US1842560A - Centrifugal relay - Google Patents

Description

Jall- 26, 1932- R. F. NAGLE' n CENTRIFUGAL RELAY Filed April 22, 1929 INVENTOR: R. F. //a 716/ Patented Jam 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RONALD FRANCIS NAGLE, F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA., ASSIGNOR TO T'HE UNION SWlTCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, 0F SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA c nN'rnIrUGAL RELAY Application led April 22,

My invention relates to electrical relays of the centrifugal type, and has for an object the provision of novel and improved means for selectively operating one contact or another according as the centrifugal device revolves in one direction or the other.

I will describe one form of relay embodying my invention, and will then point out the A novel features thereof in claims. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly diagrammatic, showing one form of relay embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly sectioned, of part of the relay shown in Fig. 1. YFig. 3 isa fragmentary view illustrating the operation of a portion of the relay shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters'refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. l, the relay comprises an alternating current electric motor.

M having a rotor v51 and two stator windings 3 and 4. One of the stator windings 3 is constantly energized from the secondary 2 of a transformer T. the primary 1 of which is supplied with alternating current from a source not shown in the drawings. The other stator winding et is connected with the transformer secondary 2 through a pole-changer P, whereby this winding is supplied with alternating current of one relative poiarity or the other according as pole-changer l) is in one position or the other. lt follows that the rotor 5 will revolve in one direction or the other according as pole-changer P is in one position or the other.

The relay iurther comprises a centriiugai device C which is operated by the motor This device involves a spindle f5 which is mounted to rotate on a verticai axis and is constantly connected with the rotor 5 of motor M. The spindle 6 is provided with a piurality of yokes such as 'i' and *if* in which the centrifuge arms such as 8 and 8 are pivotally mounted. These arms are provided with the usual weights l() and l0, and with the usual roliers 9 and 9 which coact with. a groove lla in a block ll. d onrnailed in the block 1l by means of a bali bearing l2 is a 59 member 13, which member is therefore con- 1929. Serial No. 357,214.

pivotally mounted at 18 arid 18, respectively, in fixed supports 19 and 19, respectively. Arm 16 is biased by a counterweight 2O to swing in counterclockwise direction, and arm 16ais biased by a counterweight 20a to swing in clockwise direction. The inner or `adjacent ends of these arms are provided with vertically disposed slots 17 and 17, respectively, so located as to be in the paths of the pins 15 and 15a, respectively, when the centrifuge member 13 is in its lowest position. Each contact operating arm carries a Contact spring 2l arranged to coact with a fixed contact member 21a, and a second contact spring 22 arranged to coact with a xed contact member 22a. lt follows that when the contact operating arms are unaffected by the centrifugal device, each Contact 22--22a is closed and each contact 21---213t is open.

The operation of the relay is as follows: lNhen the motor M is at rest, the centrifuge block 11 and the associated member 13 will be in their highest positions. The pins 15 and 15a may be in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2, or one of these plus or the other may project into its 'associated slot 17 or 17a, but the positions of these pins are immateriai, because in any event the Contact operating arms i6 and 16a will be in their normal positions in which they are shown in the drawings. l will now assume that the motor M starts to rotate in such direction that the centrifuge block 11 rotates in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. rlhis block will carry with it the member 13 until the pin 15a enters the slot 17 and the arm 23 engages the side of the ,arm 16a. Further rotation of the member 13 will then be prevented, and as the speed of the centrifugal devlce increases,v

the member 13 will be moved downwardly, so that the in will swing thearm 16iin counter-cloc ise direction, as viewedin Fig. 1, with the result that the associated contact 22-22* will be opened and the associated contact 21-21 will be closed. The pin 15 is then, of course, entirely'disassociated from arm 16 s'o that this arm and' the contacts operated thereby remain in their normal positions. n Y v If now the motor M comes to rest and starts to revolve in the opposite ldirection, pin 15 will enter slot 17 in arm 16, with the result that this arm will be swungin clockwise direction against the biasing force exerted by counterweight 20, so that the conta'cts operated by arm 16 will be reversed. During such operation the arm 16* and contacts associated therewith will remain in their normal positions.

