US959909A - Crane-controller. - Google Patents

Description

T. E. BARNUM.l GBANE GONTBOLLBB.

rrLIoATIon FILED um. avi 1907.

959,909. Patented Mayr-.11,1910

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' su ATTORNEY T. E. BARNUM.

CRANE CONTROLLER.

urmou'rou mm1) 11111.27,- 1901.

959,909. Patented may 31, 1910.

4 SHEETS-.SHEET 2.

gg @y 04 lll-ill Il www s. www bo. nmuurwnnmas. wmmbu. u 11 T. E. BARNUM. I' CRANE UONTBULLEB. -Arrmouros rrnnn'um. s1, 1901.

Patented MayBl, 1'910.

T. E. BARNUM.-

CRANE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1907 959,909. Patented May 31, 1910.

l 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. W .jf

WITNESSES:

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

THOMAS E. BARNUM, or MILWAUKEE, WIsooNsI'N, nssIGN'on To THE oU'TI-Inn- HAMMER MFG. oo., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or WISCONSIN.

CRANE-CONTROLLER.

To all 11s-hom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BARNUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of l/Viscc-nsin, have invented new xand useful Improvements in Crane-Controllers, of which the following isa full, clear, conoise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in motor controllers, and is particularly applicable to controllers which perform the functions of a rheostat and reversing switch.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a controller of the above character which will produce better results in practice than those-heretofore devised, and in which the parts are simplified and may be all mounted upon a single supporting member.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention, lI have illustrated in the accompanying drawings one embodiment thereof.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a controller embodying my invention.

ing the circuit connection thereof.

For supporting the controller and inclosing various parts thereof, I provide an inclosed casing 1 preferably cylindrical in form and having a base 2, provided with legs, Suitable openings are formed in the back of the casing to perm-it a free 'circulation of air 'about the resista-nce to dissipate the heat.

All of the parts of the. controller are mounted upon a suitable base vor face ,plate 5, which preferably takes the form of a circular disk formed of insulating material, such as soapstone or the like, and which is adapted to lit within the casing and be secured in position by bolts or screws 6 which pass through the face plate, and are adapted to be screwed into inwardly extending lugs 7 formed integrally with the casing 1-.

Secured upon the .rear of the face plate 5 is a fram-e which preferably consists of an integral structure made up ef magnetic material and 'comprising four arms 8, which Specification of Letters la'tent.

Application led August '27, 1907.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken onl the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1.. Fig. 3 is a transverse section-al view of the controller talren f on the lines 3-3 ofFig. 1. Fig. t is a rear view of the controller, the casing beingin g section and taken on the lines tof Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 .is a diagrammatic view showj Serial No. 390,305.

extend radially from a common center. These arms are equi-distant apart and at their ends extend forwardly to the face plate, screws 9 passing through the face plate and into the ends of the arms 4secure the frame in position on the face plate. A sleeve 10 of nonconducting material, surrounding each screw 9, is interposed lbetween the ends of the arms and the rear of the face plate to properly space the arms face from the plate. The end of each of the arms is provided with a pair of pole pieces 11 which are preferably integrally formed on the ends of the arm.

A bearing is formed at the junctions of the arms 8 in which is supported one end of shaft 12, the opposite end of which shaft is supported in bearing or sleeve 13, which fits Ain a central Iopening in the face plat-e 1 and is' secured in position by screws 14 that pass through radial arms 15 integral withthe sleeve, and through the face plate 5. The rear end of the shaft 12 is provided with a collar 16 fastened thereto by any suitable means and bearing `against the back of the frame to prevent axial displacement of the shaft. A cam 17 is preferably formed upon the collar and is provided with two stop lugs 18, one arranged at each end of an arc concentric with the axis of the shaft. The shaft may be turned through an are correspondin to the distance to the lugs 18. The sur -ce of the can-1 between the stops is provided with a notch 19 which is located midway between the stops 18.` One of the arm-s 8 of theframe is provided with a ro'- jection 20 which is arranged in the pat of the movement of the lugs 18 so that the same may strike against the projection to limit the are through which the shaft may be turned. When the shaft stands in its initial position, each lug is equi-distant from the projection. Extending vertically through the projection 20 is a circular `hole in which is arranged a slidable cylindrical block 2.1, having an upwardly extending tail-rod 22, In the upper porti-on Aof the circular hole a ledge is formed and above the ledge thediameter of the hole is just sufficient to admit the tail-rod. A bearing is thusprovided for the tail-rod. The upper end of the tail-rod is provided witha vertical slot through which passes a m23 to preventthe re from turning. e cylindrical block is pressed downward by a Patented May 31, 1910.

thus holds the parts against accidentall movement.

