US1548764A - Controller - Google Patents

Description

W. W. SLOANE Aug. 4, 1925.

CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 26 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ML/LW. )4/ 62,

I ZMM ATTORNEY.

Aug. 4, 1925.

1,548,764 W. W. SLOANE CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 26, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .n'llimngih "Ir 1 l Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,764

w. w. SLOANE CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 26, 1921 4 Sheets$heet s IN VEN TOR MLL/AM. M 5L OANE."

Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,764

w w. SLOANE CONTROLLER Filed se z. 26, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORII WILLIAM. W SLoA/vE A "r 'r ORNE Y;

Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. SLOANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A-SSIGNO'R TO GOODMAN'MANUFACTUR= ING'COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION'OF ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLER.

Application filed September 26, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known-that I, WILLIAM W. SLoANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in .controllers for electric railway systems, and has for itsobjectto produce means for quickly breaking the engagement .of the controllercontacts so asto minimize arcing of the electric current.

Broadly speaking, the invention consists in interposing an operating mechanismbetween the controller handle and the controller drum by which the drum may be .advanced throughzsuccessive positions in the usual manner, but when turning ed the current, the .mechanism automatically retains the controller drumin one contacting position until the handle has been moved substantially to the next succeedingposition. During this movement of the "handle, it actuates a tension device which stores up energy, and when the handle'reachesa predetermined point, alatch device: releases the tension-device whichquickly move-s the controller drum into the lIleXt contacting position, whereby arcing between successive drumcontacts is. minimized.

Theinventionmay best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 is a. top-plan view of a controller of a standard construction to which my inventionhas been applied.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view-showing the- 'upperend of the controller with the casing removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the quick breakmechanism and easing, with the controller handle removed.

Fig. 4: is a detail View in perspective of one part of the quick break mechanism.

"Figs. 5 and -6 are views in perspective of other parts of the quick break mechanism.

Fig.' 7 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the'mechanism'in the off position.

Fig.8 is a diagrammatic view showing themechanismin the on position.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammaticview similarto Fig.8 but showing the controller handle rotated into position to release the quick Serial No. 503,318

break mechanism so as to move the controller drum into its next succeeding position.

In the embodiment of my invent-ion illustrated in the drawings, my device is shown as applied to a controller 1 of a standard pattern provided with a reversing drum 2 and a contact drum 3. A series of contact fingers 4, 4, are adapted to engage successive contacts 5, 5, carried by the controller drum 3 in the usual manner. An interlocking device of the usual construction is also pro vided which prevents operation of the reversing drum, excepting when the controller drum 3 is in off position as shown in Fig. 1. In the drawings, this interlocking device comprises a rocking arm .6 having engagement with a star wheel 7 on the reversing drum 2 and controlled by a second rocking arm 8 having engagement with a star wheel 9 carried by the controller drum 3. It is to be understood, however,.thatthe parts described are not essential parts of my invention, but are shown for the purpose of illustration.

As heretofore constructed the handle 10 for actuating the controller drum 3 is usually connecteddirectly with the shaft 11 of this drum. In the present invention, this handle is connected to a cam member 12 shown in Fig. 4 which is rotatably mounted on a sleeve 13 which, in turn, is mounted on a hub member 14: engaging the upper end of'the controller drum shaft 11. A casing 15 is provided for the quick break mechanism and is enclosed by a cover plate 16 having the cam member 12 attached to its lower face and the handle 10 attached'to its upper face as shown in Fig. 4. A frame 17 has a hub portion comprising two spaced ring portions 18, 18, inserted between vertically spaced hub portions 19, 19, of the cam member 12. The hub portions 18, 18, of the'frame 17 are splined or otherwise connected to the sleeve 13 and through thehub member 14 is arranged so as to move with the controller drum 3. In other words,the arrangement is such that the cam member 12 is connected to and moves with the handle shown.

to a pin 21 carried by the cam 12 and at the inner end to the sleeve 13 by any suit-able means such as a screw 22. Tension is normally provided in the springv 20 so as to maintain a pair of stops 23, 23, on the frame 17 engaged with a pair of shoulders 24,-24, carried by the cam member 12 as shown in Fig. 3, but allows the handle 10 andcam member 12 carried therewith to be rotated. against tension a l1m1ted distance wlth respect to the frame 17, sleeve 13, hub 14 and controller drum shaft 11.

