US833228A - Motor-controller. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTBD OCT. 16, 1905 W. A. LAGKE. MOTOR CONTROLLER. nrmouron rum) x ov.2a,1 aos.

3 SHEETS-BEBE! 1.

WALdcke.

wi mum THE umzms mnzns 5a., WASHINGTON. n s.

IATENTED 0GT.16, 190e w. A. LAGKE. MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 wk W 'WTAJIQ cie THE NORRIS PITERS co, wunmcrou. D. q.

PATENTED OCT. 16

W. A. man.- MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV.29,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MA Lac'ke 1n: NDRRYS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n, c.

WILLIAM A. LACKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOTOR-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

A li ati fil d November 29, 1905. Serial No. 289,661.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM A. LACKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at 177 N'nety-first street, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor- Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of electric motor starters and controllers which em body means for cutting out the starting resistance from the armature-circuit and so arranged as to allow the armature to speed up sufficiently to absorb the inrush current without liability of overload.

The object of my invention is to provide a hand-operated motor starter or controller of this general character embodying a novel arrangement and construction of the parts, whereby a succession of solenoids will automatically control and cut out all the starting resistance step by step, so that no matter how carelessly the operator may manipulate the starting and reversing switches the inrush current to the armature of the motor will be automatically governed and whereby the full force of the inrush current will be included in the armaturecircuit only after an appreciable time shall have elapsed to allow the armature to speed sufliciently to absorb the inrush current, thereby preventing an overload and its consequent disadvantages and injurious results.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying (.lrawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional and side elevation of the improvements comprising my invention, the view being taken from what might be generally considered the front side of the switch and. parts being shown somewhat in the nature of diagrams. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating all of the circuits included in one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 is an approximately similar view illustrating the reverse side of the starting and reversing switch of my invention. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections through the switchhandle and segment that is attached thereto and that carries the brushes for effecting the closing and opening of the various circuits, the sections being taken on the lines X X and Y Y, respectively.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In the present instance the starting and reversing switch is mounted within the oil-tank 1, which is provided with a cover 2, to which the main portion of the tank is detachably connected, as by clamping-screws 3, so that the tank may be let down from its cover whenever desired to inspect the interior parts, such downward movement being preferably limited by a chain 4, connected to the top of the tank and its cover, respectively, so that the tank may be suspended in position for such inspection. The switch 5 comprises a preferably segmental plate 6, integrally connected with the actuating-handle 7 and pivotally mounted to swing in a vertical plane within the oil-tank on a pivoted stud or the like 8, mounted in the cover 2. The segmental plate 6 of the switch carries a predetermined number of brushes which are in the present instance in the form of sliding contact-plates, said brushes being arranged, preferably, in two sets on opposite sides of a plurality of terminals or contact-plates for the purposes of closing and opening the various circuits hereinafter specifically described. In the present instance the brushes designated 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 are for the purpose of closing and opening the main-line circuits and for the purpose of reversing the current in the armature-circuit, and on the segmental plate 6 there are complementary brushes designated 9, 10, 11, and 12, re spectively, on the opposite side thereof, as best seen in Fig. 3. As illustrated in the diagrammatic view the brushes 9 and 9 are electrically connected, as are the brushes 10 and 10 From this description it is evident that the brushes 9 to 10*, inclusive, are for the purpose of closing the circuit of the mo- -tor to actuate the same in a forward directhe various brushes are secured to some stationary support in-a desired manner between the two sets of brushes and are here desig nated A to F, inclusive. and B have complementary terminals A and B', arranged, preferably, in juxtaposition thereto, and the latter terminals are de- I signed for the leads of the armature-circuit with a pin 18, connected to a contractile spring 18 so as to'normally hold it in one position. The pinion 18 is of such size that in moving the switch from one contact-spring F to another,or,in other words-,fromone step 'to the ,neXt, the pinion will revolve once.

This will insure the contact being made accurately. It will be understood that the oil-tank, which submerges in oil all of the contacts of the switch, thereby insures the prevention of all injury which would otherwise result from arcing, the oil immediately elfectinganextinguishing of allof the arcs, andthereby protecting all of the parts from the injurious blistering which would otherwise ensue. I

