US973525A - Motor-controller. - Google Patents

Description

WILLIAM B. LUCAS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOTOR-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 19.1.0.

Application Med March 10, 1909. Serial No. 482,590.

To all wwm 'it ma/y concern.'

Bc it lmown thet I, WILLIAM B. LuoAe, e citizen of the United States of America, und a resident of Chicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Controllers, of which the following is u specification.

The main objects of this invention ere to provide an improved form of electric controller particularly nda ted for the purpose of automaticell reducing the starting resistance in en e ectric motor circuit; to provide en im roved 'mechanism ca able of being contro led by the rotation o the motor controlled and adapted to positively inv sure the change of the resistance required for any variation of speed of the motor controlled; to-provide an improved construction of the contact devices whereby injury to the motor controlled by the operation of seid motor is rectically impossible; to provide improved) contact devices and mechanism for causing reduction of resistance in the circuit of the motor controlled; to provide an improved form of structure to hold the contact devices in position; 'to provide an improved device of this class in which. the control is accomplished by the action of a liquid conductor under centrifugal force; and to provide improved means for containing the operating liquid.

A specific construction'embodying this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 ise longitudinal section, 4partly broken away, of en electric-controller con- .structed eccordin 'brushesV and con uctors being shown diegremmarticiilly. Fig. 2 is a transverse sec#- 4to this invention, the

tion on the line AA of Fig. `l, the position of the 1i uid whenithe shaft is at restbeing indicate by full'lines, and other portions l "'f the surfe-ce of the liquid, dependin on the 's eed of rotation, being indicate( by dotta lines. A v

the constructionshown, the receptacle i 1 has e cevty2 sup orting e liquid 3. A

plurality of contact evices are mounted on the receptecle, -a-nd each comprises an inner part' or terminal bar 4, `disposed substanl' 'exten tielly parallel with the exis of the receptocle, end substantially flush with the inner surface of the cylindricel Wall of the receptecle, end on outer part or annuler slip ring 5, each inner part 4 and its' res ective outer pnrt 5 being connected by a con uctor G. lli the form shown, the bars 4 nre spaced eport ciroumferentiell and the slip rings 5 nre spaced apart axially, The shaft 7 is placed concentric with the receptacle.

In the form shown in the drawin s the body of the receptacle is made of insu ating material. The cavity 2 is mode concentric with the receptacle. The bar contact devices 4 are mounted on the receptacle 1. Each bar 4 is respectively connected with :i slip ring 5 by a connector 6. Individuel brushes 8 bear on tlieslip rings 5, and conductors 9 are 'connected to the brushes 84 In the form shown', euch of the conductors 9 represents n resistance interposed between an adjacent pair-of brushes.-

The operation of the device shown is :is followszWlien the receptacle is rotated, the liquid 3, due-to friction Irid centrifugal force, will successively engage the barsv 4. During. rotation ille liquid 3 makes. contact with a. gradually increasing number of the bnr Contact devices 4, :ind finally mulics n complete ring contact with ellthe Contact devices. Assume, for exemple, that the device is mounted directly upon the shaft, of :i motor, Ithat. the coiiductors 9 are rcsistances interposed between 'the contact devices, nnd that all nrc connected in circuitsuccessively ccinnect dilferent resistuiic'es.4 As the speed 1ncreu.ses,`tlie friction' of the walls of the receptlicle on tli .exposed 'surfaces of tli'c liquid will ten( to cause the liquid to follow the rotation ofthe receptuele. This, bein Iresisted by thovforce of graviy, will resu tin the liquid gradually ing so as to simultaneous] cover 'a larger art of the inner eircum .erence of the cavity, and the number of resistiinces which are simultaneously short-. circuited will increase until at a'. certain critical speed 'the liquid will have become spread out in a continuous rin short-'circulting ,all the element, and mechanism for automaticallyv conductors and t ereby cutting out all of the resistance.

Although -but1one 4slpeciiic embodiment of the invention is hereinshown and described,

it will be understood that `numerous Adetails of the construction shown may be altered or omitted -withdut departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

1. In a motor controlling device, a fixed starting resistance, a rotary element, terminals for said resistance carried by said short-circuiting said terminals when 4the speed of the motor is accelerated.