Rela s embodying my invention are' particularg7 well adapted for use as track re ays in railway signaling systems applied to railroads having alternating pro ulsion current. In 'such cases, the propu ion current is usually of a lower frequency than the track circuit or signaling current, so that if the l motor M is improperly energized by propulv that the motor M is thus energized by cursion current,.it will revolve at a lower speed than when it is energized by si aling curf rent. One reason for making thi; 17 and 17* in the form of slots is to prevent operation of the relay contacts in the event rent of the propulsion frequency. Referring to Fig. 3, 1n the event of energization of motor M by propulsion. current, the pin 15 will move downwardly to the lower end of slot 17 but will move no further because the speed of the motor M will not be such as to create suicient torque on arm 16 or 16 to lift the counterweight 20er 2'0". This operation of the motor will therefore have no effeet on the contacts. f v I When the'motor is operated by current of the signalin frequency, however, .the centrifuge mein rs 11 and 13 will be moved farther down, with the resultthat the pin 15 will engage the lower end of the slot 17 and will move the arm 16 to the position shown in dotted lines in' Fig. 3, this movement being suicient to reverse the contacts operated by the arm 16. y

The centrifugal device C may be so designed and proportioned that when it is at rest th effect of the weights 1() and 10 is suilici posit'on. If this is undersirable, however,

the me effect maybe secured by suspending the block 11 and the member 13 by means of a wire 24 and a spring 25, thereby relieving the weights 10 andlO of the necessity for restoring the rotating parts ofthe Vdevice to their initial positions. The wire 24 is attached to the upper en d of the stem 14, and

apertures t to hold the block 11 in its highest i inasmuch as this stem rotates through 'only' a ,portion of a complete turn, it follows that the ltorque exerted by the wire 24 and the i sprin 25 is negli 'ble in so. far as the opera-f tion ofthe rela is concerned.

Although I- ave herein shown and described only one form of relay embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be madey and movable away from said position by the centrifugal action of said device, said member being free to rotate with respect to said device but coupled thereto by a slip connection, two operating arms one for each of said contacts and each having a slot, and two pins carried by said member one of which enters the slot in one arm or the other of which enters the slot in the other arm according as said member turns in one direction or theother.

Y 2. A relay comprising a centrifugal device rotatable in opposite directions, two contact operating'arms each biased to one position and each disconnected from said device whenl the device is at rest, means determined by the direction of rotation of said device for connecting the device with one or the other of said arms to move such arm away from its biased position by the centrifugal action of said device, and contacts operated by said arms. A 1

3. A relay comprising a centrifugal device rotatable in either direction, and includinla rotatable block moved longitudinally by e centrifugal action of said device, a member ]ournalled in said block to move longitudi nally therewith, Said member being free t0' rotate with respect to s aid block but coutplg thereto by a slip connection, two pins ii l to said .member andprojectingin oppotel i directions, two contact operating arms eachA biased to one position and each provided with a hole to 'receive one of said pins according as said member tends to rotate in one direction or the other when the device starts from rest, whereby one arm or the other is moved away from its biased position due to longitudinal movement of said member, and contacts operated bv said arms.

4. A relay comprising a centrifugal device rotatable in either direction, and including; member which isA coupled with the dev ice y a slip connection andis movedflongitudinlly away from a. biased position by the een 'y' ugal action of. said device, two contact arms each biased to one position and movable away from such by the longitudinal motion of said member when it is connected withthe member, means determined by the direction in which said member tends to rotate when the device starts from rest for operatively connecting the member with one or the other of said arms, and contacts operated by said arms.

5. A relay comprising a centrifugal device rotatable in either direction and including a member which isfcoupled with the device by a slip connection and is. moved longitudinally away from a biased position by the centrifugal action of said device, two pins projccting in opposite directions from said mem ber and disposed in planes perpendicular to the axis about which the member tends to rotate, two contact arms each biased to 4one position and each provided with a hole adapted to receive one of said pins when said centrifugal device starts from rest whereby one or the other of said arms will be moved away from its biased position due to longitudinal movement of said member according as said device is rotated in one direction or the other, and contacts operated by said arms.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

RONALD FRANCIS NAGLE.

eoy

Images