US1580025A - Electromagnetically controlled device - Google Patents

Description

April 6 1926. 1,580,025-

J. EATON v ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED DEVICE Origin-a1 Filed Sept 29, 1921 Inventor: dohn Eaton,

His Attorneg.

open position hen thei'current in t.

Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

*JOHN'EATONQ OF SCHENECTADYYNEXV YORK,*ASSIGNOB TO GEl'JERALELEQTRIG"CD1\I iPANY, -A GORZPQRATIGN -@F*1\T EV/'OEK.

ELECTRQMAGNETIGALLYiCONJROLLED;DEVICE.

To-[ZZZ 1111 20722 it mag Vconcern: v

Be itclznownthat I; JoiiNiEATom a snbject of Great ,Britain,(residing,vat Scheneotady,,inlthe conntyof Schenec ady, Statc o'lT'QNeW fYork rhave invented certain new and use'lnl Improvementsvtin ElectromagneticallyGontrolled Devices, of. which: the followin is aspecification.

)ne oi the objects ofthe;inyentioiris to provide an ,improved ,electroniagnetically controlled device iniivhich aicontrolledmemher biased to one mposition is magnetically held. in a secoi' d positionlwhen rthe energization of an electromagnet is above av predeterminedminimum valne,,a nd arranged so that whenithe energizationof the electromagnet is above a predeterminedmaximum. value,.

the controlled member is directly. operated awayutrom the i second i position.

:A further object of. the invention .is v to provide an,'electroinagnetically controlled :device having a controlled niembeimwhich,iis rinderlthe control of .twozrelatively movable magnetic members, anditthe arrangement siich -thatthe controlled member is moved to and magnetically heldiin avsecond position while the energization[ofitheselectromagnet isialoove a predetermined,minimum valne by a moven' ent or one ofthe magnetic members indepen,deIitly ,v v of lthe. other; anagnetic member, and'the controlled memberwis operated away from the seoondlpositionby a; substantially simultaneous .movement of the magnetic membersWwhenthe energization of the electroma-gnet isin iexcessiof a predetermined value.

A- further object of the invention. is,to provide. an electromagnetic'ally controlled switch in Which a switch memberis magnetica lly held in the "closed positionnagainst its bias to the open positionwhen the current in the Win'dingot' the electromagnetis above a predetermined value. and which .is magnetically and directly operated to vthe hewind- .ing of:the clectron agnet is above a predetermined maximum value.

' A still further object of the invention :is

to. provide an improved circuit controller which combines the feature :of manual control and also thelfeature of automatic icontrol to protect, the controlled circuit from abnormal, conditions SLlCl1,=fOI eXamYple -as an overload or a failure oi": voltage; ialthongh in certain ofits. aspects"thevinventionis not necessarily limited to a manually controlled switch.

The present vinvention is amodified form of the electromagn etically controlled: device, for. 'WlllQlli I liledaan application-Eton patent .On SepternheryQQ, 1921,- Serial Now 5044,051. The electromagnetically controlled device of the prese-nt application is? broadly .coverechin my said .copendinig applicatioin Se rialfillfifih; filed-Sept. 29,1921. I

a Inca'rryi-ng the invention ainto; e-liectiin one form vas applied to an electromagnetic circuit controller, means is: 1 provided lifOI' closing and opening-the controlled icircuitzat the will of the operatonor ,iir responseato any predetermined condition. Jlhe:v said means may take the xform ot open, and close orstart and; stop-push buttons,although the invention is not limited to a pnsh-i-bntton switch,- nor; are certaina features of the iin- I.

