US843070A - Switch-operating mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

No. 843,070. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

T. E. BUTTON. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.ll, 1904.

6 SHEETB-BHEET 1.

Fiql.

\AATNESSES' h l\/E\]TEJ R {W W TheodoveEnEButEon I bqw ofi t gi No. 843,070. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

- T. E. BUTTON.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 00111. 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MTNESSES: I lph/EplTo M 8m ThGOdOF'GE-BLUICOH.

M W bL MM/Z No. 843,070. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907. T. E. BUTTON.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED 00111, 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\A/ITHESSES: v Pk/ENTCIFQ MM Theodore IiESuUZQn.

PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.v

T. E. BUTTON. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1.11, 1904.

6 B HEETS-BHEET 4.

TheodoPeiButton.

PATENTED FEB. 5

T. B. BUTTON.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. l1 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

lnvemor, Theodore Efiuflon.

Amy.

NITED SIATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE E. BUTTON, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEN ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION'OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1807.

Application filed October 11,1904. Serial No. 228,005.

To all whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that I, THEODORE E. BUTTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch- Operating Mechanisms, of which the follow ingris a specification.

he present invention relates to operating mechanism for electric switches, articularly power-driven switches of the oil- Teak type, desi ned for'controlling circuits of high-potentlal and large amperage.

In the class of oil-switches to which my invention is particularly adapted the circuits are ruptured in oil-pots located in fireproof cells constituting an inclosing structure for the switch, and the operating mechanism therefor is usually located on the top of the cell structure, and the movable switch-contacts arevertically reciprocatod. It has been the practice heretofore in switches of this character to connect the upper ends of the rods which carry the movable contacts to a single cross-bar or yoke which is bodily reciprocated upon the opening and closing of the switch, some motive mechanism, preferably an electric motor, being employed to produce this motion. With this construction it is found that whenthe contact-carry- 3 ing rods are spaced some distance apart it becomes necessary to enlarge the slze, and

yoke.

consequently the weight, of the connecting- This necessitates. a corresponding increase in the size of the actuating parts and the operating motor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel operating mechanism which shall be suitable. to the above reuirementsof service and at the samedtime light and simple in structure and effective in operation and one in which any number of contacts spaced any desired distance apart ma be employed or'now contacts may be ad ed without necessitating a material increase in the weight of the existing parts.

A more complete understanding of the. organization an mode of operation of my invention, together with the advantages of the same, will be had by reference tothe following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawmgs.

In said drawings, F1 re '1 is an end view of the upper portion 0 an oil-switch structure upon which is mounted an operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the presentinvent'ion. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a partial sectional Vi(W illustrating the actuating motor and gearing and the circuit-controlling contact-fingers actuated thereby. Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a modification, and Fig. 6 is a diagramof the controlling-circuits by which the switch-operating mechanism is actuated.

The switch to which I have shown my operating mechanism applied is adapted for rupturing currenton a high-potential triphase alternating-current circuit. The invention, however, althou 11 particularly a plicable to high-potential switches, may e used in connection with any switches in which a reciprocating switch movement is em loyed.

n the present organization the movable switch-contacts 7 are secured by yokes to the lower ends of the vertical wooden rods 10,

which project through openings in the su porting-ca 11 of the cell structure of t 1e switch. he cap 11 is mounted upon brick walls 12, which divide the supporimg structure into a plurality of inclosing cells, one for each phase of the switch.

The vertical supporting-rods 10.are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the laterally-extending rock-arms 13, which are securely keyed at their 0 posite ends to a longitudinally-extendin s aft 14, supported at the upper ends of t c struts 15. These struts are pivotally mounted upon a second longitudinally-extending shaftlfi, carried by suitable bearings 17, secured to the to of the cell structure and to the frame 18 o the motor-actuating mechanism. Mounted upon this same base 18 is a pair of upright brackets 19, which are rovided at their u per ends with overhanging portions 20, to w 'ch the coiled com ression-springs 21 are firmly secured. Simi a1 comprcssiomsprings 22 are located in suitable seats or depressions in the base 18 in line with the springs 21. These sprin s constitute theactuating mechanism by which the switch-contacts are given a quick openin and closingmovement. Thesesprings are a opted to be engaged by the end of levers 23 orsuitable engagin members, such. as the antifriction spherica rollers 24,

