US1410073A - Electric controller - Google Patents

Description

C. E. OGDEN.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION men 050.26, 1918 1 ,41O Q73, I Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

1 a f o a 2 3 Jim.

Mffarney ;To all whom it may concern:

My invention relates to PATENT OFFICEQIIIVT CLARENCE n. oenmr, or CINCINNATI, 01:10.

Be it known that I, CLAmNon E, OGDEN, a citizenofthe United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, county of 'Hamilton, and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electric Controllers, of which the following is a full, clear, 'and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this Specification. p j electric controllers and has'particular reference to the type'of controllers used on commercial trucks, electric locomotives and similar devices.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide in an electric controller of the character mentioned improved means for automatically disconnecting the current upon the happening of a predetermined contingency. Controllers of the type mentioned are ordinarily provided with an elec tric switch operable by a pedal on the truck or other vehicle, the current remaining connected during the depression of the pedal by the operator, and being automatically disconnected upon the removal of the foot of the operator from the pedal. In such switches, as have heretoforebeen provided in devices of this character, the opening of the switch upon the removal of pressure from the pedal is gradual, and thus produces arcing between the contacts, which soon results'in serious damage to the switch and controller. In order to prevent such arcing it is necessary that'the disconnection of the switch contacts be instantaneous, andthe present invention is, therefore, directed to theprovision of a switch in connection with a controller ofthe type mentioned, in which, by means of'the improved construction, the breaking of the c'ircuitis instantaneous, thus resulting in the "elimination of the danger above mentioned' A further obj ect'of my invention is to prevent re-engagementof the automatic switch contacts until the controllercontacts..have' been returned to neutral position. In con trollers of the class referred to the disconnection of the automatic switch does not disconnect the controller contacts,and there is'thus danger when the switch is again turned on of overloading the motor by reason of the controller contacts having been left in advanced position. In order to obviate this danger thepresent invention provides means for automatically locking the switch ELECTRIC con rnorrnn.

. Specification bf Ibetters Patent. iPafented M 21. 1922 Application filedbecember 26,1915; :Se ria1'No.2'68,3O4.f v

has been turned to its neutral position.

{Further objects of this invention will appear from the. following detailed descrlption thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 isan elevation of a controller,

and pedal mechanism for operating the inso e positionuntil the controller drum the interior Figure 5 is a perspective view of the switch.

- Figure 6 v is a sectional view of the invent1on.

The numerall indicates the casingof a controller of the type mentioned, the "same being provided with a bearing forthe shaft 2 upon which the usual drum contacts 3 are mounted, the same being arranged'to engage fingers 4" mounted in the casing, in accordance with the customary construction. The outer end of the shaft'2 is provided with the usual operating lever 5. The'casing 1 is furthermore provided with a bearing for a sleeve'fi, in alignment. with the shaft 2. The inner end of the sleeve '6 provides a bearing for the end of the shaft 2, as clearly shown m'Figure 6 of the drawings.

Rotatabl-y mounted onthe shaft is a plate 7, the end of the shaft 2 beyond'tlie drum contacts 3 being, of course, cylindrically shaped for the purpose. Secured to theplate 7 by means of bolts 8, or otherwise, is a metal switch plate 9, having contacts 10. The plate 9 is insulated from the plate .7 by means of a fiber washer r11 interposed between the two plates. Rigidly secured to the shaft 2 between the drum and switch plate?) is a'cam plate 12. A fiber insulating plate 18, secured by means of the bolts 8 to the plate '7, is interposed betweenthe cam plate 12 andthe switch plate 9, as shown. The casing is provided with contact fingers 14 for engagement with the plates 10, the fingers 14 being connected in series with the fingers 4.

Secured to the sleeve 6 adjacent the plate 7 is a collar 15, provided with an arm 16. Integrally formed on plate 7 is an arm 17. The arms 16 and 17 are provided with pins 18, to which are secured the ends of a coil spring 19. The plate 7 is also provided with lugs 20 and 21, between which the arm 16 on the sleeve 6 is arranged to operate, the said arm being adapted to engage one or the other of said lugs during its respective movements, as hereinafter set forth. The plate 7 is, furthermore, provided with peripheral extensions 22 and 23 respectively and a notch 24 adjacent the extension 22. A shallow notch 25 is formed in the periphery of the plate 7 in front of the extension 23. The fiber disks 11 and 13 are notched out as shown at 26 in alignment with the notch 24: in the plate 7. Pivotally mounted on the inside of the end wall of the casing is an arm 27 provided with a finger 28. A tension spring 29, secured to the arm 27 and the casing, causes the finger 28 to bear upon the eriphery of the plate 7 and to engage either in the slot formed by the notches 24: and 26 in the plate 7 and insulating disks respectively, or in the shallow notch 25 in the pe riphery of the plate, for the purpose l1B1'e1Ilafter set forth.