vention; limited; to thei ruse in: aumannally operated switch. :A switchniember is under the control of the. said ni-eanszandialso under the control of an; electromagnet Which-may have a single Winding energized;responsively :to the; current; through the switch. The electromagnet 1 is; provided with a magnetic xnaovable member which; :is under -:thecontrol ot-the magnet inding or. windings and the 1&1333ng8113611t: is; 1 suclL I that; the switch member; is magneticallyi held'ther eby in; an operative ipositionlas 1 long- 21s] the conditions in the controlled circuit are normal or until said ma-nnali means is operated to i etnrn [the switch toi its:oniginal position. 1 Iii-leasean abnormal circuit condition occnrsysnolni'or example, as a: tai-lnre of voltagethe; magnetic holding; effect {011 the said magnetic movablei membee is released and the switch anemher isaretnrned from the closed circuit position tothe open circuit position in; ac- .COIZClQdlCQi with its laws; or 111 case there -ls an overload in the controlledcircuit; tl1e- In a'g- 'netic; movable member is ttllJOlIlfltlCilllYgQP- erated; toopenithe switch and to permit the .svvitclr member toaretu rn to. the. 3013611 positionnin accordancewithi itswbias. In; the presentytorin of the invention,:\ which has certain advantageous features of :oonstrnction and arrangement which ,XVlllabQ ipo nted ont particularly hereinafter, "the; magnetic movable t means comprises q -.t\vo magnetic members which are move le l-indep ndently of each other,.and these two lnGIBbEIS GQOP- aerate-to control the switchmember. lngthe particular form of the invention which 1 have selected for purposes of illustration, the two magnetic members are in the form of plungers operating within the magnetic circuit of the controlling electromagnet of the switch, although the invention is not necessarily limited to an arrangement in which the elements are in the form 01" plungers. The one plunger is movable independently of the other to close the switch, and the switch is magnetically held closed thereby while the current in the switch winding is above a predetermined minimum value. In case the current through the magnet winding should rise above predetermined maximum value, the two plungers move simultaneously to open the switch. The first plunger is separated from the second by an air gap which is open when the switch is open and which is closed when the switch is closed. Then the switch is closed, the two plungers are attracted and moved as a unit to close a second air gap in the magnetic circuit of the controlling electromagnet, and a resilient connection is provided between the two plungers so that when the switch is thus automatically opened the various parts of the switch will return to their normally open positions.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which 1 have shown an embodiment of my invention. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of my im proved switch in the open position; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with one of the parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a view showing the relative positions of the parts of the switch when the switch is closed; Fig. 1 is a view showing the relative positions of the parts of the switch when the switch is manually opened'; Fig. 5 is a top view of the switch in the closed position as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6.is avery simplified diagram of a motor starting arrangement embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the switch member 10 carries at its end a rotatable contact 11 which is adapted to make engagement with the set of resilient contacts 12 to close the switch and thereby complete the electric circuit controlled by the switch and also to energize the coil 13 of the elec- 'tromagnet for the switch. The switch member 10 is mounted in the end piece 1 1 so as to be movable with respect thereto, and the switch member is biased to the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of the spring 15. The right hand end of the switch member 10 is connected to the close or start push button 16, and the stop or open push button 17 is also connected to the right hand end of the switch member 10 through the lever 18.

The controlling electromagnet for the switch is provided with magnetic movable means which in the present form of the invention takes the form of two relatively movable plungers 19 and 20. The plunger 19- has connected thereto a pin 21 which is connected to the right hand end of the switch member 10 through the link 22 so that when the start push button 16 is depressed to elevate the switch contact 11 into engagement with the stationary contacts 12, the plunger 19 moves independently of the plunger 20 to close the air gap 23 so that the switch will be i agnetically held closed by the magnetic attraction between the two plungers while the current in the magnet winding 13 is above a predetermined minimum value. The parts of the switch will b in their relative positions as shown in Fig. 8, and it will be observed that when the switch is closed, a second air gap 24 is open. in case the current through the magnet winding of the switch should rise above a predetermined maximum value, the two plungers will move as a unit simultaneously to close the air gap 24; and thereby cause the contact 11 to break engagement with the stationary contacts 12. The circuit through the switch is thereby opened and the controlling electromagnet deenergized, so that the switch will be automatically returned to its initial position shown .in Fig. 1. The spring 25 is provided for biasing the plunger 20 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and this spring in cooperation with the spring 15 associated with the start push button 16 provides a resilient connection between the plungers.

As thus constructed and arranged, the operation of my invention may be readily understood from a description of Fig. 6 in connection with the other figures of the drawing. In order to close the switch, the push button 16 is depressed against the action of the spring 15, thereby elevating the contact 11 into engagement with the stationary contacts 12 and simultaneously moving the plunger 19 to close the air gap 23. The electric motor 26 is thereby connected across the source of supply 27, and the winding 13 of th controlling electromagnet of the switch is energized to maintain the plunger 19 into engagement with the plunger 20, thereby magnetically holding the switch closed against the action of the spring 15. In case the voltage of the supply circuit 27 should either fail altogether or be reduced below a predetermined minimum value, the magnetic holding effect of the electromagnet will be reduced to such a value that the spring 15 will overpower the holding effect between the plungers 19 and 20, and the switch will be automatically returned to the open position shown in Fig. 1. The switch will remain in the open position until the operator again closes the same by depressing the push button 16, or until its failure conditions.