are eccentrically mounted and free to rotate into or disen age the interior surface of the weight of the movable contacts and their mounted thereon at 24. The levers 23 are connected at their opposite ends to the central sup orting-struts 15 at 23 and one i or more inks 25 connect the center of the levers 23 to a fixed oint 26 on the brackets 19. One or more inks 27 also connect the center of this lever with the central rock-arm 13 at the point 28. A connecting-rod 29 also connects the center of the lever 23 to a crank 30 on the shaft 31, mounted in the bearings 32 on the base 18. This system of links constitutes a parallel-motion mechanism by which when the crank 30 is rotated the antifriction member 24, which engages the springs, and the supporting-rods 10 are reciprocated in parallel right lines. The proportion of the parts is such that the complete rotation of the crank causes the lever 23 to compress the springs 21 and 22 alternately.

From the above it will be seen that if the crank 30 is moved to dead-center, or approximately dead center, and held there the springs 21 or 22 will be maintained under strain. If then the holding means be removed, the mechanism will be unlocked, and the compressed springs'will be free to throw outward the reciprocating member 24, thereby producing a quick movement of the movable switch-contacts. In order to minimize the work required of the springs 21 22, the

supportin parts is neutralized by means of counterba ancing torsion-springs 33, coiled about the shaft 14 and connected at their opposite ends to said shaft and to the adjacent struts 15, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The crank-shaft 31 is rotated by means of an electric motor 34, mounted upon the base 18 and adapted to be thrown into engagement with a train of gearin connected to said shaft by the magnetic c utch 35. This train of caring comprises a worm 36, engaging wit a Worm-gear 37 which forms the exterior member of a friction-ratchet, whose interior member 38 is keyed to a shaft 39, mounted in a bearing 40 upon the base 18. This shaft 39 carries a pinion 41, which engages a gear-wheel 42, mounted on the crankshaft 31; The interior ratchet member 38 carries a number of engaging pawls 43, which in the bearings at their inner ends and to bite exterior mem er 37 at their outer ends. In operation the ratchet is always rotated in t e same directionthat is, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4; but the interior member is free to run ahead of the exterior member From this it follows that when the motor is driving the crank-shaft 31 against the opposing pressure of the springs 21 or 22 the members 37 and 38 of the ratchet are in transmitting engagement; but as soon as the crank 30 is moved beyond dead-center,

so that the springs 21 and 22 are free to act, if unrestrained, the crank 30 will berapidly rotated thereby in advance of therotation produced by the motor. At such a time the interior member 38 will outrun the exterior member 37, and the teeth of the pawls 43 will slip over the interior surface of the member 37. However, when the exterior member catches up to the interior member the full load will be thrown on the motor, and the pawls 43 will be rotated about their bearings, so as to bite into the interior surface of the member 37 and transmit the motion imparted thereto to the shaft 38, and thence to the crank-shaft 31. In order to hold the crank 30 against rotation when the appropriate set of springs has been compressed, so that the switch may be held in either closed or open position, a movable stop 44 is provided. This stop is adapted to be engaged by arms 45, which project from opposite sides of the crank-shaft 31. The stops 45 are located so that they stop the crank 30 just after it has passed dead-center. The stop 44 is located on the outer end of bell-crank lever 46, which is actuated by means of a toggle 47, connected between one of its arms and a fixed point on the base 18. The toggle normally holds the stop 44 in its engaging position through the actionof gravity; but the toggle may be actuated to throw the stop 44 out of engaging position by means of the trip-magnet 48. This magnet is located directly beneath the toggle 47, so that its core 49 when drawn upward by the energization of its magnet-coil will deliver a blow sufficient to actuate the toggle, and thereby free the shaft 31.