The outer end of the shaft 12 carries va hub 26 from which extends a handle or lever 27 for operating the controller. The hub carries two pairs of contact arms, one pair having arms 28 and 29, and the other, arms 30 and 31. These arms extend radially and are equi-distant apart. The arms of each pair are preferably integral and are` preferably made of cast iron which is adapted to serve as both an electrical and magnetic conductor. The two pair of arms are fastened to the hub by means of suitable bolts 32 and insulatin material 33 is placed between arms, the hu s and the bolts, and insulating sleeves 34 surround the bolts so as to electrically insulate one pair of arms from the other. The outer ends of each of the arms preferably carry contacts which may take the form of U shaped members 35, the legs of the U being adapted to fit upon either 'side of the arms, and provided with slots 36 through which extend pins 37 for preventing the contacts from coming off the arms. The slots in the contacts permit a slight movement of the contacts on the arms, and springs 38 interposed between the arms and the contacts serve to maintain the contacts in close electrical engagement with the contact plates` The face plate 5 carries four groups or sets of contacts 39, 40, 41 and 42 arranged concentrically with the axis of the shaft 12. These contacts are preferably what is known in the art as face late or'radial contacts.

The four groups o contacts are arranged,

one group in each of four arcs of l equal length and equal radius, the several arcs being `equi-distant apart and having a'common center. Each contact is preferably held in place by means of screws, the heads of which are counter-sunk in the face of the contact. plate and are threaded into plates 43 upon the back thereof, and which preferably carry binding screws 44 by means of which electrical connection is made to the conductors and the resistance hereinafter set forth.

The screws pass through the face www groups of contacts is preferably arranged an insulating block 45 upon which the contacts of the four arms are adapted to rest when the arms are in the initial or off position.

A blowout coil 46 is preferably mounted upon the spider or shaft 12 and takes the form of a magnetic winding, which may be wound upon a tube of brass or other nonconducting material and between end pieces 47 of insulating material. A sleeve 48 is interposed between the coil 46 and the spindle 12, whereby the spindle may turn without causing the blowout coil to turn with it.

The contact arms 28, 29, 30 and 3l, and the arms 8 of the frame form pole pieces for the blowout magnets. The four contact arms and the four arms of the frame form four pairs of poles, one pair at each point where an arc forms, opening the circuit. The contact at each end of each end of contacts is preferably larger than the intermediate contacts as the circuit is opened and closed on that contact. The late 49 to which the end contact is fastene is preferably made of magnetic material, and as before described, the outer end of each of the arms 8 is divided into two polar faces 11 one arranged back of thetwo magnetic plates 49. An insulating plate 50 is preferably placed over the polar faces to insulate the same from the adjacent plates 49.

VWhen the contact arms are returned to the initial position an arc tends to form between each contact arm and the adjacent end contact of the set of stationary contacts over which the contact arm has been moved. This arc is extinguished by the magnetic flux that passes between the pole pieces formed by the contact arm and a corresponding arm of the frame. The circuit or path of the magnetic flux that is created by the blowout coil extends from the shaft 13, through the radial arms 8 of the frame, thence across the arc zone, to one of the contact arms, 28 for instance, and back through said arm to the shaft 6.

In the structure shown in the drawing the circuit is broken at four points when the contact arms are returned to initial position. The contact arms and the radial arms of the frame form pairs of poles for the blowout coil at each of these points. In consequence a magnetic flux is sent across each arc zone, thereby causing the arc to be extin uished. Inasmuch as each contact arm orms a ole piece for the magnetic flux the flux 1s distributed at points where it will be most effective in extinguishing arcs that occur upon the opening of the circuit.

A lurality of plates 51 are secured upon the ace plate, carrying binding screws 52 by which the controller is connected to the motor and to a source of electrical energy.

Mounted upon the rear of the faceplate f are a plurality of resistance units 53 which may take most any desired form, but the preferable form that I use comprises a tube or spindle of porcelain upon which the resistance Wires are wound, and a suitable inclosing casing. The resistance units are secured upon the rear of the face plate by means of bolts or screws 54 which extend through the face plate and through the units, suitable nuts 55 being provided upon the ends of the bolts for holding the units in position. These resistance units may be arranged upon the face plate in any desired manner, but I have illustrated them in the present form, as being arranged in groups of three or four, each group being placed in an arc concentric with the arcs of the groups of contacts. By this arrangement the resistance units are placed where they talre up minimum amount of space.

The circuit relations of the parts of my controller are illustrated in Fig. 5, and I shall now describe the same. The controller may be used for controlling a suitable motor having an armature 56 and a series field 57. It will of course be understood that my device is adaptable to control other forms of motors as well as the form herein. In order to distinguish certain parts of the controller from one another in describing the various circuits, I shall use letters as exponents of the reference numerals that I have heretofore used.

