US1331051A - Faulty-cable localizer - Google Patents

Description

A. DAVIS.

FAULTY CABLE LOCALIZER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. m3.

1,331,051. I Patented Feb. 17,1920.

WYTNESEEE [NS/ENTER y I JHGHIBJILD EJ111215,

HIS ATTUHNEY ARCHIBALD DAVIS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

FAULTY-CABLE LOCALIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Original application filed May 81, 1912, Serial No. 700,667. Divided and this application filed July 25,

1918. Serial No. 781,214.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Faulty-Cable Localizers, of w ich the following is a speclfication.

My invention relates to the localizing of faults developed on transmission lines and to apparatus particularly adapted for this work, althou h the apparatus I have shown and, describe is not limited'in its applicability to this work alone.

My present application is a division of an application filed by me May 31st, 1912, Serial No. 700,667 faulty cable localizer, and relates particularly to my novel type of time limit device or relav used in connection with each localizer relay.

In carrying out my invention, of indicating upon which feeder or cable a fault occurs, I use a device which I desire to call a localizer. The localizer consists of a set of interconnwted relays, one relay. being provided for each feeder or cable. These relays, which I desire to call localizer relays, are of a type of construction consistin of two coils each, the C01l ofthe pair being balance against each other, the onl relay operating being the one in whic an unbalancing occurs. When, therefore, an unbalancing occurs upon any feeder due to a ground thereon, an unbalancing is also roduced in the relay correspondin to this eeder and it is operated to suitably indicate this faulty feeder.

Since there are certain abnormal conditions occurring on transmission lines at various times, which conditions are similar in their action to the disturbances caused by the faults which I desire to locate, but which exist for shorter periods of time, such as momentary surges, I provide a time element device as a part of each localizer relay .which delays indication of the abnormal condition until that condition has persisted for a certain "definite period of time. Each localizer relay with its time element device forms a unit, one unit being provided for each feeder. By properly adjusting the time element device the localizer will therefore indicate a fault only. There may be other pieces of apparatus also ulls of each attached to the transmission system, as for example, an arcing ground suppressor,

which operate only after a certain eriod of tlme, and the actuation of whic revents the actuation of my localizer. he

of a second, and still allow operation in less than one-fourth of a second on the occurrence of a fault.

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a three phase system of distribution. including three feeders connected to the same bus bars and connected to a localizer which, however, in this figure are only shown in part. Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically one construction of a localizer relay involving my invention and embodying my novel type of time limit device.

In Fig. 1, the generator 1 is connected to the bus bars 2; to these bus bars are connected three feeders. I have provided a localizer comprising localizer relays, 3, 4, 5, one for each of the feeders shown, which on the occurrence of a fault on any one of the three feeders indicates the feeder on which the fault occurs. The part of each localizer relay which I have shown in Fig. 1 coinprises a magnetic E-shaped core on the two outer legs of which are mounted coils or solenoids 6 and 7 An armature 8, balanced and pivoted at 9, is subject to the attractions of both solenoids which tend to move it in opposite directions. A spring 10 may be provided to hold the armature against the stop 11, which it is desirable to use, although neither the spring nor the stop are absolutely necessary. I desire that the movement of the armature 8. in response to a stronger attraction of the solenoid 7, should be indicated, but do not care to indicate the supremacy of solenoid 6 over 7.

For this urpose, I have provided the contact 12 w ich cooperates with the armature,

as will be apparent from Fig. 2, to comlete acircult for actuating the indicator. ince it is not necessary for the armature to respond to the greater attraction of sole normal conditions the armatures of the 10- calizer relays will remain at rest and in such a position that no indication is given, the localizer being designed and, constructed with this object in view. On the occurrence of abnormal conditions, however, the feeder, on which the fault has occurred, will energize the solenoid of the localizer relay connected thereto to a difi'erent degree than Will the other feeders energize their sole-- noids. There will then be a responsive action on the art of at least one of the armatures to give an indication. In this particular ease, I have connected the solenoids to the feeders in such a way that under nor mal balanced conditions on the feeders, no current will be supplied to the solenoids, and have arranged the solenoids and armatures of the localizer relays so that one armature and only one will give an indication when the solenoids attached to one feeder are more strongly energized than the other. The connection may be made through three transformers similar to instrument transformers connected as shown, the result being the production of zero electromotive force in each of the connections to the solenoids during such times as the currents through the primaries of each of the groups are balanced, as under the normal operation of the system they will be. The localizer relays are made independent of load current by connection with the current transformers as shown. As long as the current that flows out one phase of the feeder, at any instant,