In order to cut off the power of the motor at the right instant and to otherwise vary the motor connections, the shaft 31 is provided with three cams 50 50 and 50, which cooperate with three contact-fingers 51 51 51 to rock them into and out of engagement with the fixed contacts 52, 52 and 52. The operation of the cams and their cooperating switch-contacts will be best understood from the diagram shown in Fig. 6. As clearly illustrated in this diagram, the motor 34 and the magnetic clutch 35 are connected in series between the leg 53 of the supply-circuit and the contact 52 The tripcoil 48 is connected between the leg 53 and the contacts 52 and 52 which are connected together. The contact-finger 51, which is known as the master-finger, is connected directly to the other leg 54 of the supplylinc, and the contact-fingers 51 and 51", which are known as the opening and closing fingers are connected to the terminals 55 and 56 of a double-throw switch, whose contact-blade 57 is connected to the leg of supply-circuit. The cam 50 is provided with two oppositely-disposed depressions, while the cams 50 and 50 are provided with projecting portions, which are so located with reference to the depressions on the cam as to close either the ringer 51 or the finger 51 when the master-finger 51 is open. The trip-coil is provided with two contacts 58, which are connected one with the masterfinger contact 52? and the other with the leg 54 of the supply-circuit. With this organization, assuming that the parts are in the position illustrated, which corresponds to the closed position-of the switch, and that it is desired to open the switch, the contact 57 of the manual controlling switch, which is usually located some distance from the highpotential switch, is thrown into engagement with the contact 56, so as to complete the circuit through the opening-finger 51, contact 52", and trip-coil 48. The coil 48 is thereby energized and by its upward movement actuates ,the toggle 47, so as to remove the stop 44 from the path of the stop-arm 45 and at the same time bridges the contacts 58. Ourrentis then free to flow through the motor by way of the contacts 58 and 52. This at the same time starts the motor and energizes the clutch 35. As soon as the crank-shaft is freed by the removal of the stop 44, the springs 22, which have been held under strain while the switch remained closed,-

throw the engaging end of the lever 23 upward, and with it the contacts of the switch. During this operation the interior member 38 of the ratchet moves freely within the exterior member 37 and in advance of the same, as previously pointed out. As soon as the crank-shaft 31 rotates a short distance the master-fin er 51 is moved to its closed position by riding upon the cam 50?, and as soon as it is closed the closing-finger 51 passes from its cam projection, and it drops to the open position. The effect of this change is to denergize the trip-coil 48 and allow the stop 44 to return to its engaging osition to catch the shaft 31 when it has ma e one halfrevolution and also to open the circuit at the contacts 58, leaving the motor-circuit completed through the master-finger 51 and its contact 52. In this operation about the time the spring-engaging member 24 has reached the upper actuating-springs 21 the relative speed of the arts will be such that the ratchet will take 1old,-and the accumulated energy of the motor will be transmitted to complete the semirotation of.the crankshaft 31. In doing this the springs 21 will be compressed, and the movement of the parts will cease only when the crank-shalt 31 has rotated far enough to allow the master eontact-"Iinger 51 to drop out of engagement with the contact 52. This will occur when the stops ,44- and 45 come into engagement. When the shaft 31 has rotated far enough to permit the master-finger to separate from its contact, the proiecting portion of the cam 5t) will have forced the openingcontact-finger 51 into engagement with its contact 52", thus leaving the parts in readiness for the opening of the switch upon movement of the manual controlling-switch toflcomplete the circuit through its terminal 55.

In the construction hereinbefore described the wooden rods 10, which carry the movable switch-contacts, are pendulouslv supported from the-outer ends of the rock-arms 13, and the operating mechanism is such that the outer ends of these arms move in vertical right lines; but in order to prevent the rods from swinging some light guide for each of the rods is required. This in the present instance is provided by the openings through the cap 01 the cell through which these rods pass. In Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a modified construction 1n which the movable switchcontacts are positively act-uated'in a right line and are prevented from movement out of that line without the employment of guiding means. T his is accomplished by constructing the supporting mechanism of each of the movable switch-contacts so that there is an additional oint which has a right-line movement paral el to that of the outer end of the supporting rock-arm 13. In this instance this point is the outer end of the rockarm or link 56. The inner end o'f this link is pivoted at 56 to an extension of the rockin strut 15, and its outer end and the outer cm of the rock-arm 13 are pivotally connected. at the points 56* and 56, respectively, to a rigid frame 57, which maintains these ends in fixed relation. This frame supports the moving switch-contacts 7, which are elec-- trically connected by the bridging-piece 58. which is insulated irom the frame 57 by a strip or" wood or other suitable insulation 59, In this figure I have also shown the oil-pots 60, which contain the contacts 60, with which the moving contacts 7 cooperate. In this type of switch the line-terminals are connected to the fixed contacts 60, and the eircu it between said contacts is completed by the bridging-contact. These oil-pots are suitably mounted upon supports 60", of wood or other suitable msulatmg material, having legs resting upon the base 61, which sulpports the switchoperating mechanism. .11 this figure I have not shown the motor or other driving mechanism for the rocking shaft 31 but the mechanism hereinbetore described may be employed, and obviously it may be located at any desired point and connected to the crank-shait 31 by suitable gearing.

