US812980A - Self-soldering heat-cartridge and protective apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

'PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. P.B.GOOK. sELE SOLDERING HEAT CARTRIDGE AND PROTECTIVE APP ARATUS.

APPLICATION I'ILED H0126} 1904.

INVENTUR.

WITNESS I UNITED STATES FRANK B. COOK, OF. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFI Specification of Letters Ratent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed November 26, 1904. Serial No. 234,359.

' have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Soldering Heat-Cartridges and Pro tective Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. My i' vention relates to thermal protectors and protective apparatus used in connection with telephone or telegraph systems or the like, my object being, first, to rovide a selfsoldering heat-cartridge which cient, durable, and simple in construction; second, to simplif the apparatus used in connection with suc heat-cartridges; third, to provide improved means for closing an alarmcircuit when a protector-operates, and, fourth, to provide im roved and simplified means for operating t e thermal protector where no alarm-circuit is required.

In my present Invention I rovide spring contact members adapted to. old the heatcartridges in operative position in the circuit and to cause each said cartridge to establish a connection from the-said circuit to ground when the cartridge operates. Protective devices of the class herein shown usually open the line-circuit and also connect a portion thereof to ground when 0 erated; but in this present invention -I mere y ground the linecircuit without opening same. In connection with telephone systems I find this ar rangement to be very satisfactory, as whenthe ground connection is established through the rotector it forms a short-circuit from the ine to earth, which shunts the switchboard-circuit, and hence prevents the objectionable sneakcurrent from passing to or through the switchboard.

I employ the usual mounting-plate, which is also the ground-plate, for mounting the protector-springs thereon, and also the usual ightning-arresters, which are held in place against the ground-plate by certain of the protector-springs.

I will more particularly describe my invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a duplicate set of the protective apparatus mounted on opposite sides of the ground-plate, with portions shown in cross-section taken on line a: a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the prois very eflitective'apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of a duplicate set of the protective apparatus, taken the same as Fig. 1, there being no provision for an alarm-circuit. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heat-cartridge of the invention, taken through the axis thereof, with portions shown in elevation; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sec tional View of a modified form of heat-cartridge, taken the same as Fig. 4, with portions shown in elevation.

Like characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

' The mounting-plate a, preferably a part of the iron framework of a cross-connecting board or the like, is provided with a groundstri b, suitably secured to one edge thereof an adapted to accommodate lightning-arresters on each side thereof. On each side of the ground-plate a are mounted springs c, d, and e by double-endedbolts m and n, which extend through the ground-plate and are insulated therefrom. The said springs are suitably insulated. from each other and from the ground-plate by insulating-bushings and washers] Z. Each heat-cartridgeD is inserted between springs c and d, which hold the cartridge in an operative position, the pin 71 of the cartridge bein inserted through a hole 0 in spring 0 and through a slot 7' in the free end of spring cl. Lightning-arresters f f, comprisin the usual carbon blocks and an interpose dielectric, are inserted between the ground-strip b and the free ends of springs c a, respectively, which hold the lightning-arresters in place against the strip 1). The alarm-springs e e are mounted outsi e of springs d d, respectively, and are 'conductively connected with each other through bolts m and n. Each s ring 6 is provided with a contact e adapte to engage sprin (I when the thermal rotector operates, an with an insulating-iiushing 76, which rests against the pin 71. to operate same, and also insulates spring e from pin it. On each side of plate a is provided an insulating-pin h, extending through spring 0 and adapted to support spring cl when the heat-cartridge D is removed from the circuit. Line-terminals s and 1' are preferably continuations of linesprings cc, respectively, and switchboard terminals t and u are preferably continuations of switchboard-springs d (1, respectively, terminals s and a being crossed over to opposite sides of plate a through space to arrange like Conductor o is soldered to the terminal end of one spring (2 and extends-parallel with plate a, so as to be soldered to a series of alarm-springs e e in the respective sets'of the protective apparatus to connect all of the alarmsprings in common. The battery p and signaling device q are preferably connected from the conductor 0 to earth at g. The heat-cartridge D of Fig. 4 preferably comprises an insulatin -sleeve y, a conducting-cap .2 for. each encI thereof and secured thereto, and a resistance-pin i, preferably of graphite or carbon, extending completel through the shell y'and end caps 2 z and so dered to the capsz zby an easil -fusible solder v v. Each end of pin 1 ispre erably covered with a metallic latin w, which provides a suitable surface or sol ering the pm i to c'aps 2 z and which also provides a good conductor from one ca 2 to the groundstrip 6 when the heat-cartri ge operates, as shownon the righthand side of Figsl and 3. In constructing the pin 11 the metallic plating to maybe a plied so as to completely cover the surface 0 the pin, and then a'portion of same may be removed from the center .to provide the required amount of heat reducing material in'the circuit- When this plating wis thus removed,'

the pin i may also be turned down until the resistance of same is ad'usted to the required amount. By this method the resistancev of the heat-cartridges may be brought to any desirable amount, thus making the operation of the cartrid es very uniform. If desired, a portion or al of the plating w may be removed from the ends 0 pin *8, so as to cause same to establish a groundconnection from a line-spring c to the ground-plate I) through any required resistance when the cartridge operates.