In accordancewith theprovlsions of the and the said COnllOllfiCl:IDGRlbQT'WVhQTGbY- will be understood that when the current in ieana ne win in oi't ie, f r i ti ,5 t d b tl switch lscs above 1 a r predetermined value," the 1mrl:-:-- Y of. the

switchapproach their. resget-rtive positions slionurin hhgw 4,-but these parts: (lo-not necessarily reach the position at which-the air gap is entirely closed, since as scones the circuit-through the switch is' opcncth ithe magnetic 1 h oldrng effect" of the switch is relieved, and: the spring 15. together Wllll "the spring-25 will-effect the return ot the parts of the switch to their normally OPGll'sPOSk -tions.

filVhen used-as a, push buttonon=-mannally opcratedwswitch, the 1 invention has the advantages that the "SWltCllwHOt only serves the purpose of the ordina-ryqstart an d stop; push button 1 arrangement, but .it: elsocombines the features of, providing voltag dailure and overloadprotection in a switch -which need not necessarily be larger: than the ordinary start/and stop-push button'swit'ch. It

vill also be observed that only: a" single winding for tllGmCGlltIGlllllQ electromagnet of the switchsis necessary :for. magnetically holding the switch lclosed when the current in the winding 1s--.-above a predetermined vminimum value,- andior magnetically 7 opening". the ewitclrcwhen the current inithe iniagnet winding is above a; predetermined maximumvalue.

1 It will; also be (observed J that if thestart but-ton -ls held" depressed,-- the-switch will be maintained closed and can not open-automatically. This feature is LlSGClr toad vantage in aswitch-ton startingr a: motor driving awashing1naclnne, -for example, in

vrhieh-the startingtorque required: is very great. and the normal running torque is materially less. If the start :button isheld depressed wduri-ng the startinginterval, the switch will be prevented fronr opening due .to the initial rush of cnrrent andwhenthe motor, has come npto speed the start-button may-be released to -permitthe switch to protectthe inotor troni overload and voltage patent statutes, I have described-the principle of operation of my, invention, together with the apparatus-which Inowconsider jto representthe best embodiment tliereof,--but I desire to have 'it understoodthat {the apparatus shown is only illustrative end-that the invention can be carried out byother means.

- What I claim as new :a 1-: d desire to secure by Letters Patent .01? v the United 1 States-is 1. An electronin-gnetically controlled device comprising a movable controlled nosinber biased to one position,. a con-trolling electron' -agnet therefor. comprisinga 1 winding: and-two normally-separated,anztgnetic -niovable members controlled thereby mtor controllin -.t-.ho said cont rolled memberand connections whereby the-first otsaitniagnetic members moves into magnetic :relat-ion with the second to operate; the said controlled member to, a controlled member is magnetically held in the said secondpositionbyfthe magnetic tattracti on between the saidmagnetic men bcrs while-the currentinthe said-winding .is above a predetermined n'iihiinunn value, and the saidsecond.inagnetic'imeinber rnoves the. ,saidfirst lTi'lQlllbQl to operate the "said controlled member away from the saidssecend position when the :current in 'the said winding rises to apredeterminedinaxinnnn Y value. v

g2. 11in clectroin zgnetically controlled -;de-

vice ion-uprising ainov-able \controlled' meni- -ber biased .toaonc; position e controlling elcctroinagnet- 1 there for comprising; windend two vnormallyseparated magnetic -rnovable niernbers controlled thereb for controlling-I the said -.controlled@meniber and toonnectionsbetween the said magnetic; nem- -'-bers-. endgthelse-id contiiolled member whereby one of SftldlllllglleblfiIIIGIYllODI'S'lBOYQS?illltO -engegernentwith the other to -,operate the said controlledmember to wsecoi'idrposition second position and the andrgneticallyghold the ,said, icontrelled member win thesecoi-idi position owhile the -current in the said. winding is above a. predetermined inin-iin uin elite, :and'; i the said magnetic membersmover-as lllfllli tooperate the said controlled nieinber;aw-oy from itheisa id second position when the curre 'ltin :the- 7 said. winding r is mbove a predetermined iniiX'i-ninnr value. .73., An: electron sgnetically controlled. de- :vice' comprising a movable controlled member. biasedzwto one position,; a-controlling clectroniagnet theretor comprising: a anag- '=]1Gl3lC'StE11CtU16,- a winding, end twonrela- :tivclymovable-magnetic ineinbcrscontrolled thereby for .controlling the said controlled member, the first or said magnetic;members i normally separated from th .seidsecond magnetic member by anralrvgap, and connections between the said magnetic members operating the said controllednieinber to a second position closes the said air gap and places the said controlled member under the control of the said first magnetic member when the current in the said winding is less than a predetermined value, and establishes a second air gap to place the said controlled member under the control of the second magnetic member to operate the said controlled member to a second position by the pull across the said second air gap when the current in the said winding is greater than a predetermined value.