In each group 4of contacts 39, 40, 4l and 42, each contact on one side of the center contact is electrically connected to the cor respondingcontact on the other side of the center contact by a cross connector. For example in the group of contacts 39 each contact 39El is electrically connected with its corresponding contact 39". The contacts 39al and 39" are thus electrically connected in pairs. Each grou of contacts is connected to a resistance which is divided in sections or steps, the number of steps being equal to the number of pairs of contacts. One end of the resistance 1s connected to the center contacts and the other end to the outer or end pair of contacts, intervening sections of resistance being connected to the intermediate pair of contacts. The second section is connected between the second pair of contacts and the third pair of contacts and so on until the last section is connected between the fourth pair of contacts and the center con* tact. It will be noted that each group of contacts is electrically independent of the other groups. The center contact 42 is connected b a conductor 58 to the outer terminal of t e blowout coil 46. The inner terminal of the coil is connected through conduct/or 59 to the binding post 52. The center contact 39 is' connected by a conductor 60 to the binding post 52". The center contact 40 is connected by ,the conductor 6l of the binding post 52c and the center contact 41 is connected by conductor 62, with the binding post 52a. The binding post 52 is connected by conductor 63 with the positive side 64 of the line. One terminal of the armature 56 is connected by conductor 65 with the binding post 52", and the other terminal of the armature is connected by conductor 66 with the binding post 52". One 'terminal of the iield 57 is connected by conductor 67 to the binding post 52", and the other termina] of the field winding is connected with the negative side 68 of the line.

As previously stated the contact arms are divided into two pairs, each pair being electrically insulated from the other, and the arms of each pair being preferably made integral so as to electrically connect the contacts carried at the ends thereof. It will be noted that four movable contacts electrically connected in two pairs are thus provided, and that these contacts are adapted to pass one over each group of stationary contacts. Of course, it will be understood that I may electrically connect the four movable contacts in two pairs in a dillerent way than that which I have shown.

If the contact arms be moved clock-wise, the arm 28 will move over the contacts 39a and arm 29 will move over the contacts 42a. The arm 3() will move over the contacts 40a and the arm 3l will vmove over the contacts 41a. When each contact arm comes into engagement with the rst of the stationary contacts in the course of its travel, circuit will be closed from the positive line 64 by conductors 63 and 59, through the blowout coil 46 by conductor 458, center contact 42, resistance 53, first contact 42a, arm 29, arm 28, first contact 39a, resistance 53, center contact 39, conductors 66 and 66, armature 56, conductors and 62, center contact 4l, resistance 53", rstcontact 41a, arm 3l, arm 30, first contact 40a, resistance 53", lcenter contact 40, conductors 61 and 67, through the field winding 57 and thence to the negative side 68 of the-line. As the arms pass over the successive contacts, the resistances will be removed from circuit, step by step, and when the arms reach the center contacts, all of the resistance will have been removed from circuit, and the motor will be running at full speed.

If the arms be turned in a counter clockwise direction, the arm 28 will pass over contacts 42", the arm 29 over contacts 4l", the arm 30 over contacts 39", and the arrn 3l over contacts 40". When each arm engages the first contact, circuit will be closed from the positive line 64, by conductors 63 and 59, through the blowout coil 46, conductor 58, center contact 42, resistance 53C, end contact 42", arm 38, arm 29, end contact 4l", resistance 53", center contact 41 conductors 62 and 65, through the armature 56, conduc- IOO tors 55 and 60, center contact 39, resistance 53, end contact 39h, arm 30, arm 31, end contact 401), resistance 53a, center contact 40, conductors 61 and 67, through the field winding 57, and thence to the negative side 68 of the line. Accordingly current will flow through the armature 1n an opposite direction to that which it would when the arms were moved clock-Wise, and therefore the motor will be started in a reverse direction. As the arms pass over the contacts 42", 41", 401 and 39", the resistance will be removed from circuit, step by step, and

when the arms have reached the center con,

tacts all of the resistance will have been removed from circuit and the motor will be running at full speed in reverse direction.

Inasmuch as contacts 42 and 40 are positive and negative respectively, as the contacts 39 and 41 are connected to the opposite terminals of the armature, and as the contacts 41 and 40 may be connected by the arms 30 and 31 and contacts 89 and 42 by arms 28 and 29 or the contacts 39 and 40 may be connected by the contacts 30 and 31 and 4contacts 41 and 42 by contacts 28 and 29, the controller isenabled to perform the func tion of a reversing switch as well as that of a controller.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controller, the combination with a face plate, of a plurality of sets of circumferentially arranged contacts, the contacts of each set being electrically connected in pairs, and, each set of contacts being electrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a resistance mounted on said face plate and connected to each set of contacts, said resistance being divided into sections and each section being electrically connected to a pair of contacts, and movable contacts mounted on said face plate, and arranged to pass over said sets of contacts.