- flows back over either one or both of the other phases, the currents. in the current transformer secondaries do the same. Therefore, there is no current in the localizer relay and this condition is true no matter how unbalanced the load current ma I be. This particular connection may be rep aced by others which perform substantially the same functions.

We will first suppose that the feeders are of the same electrostatic capacity. Under this condition the occurrence of a ground on one of the feeders will produce an unbalancing in each group of transformers but there is a greater unbalancing in the' group attached to the grounded feeder than in any other, and hence the current supplied to the solenoids attached to the grounded feeder will be greater than the current sup lied by any other feeder. Also the unba ancmg in and hence the current supplied by the other grou s of transformers will be equal. Theexp anation why this unbalancing takes place in this manner is not simple, due to the many factors involved, but experiment has shown that such unbalancing does occur. For the purpose of illustration, we may suppose that a ground has occurred at the polnt '13. .The current, therefore, supplied to the solenoids on the localizer relays 3 and 5, which are attached to this feeder, is greater in value than the current supplied to the other solenoids. The currents supplied to the solenoids attached to each of the other feeders are equal in value to each other. The result of this is that the solenoid 7 of the localizer relay 3 and the solenoid 6 of the localizer relay 5 exert more attractive force on their respective armatures than do the opposing coils. The armature 8 of the localizer relay 3 therefore moves into engagement with the contact 12. The armature of the localizer relay 5 does not move on account of its engagement with the stop 11. Should no stop have been provided, the armature then moves downward on the left-hand side without actuating the indicating device, since the armature does not come into engagement with the contact 12. As for the armature 8 of the localizer relay 4, it remains in its balanced position shown in the drawing, since the attractive forces of the solenoids 6 and 7 are equal. The ground 13 will, therefore, operate the localizer and produce an indication upon which feeder the fault has occurred by means of its 10- calizer relay 3. It will be noticed that there is a localizer relay for each feeder the armature of which will respond to a ground on its feeder while the other armatures of the other localizer relays are held in their balanced position, or at least away from their contact 12. This is due to the fact that taking the localizer relays in order, the solenoid 6 of the first localizer relay is in series with the solenoid 7 of the second relay and attached to one feeder, the solenoid 6 of the secondrelay is in series with solenoid 7 of the third localizer relay and attached to another feeder, this system of connections continuing until the last localizer relay is reached when the solenoid 6 of that relay is connected in series with the solenoid 7 of the first localizer relay and to the last feeder. I have shown, for purposes of illustration, the application of my localizer to a distribution system comprising three feeders but it is understood that by adding a relay for each feeder that my localizer is applicable to a system comprising any number of feeders.

Seldom, if ever, are all the feeders of the same electrostatic capacity.- The amount of current supplied by each group of trans formers on the occurrence of a ground elsewhere than on the feeder to which that group of transformers is connected is prortional to the electrostatic capacity of that feeder. Therefore, should an armature be under the control of a solenoid 6 attached to a feeder of small electrostatic capacity and a solenoid 7 attached to a feeder of large electrostatic capacity, and should a fault occur elsewhere on the system than on either of those feeders, nevertheless the solenoid 7 would predominate and produce an actuation of the armature 8. This difliculty may be overcome in various ways, as by properly proportioning the windings of the transformers variously locating the armatures and coils relatively, and otherwise. I prefer, however, to make the numbers of turns on the various solenoids inversely pro portional to the electrostatic capacities of the feeders to which they are attached. Thus the solenoids attached to a feeder of small electrostatic capacity will have more turns than the solenoids attached to a feeder of a greater electrostatic capacity. When such provisions are made, the occurrence of a fault elsewhere than on the feeders will produce equal attractive forces on the armatures. Stated otherwise, equal abnormalities in the various feeders will produce attractive force by the various solenoids inversely proportional to the electrostatic capacity of the feeders to which the solenoids are respectively connected.