In the mechanism heretofore described by which the contacts are given their right-line motions, the parts bear certain definlte relations to each other as to length and points of connection which must be observed in designing the switch o crating mechanism. lhe links 23 and 25 an the rocking strut 15, connected up in the manner shown and deobvious that Where "two links of difl erent lengths are attached each to a pivot at one endan'd are given the same angular movement the depths of the arcs formed by their free ends are directly proportional to the lengthspf the links. Consequently, in the present instance, since a, b, and c are equal, the

depths of the arcs struck by a and b as radii.

are equal, and each is equal to one-half the depth d of the arc struck by the radius (6 Due to the relation of the parts, the fulcrum I 23 is given a lateral movement equal to the 1 sum of the depths of the arcs formed by a and b as radii. This sum, as previously indi cated, equals the depth d of the arc struck by a+b as a 'radius' Since a+b equals the length of the link 23, it will be seen that the arc is entirely removed from the motion of the free end of said link, and the latter is caused to move in a right line. In this operation of the parts each stroke of the crank moves the free end of the link 23 through a definite stroke S, which is the chord of the are having the depth (1. Consequently, the distance (1 may also be expressed in terms of the radius and chordth.at is, in terms of l and s,-where 1 equals (b 0.) Obviously the distance between the points 23 and 26, which may be designated m, plus d equals 1. Now the distance m equals 72? Therefore U ity of points as it affects the free end of the Fig. 5.

link 23that is, to cause these points to move in right lines parallel to theright-line path of the free end of said link. One of the 1ploints which is to be mo vecl in such a rightne path is the outerjend of the rock-arm 13, and the distance through which it is to be moved equals the length of the stroke required by the moving contacts of the switch. This distance is designated 3 in Obviously by locating the ,point 28, which is the point of connection between the link 27 and the rock-arm 13, at a distance from the shaft 14 equal to I; the arm 13 will :23 above the shaft 16.

be caused to rock through the same angle as the link 23 when the parts are operated. Therefore, since the angular distance through which the link 23 and the rock-arm 13are to pass is the same, then if 1 and Z represent the length of the link 23 and the arm 13, respectively, and s s the length of stroke of their free ends the value of l (or the length of the arm 13) may be determined from the proportion 8:8 H, since the values of s, s--,gand l are known. In a similar 'mannerthedepth of the are which will be struck by the arm 13 may be determined-by the proportion d:d 1:1, 'where d and (1 represent the de'- ths of the arcs struck by the lengths land respectively, since (1, Z, and Z are known. This value 05 is the distance throu h which the shaft 14 must be moved latera ly in order to maintain the movement of the free end of the arm 13 in a right line. To accomplish this, the distance between the shafts 14 and 16, (designated e must be a certain amount. This is obtained by'solving, fore, in the proportion e:e =d:cl, where eequals the distance of the fulcrum Obviously by making the shafts 14 and 16 and the connectingstruts 16 sufliciently strong totransmit this same lateral movement to the shaft 14 throughout itsentire length any number of Y rock-arms may be placed on it and a corresponding number of switch-contacts operated thereby.

When it is desired to employ the form of the invention disclosed in Fig.- 5, the length of the link 56 may be determined as, follows: The additional length of the strut 15 beyond the shaft 14 may be arbitrarily assumed. If then e represents the distance of the pivotpoint 56 abovethe shaft 16 along the strut 15, then the lateral distance through which the pivot 56 will move will be found fromthe proportion e:e d:d where d" indicates this lateral distance. Now in order that the lever 56 may be givena length'suflicient to produce an are having a depth equal to d it must satisfy the conditions of the equation:

22' at the ends of its stroke, and they might.

be slightly shifted to obtain a proper bearing and thrust upon the outer .end of the ink.

Solving for Z" (or ZYthe TIC:

In such case the distance 0 would be more or less than the distances a or b. i

It is obvious that other mechanism may be employed for giving the crank-shaft 31 its requisite movement, and the means which I have herein disclosed constitutes no part of the present invention, but is inserted for the purpose of describing a completely-operative device.

It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes in the proportions ofthe parts and in features of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the specific matter illustrated, but aim to cover by the terms of the appended claims all such alterations and modifications.

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

1. An electric switch comprising a plurality of pivoted rock-arms, a contact carried 1 by each of said arms, and common means for actuating said arms to give said contacts a right-line motion.

2. An electric'switch comprising a rocksha'ft, supporting-arms extending laterally therefrom, a contact carried by each of said arms, and means for rocking and shifting said shaftto give said contacts a right-line motion.