The circuit through one of the heat-car tridges D is from the line-spring 0, through one end cap 2, heat-susceptible material 1) and one plated end w of pin 'i,'.the central heat-producing portion of pin 11, the other plated end portion to of in t and heat-susr ceptible material 1), and t e other end ca 2, to switchboard-spring d. An abnormal e ectric current traversing this circuit or through the pin 01, such current being generally termed a sneak-current, heats the pin 1', due to the resistance thereof, and when the heat is sufficient the heat-susceptible material or solder 1) 'v fuses or softens and allows spring e to slide the pin i through the heat-cartridge D and cause it to come in contact with ground-strip 1), thereby grounding the linespring 0, and thus switching the objectioncartridges and operate same to "line-circuit when an abnormal e ectrlc'curammo able current to earth, the contact a of alarm" sprin e at the same time engaging spring d, and t ereby closing the alarm-circuit from ground-strip I), through pin *5, spring (1, contaot e, spring e, conductor 0, battery Tp; and signalingdevice q, to ground at g. I e abnormal current now flows from llne-spring 0, through one end of pin i and the plating w thereof, to the ground-strip b and thence to earth, thereby stopping the flow of current through the heat-producing portion of pin 'i and allowing the heat-cartridge to cool. When the cartridge D becomes cool, the heatsusceptible material '2) v hardens, and thereby solders the pin t to the conducting-caps z z in this new re ative position. T o reset the ap paratus, the heat-cartridge may be removed,

turned end' for end, and reinserted between iprings d and c, as originally. The cartridge and the apparatus may now be operated again as originally, the operation of the cartrid e D now being the reverse of the first operation. The apparatus may be operated again and again as many times as desired,

each operation of the cartrid e being the re-, verseof the receding one.

t will be noted that when t e, heat-cartridge starts to .o erate the circuit is not 0 ened through t e heat-producing pin 11, and consequently the heat-cartridge does not cool when partly operated. It will also be noted that at no stage of the operation of the cartridge is the circuit through the heat-producing. pin i opened. Thus the pin t-co ntinues to produce heat to operate the device until the pin '5 actual] comes in contact with the ground-strip In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified'form'of protective apparatus used in connection ,with

the heat-cartridges D D. In this form of my invention I dispense 'with the alarm-s rings e e and adapt the switchboard-springs F d to bear against the pins of the respective heatound the rent traverses the said cartridges. One end of pin 11 ofeach heat-cartridge 1) is inserted throggh a hole in sprin c, the same .as in Fig.

1,.an the other end 0 pin i is pressed into a slot in the free end'ofspring d, there being a tongue portion (1 formed on s ring 41 to. engage the end of pin i and epress the latter against theound-stripb when the de vice operates. his t efofmy invention is particularly 'ada ted it smaller exchanges, where no alarm or the protective apparatus is required, the construction of the ap aratus being-very simple and the number o spring contact members being reduced to a minimum. 1

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of heat-cartridge D. The construction of this cartridgeD is similar to that of cartridge D, (shown in Fig. 4,) except that instead of using a graphite or-carbo'n pm i I use a metal pin 1/ i, the ends of which are insulated from each other by' an insulating-disk h, provided with a heat-producing winding '11, wound around the pin '01 11, preferably as shown, and adapted to heat the said pin, and thereb soften the fusible material 1; v to allow the evlce to operate. Each metallic .end ortion of the pm i i is provided with a spoo 1?, adapted to receive its portion of the winding1 '6 which heats its corresponding end of t e pin 11 t when an abnormal current traverses the winding 'i. This heat-cartridge D may be reversed and o erated again, the same as the cartrid e D of ig. 4.

Whi e I have shown and described particular detailsof construction in this invention, I

do not wish to limit same entirely to such details, as slight modifications in the protective a paratus and heatcartridge proper woul not be a departure from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- l 1. In a device of the character described, an inclosing shell, suitable conductin end caps, therefor and secured thereto, and a eatproducing member extending completely through the said shell and end caps and projectin from at least one end of the device.

2. En a heat-cartridgeoi the character described, a heat-producm member extending completely through an rojecting at one end of the cartridge, where y when operated, the cartridge is conditioned for another oper ation in a reversed position.

3. A thermal protector having a heat-producing, circuit-controlling member extending com letely therethrough and projecting from at east one end thereof, the operation of which places the device in condition for another operation in a reversed position.

