US800824A - Electrical-circuit protective apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

110.800,824. PATENTED 00T.3,1905. 0. A. RoLTB.

ELECTRICAL 0TR0U1'T PROTECTIVE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.1'3. 1903.

"UNITED sTAfrns CHARLES A. ROLFE, OF ADRIAN,

PATENT OFFICE.

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROLFE ELE )TRIC CO., OF ROCHESER, NEIV YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEY YORK.

Speccation of Letters Patent,

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application iiled February I3, 1903. Serial No. 143,225.

T0 all whomJ it Trl/fly concern.-

Be it known 'that I, CHARLES A. RoLFn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrical-Circuit Protective Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication.

My invention relates'to protective apparatus for protecting' electrical circuits from the harmful effects of unduly-strong currents and excessively-high potentials.

Prominent objects of the invention are to provide a simple, practical, and durable form of protective apparatus, to secure cheapness and simplicity of construction, and to attain a high degree of efliciency and operation.

In the present application I show my invention embodied in a bank-protective apparatusthat is, a series oi" protective devices for a plurality of circuits all assembled together4 lan arrangement of special use and advantage in central exchanges, for example, where a large number of circuits converge to a single building.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a section of a bank-protective apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same in its normal condition, and Fig. 3 is a similar section of the apparatus in an operated condition.

The apparatus shown in the drawings for carrying out the invention comprises a base or plate 1, conveniently arranged in upright position and desirably made of metal, although it can be made of insulating material. This forms the central body portion of the structure, and on opposite sides are arranged series of protective devices, one series on each side. The different devices in the two series are arranged opposite one another, and it is intended that oppositely-located protective devices shall be for the same circuit, one being included on each side of the circuit. Each protective device consists of a pair of springs 2 3 and a separable structure 4, commonly called a "cartridgej7 mounted upon and engaging the springs 2 and 3. The springs 2 and 3 of each pair tend to separate from one another, but are held in restraint by the cartridge 4. The latter consists of a body 5, desirably made of insulating material and having its ends provided with caps 6 and 7, whereoil the cap 6 engages the spring' 2. The cap 7 is constructed with a pair of ears 8 8, and between these is arranged a bell-crank lever 9, one of whose arms projects down below the cartridge and the other of which projects out beyond the end of the same. A spring 10 is secured to the body 5 and arranged to press against the outer end of the bell-crank 9. The bell-crank 9 is held normally in position by solder, which is introduced between the ears 8 8. The body is provided with a bore or aperture near one end, and in this is located a high-resistance graphite stick 11. A contact 12 is secured to the cap 4 and extended over to the graphite stick 11, with whose lower end it makes contact. The upper end of the stick 11 is in contact with the upper wall of the cap 7. One ol the springs 2 is provided with a pin or spindle 13. The connection is desirably made of set-nuts 14 14, by which adjustment can be sccured. The pin 13 extends from the spring 2, to which it is attached, through the plate 1 nearly to the opposite spring 2, as shown in Fig. 2. Outside of each spring' 3 is a pair of springs or contacts 15 and 16, the spring 16 having its end bent toward the spring' 15 and the latter having its upper end bent toward the spring 3. The spring 3 is provided with a piece of insulation 17 opposite the upper end of the spring 15.

The springs 2 2, 3 3, 15 15, and 16 16 are all supported and secured to the plate 1 by bolts 18 and 19, extending' through the plate 1. Insulation- strips 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 and metal nuts or bushings 31, 32, 33, and 34 are arranged upon the bolt 18, and this bolt is provided with insulating'- sleeves 35, 36, and 37. Insulating- strips 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50 and metal nuts or bushings 5l, 52, and 53 are arranged upon the bolt 19, and this bolt is provided with insulating- sleeves 54, 55, and 56. Contact or connecting strips 57 and 58 are provided, the strip 5( being mounted on the bolt 19 between the .insulation 41 and the nut 51, and the strip 58 being mounted on both the bolts 18 and 19 and between the nut 34 and insulation 26 on the Aformer and nut 53 and insulation 45 and 46 on the latter.

The left-hand spring 2 is provided with a lower extension 59, adapted to form a con- IOO IOS

nector or terminal, andthe right-hand spring 3 is provided with a small extension 60. These terminals or connecting-strips are intended for the connecting-wires oli the circuit, the terlninals 57 and 59 being for the line and the terminals 53 and 60 for the switchboard or instrument.