4. The combination in an electric switch of a switch member biased to the open position, a controlling elcctromagnet therefor comprising a winding and two magnetic movable members controlled thereby for controlling the said switch member, and means whereby the first of said magnetic members moves independently of the second to close the switch and the switch is magnetically held closed thereby while the current in the said winding is above a prede termined minimum value, and the said magnetic members move simultaneously to open I the said switch when the current in the said winding rises to a predetermined maximum value.

5. The combination in an electric switch of a switch member biased to the open position, a controlling electromagnet therefor comprising a winding and two magnetic movable members controlled thereby for controlling the said switch member, and

means whereby one 0t sa1d magnetic mem-- bers moves independently of the other to close the switch and magnetically hold the switch closed, and both of said magnetic members move as a unit to open the switch when the current in the said winding is above a predetermined value.

6. The combination in an electric switch of a switch member biased to the open position, a controlling electromagnet therefor comprising a winding energized responsively to the current through the switch and two magnetic movable members controlled thereby for controlling the said switch member, and means whereby the first of said magnetic members moves independently of the second to close the switch and to close one air gap and open a second air gap and thereby magnetically hold the switch in the closed position while the current in the said winding is above a predetermined minimum value, and both the said magnetic members move to close the said second air gap and open the switch when the current in the said winding rises to a predetermined maximum.

7. The combination in an electric switch of a switch member biased to an open position, a controllingclectromagnet therefor comprising a windin two magnetic movable members t'or controlling the said switch member, the said magnetic members connected to mechanically operate the said switch member and the first of said magnetic members separated from the second magnetic member by an air gap, and means for closing the switch and the said air gap to place the switch member under the control of the first magnetic member to open the switch when the current in the said winding is less than a predetermined value and under the control of the second magnetic member to open the switch when the current in the said winding is greater than a predetermined value. v

8. The combination in an electric switch of a switch member biased to the open position, a controlling electromagnet therefor comprising a winding energized responsive- 1y to the current through the switch and two magnetic movable members controlled thereby for controlling the said switch member, a mechanical connection between the first of said magnetic members and the said switch members, and a resilient connection between the said magnetic members, the arrangement being such that the first of said magnetic members is separated from the second by an air gap which is closed when the switch is closed, the said switch member is magnetically held in the closed position while the current is above a predetermined minimumvalue by the magnetic attraction between the said magnetic members and both of said magnetic members move as a unit to open the switch due to the magnetic pull across the said second air gap when the current in the said magnet winding rises to a predetermined maximum value.

'9. The combination in an electric switch of a switch member biased to the open position, manually operated means for closing theswitch, a controlling electromagnet for the said switch member comprising a winding energized responsively to the current through the switch, magnetic movable means controlled by the said electromagnet for magnetically holding the switch member in the closed position when the current in the said winding is above a predetermined minimum value and for .magnetically returning the switch member to the open position when the current in the said winding is above a predetermined maximum value, and connections between the said manually operated means and switch member whereby the switch member may be held in the closed position regardless of the current in the said magnet winding.

10. The combination in an electric switch of a switch member biased to the open position, a controlling electromagnet therefor comprising a winding energized responsively to the current through the switch and two magnetic movable members controlled thereby for controlling the said switch member,

means whereby the first of said magnetic members moves independently of the second to close the switch and the switch is magnetically held closed thereby while the current in the said winding is above a predetermined minimum Value, and the said magnetic members move simultaneously to open the switch when the current in the said winding rises to a predetermined maximum Value, manually operated means connected to the said 10 switch member for operating the same to the closed position and holding the switch memher in the closed position duringthe initial rush of current through the said winding.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set 15 my hand this 28th day of September, 1921.

JOHN EATON.

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