A latch device 25 is mounted adjacent the also pivoted with a pair of pivot pins 33, 33,

which are insertedin suitable slots 34, 34, in the frame 17, opposite the slots 29, 29, already described as containing the pivot pins 28, 28, ofthe dog 27; The outer end of the link 31 is arranged to extend laterally beyond the boundary of the frame 17 and is provided with a spring 36 retained by suitable means such as a collar 37 and pin 37 Said spring engages a pair of shoulders 38, 38, on the frame 17, and is arranged so as to maintain the outer end of the dog 27 in engaging position with the several recesses formedin the casing 15, and also provides a cushioning efiect to the frame when the dog 27 isbrought to a sudden stop in these recesses, as will hereinafter more fullv appear in the description of the operation of the device. The inner end 39 of the door 27 is provided'with a cam surface 40 adapted to engage a cam surface 41 on the cam member 12. A cushioning device is also provided on the cam member 12, to become operative as the dog 40' engages ihe cam s11"- face 41. This cushioning device comprises an impact piece 42 extending above and below the cam surface .41 and movably mount-' of laterally extending arms 48, 48, are carried by the frame17which straddle the cam surface 41 and engage opposite ends of the impact piece 42 at the same time that the dog 27 is moved into engagement with the cam surface 41.

' Suitable recesses are formed in the casing 15 so as to be engaged by the outer end 30 of the dog 27 at predetermined OlnlIS corresponding with the various operating posia tions of the controller drum. In Figs. 3 and 7 the dog 27 is in the recess 50, and the controller drum is in off position. The controller drum shown has six running positions, represented by recesses 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56. These recesses correspond respectively with the notches 51 52, 53*, 54*, 55 and 56 on the star wheel 9 of the interlocking mechanism.

It will be observed that the device illustrated herewith comprises a self-contained unit which may be applied to a controller of standard design by removing the ordinary handle from the drum shaft 11, andfitting the sleeve 14 over the end of said shaft. The casing 15 may be secured to the top of the controller by suitable means, such as bolts 15 ,15 This constructionispreferableyof course, in applying my invention to controllers of the type shown, but it is manifest that modifications may be made in controller design so as to-enclose the operat ing mechanism within the controller casing if desired.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: E 1 I.

In Figs. 1 and 3 and inthe diagram in Fig. 7, the controller drum isin off position with the dog27 engaged in recess 50. As already described, the tension on the spiral spring 20 maintains the stops 23, 23, on the frame 17 in engagement withthe cam member 12 as shown in thesefigures. When it is desired to rotate the drum into? the tated in a clockwise direction. It will be observed, that there is no relative movement of the cam member 12 and: the frame 17 while moving the handle. in this direction, so that the entiremechanism isturned until. the dog 27 engages in recess 51, in the first running position. Similarly the drum may be advanced through its successive positions; indicated by recesses 51, .52, 53, 54, 55, and 56. In other words, the controller drum may be advanced to any desired point in the usual manner, and, while so, doing, the quick break mechanism remains inoperative. When it is desired to reduce the current, however, as for instance from on position shown in Fig. 8 to the next succeeding osi-. tlon, the handle is rotated in a counter-c ock wise direction and the frame 12 is carried with 1t, producing an lncreased tension on the splral spring 20,,wh1ch 1S transmitted to the frame 17 and tends to move the frame 7 The dog2'7 is thenroc'ked on its pivot until its outerend is. withdrawn 'fromihe notch 56. Owing to the considerable tension of the frame17 through the spring 20, "said frame will be quickly rotated so "as to disengagejthe dog27 from the cam 41. The dog, being'under tension'of the spring 36 is immediately thro'wnoutwardly so as to be engagedin'the next successive'recess 55ndjacent-the recess 56. p A,

It will also bepb'servedthat, as the cam 41 first 'engages'tl' e inner end 39 of the dog 27,laterallyextending arms i8, 48, carried by :the frame 17 are simultaneously engaged with theimpact piece 42 of thecushioning device carried on the cam member 12, and compress the spring 45. The releasing action of the dog is thus retarded slightly, which requires a small additional'eifort of the operator which is desirable to indicate when this point is "reached. Furthermore, the spring 45 is compressed so as to impart an additional impulse tothe frame 17 after it is released and moves into its new position.