As has been before noted, it is desirable to make a localizer relay which will give an indication of an abnormality only after the continuance of that abnormality for a certain definite period of time, and also to produce the actuation of such indicator within a given period of time. Obviously the localizer should be able to work within very narrow limits. I have preduced a localizer which in its complete form includes a time element device capable of the fine adjustment necessary, and although I have termed the complete device a localizer relay, it will be understood from the description that neither the complete device nor any component part is limited in its applicability to the particular application which I have made. I propose to depend upon inertia to determine the period which must elapse between the occurrence of a condition and the actuation of the indicator. I propose to provide an indicating mechanism with substantial inertia and to provide a; device tending to actuate the indicator with a substantially constant force. If then the condition for allowing the actuating of the indicator continues for a certain period of time, the inertia of the indicator will be overcome by its moving device and the indication given. Should, however, the condition have changed within that period, the

further actuation of .the indicator will be prevented, and the whole returned to its original position if desired. The indicator may be t e arm 14, but I have shown in this case this arm completin a circuit through the lamp 30 which thus ecomes the indicator proper; this circuit is completed when.

the arm 14 is brought into engagement with the contact 15. It should be understood that by the term indicator I do not intend to limit my invention to a visual or audible indicator but that I use the term broadly and that it may include means for actuating switches or other devices as desired. The arm 14 is mounted on the rotatable member or driven shaft 16, one end of which is carried by the bearing 17, and the other end.

other end may be fixed as desired, but I pre- I fer to attach the other end 23 to the shaft 18 as shown. The spring 21 normally tends to rotate the shaft 16 and thereby the indicator arm 14 and fiy wheel 20. Such rota tion is normally prevented by the abutments 24 and 25, one of which is attached to the shaft 16, the other of which stands in its path until moved therefrom on the occurrence of the condition which it is desired to indicate. When the abutment 25 is suddenly removed from the path of the abutment 24, the shaft 16 is turned by the spring 21 and the indicator arm 14 moved thereby. To move the arm 14 a certain definite distance, however, requires a certain period of time, due to the fact that the inertia of the fiy wheel and the whole system must be overcome by the moving device, the spring 21. If, therefore, the abutment 25 is removed from the path of the abut-ment 24 and kept from said path for the given period of time orlonger, the indicator arm 14 will be moved to the proper extent to give an indication. If on the other hand, the abutment 25 is returned to the path of the abutment 24 before the elapse of this time, a further actuation of the indicator arm 14 will be stopped. In the particular construction Ihave shown, the abutment 25 is mounted on the shaft 18 which is controlled by the armature 26 connected by the arms 27 to that shaft. When the solenoid 28 is energized by the com letion of the circuit therethrough, as by 13KB, engagement of the armature 8- with the contact 12, the armature 26 is attracted and-the shaft 18 rotated thereby. The movement of the armature 26 is suflicient to remove the abutment 25 to such an extent that the shaft 16 is allowed to rotate to move the indicating arm 14 to the indicating position. However, should the armature 26 be released by the denergization of the magnet 28 by the breaking of the circuit at the contact 12,.

the abutment 25 will be brought back into the path of the abutment 24 and the shafts 16 and 18 and the parts attached thereto will be returned to the original position shown in the drawing by the spring 29. The spring 29 is intended to be strong enough to return all parts to their original positions from any point of their trave substantially instantaneously, irrespective of the inertia of the fly wheel 20 and the rest of the system. As before mentioned, I have constructed such a device as this which would operate the indicating arm 14 ,to its indicating position, whenever the armature 8 was held in engagement with the contact 12 for a period longer than one-fifth of a second, the indicating arm 14 moving to this posltion within one-fourth of a second. The del lamp 30 and the switch 32. The energization 1 of t e electromagnet now causes the attraction of the armature 33 which completes another circuit through the armature 33, electromagnet 31, lamp 30 and switch 32. When the arm. 14 leaves the contact 15, the light is not extinguished, but will be continued until the circuit through the armature 33 is broken, as may be done manually at the switch 32.

