US1364384A - Motor-starting switch - Google Patents

Description

K. KNUDSEN.

MOTOR STARTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-11,1918.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

K. KNUDSEN.

MOTOR STARTING SWITCL.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.1|, I918.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

mm 1 M gar A TTOR/VE Y8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

K NUD KNUDSEN, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRUMBULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MOTOR-STARTING SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed November 11, 1918. Serial No. 262,036.

subject of the King of Denmark, have signified my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States and taken out first papers and a plied for second, residing at Plainville, onnecticut, have invented a new and useful Motor-Starting Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to motor starting switches of the type whereinthe switch is first operated to cut the motor in on the non-fused side of the line and then as the motor picks up speed is further operated to cut the motor in on the fused side of the line.

The objects of the invention are to provide simple and effective mechanism for eifecting this two-part movement" of the switch and for insuring a proper pause between the two movements.

Briefly stated, the invention resides in this mechanism for controlling the movement of the switch, the same consisting generally of an arrangement of stop shoulders and a stop pin cooperating therewith together with certain guides or guide passages for the stop pin, the construction being such that to close the switch, the switch operating handle must first be carried forward into a non-fused position and then be backed slightly before it can be advanced to the fused or running position.

The other features of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the invention as embodied in a practical and at present preferred form but at the same time would have it understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In said drawings Figure 1, is a front or face view of the switch in the closed circuit position, certain parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2, is a side view with the parts in the same position.

Fig. 3, is a face view of the bearing member carrying the stop shoulders.

Fig. 1, is a similar View of the handle member carrying the stop pin for cooperation with the stop shoulders.

Fig. 5, is a broken side elevation of the handle member.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the plane of the line 66 of Fig. 1.

The switch illustrated in the present disclosure is of the inclosed type, wherein all the current carrying parts are housed within a suitable box or casing 7.

The movable element of the switch consists of the three parallel switch blades 8 pivoted on the hinge posts 9 and adapted in the closing movement thereof to engage first with the starting contacts 10 and in the continued movement thereof with the running contacts 11. These contacts may be in the form of spring jaws or clips as illustrated and to secure the sequential action described, the starting contacts are made higher or longer than the running contacts and the base portions of the starting contacts are arched or spread apart as indicated at 12 so that in the final running position of the movable switch element, the switch blades will lie between the spread apart base portions on the starting contacts and thus be entirely out of engagement with such starting contacts. Suitable fuses are connected with the running contacts and all of the current carrying parts thus far described are mounted on a suitable insulating base 14. The starting contacts are connected directly with the line terminals by the leads 18.

The movable switch element in the present disclosure is actuated by an operating member in the form of a switch handle 15 having a hub portion 16 journaled in the side wall of the box, from which there eX- 'tends a crank arm 17, connected with the movable switch element, in the case shown by a' quick break connection consisting of the insulating links 18 pivoted directly to the switch blades at 19 and having slotted portions 20 engaged over the laterally extending portion of the crank arm, said links thus providing a lost motion connection and the springs 21 connected between the crank arm and the cross bar 22 of the switch blades serving as a means for snapping the switch blades out of engagement with the contact clips in the opening movement of the switch.

The switch is biased to the open position by means of a spring 23 connected with the operating arm 17 and anchored to a stationary support such as the wall of the casing.

The closing movement of the switch is controlled by cooperating and relatively movable stop devices carried in the present instance by the switch operating handle and the adjacent relatively stationary wall of the box, said devices consisting of a stop pin carried by one of said parts and cooperating stop shoulders and guides for the pin carried by the other of said parts. As here shown the stop pin designated 24-. is carried by the handle and the stop shoulders and guides are mounted on the box, said cooperating stop devices being carried by the disk- like elements 25 and 26 on the handle and box respectively.

The stop pin 24 is shown seated in a, radially disposed slot or recess 27 provided in the handle element 25 and forced yieldingly toward the element 26 by means of a spring 28.

The relatively stationary element 26 is shown. formed with a guide groove 29 for the stop pin having a drop or recessed portion 30 at the forward end thereof providing a pocket to receive the stop pin and arrest the forward movement of the handle.

Extending from a point at one side of the stop shoulder thus provided, there is a secoud forwardly extending guide groove 31 terminating at its forward end in a stop shoulder 32 disposed in advance of the first stop shoulder. Connecting these two passages is a lateral passage extending on an incline rearwardly from the first stop shoulder into the rearward portion of the second guide groove, the whole thus constituting a compound groove of zigzag outline. The second guide groove communicates at its rearward end by means of the rearwardly extending guide groove 34 with the rearward portion of the first guide groove at a point in rear of the first stop shoulder. The stop pin and the first stop shoulder are so related as to arrest the movement of the switch blades when said blades are engaged with the starting contacts and the second stop shoulder is so positioned as to beengaged by the stop pin only when the switch blades have engaged with the running contacts. The lateral guide passage 33 is so disposed that upon a slight reversal of movement of the operating handle the stop pin will be caused to travel rearwardly on an gagement with the starting contacts.

incline into the second guide passage, this rearward movement being comparatively slightso as not to disengage the switch blades from the starting contacts. the lost motion connection described preferably being such as to enable this slight retractive movement of the operating member without effecting the engagement of the switch blades with the starting contacts.