Secured to the outer end of the sleeve 6 is a lever 30, the free end of which is connected by means of a link 31 with the operating pedal 32 on the truck floor. A compression spring 33 normally keeps the pedal 32 in raised position and the switch plates 10 disconnected.

The cam plate 12 is so mounted on the shaft 2 that the cam surface 34 of said plate lifts the finger 28 to prevent its engagement in the slot formed by the notches 24 and 26 when the drumcontacts 3 are in neutral or off position.

The operation of the device is as follows: The drum contacts being in neutral position the cam surface 34 maintains the finger 28, against the tension of spring 29, out of engagement with the notches 24 and 26, and the plate 7, with the switch plate 9, is thus free to rotate upon the shaft 2. WVhen the operator depresses the pedal 32 the sleeve 6 is rotated on the shaft 2 by means of the link 31 and lever 30 connected with said sleeve. The sleeve 6 in rotating carries with it the arm 16 which, during rotation, engages the lug 20 on the plate 7 causing it also to rotate and to bring the contact plates 10 into engagement with the fingers 14. The automatic switch is now in on position, and the controller contacts 3 may be operated in the usual manner. In this position, furthermore, the contacts are frictionally main tained by reason of the engagement of the finger 28 in the shallow notch 25 in the peripheryof the plate 7. When for any reason the operators foot is removed from the pedal, the spring 33 raises the same rotating the sleeve 6 and arm 16 in the opposite direction. The arm 16 during such rotation engages the lug 21 and causes the plate 7 to rotate slightly causing the finger 28 to be lifted from the shallow notch 25. During the rotation of the arm 16, the spring 19, it will be understood, has been placed under tension, and as soon, therefore, as the finger 28 is removed from the shallow notch 25, the spring 19 causes the plate 7 and connected contacts 10 to snap instantaneously to off position. hen in such position the finger 28, actuated by the tension of spring 29, falls into notch 24: if the controller is in other than neutral position, and the plate 7 and connected contacts are thus locked in their off position. When so locked the switch cannot be again operated until the controller contacts are brought into neutral position, causing the cam surface 34: to lift the finger 28 and release the switch contacts.

It will be seen that by the provision of the mechanism above described, the controller switch is automatically and instantaneously disconnected upon the removal of the foot of the operator from the pedal, thus obviating the possibility of injury by reason of arcing between the switch contacts. It will also be seen that by such a construction the switch contacts cannot be rotated to their on position until the controller contacts are brought to the neutral point.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by 100 Letters Patent is 1. In an electric controller, having a shaft and controller contacts mounted thereon, a switch comprising a switch plate rotatably mounted 011 said shaft, means operatively 10$ disconnected from said shaft for rotating said plate on said shaft into its on position, means for holding said plate in said position, means for placing said plate under tension when in said on position, and 110 means for releasing said plate when under tension, whereby the same may be snapped into off position.

2. In an electric controller having a shaft and controller contacts mounted thereon, a 115 switch comprising a switch plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, means whereby during the rotation of said arm said plate is rotated to its on position, means for fric- 120 tionally holding said plate in said position, means for placing said plate under tension during the reverse movement of said arm, means whereby during such reverse movement said arm is caused to release said fric- 125 tional holding means to permit said plate to be snapped into off position.

3. In an electric controller having a shaft and controller contacts mounted thereon, a switch comprising a switch plate rotatably 130 mounted on said shaft, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, means whereby dur ing the rotation of said arm said plate is means for placing said plate'under tension during the reverse movement of said arm,

means whereby during suchreverse movement said arm is caused "to release said frictional holding means to permit saidplate to be snapped into off posltion, and means for locking said plate into off position when the controller shaft is in position to place any of'th'e comtroller contacts in their on position; I

4. In an electric controller having a shaft and controller contacts mounted thereon, a switch comprising a switch plate rotatably mounted onsaid shaft, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, meansWhereby during therotation ofsaid-arm said plate isrotated to its on position, means for fric tionally holding said'plate in said-position, means for placing said plate under tension during the reverse movement of said arm, means whereby during such reverse movement'saida-rm is-cause'd to release said frice tional holding means topermit said plate to be snapped into off. position, means for locking said plate/into off position when the controller shaft is in position to place any of the. controller contacts in their on position, and means for unlocking said plate by the return of said controller contacts to neutral position.