2. In a controller, the combination'with a casing, of a face plate set therein, a plurality of sets of circumferentially arranged contacts mounted on said face plate, the contacts of each set being electrically connected in pairs, and each'set of contacts being electrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a resistance mounted on said face plate and within said casing connected to each set of contacts, said resistance being divided into sections and each section being electrically connected to a pair of contacts, and movable contacts mounted on said face plate arranged to pass over saidsets of contacts.

3. In a motor controller, in combination, a face plate, four sets of face plate contacts arranged thereon, said contacts being arrange one in each of four arcs equi-distant apart on the same circumference, two dia metrically opposite sets being electrically connected to the terminals of the line, and the other two diametrically opposite sets being electrically connected to the terminals of the motor, cross connections connecting the contacts of each set in pairs, each set of contacts being electrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a resistance mount ed on said face plate and connected to each set of contacts, and four contact arms forming two pairs of arms mounted on said face plate the arms of each pair being integral, and said arms being adapted to pass one over each set of contacts.

4. In a controller, in combination, a face plate, a plurality of sets of circumferentially arranged contacts, the contacts of each set being electrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a plurality of resistance units mounted upon said face plate and connected to each set of`contacts, and movable contacts carried on said face plate arranged to pass over said sets of contacts.

5. In a motor controller, in combination, a face plate, four sets of face plate contacts arranged thereon, said sets of contacts being arranged one in each of four arcs equidistant apart upon the same circumference, two diametrically opposite sets being electrically connected to the terminals of the line, and the other two diamet-rically opposits sets being electrically connected to the terminals of the motor, cross connections connecting the contacts of each set in pairs, each set of contacts being electrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a plu rality of resista-nce units for each set of contacts mounted upon said face plate, and four contact arms forming two pairs of arms mounted on said face plate, the arms of each pair being integral and said arms being adapted to pass over each set of contacts.

6. In a motor controller, in combination, a face plate, a plurality of sets of contacts mounted on one side thereof, a rotatable contact member having a plurality of radial arms for engaging said set of contacts, a blowout coil arranged on the opposite side of said face plate substantially concentric with the axis of said rotatable contact member, and a frame carried by said face plate on the same side with said blowout coil, said frame having a plurality of radial arms forming pole pieces for said blowout coil, the arms, of said frame corresponding in number to said sets of contacts and having `their extremities disposedA opposite to the contacts at which circuit is broken.

7. In a motor controller, in combination, a face plate, a plurality of sets of stationary contacts mounted on one side of said face plate, a magnetic frame mounted on the opposite side'of said face late and having a plurality of radially disposed arms, each of said arms having its extremity disposed opposite to the end contacts of two adjacent sets of contacts, a rotatable contact member having radial arms for engaging said sets of contacts, said member being movable in opposite directions to cause said arms to engage different sets of contacts and a blowout coil arranged between said face plate and said frame and substantially concentric with the aXis of said contact member and said frame.

8. In a controller, in combination, a face plate, a frame having four radial arms arranged in the rear of and carried by said face plate, four radial contact arms arranged on the front of said face plate and journaled on a suitable bearing carried by said face plate, four sets of stationary contacts mounted upon said face plate and arranged one in each of four arcs equi-distant apart on the same circumference and concentric with the axis of said Contact arm, and a-blowout coil arranged substantially concentric with the aXis of said contact arms, said contact arms and the arms of said frame forming pole pieces of said blowout coil.

9. In a controller, in combination, a casing, a face plate arranged to fit within said casing, a frame having four radial arms arranged in the rear of and carried by said face plate, four radial contact arms arranged in front of said plate and journaled in suitable bearings carried by said plate, four sets of stationary contacts arranged one in eac'h of four arcs equidistant apart on the same circumference and concentric with the axis of said contact arms, and a blowout coil arranged substantially concentric with the aXis of said contact arms and within said casin said contact arms and the arms of said 'frame forming pole pieces of said blowout coil.

10. In a motor controller, a combination, a face plate, four sets of face plate contacts arranged thereon, said sets of contacts being arranged one in each of four arcs equidistant apart on the same circumference, two diametrically opposite sets being electrically connected to the terminals of the line and the other two diametrically opposite sets being connected to the terminals of the motor, cross connections connecting the contacts of each set in pairs, each set of contacts being electrically independent of the other sets of contacts, a plurality of resistance units for each set of contacts mounted upon the rear of said face plate, four Contact arms forming two pairs of arms, the arms of each pair being integral and said arms being adapted to pass over each set of contacts, a frame having four radial arms mounted upon the rear of said face plate, and a blowout coil arranged substantially concentric with the axis of said contact arms, said Contact arms and the arms of said frame forming'pole pieces of said blowout coil.

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

THOMAS E. BARNUM. Witnesses:

WALTER E. SARGENT, OscAR A. KELLER.

Images