US1385981A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

J. M. BROWN.

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APPLICATION "LED OCT. a 911- Patented Aug. 2, 1921 Zg; A I 5 I c ..J. T lc ..v "L 1 5 r f 5 INVVVVVYZ WITNESS-ES BY g a ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. BROWN,

01: PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE SWITCH.

Application filed October 8, 1917.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMns M. BnowN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switches and par ticularly to such switches as are adapted to so change the connections of an indicating device that it may be utilized to selectively indicate the voltage of, or a ground on, any of the several phases of a polyphase circuit.

The object of my invention is to provide switches of the above indicated character that shall be simple and eflective in operation and that shall permit of selectively associating a single indicating device with several circuits or phases of a circuit, or of en tirely disassociating it from all of them, as desired.

In practising my invention, I provide an indicating device, such as a volt-meter or a lamp, that is connected to a secondary circuit of a transformer, the primary circuit of which is connected in series with, and between, the n'iovable contact arms of two dial switches. The stationary contact members of the dial switches are so connected to the several phases of the polyphase circuit, and to a ground conductor, as to permit energization of the primary winding of the trans former by placing it across any of the circuits or between any of the conductors and the ground conductor. Thus, by a very simple and permanently-connected device, thevoltage of, or a ground on, any of the phases of a polyphase circuit may be readily determined.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections embodying my invention, when employed in connection with a three-phase circuit, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the adaptation of my invention to a twophase circuit.

A transformer 1 has its secondary winding 2 connected to an indicating device 3 that may comprise a volt-meter and a lamp, connected in parallel relation. The volt meter and the lamp operate simultaneously with energization of the secondary coil 2, the lamp being adapted to more readily indicate Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Serial No. 195,248.

the fact and the volt-meter the amount of energization.

The primary coil 4 of the transformer 1 is connected between movable contact arms 5 and 6 of dial switches 7 and 8. conductors A, B and (l of a three-phase system are respectively connected to stationary contact terminals a, I) and c of the switches 7 and H, and a ground conductor G is connected to stationary contact terminals y of the same.

Vl'hen the movable contact arms 5 and (i are in the position shown, no indication will be given by the device 3. If the arm 5 is moved into engagement with the contact terminal a, and, at the same time, the arm (3 is moved into engagement with a contact terminal I), the primary coil 4 will be energized in accordance with the voltage of phase A-B. Since the voltage of the sec ondary circuit of the transformer 1 is a measure of the primary-circuit voltage, both the amount (that may bear any suitable ratio to the primary-circuit voltage) and the fact will be indicated 1) the devi e 3. Similarly, the voltages of the phases 13-0 and All may be determined by placing the arms 5 and 6 in engagement with contact terminals 6 and c and a and 0, respectively.

To determine a ground in the conductor A, the arm 5 is moved into engagement with the contact terminal 1 and the arm 6 is moved into engagement with the contact terminal or c. In case a ground exists, current will flow through the primary coil 4, and the device 3 will be actuated. Similarly, grounds in conductors B and (l may be de termined by placing one arm in contact with terminal 7 and the other arm in contact with either of the two terminals other than the one corresponding to the conductor for which an indication is desired.

The operation of my invention, when applied to a two-phase system, and as shown in Fig. 2, is similar to the above, the indicating device being placed in proper relation to the various conductors, for the purposes de scribed, by moving the arms 5 and 6 into engagement with the proper stationary. contact terminals.

In Fig. 2, the conductors 10 and 10 represent one phase and the conductors 11 and 11 the other phase. Conductors 10 and 11 In Fig. 1,

may be tested for grounds by moving the arm 6 into engagement with the respective terminals connected to said conductors and by allowing the arm 5 to remain connected to the ground, while conductors l0 and 11 may be tested for grounds by allowing the arm 6 to remain connected to the ground as shown and moving the arm 5 into engage ment with the proper terminal.

There is obviously no limit to the number of phases in a circuit to which my invention may be adapted, it bei'ng a matter of arrangement of the stationary contact terminals of the switches 7 and 8, only.

While I have shown and described particular forms and arrangements of my invention, many changes may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the same, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with an indicating device and a plurality of circuits, of a ground conductor, two switches each of which comprises one movable contact mem her and a plurality of stationary contact terminals, one of the said stationary contact terminals of each switch being operatively connected to the ground conductor and the other terminals being connected to the circuits, a transformer having its primary winding connected in series with the stationary contact terminals and its secondary winding connected to the indicating device, and means whereby the movable contact members may selectively engage the stationary contact terminals to determine, by means of the indicating device, a ground on, and the voltage of, any of the circuits.

2. The combination with an indicating device and a plurality of circuits, of a ground conductor, two switches both of which may be operatively connected to said ground conductor or to said circuits and a transformer having its primary winding connected in series with said switches and its secondary winding connected to the indicating device,

said switches permitting said indicating device to selectively indicate a ground on, and

the voltage of, any of said circuits.

3. The combination with an indicating device and a plurality of circuits, of a ground conductor, two switches each of which comprises one movable contact member and a plurality of stationary contact terminals, the said stationary contact terminals of both switches being operatively connected to the ground conductor and to each side of the circuits respectively, a transformer having its primary winding connected to the movable contarf members and its secondary winding connected to the indicating device, and means whereby the movable contact members may selectively engage the stationary contact terminals to determine, by means of the indicating device, a ground on, and the voltage of, any of the circuits.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto subscribed my name-this 20th day of Sept. 1917.

JAMES M. BROWN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Potent No. 1,385,981, granted August 2, 1921, ujmn the application of James M. Brown, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Swim-hes," an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 32 and 33, claim 1, for the words "stationai'y contact terminals" read movable contact members; and that. the said Letters Patent should be read with this correct-ion therein that the same may conform to the recorgi of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of Oetober, A. 1)., 1921.

[SEAL] KARL FENNTNG,

Acting OQmmiss-io-rM' of Patents.

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