It will, of course, be. understood that a number .of the features shown and described are optional, and that the form and operation of others may be changed without substantially departing from the invention herein disclosed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. A relay including an armature, a solenoid controlling said armature, a normally tensioned spring, means operated by said armature for releasing the tension of said spring, means for returning said first mentioned means to its original position when released by the armature, and mechanism moved by said tensioned spring having substantial inertia.

2. A relay including an armature, .a solenoid controlling sa1d armature, a normally tensioned spring, means operated by said armature, for releasing the tension of said spring, mechanism havin substantial inertia moved by said tensione spring, and means for returning said first mentioned means and the mechanism from any point of their travel to their original position when released by said armature.

3. A relay including an armature, a solenoid controlling sa1d armature, a normally tensioned spring, means operated by said armature for releasing the tension of said spring, mechanism havin' substantial inertia moved by said tensione spring, and means for substantially instantaneously returning said first mentioned means and the mechanism from any point of their travel to their original position when released by said armature.

4. In a rela the combination with two rotatable mem ers, means for rotating one said first mentioned means operative, a circuit controlled by the rotation of said first mentioned means, and an inertia device for introducing a time delay between the rotation of the other of said members and the control of said circuit.

5. A relay comprisin two rotatable members substantially in a inement, means for rotating one of said members upon the occurrence 'of a predetermined condition, means normally tending to rotate the other of said members but prevented from doing so until said first mentioned member is rotated, a circuit controlled by the rotation of said other member, and means for introducing a time interval between the rotation of said first mentioned member and the operation of said circuit.

6. A relay comprising two separately actuated members substantially in alinement, means for rotating one of said members upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, means for rotating the other of said members but normally held inoperative until the rotation of said first mentioned member, contacts controlled by the rotation of said other member, and means for introducing a time interval between the rotation of said first mentioned member and the operation of said contacts.

7. A relay comprising two rotatable menrbers, a solenoid, an armature controlled by said solenoid for rotating one of said members, a spring forreturning said member to its initial position, independent means normally tending to rotate the other of said members but held inoperative until 4 Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,331,051.

the rotation of said first mentioned member, and a device having substantial inertia operatively related to said other member.

8. A rela comprising two rotatable members su tantially 1n alinement, a solenoid, an armature controlled bysaid solenoid for rotati one of said members, a normally tensione spring released by the rotation ofsaid first mentioned member to rotate the other of said members, a movable contact carried 'by said other member, a fixed cooperating contact, a member having substantial inertia mounted on said other member for introducing a time interval between the rotation of said first mentioned member and the closing of said contacts.

9. A relay comprising a driving and a driven shaft substantially in almement, electromagnetic means for rotating said driving shaft, a spring normally tending to rotate said driven shaft, a stop normally holding said spring inoperative but mov-- able in response to the actuation of said driving shaft to render said spring opera- [SEAL] c1. zoo-97.

tive, a circuit controlled by the rotation of said driven shaft, and a retarding device for delaying the control of said circuit a predetermined interval after the rotation of said drivin shaft.

10. A re ay com rising two rotatable members, a solenoi means controlled by said solenoid for producing a rotation of one of said members, means for rotating the other of said members, in response to the rotation of said first mentioned member,- a fixed contact, a cooperating contact movable into engagement with said fixed contact by the rotation of said other member, and a mechanism having substantial inertia operativel related to said other member'for retar ing the rotation of said member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of July, 1913.

ARCHIBALD DAVIS. Witnesses:

HELEN ORFORD, MARGARET E. WOOLLEY.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,331,es1-, maed February 17, Y 1920, upon the application of Archibald Davis, of Schenectady, New York, for an improvement in Faulty-Cable Localizers, were erroneously issued to I the inventor, said Davis, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to Gen and Electric Company, a corporation of New York, as assignee of the entire interest, as shown by the records ofassignments in this offiee; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that: thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 4th dayof May, A. D., 1920.

, M H. COULSTON, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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