to the the main and auxili ry contacts will be n will not the arm.

ingoneofithe bolts 13.t.h1ough:tl 1e en of-the supporting-frame of the breaker, while the' pivot 18 moves with .the movable core 17, and that the pivot 18 is nearer the pivot 43 than the pivot 20. As a result of this arrangementwhenthe core 17 is drawn upward to close thebreaker the movement of the outer end of the arm 19 is much slower than the movement of the outer end of the ,auxils iary arm 25, because of the difference in leverage. Consequently the contact 26 moves through a greater distance than the contacts 21 and 22 and by reason of the relative arrangement engages its fixed contact member sooner When the .breaker is tripped and the movable contacts are allowed to drop, the auxiliarycontact-arm is prevented from dropping until after the contacts 21 and 22 have assed some distance from the contact '23. his is accomplished through the agency of the coiled spring 45. i Whenthe breaker is once closed through .the ,energization of the coil 14, it is held in closed position by a toggle comprising the links 47 48, acting between the contact-arm 19 and a fixed pivot. 49, which-extends .be-'

This toggle is not overset when hol ing the circuit-breaker closed, :but is held from collapsing by meansof a pivot-latch 50, which engages a wear-plate 51 onan overhan ing ortion 52 of the'link 47 of the toggle. :his atch 50 is, in fact, a .lever mounted uponthe pivot 49. The free nd .oithis' lever extends into. the path of movementof an armatur of an overload trip coil 54, also located between the Walls 15 of the frame- .of the breaker. This trip-coil is mechanically I and electrically connected at its upper end to a conducting plate 55,whi ch is firmly secured to one of thewalls 1-5 of the-frame; The opposite'end of the coil 54 is insulated from the frame 10 and electrically connected t'oa terthe walls 15, to which it is mechanicallycm nected by asuitable interposed block of insulation 57. Thus the circuit from the terminal 37, adjacent tot-he blow- -out coil 35, to the terminal 56 is xcompleted' through the blow-out 011 to .the fixed contacts ,of the breaker, as previously indicated, thence breaker. The tensionespring 74, attached to the armature 53, is providedwith a calibratingeserew-58 by which the breaker may be set .to operate automatically upon the occurtween the walls 15 of the supportin -frame.

minal- 56, which extends out ,-beyond one of through the movable contacts ,to the frame rence of different predetermined current strengths. v H

Ad acent to the overload coil 54 and mounted upon the same supporting-plate 55, but insulated therefrom, is a coil 59,which may be included in any.dcsired controlcircuit. Cooperating with this coil is an armature 60. The armature 53 of the coil 54 and the armature 60 are pivoted at the adjacent points-61. 62 and are provided with overlapping ends which are arranged so that they will engage each other when the armature 60 is actuated. In this way it is possible by energizing the coil 59 to draw the adjacent end of the armature 60 upward, and thereby force the nonadjacent end of the armature 53 upward, so as to trip the latch and open the breaker. On the side of the circuit-breaker frame opposite the arc chute is a frame 63, mounted upon an insulating-plate 64, located directly opposite the insulating-plate 32and similarly secured between the metal heads '1 1 and 12 of the frame of the breaker. This frame 63 carries insulated resistance-coils provided with ad j usting-clips 66, by which the amount of'resistance in circuit may be varied.

Referring to the diagram shown in Fig. 6, the main circuit is shown extending from a supply-wire 67, through the blow-out coil 35, to. the fixed contact 23 of the breaker, thence through the movable contact-arm 19, overload-coil 54, and. a motor 68, to ground at 69. A separate control-circuit for the actuatingcoil 1.4 is also shown extending between the supply-wire 6. through a control-switch 70 and the coil 14, to ground at 71. A similar control-circuit for the tripcoil "59 is also shown. This coil extends from the same supply-wire 67, through 'a second control-switch 72, to coil 59 and the resistance 65,to ground at 73. From this it will be seen, as previously indicated, the breaker when once closed will be tripped upon overload through the action ofthe coil 54 upon the trip mechanism of the breaker. When once tripped, the breaker may be closed by closing the control-switch 70, and when the core 17 is drawn up the circuit-breaker will be automatically set and retained in thisposition until again tripped by the overload or by the auxiliary trip-coil 59 The latter is controlled by the manual switch 72. 4

From the above descri tion it will be apparent that I have provi ed a very compactand efficient structure. It will also be a parent that many of the details are capabIe of use in other connections and certain modifications and alterations may be made in the .matter disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I there fore do not wish to be limited to the specific disclosure, but aim to cover by the terms of the a pended claims all such modifications and a terations.

WhatI claim as new, and desire to'secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a main fixed contact, of a main movable contact engaging therewith,a fixed pivot for said movable contact, an auxiliary movable contact engaging with another fixed contact, a fixed pivot for said auxiliary contact, said pivots being at difierent distances from the,

main fixed contact, and a reciprocating actuating member connected to said movable 'contacts whereby said movable contacts engage and dlsengage said fixed contacts 1n se- 2. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a main fixed contact, of a main movable contact engaging therewith, a fixed pivot for said movable contact, anauxiliary movable contact engaging with another fixed contact, a fixed pivot for said auxiliary contact, said pivots ,b ing at different distances from the main fixed. contact, an actuating member connected to said main movable contact, and a yielding connection between said movable contacts, whereby the said movable contacts engage and disengage said fixed contacts inv sequence.

3. In an electromagnetically-actuated circuit-breaker, the combination with a main fixed contact, of a main movable contact engaging therewith, a fixed pivot for said movable contact, an' auxiliary movable contact engaging with another fixed contact, a fixed ivot for said auxiliary contact, said pivots eing at different distances from the main fixed contact, a reciprocating actuating member connected to said movable contacts, and,

actuating member connected to sai movable,

contacts at different distances from the pivots thereof.

5. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a main fixed contact, of a main movable contact engaging therewith, a fixed pivot for said movable contact, an auxiliary movable contact engaging with another fixed contact,

a fixed pivot for said auxiliary contact, an actuating member connected to said main movable contact, and a yielding connection between said contacts, the pivot of the main contact being at a different distance from the yielding connection than the pivot of the auxiliary contact.

6. In a circuit-breaker, the combinatzon with a main fixed contact, of main DIOR/2nd? rig adapted to engage one of said fixe contacts,

- 7; In a circuit-brea contact engagingtherewith, a fixed pivot for said mova le contact, an auxiliary movable contact engaging with-smother fixed .contact,

. a reciprocatory member connected tosaid movable contact, an auxiliary movable contact pivoted to said reciprocatory member and adapted to engage another of'said fixed contacts, and an intermediate member pivoted to said support and to said rec1proca tory member an adapted to transmit movement to said. auxiliary movable contact whereby said movable contacts will engage.

and disengage their fixed contacts in se% quence. v

8. An electric circuit-breaker com rising a support, fixed contacts carried there y, 'main and auxiliary contacts, pivots for said contactscarriedby said support, and an actuating member secured to said movablecontacts at une ual distances from their pivots whereby sai movable contacts engage and disengage theinfixed contacts in sequence.

9. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a, supporting metal frame,.of'a.-fixed contact extending from-and insulated from said frame, a cooperating movable contact, operating mechanism therefor carried by said frame, and an electromagnetfor blowing out the are formed between the contacts.

, having its coil supported by and in circuit I mechanism for sa1d movable contact carrie with said fixed contact.

10'. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a supporting metal frame, of a fixed contact exten frame,.a eooperating'movable contact electrically connected to said frame, operatin by said frame, a terminal-insulated from said frame and in circuit with said fixed contact,

and a second terminalelectrically connected to said frame. I

1 1. I In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a supporting metal frame, of a fixed con-.

tact extending laterally from and insulatedfrom said frame, a 006 crating laterally ex tending cont'actinovab e vertically into and.

out of 'enga ement'withsaid fixed contact and electrica ly connected to said frame, oper-' 'ating mechanism" therefor carried by said frame, a terminal insulated from said frameand in circuit with said fixed contact, and "a said actuating member,

ing means carried by said frame and located for said mova I within the space formed'between said walls. mg from :and nsulated from said;

lower en second terminal electrically connected frame.

* -12. In an electric circuit-breaker,-the combination with a supporting metal frame, of a fixed contact supported by and insulated from said frame, a cooperatlng movable con-" tact electrically connected to said frame, o'pcrating mechanism therefor carried by said frame, a terminal insulated from said frame and in circuit with said fixed contact,' a trip-.

coil for said 0 crating mechanism having one 13. In a ()ll'QllltrblGfldiGl, .thecombinationend electrica y connected to said frame, and a second termmal connected to the opposite end of said trip-coil.

with a supporting-frame, of a fixed contact, a laterally-extending vertically-movable .con-

I tact adapted to engage said fixed contact, a vertically-movabl actuating member se-' cured to said movable contact and extending upward; therefrom,

and holding and tripelow. said movable contact.

14. Ina circuit-breaker, the combination with a 'supporting-framqof a fixed contact secured to one side of said frame, a cooperating means for reciprocating laterally-extending vertically-moving contact, an actuating member secured to said movable contact and extending upwardly therefrom, holding and trippin means carried by said frame and locate movablecontact, a blow-out magnet located above said fixed contact andhaving its poles embracin the break-point of the switch-contacts, an an arc chute secured to the side of said frame and opening outward therefrom.

, below said 15. In a circult-breaker, the combination with'a supporting-frame comprising parallel walls, of an actuating mem er projecting downward into the space between said walls,

a laterally-extending movable contact secured to said actuatin member, a fixed eontact with which sai movable contact is adapted to engage, and control mechanism le contact located below it 16. In a circuit-breaker, the combination walls, of an actuating mem er pro'ecting with a supporting-frame comprising parallel I I r515 downwardintothe space between sai walls,

said walls, a blow-out magnet, and anarc chute-embracing the fixed contactand eom prising side-walls arra ed in substantial alinement with the wallso said frame.v

1,7. Ina circuit-breaker, thev combination "of -a pair of electromagnetsfla spring-restrained tripping-armature actuated by one magnet, and a second armature actuated by the other magnet to move the first armature against the pull of'its spring.

18. In a circuit-breaker, the combination of a pair of electromagnets, -two interrelated armatures therefor, and a spring secured to one of said armatures and o erative to hold both armatures away from t e1r coilsi 19. In a circuit-breaker, the combination,

of a pair of electromagnets, two adjacentlypivoted armatures therefor ha'ving engaging overlapping ends, and a springsecured to one of said armatures and operative to hold both armatures away from their coils.

20. An electric circuit-breaker comprising cooperating fixed and movable contacts biased toopen when closed, means for hold-- ing the" contacts closed, and tri ping means therefor comprising a pair, of in ependentlycontrolled eleetromagnets, a spring-returned armature actuated by one of said ma nets to trip said holding means and a secon armatu-re actuated by the other magnet to move the first armature into trilpping position.

21. An electric circuitreaker comprising therefor comprisin cooperating fixed and movable contacts biased to open when closed, means for bold ing said contacts closed, and tripping means an electromagnet included in circuit wit 1 said contacts, an armature actuated by said magnet to trip said holding means, a second electromagnet, and an armature therefor operative when actu ated by its magnet to move the first armature into tripping position.-

'22. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with a. supporting-frame, of an electric actuating-coil located in the upper portion'of said

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