The force of impact of the dog 27 as it is stopped in each successive recess is cushioned by the spring 36 on the link 31. Pivot pins 28, 28, of dog 27, and pivot pins 33, 33, of link 31 are movably mounted in slots 29 and 34 respectively, so as to afford the necessary movement of the spring and dog in cushioning this shock. I

Altho I have shown and described one form in which my invention mayfbe embodied, it will be understood that many other means may be employed for accomplishing the same results without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not therefore wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction illustrated herein excepting as specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a controller provided with a contactor drum and an operating member, means including a tension member interposed between said drum and said operating member and affording limited relative movement therebetween, latch mechanism associated with the drum and adapted to successively engage a series of stops corresponding to several contacting positions of said drum, means actuated by said operating member for releasing said latch mechanism, and means associated with said latch mechanism for cushioning the impact thereof as the successive stops are engaged.

2. In a controller provided with a contactor drum and an operating member, means including a tension member interposed between said drum and said operating member and affording limited relative movement between said drum and operating member, latch mechanism associated with the drum and adapted to successively en-' gage a series of stops corresponding to several contacting positions of said drum, means actuated by said operating member for releasing said latch mechanism, and auxiliary tension means carried by one of said relatively movable members and coacting with said releasing mechanism to impart additional momentum to the drum'at the moment of releasing the latter.

'3. In a device of the class described, a frame and a cam member both rotatably mounted, spring means connecting said frame and cam member, a rocking dog mounted on said frame adapted to success sively engage a series of stops, tension means'for saiddog, means positively limiting the relative movement of said frame and cam member when rotated relatively in one direction, and means on said cam member for disengaging said dog when the frame and cam member are rotated relatively in the opposite direction.

4. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted frame, tension means adapted to rotate said frame, a series of stops, and latch mechanism carried by said frame adapted to successively engage said stops, comprising a rocking dog mounted in said frame, means affording limited lateral displacement of said dog in the direction of rotation of said frame, tension means restraining the lateral displacement of said dog, and means for rocking said dog out of engagement with said stops.

5. In a device of the class described, a rotatable frame, tension means adapted to rotate said frame, a series of stops, and latch mechanism carried by said frame adapted to successively engage said stops comprising a. rocking dog, means afiording limited lateral displacement of said dog in the direction of rotation of said frame, a rocking link having pivotal connection with said dog, means affording limited lateral displacement of said link, tension means co-operating with said link in a direction tending to throw one end of the dog outwardly into engagement with the stops, and means for rocking said dog out of engagement with said stops.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatable frame, tension means adapted to rotate said frame, a series of stops, and latch mechanism carried by said frame adapted to successively engage said stops, comprising a rocking dog, means affording limited lateral displacement of said dog in the direction of rotation of said frame, a rocking link having pivotal connection with said dog, means affording limited lateral displacement of said link, tension means co-operating with said link in a direction tending to throw one end of the dog outwardly into engagement with the stops and to restrain the lateral displacement of said dog, and

means for roeking'said dog out of engage-v ment with said stops. 7

7. In a device of the class described, a frame and a cam member, botlr rotatably mounted and having limited relative movement therebetween, spring means connecting said frame and cam member, a rocking dog mounted on said frame adapted tosuccessively engage a series of stops, tension'means for frame and a cam member both rotatably' mounted, spring means connecting sald frame and cam member,ya rockinghdog mounted on sa d frame adaptedto 'suec-es ssively engagea series of stops, tension means,

for saiddog, means positively limiting the relative movement .of said frame and ca m member when rotated relatively in yone direction, means on said cam member for disengaging said dog When the frame and cam member are rotated relatively in; the opposite,

direction and auxiliary tension, means mounted on one ofsaid relatively movable members adapted to; be placed under com-f pression by the other member during a por-i.

tion of the relative movement of the said members, and prior to the disengagement of. said dog. T

Signed at Chicago, in the county and State of :Illinois, this 23rd day of.

September, 1921. 4 g

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