3. An electric switch comprising a rockshaft, supporting-arms extending laterally therefrom, a contact carried by each of said arms, an actuatingmotor,. and connecting means between said motor and shaft for rocking and shifting the latter to give said con tacts a right-line motion.

4. An electric switch comprising a plurality of pivoted rock-arms, a contact carried by each of said arms, an actuating-motor, and parallel -motion connections between said armsand motor for moving said contacts in a right lin'e. l

5. An electric switch comprising parallelmotion mechanism having two points mov-' able in parallel right lines, actuating means adapted to engage said mechanism at one of said points, and a movable switch-contact pivotally connected to the mechanism at the other oint.

6., 11 electric switch comprising parallelmotion'mechanism having two points movable in parallel right lines, anactuatingspring lying in the path of movement of one point, and a movable switch-contact pivotally connected to the mechanism at the otherpoint.

7. An electric switch comprising parallelmotion mechanism having two points movable in parallel right lines, an actuatingspring lying in the path of movement of one point, a movable switch-contact pivotally connected to the mechanism at the other point, and a motor for storing energy in said sprmg.

8. An electric switch comprising parallelmotion mechanism including two pivoted movable members and connections between them for causing two points, one on each of said members, to move in parallel right lines, actuating means. adapted to engage said mechanism at one of said points, and a movable switch-contact connected to the mechanism at the other point.

9. An electricv switch comprising parallelmotion mechanism including two pivoted movable members and connections between them for causing two points, one on each of contact connected to the mechanism at the other polnt, and a motor for storing energy in said spring. 11. An electric switch provided with a movable contact, opposing s rings disposed in a line parallel to the line 0 motion of said contact, a member adapted to be projected to and fro between said springs, and parallelmotion connections between said member and said contact for giving them parallel right-line motions.

12. An electric switch provided with a movable contact, opposing springs disposed 4 in a line parallel to the line of motion of said contact, a member adapted to be projected to and fro between said springs, parallel-motion connections between said member and said contact for giving tliemparallel rightline motions, and means for storing energy in said springs.

13. An electric switch comprising a frame,

a movable contact, an actuating-spring, a lever having one end adapted to engage the spring, a motor-crank connected to tie center of the lever, a link pivotally connected at one end to a fixed point on tl e frame and at the other to the center of the lever, said link being one-half tli e length of said lever, means for permitting a lateral movement of the free end of the lever whereby its engaging end is reciprocated in a right line, and connections 'spring,a motor-crank connected to the center said motive mechanism and contact-support able contact, motive mechanism for slfifting =move in a right line.

of the lever, a link pivotally connected at one end to a fixed point on the frame and at the other to the center of the lever, said link being one-half the length of said lever, means for permitting a lateral movement of the free end of the lever whereby its engaging end is, reciprocated in a right line, a rock-arm connected at its outer end to said contact, and connecting-means between said lever and rock-arm whereby said contact is reciprocated in a right line.

15. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a contact-support carrying said contact, motive mechanism for s ifting the contact, and actuating connections betvs een said motive mechanism and contact-support for iving the latter a right-line motion and hol ing it against transverse movement.

16. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a contact-support carrying said contact, motive mechanism for shifting the contact, and actuating connections between for moving the latter and compelling it to 17. An electric switch comprising a movthe contact, a support to which said contact is rigidly connected, and connecting means between said motive mechanism and contactsupport pivotally connected to the latter at two points and operative to move said contact and its support in a right line.

18. An electric switch comprising parallelmotion mechanism'having three points movable in parallel right lines, actuating means ada ted to engage said mechanism at one of sai points, and a movable switch-contact pivotally connected tosaid mechanism at the ct er points. I

19. An electric switch comprising parallelmotion mechanism having three points movable in parallel right lines, an actuatingspring lying in the path of movement of one point, and a movable svi itch-contact pivotally connected to the mechanism at the other points.

20. An electric switch comprising parallelmotion mechanism including three pivoted movable members and connections between them for causing tlrce points, one on each of said members, to move in parallel right lines, actuating means adapted. to engage said mechanism at one of said points. and a movable switch-contact connected to said mechanism at the other points.

21. An electric switch comprising parallelmotion mechanism including tltree pivoted movable members and connections between hem for causing three points, one on each path of movement of one point, and a movable switch-contact connected to the mecl. anism at tle otler points.

In witness Wlf ereof I have hereunto set my hand ti. is 10th day of October, 1904.

THEODORE E. BUTTON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WILLIAMS, Jr., HELEN JORFORD.

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