The operation of the parts thus far described is substantially as tollowsz lvhen the switch is to be closed, the handle is thrust forward until the stop pin, traveling in the first guide passage, drops into the pocket at the forward end of such passage bringing up against the first stop shoulder. The closing movement of the switch is thus arrested with the switch blades then in en- The switch handle is then backed of? slightly until the locking pin passes through the inclined connecting passage into the second guide groove whereupon the switch handle may be thrust forward the balance of its stroke or until the stop pin brings up against the second stop shoulder. The switch blades will then be in engagement with the running contacts and out of engagement with the starting contacts. The lost motion connection as before stated. is preferably suthcient to enable the handle to be backed" oft". as described, in the intermediate portion of its forward stroke without actually imparting any retractive movement to the switch blades. This enables the switch blades to remain firmly in engagement with the starting contact clips, without movement, during manipulation of the switch handle in this intermediate portion of its stroke.

The switch is held closed in the present instance by a latch 35 adapted to be engaged with an outstanding lug 36 on the handle, said latch being controlled by a nonvoltage or low voltage release magnet 37.

As the result of this construction when the voltage drops below a predetermined -poiut, the latch will be tripped and the switch will be snapped open, the quick break connection described insuring a quick break at the switch contacts and preventing dangerous arcing thereat. In this opening movement or the switch it will be understood that the stop pin travels rearwardlv in the second guide passage provided therefor and through the guide at the rear end of this passage back into the rearward portion of the first guide groove into position to again cooperate with the first guide shoulder upon the next closing movement of the switch. The action of the stop pin in the closing and the opening movement of the switch is indicated in Fig. 3 by the fullline and the dotted line arrows. respectively.

There is also shown in the switch disclosed, a back stop for limiting the opening movement of the switch and for positively holding the switch in such open condition. This back stop is in the form of cooperating wedges ori'nclines 38 and 39 provided on the opposed disk elements 25 and 26 on the handle and box arranged to engage as the handle swings open and to hold the handle frictionally in such circuit-open position. a

The switch controlling mechanism disclosed possesses the special advantage that all the parts thereof are entirely inclosed and protected. The structure further is relatively simple, strong and positive in operation.

I claim 1. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable switch element and an operating member therefor, of a stop pin carried by said operating member and stop means cooperating with said pin comprising a track for the pin terminating in a stop shoulder for arresting the forward movement of the operating member, a second track disposed atone side of the first track and terminating in a stop shoulder for the pin disposed in advance for the first stop shoulder to limit the extreme forward movement of the operating member and a passage for the stop pin extending rearwardly from the first stop shoulder into the second track to carry said pin on reverse movement of the operating handle into the second track and said second track communicating at the rear thereof with the first track, whereby to carry the pin upon full reverse movement of the operating member Jack into the first track in rear of the first stop shoulder.

2..In a switch of the character described, a stationary disk-like track plate having a grooved guiding means with two stop shoulders intermediate the ends of the grooved guiding means, said stop shoulders facing in opposite directions and a relatively oscillable disk-like member pivoted adjacent thereto and having a recess elongated radi ally and a spring pressed stop pin located in said recess and having one end seated in said grooved guidingmeans, said end being movable radially and axially to control the movement of said member.-

3. In an electric switch, the combination with -a movable switch element and an operating member therefor, of means for controlling the switch movement comprising a relatively stationary support, relatively movable stop devices carried by said support and the operating member, one of said stop devices consisting of a stop pin, and the cooperating stop device including a guide groove for the stop dpin terminating in a pocket at the forwar end thereof, a

passage extending laterally from said pocket to enable disengagement of the stop pin from said pocket and a guide groove extending forwardly from said lateral passage and terminating in a stop at the forward end thereof, said second guide groove communicating at its rearward end with the first guide groove to direct the stop pin on rearward movement of the operating member back into the first guide groove.

4. In an electric switch, the combination .with a movable switch element and a pivat a point in rear of the first stop shoulder and extending at its rearward end back into the first guide groove to thereby carry the stop pin upon full reverse movement back into the first guide groove.

5. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable switch element, and an operating handle therefor, of means for controlling the switch movement, comprising a stop device carried by the handle and relatively stationary stop devices cooperating therewith, one of said devices consisting of a stop pin and the cooperating stop device consisting of a guide groove having'a drop at the forward end thereof providing a pocket for the stop pin, a second guide groove at one side of said pocket terminating in a stop shoulder for the pin, said second guide groove being in communication with the pocket by a rearwardly extending guide passage and being further connected at its rearward end with the first guide passage to direct the pin on full reverse movement of the'switch handle back into the first guide groove.

6. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable switch elementrand an operating member therefor, of cooperating relatively stationary and movable stop devices comprising a stop pin, aguide passage for said stop pin provided with a stop shoulder at the forward end thereof, a second guide passage for the stop pin at one side of said stop shoulder, a lateral passage for guiding the stop pin from the stop shoulder into engagement with thesecond guide passage and said second guide passage communicating at its rearward end with the first guide passage at a point in a rear of the stop shoulder to thereby direct Ward end of one of said grooves, an oscilthe stop pin in the retractive movement lating member mounted in said annular 10 thereof back into the first guide passage. member and having a slot extending longi- 7. In a controlling device, the combinatudinally and elongated radially, and a 5 tion of a stationary annular member having spring pressed pin in said slot having one two concentric grooves in the outer face end operable in said grooves.

thereof of different radii and having overlapping portions, a stop shoulder in the for- KNUD KNUDSEN.

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