The switch-handle 7 is provided -with a roller 19, which; in the normal central position of the handle is in operative contact with the arm 20, fulcrumed at 21 on a bracket 22 and carrying at its other end a preferably bronze spring 23, to which a copper contactblock 24 is attached. The spring 25 is-se cured to the arm'20 and to the cover 2 and tends to draw the arm 20 in a direction to make contact between the block 24 and a similar block 26, and this action of the spring 25 is prevented when the switchhandle 7 is in the central position by means of the roller 19 which holds the arm 20 in such position that the blocks 24 and 26 are out of contact witheach other. When the switch-handle is moved in one direction or theother,.the pin 19 willbe moved off the center and out of engagement with the arm 20 and will thereby permit the spring 25 to act to effect the contact of the blocks 24 and 26; but the action of the spring and the movement of the said arm are retarded by means of an oil-gag or other form of dash- The terminals A anism, and each of which in turn governs or controls the next succeeding'solenoid in such manner that each solenoid which is connected to a predetermined step in the resistance ofthe armature-circuit will operate only after the solenoid for the preceding step in the resistance has. operated. As shown in Fig. 1, these solenoids are electromagnetic switches comprises .in the'present embodiment of the invention a solenoid 29, provided with a core 30, carrying at one end an armature'31, designed to bridge terminals F and R, respectively, when the solenoid is energized to lift its core. The'other end of the core 30 is connected by a link 32 to one end of a rockingarm 33, fulcrumed at 34 and carrying a roller 35 normally in engagement with an arm 36, similar to the arm 20, and

gag, or other dash-pot mechanism, and'a contact-block, as shown. With this lastnamed contact-block (designated 37) there is designed to coact a contact-block 38, which is adjustably mounted, as shown, and is connected to the common return for the current from all of the electromagnetswitches, as will be hereinafter described.

In connection with a. solenoid 29 and its concomitant parts is a predetermined'number of similar solenoids which I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate and describe in de-' tail, but will describe their function and operation in connection with the other parts of the mechanism. .In the drawings the entire resistance to be cut out from the armature-circuit is designated by legend and the several steps in the resistance are respectively designated R, R R", and R The field for the motor is also properly designated and illustrated diagrammatically, as are also the armature and its leads.

Having described the mechanical features of my invention and such parts of the electrical mechanism which depend upon mechanical devices for actuation, I s all now proceed to describe the various circuits in connection with a description of the oper ation of the device for cutting out the various steps in the resistance.

In the practical use of my invention if the handle 7 is turned so as to bring the brushes 9 and 10 into contact with the terminals A and B and the brushes 9 and 10 simultaneously with the terminals A and B the circuit to the motor will be closed with all of the resistance in, a and the path of the current would be as follows: from the plus side of the line to the terminal B and brush 10 to brush also provided with an actuating-spring, oil- 10 to the armature-lead 100, around the artive side of the line. When the motor is reversed, the handle 7 is moved in an opposite direction, so as to bring the brushes 11 and 12 into engagement with the terminals A and B and the brushes A and B. The path of the current will then be as follows: from the plus side of the line to the terminal B, brush 12, through the switch to brush 1]., thence to the terminal or-contact A to the armaturelead 100", around the armature, back through the armature-lead 100, thence to the brush 12?, through the switch to the brush 11, and, finally, out through the terminal A around the field of the motor and through all of the resistance back to the negative side of the line. So far I have described circuits with all of the resistance cut in. trace the path of the current and describe the circuits when the handle 7 is pulled to the right far enough to effect the engagement of one of the resistance cut-out brushes and its proper terminal or contact-plate to efi'ect the cutting out of one step in the resistance. hen the handle 7 is pulled over just far enough to allow the brush 13 to contact with the terminal or contact C, the current will flow from the line and contact-block 24 over the contact-plate C, and, if sulficient time has elapsed to allow the blocks 24 and 26 to come into contact with each other the current will flow to and through the solenoid 29, energizing the latter, and causing the core 30 thereof to pull up the armature 31 therein to bridge the contacts F and R. The path of this shunt current or electromagnetswitch current will be as follows: from the plus side of the line through the terminal B and brush 12, brush 13, terminal C, blocks 24 and 26, solenoid. 29, and common returnpoint 200 for all of the electromagnetswi-tches, and thence back to the negative side line. The path of the current around the armature with the parts actu ated. as just described will be from the plus side of the line to the terminal B, brush 12, to the brush 11, armature-lead 100, around the armature through armature-lead 100, brush 12 brush 11, terminal A, through the field to the contact F of the first electromagnetic switch or solenoid 29, through the armature 31 to the other contact R of said solenoid, thence to R in the resistance and through the remaining steps of the resistance out to the negative side of the line. By throwing the switch-handle 7 farther over so as to bring the contact D and brush 1 1 in contact, the second of the electromagnetic switches will cut in, providing, however, that the makeand- break devices 37 and 38 of the first automatic switch or solenoid shall have had time to make contact and close the circuit, thereby cutting out the resistance-steps B and. It The path of the operating-current for the switches will then be from the plus side of the line to the terminal B, brush 1.2,

through the connecting-wire 300 and brush I shall now;

