US1171588A - Metering-switch. - Google Patents

Description

' H. w. BROWN.

METERING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,1911.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

HAROLD w. BROWN, or WILKINSBURG, r NNsYLvANm, ASSIGNOR To WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY. A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

METERING-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed June 28, 1911. Serial No. 635,909.

To all 10/1 out it may-concern Be it known thatl, HAROLD 1V. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVilkinsburg', in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have 1nvented a new and useful Improvement in Metering-Sw tches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switches and electrical connections therefor whereby a single voltmeter, or other similar instrument, may be connected to, or associated with, any phase of a plurality of polyphase circuits, or any one of a plurality of sets of circuits.

The object of my invention is to provide a switch of such character that it may be used for the purpose above indicated, without danger or possibility of connecting the meter or other instrument to more than one phase or circuit at the same time.

In the single figure of the accompanying drawing, which diagrammatically illustrates a system embodying my invention, a single voltmeter 1, or other suitable instrument, is employed in connection with a plurality of switches 2, 3, 4 and 5, each of which comprises two adjacent, insulated and simultaneously movable conducting segments 6 and 7 that are respectively provided with inwardly projectin and opposite lateral extensions 8 and 9. The body portions of the segments 6 and 7 are respectively engaged by stationary contact terminals 10 and 11 whereby continuous connection is made therewith. Between the body portions of the segments 6 and 7, and adjacent thereto, are a plurality of side-by-side pairs of contact terminals 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 that are interposed in the paths of movement of the lateral extensions 8, and 9 of the segments, one member of each pair being interposed in the path of movement of the extension 8 and the other members of the pairs being interposed in the path of movement of the extension 9.

The terminal member 10 of switch 5 is connected to one terminal of the voltmeter, and the member 11 of switch 2'is connected to the other terminal of the voltmeter. The terminal members 10 of the switches 2, 3 and 4 are respectively connected to the terminal members 12 of the switches 3, 4 and 5, while the terminal members 11 of the switches 3, 4 and 5 are respectively connected to the terminal members 13 of the switches 2, 3 and 4. The members of the remaining pairs of terminal devices are respectively connected to differently phased conductors of polyphase circuits or to different side of single-phase-or direct current circuits. In they presentinstance, inorder to show the adaptability of the switches, the

terminal members 14 to 19, inclusive, of the switch 2 are connected in pairs to the conductors of a three- phase circuit 20, 21 and 22 and the corresponding members of the switch 4. are similarly connected to the conductors of a two- phase circuit 23, 24, 25, 26, while the same members of the switch 3 are connected in pairs to a plurality of lighting or other load circuits 27, 28 and 29.

WVhen the switches occupy their normal positions,-which are shown, the voltmeter 1 is not connected to any of the circuits. If it is desired to connect the voltmeter to the phase 2021 of the three-phase circuit associated with the switch 2, the said switch should be moved until the lateral extensions 8 and 9 of its conducting segments respectively engage terminal members 14 and 15. Under this condition, a circuit is established from conductor 21, through terminal members 17 and 15, segment 7, terminal member 11, the voltmeter, terminal members 10 and 12 of each of switches 5, 4 and 3, and terminal members 10 and 14 of switch 2 to circuit conductor 20. If, under this condition,

one of the other switches 3, 4 or 5 is moved from its normal position, the circuit of the voltmeter will be interrupted, and, in order that any of the said switches may be used for connecting the voltmeter to the corresponding circuits, it is necessary to return the switch 2 to its normal position, as shown. This will be understood by assuming that the switch 3 is moved so that the extensions 8 and 9 of its conducting segments engage terminal members 14 and 15. Previous to this movement, a circuit existed between the switches 2 and 3, through the connection between the terminal member 10 of the one and the terminal member 12 of the other,

the switches to tlieright thereof will be disconnected from the left-hand terminal of the voltmeter. Thus, it is seen that the voltmeter may be connected to but one phase of one circuit, or to but one circuit, at a time, and that there is, accordingly, no possibility of confusing the circuits or phases of which the voltmeter indicates the voltage, and also that there is no danger of causing short circuits or damaging the circuits, switches or meter.

The present switch is not limited in its application to the uses shown, but may be employed whenever found useful. For instance, it may be used for connecting the voltage coils of a polyphase wattmeter to any one of a plurality of polyphase circuits, substantially as shown in a copending application.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch comprising two conducting segments havinglateral extensions, means for making circuit connections respectively thereto, and a plurality of pairs of adjacent terminal devices, the members of each pair being respectively and simultaneously engaged by the segments while those of adjacent pairs may be engaged thereby in succession only.

2. A switch comprising two conducting segments having lateral extensions, terminal members respectively continuously engaging the same, and a plurality of pairs of terminal members that may be engaged only in succession by the conducting segments.

3. A switch comprisingtwo conducting segments having lateral extensions, means for making circuit connections respectively thereto, and a plurality of pairs of adjacent terminal members=that may be engaged only in succession by the conducting segments.

4. A switch comprising conducting segments each having a lateral extension, terminal members respectively continuously engaging the said segments, and two sets of terminal members that may be engaged respectively by the lateral segment extensions, the members of each set being engaged thereby in succession.

5. A switch comprising movable conducting segments each having a lateral extension, means for making circuit connections respectively to the segments, and two sets of terminal members that are respectively interposed in the paths of movement of the lateral segment extensions, the members of each set being'engaged thereby in succession.

6. The combination with a meter and a plurality of sets of circuits with reference to which the meter is adapted to make measurements, of a plurality of switches severally comprising two conducting segments having lateral projections and terminal members, said terminal members being so connected that the said meter can only be associated with the circuits of each set in succession and for preventing association of the meter simultaneously with two circuits of different sets.

7. The combination with a meter and a plurality of sets of circuits with reference to which the meter is adapted to make measurements, of a plurality of switches severally comprising two conducting segments having lateral projections and terminal members, electrical connections between the terminal members of each switch for associating the meter with the circuits of each set in succession and for preventing association simultaneously with two circuits of different sets.

8. The combination with a meter and a plurality of sets of circuits with reference to which the meter is adapted to make measurements, of a plurality of switches, one corresponding to each set of circuits, each of said switches comprising a plurality of pairs of terminal devices all but one pair of'which are respectively connected to the "said circuits, a pair of movable conducting segments respectively engaging the terminal devices of the same pair but that may engage those of different pairs in succession only, connections from non-corresponding segments of tWo of the switches to the meters and connections respectively from the remaining segments of the switches to the terminal devices of the next adjacent switches that are not connected to the said circuits.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of une,

HAROLD W. BROWN. Witnesses:

M. E. EDEN, B. B. HINES.

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