5. In an electric controller having a shaft and controller contacts mounted thereon, a switch comprising a switch plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, means whereby during the rotation of said arm said plate is rotated to its on position, means for frictionally holding said plate in said position, means for placing said plate under tension during the reverse movement of said arm, means whereby during such reverse movement said arm is caused to release said frictional holding means to permit said plate to be snapped into off position, a pedal, means for operating said arm upon the depression of said pedal to move said plate to on position, and means for automatically raising said pedal when released to reverse the operation of said arm and plate.

6. In an electric controller having a shaft and controller contacts mounted thereon, a switch comprising a plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, a switch plate secured to said plate and insulated therefrom, a lug on said plate, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft and arranged to engage said lug to rotate said switch plate to its on position, means for frictionally holding said switch plate in said position, means for placing said'plate under tension during the reverse movement ofsaid arm,a second lug on said plate arranged to be engaged by said arm during such reverse movement to rotate said plate slightly to release such frictional holding means to permit said plate to be snapped into' off position. a Y

'7. In anelectric controller having a-shaft and controller contacts-mounted thereon, a switch comprising a plate rotatably mount ed on said shaft, a switchplate securedto' said plate and insulated therefrom, alug on said plate, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft and arranged to engage said lug to rotate said'switch plate to its on position, means for placing said plate under tension during the reverse movement of'said arm, a-second lug on said plate arranged to be engaged by said arm during such reverse movement to rotatesaid plate slightly to release such frictional holding means to per mit said plate to be snapped into off position, and means for locking said plate in off position when the controller shaft is in position to place any of the controller contacts in their on? position.-

8, In an electric controller having a shaft and controller contacts mounted'thereon, a switch comprising a plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, a switch platesecuredto said plate and insulated therefrom, a lug on said plate, an armrotatably mounted on said shaft and arranged to engage said lug to rotate said switch plate to its on position, means for frictionally holding said switch plate in said position, means for placing said plate under tension during the reverse movement of said arm, a second lug on said plate arranged to be engaged by said arm during such reverse movement to rotate said plate slightly to release such frictional holding means to permit said plate to be snapped into off position, means for locking said plate into off position when the controller shaft isin position to place .any of the controller contacts in their on position and means for unlocking-said plate 7 by the return of said controller contacts to neutral position.

9. In an electric controller having a shaft and controller contacts mounted thereon, a

switch eomprising a plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, a switch plate secured to said plate and insulated therefrom, a lug on said plate, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft and arranged to engage said lug to rotate said switch plate'to its on position, means for frictionally holding said switch plate in said position, means for placing said plate under tension during the reverse movement of said arm, a second lug on said plate arranged to be engaged by said arm during such reverse movement to rotate saidplate slightly to release such frictional holding means to permit said plate to be snapped into off position, pedal,

means for operating said arm upon the depression of said pedal to move said plate to on position, and means for automatically raising said pedal when released to reverse the operation of said arm and plate.

10. In an electric controller having a shaft and controller contacts mounted thereon, a switchcomprising a switch plate rotatably mounted on said shaft, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, means whereby during the rotation of said arm said plate is rotated to its on position, means for frictionally holding said plate in said position, means for placing said plate under tension during the reverse movement of said arm, means whereby during each reverse movement said arm is caused to release said frictional holding means to permit said plate to be snapped into off position, means for locking said plate into off position when the controller shaft is in position to' place any of the controller contacts in their on position, means for unlocking said plate by the return of said controller contacts to neutral position, a pedal, means for operating said arm upon the depression of said pedal to move said plate to on position, and means for automatically raising said pedal when released to reverse the operation of said arm and plate.

on said plate arranged to be engaged by said arm during such reverse movement to rotate said plate slightly to release such frictional holding means to permit said plate to be snapped into off position, means for locking said plate into off position when the controller shaft is in position to place any of the controller contacts in their on position, means for unlocking said plate by the return of said controller contacts to neutral position, a pedal, means for operating said arm upon the depression of said pedal to move said plate to on position,

and means for automatically raising said pedal when released to reverse the operation of said arm and plate.

CLARENCE E. OGDEN,

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