US976838A - Circuit-opener. - Google Patents

Description

U. O. BADEAU; GIROUIT OPENER. APPLICATION FILED AYE. 27,1905.

Patented N0v..29; 1910.

Z BHSETB-,SEEET 1.

- mverrron .47 JM +r. MM

me Nonms Parras ce.. wAsnma-rqrv. n. c.

o.-c.1s1n111.

OIBOUIT OPENER.

l ,urmomlol num 11.27.1905.

976,838. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

i i i urlllllllllllll:

1N: Nvnmsvllrlns ca., WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE. l

CHARLES C. BADEAU, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SWITCHBOARD EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-OPENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. BADEAU, of Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Circuit-Opener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec tion, illustrating a circuit opener, e1nbodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view; Fig. 4 is an end view viewed from the right-hand of Fig. 1; Fig, 5 is an end view viewed from the left-hand end of Fig. l; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the coil.

' In all of these views, the circuit opener is shown in its closed position.

My invention relates to that class of cir cuit openers that are provided wit-h contact members, and a handle for opening and closing the contact. It may also be provided with means for automatically breaking the circuit, whenever the circuit becomes overcharged.

It consists in devices for lessening the friction, for making a more perfect contact, and for lessening the danger of injury to the contact members.

I will now describe my invention so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may manufactureand use the same.

In the drawings 2 represents the base of the apparatus which may be formed of porcelain, or other suitable material; bolted to the base-plate 2 is a frame 3. Pivoted to the frame is the movable Contact member 4, which is in electrical communication with the coil 12, and is provided with a carbon shunt contact piece 5, which is fixed to the end of the movable member. The movable contact member 4 is also provided with a main Contact face 6. The carbon Contact piece 5, is so arranged that when the a paratus is in its closed position, it shal make contact with the stationary spring carbon shunt contact member 7, and the contact face 6 shall also make Contact with the stationary laminated main contact 8. The carbons 5 and 7 are secured to their supports by pins 26 which extend through openn ings in the carbon and by screws or bolts 27 passing through the supports and through Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 27, 1905,.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

serial No. 257,783.

the carbon to the pins 26. This removes ail metal from the faces of the carbons. These contact pieces 7 and 8 are at their bases bolted together and to the base 2 by the bolt 9 which forms one terminal a, of the circuit. The portion of this bolt 9 that passes through the laminee is threaded, the threads serving to make a mechanical connect-ion be* tween the bolt and approximately each lamination of the laminae, these laminations being, of course, threaded to correspond with the thread of the bolt. l/Vrapped around a Suitable spool 11 is a coil of wire or ribbon 12, whose c-onvolutions are insulated from each other and one end of which is secured to the base 2, by the bolt 13, which bolt forms the second terminal b of the oircuit. The other end of the ribbon is fixed to the spool ll. This coil is resilient, and as, the spool 11 is fixed to the pivoted movable contact member 4, the resiliency of the coil serves to normally keep this movable member in its retracted or open position. Extending through the center of the spool 11 is the core 14, which together with the coil forms an electromagnet. This core 14 extends out bevond the sides of the frame 3. Pivoted to the frame 3 is the armature 15, which is of yoke form, having arms adapted to be attracted by the extending portions of the core 14. This yoke 15 is provided with an adjustable stop 1G, adapted to come in contact with the frame 3, and limit the backward movement of the armature. The lower portion of the yoke is weighted or made suiiiciently heavy to cause the arms of the armature to lie normally away from core 14. By adjusting the stop 16, this distance may be so regulated that a predetermined load will energize the magnet sufficiently to attract the armature.

Pivoted to the base of the movable mem ber 4, below its pivotal point, is the operating handle 10, which is extended beyond its pivotal point and is there forked and provided with cheeks 18, having enlarged openings or bearings 19, for the trunnions 20, of the friction roller 21. Within the frame 3, and secured to the base 2, is an incline 22, a seat 23, and a stop 24. When the handle 10 is pulled down, the roller 21 travels up the incline 22, and against the stop 24, where it seats itself upon the seat 23. This movement raises the lower end of the movable member 4, and causes the contacts 5 and 6 to come 1n contact with the fixed contacts 7 and 8. The stationary main contact member 8 is formed of laminas of copper or other suitable conducting material having suflicient resiliency to give under the pressure of the movable contact face 6. The laminas of which this contact is formed are all of the same length, are bent at substantially a right angle to form a base or support 0, and

extend upwardly therefrom on a curved line each lamina extending from. the support or base c on a higher plane than the preceding lamina; at their outerend they are again bent at substantially a right angle to form 4short ridges CZ, whichv are separated from ency and a more perfect contact surface.-

These laminas taper from their base toward their ends', and at a short distance from their ends increase to their full width, as is shown in the drawings. This tapering of the body and enlargement at the ends serves to more evenly distribute t-he strain of the contact on the laminas, and to lessen the danger of injury to the elasticity of the member.

The operation is as follows: Vhen it is desired to close the circuit the handle 17 is pulled down until the roller 21 seats itself against the stop 24 and on the seat 23, and the contacts 5-7 and 6 8 are brought together. The circuit is opened by a push upward on the handle 10, suiiicient to unseat the roller 2l, when the resiliency of the spring 12 will then cause the movable member 4 to fly back. Should there be an overload on the circuit, the magnet being sullciently energized, will cause the inner ends of the armature to move downwardly and the outer ends upwardly, and so strike the handle 10 as to unseat theroller 21, from its seat 28 and break the circuit.

The advantages of my invention result from the simplicity of the apparatus and from the combination of parts which results in easy, rapid action; even contact between the contact pieces and freedomA from liability of injury/ to the mechanism and contact faces.

Although I have shown the circuit opener provided with 'an automatic tripping device, I do not desire to limit myself thereto.

Having thus'y described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a cirgcuit opener, the combination of a fixed Contact member, a movable member, an operatingl` member, a roller loosely journaled in an [enlarged bearing in the Operating member', and a seat adapted to hold the roller.

2. In a Ycircuit opener, the combination of a fixed Contact member, a movable contact member, a resilient, electro-magnet coil, the core of said coil extending through the same, and beyond the sides thereof, and constituting together with the coil, an electro-magnet, and` a pivoted armature Within the magnetic field of the magnet and capable of en- Uagement with the core, and means actuated by the movement of the pivoted armature to release the movable member whenever the condition of the circuit becomes abnormal.

3. In a circuit opener, the combination of a fixed Contact member, a movable contact member, an operating member pivoted to the movable contact member, a roller journaled in the operating member and a seat adapted to hold the roller.

In testimony whereof', I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES o. BADEAU.

Witnesses:

' GEO. B. BLEMING,

JAMES K. BAKEWELL.

Images