2. In a motor controlling device, a fixed starting resistance, ac rotary element driven by the motor, terminals for said resistance carried by Said'element, and'lmechanism for automatically short circuiting said terminals when the speed of the moter is accelerated and for-opening said short circuit when the speed of the motor is diminished.

3. In a motor controlling device, a plu- 'rality of fixed lresistances, a rotary element driven by the motor, terminals for said resistances carriedby said element, and mech-'v anism for automatically .short-circuiting lsaid terminals when the speed of the motor is accelerated, the number of terminals thus short-circuited depending upon the amount of acceleration offthe speed.

4. In.a motor-controlling device, a fixed starting resistance in circuit with the motor,

a rotary element driven by the motor 'and -carryingterminals for said resistance, and

mechanlsm for automatically short circuiting the terminals of said resistance when the speed of the motor isaccelerated. Y

5. In a motor controlling device, a fixed resistance in circuit with the motor, a rotary element driven by the motor and cai-ring terminalsA for said resistanceyand mecV anism for wholly or in part automatically short-circuiting the terminals of said re;

sistance as the speed of the .motor is accelerated, the amount of the resistance-thus shortclrcuited' depending upon 'the amount of acceleration of the spec 6. In a motor controlling `device, a-receptacle rotatably mounted and havinga caility therein'for supporting la liquid, a hquid conductor 1n said cavity, a series of contact devices inthe Wall of `said cavity, being spaced apart' circumferentially and substantially.

flush with the inner surface of said wall, and means outslde of said receptacle connected electrically with said contact devicesadapted to be automatically short-circuited y the liquid when the speed of the motor is accelerated.

7. In a motor controllin device, a receptacle rotatably mounted an having a cavity therein for su porting a liquid, a liquid conductor in sai cavity, a serles. of contact devices in the Wall of said cavit being spaced apart -circumferentially an `vsubstantially flush with the inner surface of said wall, a plurality ofcontact surfaces on the periphery of said receptacle respectivel -connect.- ed with said contact devices, and tir cated to engage said contact surfas during the rotation 'of saidreceptacle.

8. In a motor controlling device, a receptacle.' rotatably mounted and having therein a cavity substantially concentric with ytheaxis of said receptacle, a liquid conductor in said cavity, the wall of said cavity comprising a series of circumferentially spaced vcontact segments insulated from each other' and having their inner faces substantially Hush with the inner surface'o the wall of said cavity, contact surfaces on the periphery of said receptacle insulated from each other and electrically connected respectively with said contact segments. 9. In a'motor controllin device, a receptacle 'rotatably mounted Ihaving a cavity therein for supporting a liquid, a liquid conductor in said cavity, a series of contact devices in the wall of said cavity, each having an -inner fpart substantially Hush with "the 1nner sur a c'e .of said wall, andhaving an v` outer part velectrically connected with the inner part, brushes located to engage said outer parts of said contact devices during the rotation of said receptacle, and control ling resistance connected 'between said circumferentially.

brushessaidinner parts being spaced apart L 10. In a' motor controlling device, a receptacle rotatably mounted having a cavity therein for supporting a liquid, a flowing .los

conductor in sa1d` cavity, a seriesof insuf,

lated contact devices in the wall of 'said cavity, each havin an inner partsubstanf 'ally flushw'ith t cy innersurface of said wall, said inner parts being spaced apart circumferentially, brushes located to engage said contact devices during the rotation-lof said receptacle, and controlling. resistmct: j,

connected between said'brushes. v 411. In a motor controlling device, a xedf starting-resistance in circuit with the motor,

a rotary element drivenb the'motor and carrying terminals forsai resistance, 4 and mechanism vadapted to maintain. a short circuit between the terminals of the resistance at one speed of the motor and'to-n'iaintain` an interrupted condition of said Shorticiivl.v

cuit -for 'a lower speed of the motor.

l 12. In u motor'controlling device, a pluraliipy of fixed resistanees, u rotary element drivzenyb'y the motor, terminals for said' resistncs carried by said element, and meehanis'ln Afor au'tomatieally maintaining. a short' circuit between a desired number of said terminals for enev speed of the motor. and adapted temalntain said short ereuit'between a less number of said terminals for a lower speed of the motor. 10

' `Sigrlxd at Chic'ago this Sth' dayfof Mai-eli,

WILLIAM B. LUCAS.

Witnesses:

EUGENE RUMlvILER, PHILiP B. WooDWonTH.

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