4. In a heat-cartridge, suitable terminals for connecting the cartridge in a circuit which it is to protect, 'a circuit-controlling o erating member normally extending comp etely through the cartridge and in electrical connection with the said terminals, and means for operating the said circuit-controlling member to control a circuit and condition the cartridge for another operation in a" reversed position.

5. In an incased resistance member normally extending completely through the casing and operable der abnormal current conditions, alsu'pport for the device, and means for operatin the said resistance member and insulated t erefrom, the said resistance member and easing constituting a device detachable from its sup.-

port for reversal after each operation fora repetition thereof.

6. A thermal protector comprising a sleeve I supportmgurlneans therefor, a eat-pioducmg pin exten a device of the character described,-

ongitudinally in either direction ung completely thrmigh t e sleeve,

heat-susceptible material normally holding the pin in operative, position, and suitable means for operating the pin to control a circuit and condition the device for another operation in a reversed position.

'7. A thermal protector comprising a sleeve, end caps therefor, a heat-producing pin extending completely through the sleeve and end caps and projectin from at least one end cap, and heat-suscepti le material normally securing the said in to the said end caps.

'8. In a therma rotector of the character described, the combination of an insulatingsleeve, end caps therefor, and a spring-pressed resistance member normally extending completely through the sleeve and end caps, being normally secured to the latter by heatsusceptible material, and o erable longitudinally in either direction, re atively to the remainder of the protector, to control a circuit, when the heat-susceptiblev material is softened.

- 9. The combination with an electric circuit including at least one spring-support, of an incased resistance member supported by said spring-sup ort,normally,extendin com- I pletely throug its casing and opera le in either direction. under abnormal current conditions, heat-susceptible material normally holding the resistance member against operation, and a spring member for o crating the said resistance member but insu ated therefrom, the said incased resistance member constituting a detachable device capable of reversal after each operation for a repetition thereof.

10. In a thermal protector of the class specified, an insulatin -casing, a conductin end cap for each en thereof and secure thereto, a pin of resistance material extending completel through said casing and end caps, a metal ic plating for each end of said pin, and heat-susceptible material normally securing the said plated portions of said pin to the respective end caps.

11. In a thermal protector of the character described, an insulating-sleeve, a conductin end cap for each end thereof and secure thereto, a resistance member extending completely through the sleeve and end caps, arr15 ranged to generate heat under. abnormal current conditions to o erate the device and operable longitudinally in either direetion to render the device reversible,under abnormal conditions, and heat-susceptible material nor- I 2 o mally securing the said resistance member to the end caps.

12. A heat-cartridge of the character described, comprising a shell, a'lpiece of homogeneous resistance material extending corn r25 pletely through the cartridge and'operable in either direction under abnormal conditions,

operation. 1 3o 13. A heat-cartridge of the character described comprising a shell, a piece of graphite normally extending completely through the shell and operable in either direction under abnormal current conditions to control a circuit and to render the device reversible for another operation, and heat-susce tible ma terial normally holding the sai graphite against operation.

- 14. In a heat-cartridge of the character described, a heat-producing pin extending completely through the cartrid e and operable endwise, and heat-susceptibi material normally securing the pin in a fixed position.

15. In apparatus of the class specified, a

ground-plate, a pair of springs mounted thereon, a heat producing member electrically connected in circuit with the said springs and adapted to engage the ground-plate when the device operates, and means for operating the heat-producing member to-brin same in contact with the ground-plate without opening the said circuit between the said springs.

16. In apparatus of the class specified, a ground-plate, a pair of springs mounted thereon, a heat-producing member electrically connected between the pair of springs, an alar1n-spring mounted outside of the pair of springs and adapted to operate the heat-producing member under abnormal conditions and cause same to contact the ground-plate to ground the circuit, and a contact on the a1arm-spring adapted to contact one of the pair of springs to close an alarm-circuit upon the operation of the device.

17,. In apparatus of the class specified, a ground-plate, a pair of s rings for each side of the ground-plate an suitably mounted thereon, a heat-cartridge for each pair of springs, comprising a heat-producing in extending completely through the cartri ge and electrically in circuit with the pair of springs, an alarm-spring for each side of the ground-plate and mounted outside of the pair of springs, said alarm-spring being insulated from said pin and provided with a contact adapted to engage one of the (pair of springs when the device operates, an lightning-arresters inserted between the respective inner springs of the pairs andthe ground-plate, abnormal currentconditions in either heatcartridge causing its corresponding alarmspring to bring the heat-producing pin in contact with the ground-plate to ground the line-circuit, the said alarm-spring also closing the alarm circuit, the heat cartridge being reversible after operation for another operation thereof.

As inventor of the foregoing I hereunto subscribe my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 23d day'of November, A. D. 1904.

FRANK B. COOK. Witnesses:

H. B. HALL, FREDERICK R. PARKER.

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