Metal strips 61 and 62 are arranged on opposite sides of the supporting-plate 1 and extend upwardly along'side olI the same. Their lower ends are mounted upon the bolts 13 and 19, the lower portion of the strip 61 being located between the nuts 32 and insulation 2st and between the nut 52 and insulation 43 and thc lower portion et the strip 62 being' located between the insulation 25 and nut 33 and insulation 44 and nut A ground-plate 63 is mounted upon the upper end of the supporting-plate 1, and on opposite sides ot' this ground-plate 63 are lightning-arrester carbons 64C 6a and 65 65, the carbons 6ft, 64k being ground-carbons and 65 65 line-carbons, one pair 64: 65 beingl located on each side ot' the ground-strip 63. Between the pairs 64 and 65 are located insulation-strips 66 66, which may be of any suitable material-eas, for example, mica or the like. The metal line- strips 61 and 62 lit in grooves in the carbons 65 65 and press inwardly against the same, thereby holdingl the carbons in place.

Then the line-wires are connected with the terminals 57 and 59 and the instrument or switchboard wires with the terminals 58 and 60, circuit is made through the two sides ot' the device as follows: from line to terminal 57, nut 51, bolt 19, nut 53, right-hand spring 2, cartridge supported thereby, spring 3 in part supporting said cartridge, and terminal to switchboard; thence back to terminal 58, to nut 34, bolt 13, nut 31, left-hand spring 3, cartridge in part supported thereby, spring 2 in part supportingsaid cartridge, and down the same to terminal 59, and thence to line. The lightning- arrester strips 61 and 62 b-y being in contact with the nuts 32 and 53, respectively, are connected with the opposite sides of the line, thereby putting the lightningarrester carbons 65 in connection with the opposite sides ot' the line and making them linecarbons. rlheground-strip 63 is understood to be connected to ground in any suitable or desired way, a simple method being to putit in electrical contact with the plate 1 and connect the latter to ground.

l/Vhen the circuit is being traversed by a normal current, the apparatus is in the condition illustrated in Fig. 2. Vhen, however, an undLily-strong` current traverses the circuit, one or both of the graphite sticks 11 in the cartridges is orare heated to an extent to melt or soften the solder holding the levers 9 9 in position. lf the solder of but one ot' the cartridgesis softened or melted, the lever of that cartridge is released, thereby permitting the corresponding` spring 2 to swing or spring outwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The spring in moving outwardly passes and separates lrom the end ot the lever 9, thereby breaking or opening' the circuit at that point. .llI the lett-hand cartridge, Figs. 2 and 3, is the one which has operated, the letthand spring 2 will strike against the end ot the pin 13, thereby making electrical connection with said pin and short-cireuiting the line, as well as opening the circuit to protect the instrument. llC the right-hand cartridge is the one which is operated, the right-hand spring 2 will swing or springinwardly, thereby pushing the pin 13 against the lett-hand spring with the same result. It' both cartridges operate, the two springs 2 2 move toward one another and the pin 13 is brought into contact with the left-hand spring 2, as shown in Fig. 3. Each ol the springs 3 l) in operating brings the associated contact-spring 15 against the corresponding contact-strip 16, thereby closing a local alarm-circuit which is understood to be suitably connected with these contacts. The connections are such that the alarm will be given whether one or both sets o1 contacts are connected. After either cartridge has operated and its spring 3 released the small spring 10 of that cartridge will automatically actuate the lever 9 to swing the same back into normal or original position. lVithin a short time after such action the solder will become again hard andthe lever 9 again held in its original position. 1t will thus be seen that in the operation of the device, whether either one or both of the cartridges operate, the circuit will be opened at the instrument to protect the same and the line will he automatically short-ci rcuited, and at the same time a local alarm-circuit will be closed to give any suitable alarm. After such operation either or both ot' the cartridges are automatically restored to operative condition. Thus when the alarm has been attended and the trouble on the circuit located and removed the device can be reset by simply engaging one or both of the springs 3 3 with its cartridge or cartridges.

1n certain other applications lor patents filed by me and new pending' in the Patent Otlice I have disclosed certain o't' the `features set forth herein, and so do not claim them alone in this application.

that I claim as my invention is- 1. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of oppositely-disposed protective devices, each adapted to operate upon the passage in the circuit of an unduly-strong current, and means for short-circuiting the circuit upon the operation of one of said devices, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination ot oppositely-disposed protective devices, each adapted to operate upon the passage in the circuit of an unduly-strong current, and means for short-circuiting the circuit upon the operation of either or both of said devices, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of oppositely-disposed sets of springs, excesssoperated devices for holding said springs in restraint under normal condition and for releasing the same upon the passage in the circuit of an unduly-strong current, and means for electrically connecting a spring in one set with a spring in the other set, upon the operation of one of said excessoperated devices, substantially as described.

1. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of oppositely-disp'osed sets of springs, excess-operated devices for holding' said strips in restraint under normal condition and for releasing the same upon the passage in the circuit of an unduly-strong current, and means for electrically connecting' a spring in one set with aspring in the other set, upon the operation of either of said excessoperated devices, substantially as described.

5. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of oppositely-disposed sets of springs, excess-operated devices for holding said strips in restraint under normal condition and for releasing the same upon the passage in the circuit of an unduly-strong current, and means for electrically connecting a spring in one set with a spring in the other set, upon the operation of either or both of said excess-operated devices, substantially as described.

6. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination with oppositely-disposed sets of springs, of excess-operated devices supported by said springs and holding the same in restraint, the adjacent springs being adapted to spring toward one another, and a pin carried by one of said springs and projecting toward thc other, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of oppositely-disposed sets of spring-strips whereof the inner strips tend to spring toward one another and the outer ones away from one another, heat-cartridges holding said spring-strips in restraint, each of said cartridges consisting of a heat-concentrating device and a movable partheld in position by softenable or fusible material, and means for restoring said movable part to normal condition, the movable parts of said cartridges being engaged by said spring-strips, and a pin carried by one of the inner spring-strips and projecting toward the other, substantially as described.

8. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a supporting-plate 1, sets of spring- strips 2, 3 supported by said plate 1, the springs 2, 2, being adapted to spring toward the plate and the springs 3, 3, away from the same, heat-cartridges, one carried by each set of spring- strips 2, 3, each cartridge comprising a graphite stick, a movable part held in normal position by solder and aspring acting upon said movable part to restore the same to normal condition while the solder is still soft, and a pin 13 carried by one of the spring-strips 2 and projecting' toward the other, substantially as described.

9. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a pair of oppositely-disposed protective devices, each adapted to open the circuit at the instrument upon operation and means for affording a connection between said devices so as to short-circuit the line upon the operation of either device.

10. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a pair of oppositely-disposed protective devices, each adapted 'to open the circuit at the instrument, upon operation, and means for affording' a connection between said devices so as to shortecircuit the line upon the operation of either or both devices.

11. An electrical controller, comprising thermally-operable means for short-circuiting the circuit, and having provisions for automatically restoring itselfl to operative condition preparatory for another operation.

12. An electrical-circuit protector. comprising thermally-operable means for shortcircuiting the circuit on the passage of an unduly-strong current, and having provisions for automatically restoring itself to operative condition.

13. An electricalcircuit protector comprising thermally-operable means for shortcircuiting the circuit on the passage of an unduly-strong current, and having provisions for automatically resetting itself for another operation and resecuring itself in reset condition.

14. An electrical-circuit controller, comprising means for short-circuiting the circuit on the passage of an unduly-strong current, and having provisions for automatically re- 'soldering itself preparatory for another operation.

15. An electricalcircuit protector comprising a pair of solder-joint protective devices, each having provisions whereby it is automatically resoldered in operative condition, said protector having means whereby on the operation of either of said protective devices the circuit is automatically short-circuited.

16. In electrical protective apparatus, the combination of a pair of oppositely-disposed solder-joint protective devices, each having provisions whereby after operation it is automatically resoldered preparatory for another operation, and means whereby the operation of either of said protective devices short-circuits the circuit.

17. An electrical protector comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed protective devices, each consisting of a heat-cartridge and supporting-strips therefor, one of which has a spring action, said heat-cartridge having a solder-joint normally holding said spring-strip IOO IIO

IZO

in restraint and having provisions for automatically resoldering itself in operative condition.

18. An electricalcircuit protector, comprising a pair of protective devices, each consisting of a solder-joint heat-cartridge and supporting members therefor, one of which is a spring held in restraint by said cartridge, and ametal bar carried by one of the supporting members of one of the protective devices, and adapted to make connection with one of the supporting members of the other protective devi'ce on the operation of one of said devices.

19. An electricalcircuit protector, comprisingl a pair of protective devices, each consisting of a solder-joint heat-cartridge having provisions for automatically resoldering itself in operative condition, and supporting members for said cartridge, one of which is a spring, and means for short-circuiting the circuit on the operation of either one of said cartridges.

20. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a pair of protective devices, and means for connecting the same so as to short-circuit the line upon the operation of either.

21. In a device of the class specilied, the combination of a pair of protective devices, and means for connecting the same so as to short-circuit the line upon the operation of either or both.

22. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a pair of protective devices, each of said devices being` adapted to open the circuit, and means for affording connection between said devices so as to short-circuit the line upon the operation of either device.

23. In a device of the class specilied, the combination of a pair of protective devices, each of said devices being1 adapted to open the circuit', and means for affording connection between said devices so as vto short-circuit the line upon the operation of either or both devices.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 22d day of January, A. I). 1903.

CHARLES A. ROLFE.

Titnessesz A. MILLER BELFIELD, I. C. LEE.

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