14 to the terminal D, thence through the second solenoid, which I have designated II in contradistinction to the first solenoid, which is designated I, through the make-and break devices 37 and 38 of the solenoid I, if the latter and the make-and-break device 24 and 26 shall have had. time to successfully close the circuits, and thence to the common return for all of the electromagnetic switches to the negative side of the line. The path of the current through the motor will be from the plus side of the line to the terminal or contact B, through the brush 12, brush 11*, contact A armature-lead 100, around the armature, back through armature-lead 100 to terminal B, to brush 12, to brush 11, to terminal A, through the field to the contacts F and R of the solenoid II to the step R in the resistance, and through said step and the other step R to the negative side of the line. It is believed that with this description the various circuits for the other resistance-steps will be clearly comprehended and that fur ther explanation of the circuits is not necessary.

It will of course be understood that by moving the switch-handle 7 in the direction opposite to that described in connection with the various circuits the armature-current will be reversed. The operation of the electromagnetic switch, oil-gags, or other dash-pot mechanism and the other parts of the apparatus is the same for either direction of the motor-armature current.

From the foregoing description, in connec tion with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a motor starting and controlling mechanism which embodies a succession of automatic or electro magnetic switches designed to successfully cut out the resistance-steps from the armature-circuit, and are arranged so that the actuation of one depends entirely upon the previous automatic operation of the pre ceding solenoid or electromagnetic switch, whereby should the attendant throw the switch-handle over carelessly into such a position that without the safeguards that I have provided the motor-armature would receive the full force of the inrush current in a detrimental manner my invention will prevent the immediate short-circuit of the resistance and will automatically, by a stepby-step arrangement, insure a sufiicient retardation of the cutting-out operation and will allow the motor to properly absorb the inrush current without becoming overloaded.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination with a motor-armature circuit and resistance therefor, of a source of supply, a reversing-switch designed to connect the source of supply to the armature-circuit, a series of slow-closing switches each provided with an automatic circuitclosing device, and the said device of one slowclosing switch being arranged in series with the solenoid controlling the operation of the succeeding switch whereby means are provided for automatically closing the circuits of the various solenoids in succession, each of said solenoids being in shunt to said resist' ance, and the automatic circuit-closing device for the first solenoid in the series being controlled by the reversing-switch.

2. The combination with a motor-arma ture circuit, a source of supply therefor and a resistance, of a series of solenoids, a series of slow-closing switches each of which shunts a part of the resistancein the armature-circuit and each of which except the first is controlled by a preceding solenoid, and a reversing-switch designed to connect the source of supply to the armature-circuit and designed to control the slow-closing switch of the first closing solenoid, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a motor-armature circuit and resistance therefor, of a source of supply, a reversing-switch designed to connect the source of supply to the armature-circuit, a series of solenoid-circuits each of which is provided with a slow-closing switch each except the first arranged to be actuated by the preceding solenoid and each of which switches shunts a part ofv the resistance, and means whereby the reversingswitch in neutral position will prevent the automatic movement of the slow-closing switch for the first solenoid-circuit and willpermit the action of said slow-closing switch when the reversing-switch is actuated to connect the source of supply to the armature-circuit.

- ment of the switch next in succession wherej by to maintain it 1n open position the energization of each solenoid efiecting the release of the roller, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a controller of the type described, a hand-operated reversing-switch immersed in an oil-tank and comprising a rocking segmental plate pivoted therein and provided with brushes designed for engagement with contact-plates or terminals in said tank, a resistance arranged for control by said switch,

automatically-operating solenoids, and auto-- matic circuit-closing devices for the solenoids, including a spring-drawn arm, and a dash-pot mechanism designed to retard the movement of said arm and a roller on the handle of the switch designed to contact with said arm and prevent the movement thereof whereby to hold the automatic circuit-closing device in inoperative position.

6. In a controller of the type described, the combination of a switch provided with an operating-handle, and two series of circuit-closing brushes, a series of contacts or terminals arranged between the two series of brushes, the switch being provided with a gear at its outer edge, a spring-returned pinion meshing with said gear, a circuitclosing device including a spring designed to actuate the same and a dash-pot arranged to retard the movement, and a roller carried by the handle of .the switch and designed to hold the circuit-closing device in an inoperative position, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with a motor-armature circuit a source of supply therefor, a resistance, and a reversing-switch designed to connect the source of supply to the circuit of a series of solenoids arranged with automatic circuit-closing devices in series with the solenoids next in succession and each of said automatic circuit-closing devices being provided with a dash-pot mechanism, and'an automatic circuit-closing device for the first of said solenoids, the same being normally held in an inoperative position by the handle of the switch and being provided with a retarding device, and means whereby the movement of said switch-handle in either direction will release the last-named circuitclosing device, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. LACKE.

Images