US320028A - Edwaed weston - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

E. WESTON.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

No. 320,028. Patented June 16, 1885.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

EDIVARD \VESTON, OF NEWVARK, NE? JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES ELEOTRIO'LIGHTIN G COMPANY, OF NEVY YORK, N. Y.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,028, dated June 16, 1885.

Application filed December 29, 1883. (N model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD WEsroN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit Breakers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

The device forming the subject of this application is a switch or cirouit breaker, designed especially for use with main circuits or those over which powerful currents are conducted, though applicable to any and all cases 1 in which it is desired to make and break an electric circuit. This deviceI haveillustrated in the accompanying drawings, which I will now refer to for a description of those features of novelty which my invention involves, and

which are hereinafter indicated and claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A is an insulating base recessed as shown in Fig. 2.

B is a metal support attached to base A; O, a spindle, journaled in said support and in a 0 plate, D, secured to the base A.

E E are copper or brass contact-springs or other forms of terminal plate, secured to the under recessed side of base A and extending up through the same on either side of the spindle C. To the springs E are connected the conductors F of an electric circuit.

G is a plate, block, or bar of good conducting metal, arranged to slide freely on the spindle C, which passes through a hole drilled at its 40 center. Ears H extend from the ends of the plate or conductor G, and throughthem pass guide rods or pins K. Attached to the plate G or cast in one piece with it is a double cam or cam-wheel, L, with notches a cut at the highest or widest points.

N is a shoulder or collar on the spindle O,

and P P projections, preferably small metal rollers, journaled on pins extending from the same. A spiral spring S surrounds the spindle O, and forces the plate G and cam L up against the rollers P.

The operation of the device is as follows: If, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is desired to complete the circuit, the spindle G is turned by a key, 0, until the rollers I are brought into the notches a. By this means the plate G is forced downward between the springs E, closing the electric circuit between them. \Vhen the circuit is to be broken, the key is turned; butthe instant the rollers are brought over the edges of the notches a and onto the inclined faces of the cam the force of the spring S throws the spindle suddenly around, unless a special effort be made on the part of the operator to prevent it, and at the same time drives the plate G up out of contact with the springs E.

This form of circuit-breaker combines many advantages. The parts are easily made and assembled in compact form, so as to occupy but little space. The key may be turned in either direction for making or breaking the circuit, the separation of contact points on breaking the circuit being so sudden as to prevent the formation of an arc. V

The device may be used with any circuit, or devices connected therewith, as a means of making and breaking the circuit.

Y'Vhile I have adopted the best construction and arrangement of parts of which I am at 30 present aware in illustration of my invention,

I do not regard the invention as specifically limited to the same, as they may be varied in many particulars. Those features or elements, however, which I regard as essential are the contact-terminals and the spring actuated plate, together with any convenient form of key, by operating which the plate is brought into contact with the terminals or permitted to separate from them by the force of a spring. 9:

IVha-t I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, with contact-terminals, of a spring actuated plate, a rotary spindle, guides for preventing the rotation of the plate, and a cam and a projection or projections on 5 said plate and spindle, whereby they engage with one another for the purpose of operating the parts to make or break the circuit, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with contact-terminals, ice of a springactuated plate and cam, a rotary spindle and guide rods passing through the plate, and rollers carried by the spindle for allel contact-terminals E, of the spring-actuengaging with the cam and imparting moveated conducting-plate G and the pins K, parment to the plate, substantially asset forth. allel to the terminals for supporting and guid- 3. The combination, with contact-terminals, ing said plate, substantially as set forth. [5

5 of a spring-actuated plate and camwheel 1 In'testimony whereof I have hereunto set having notches out at its widest points, a romy hand this 21st day of December, 1883. tary spindle and guide-rods passing through the plate, and rollers carried by the spindle for engaging with the cam, substantially as \Vitnesses: IO and for the purpose set forth. HENRY S. LOWE,

4. The combination, with substantially par- R. W. BLOEMEKE.

EDWVARD W'ESTON.

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