US1769214A - Make-and-break mechanism for electric switches - Google Patents

Description

July I, 1930. c. s. DUTTON 'E AL v MAKE AND BREAK MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed Dec. 7. 1925 INVENTORS C- $.DUTTOIV.

E. ALEXANDER.-

G. H. DERRICK ATTQRNEYS.

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' HCE' cHAnLns's. BUTTON, or OAKLAND, nennnr ALEXANDER, or sen rnAnoIsco, AND

GEORGE H. DERRICK, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA; TBIX 0F SAID GEORGE DERRICK, DECEASED. MENTS, T0 INSTCGEAPH, LTII, A CDRIFOEA'I'ION VICTORY A., DERRICK, EXECU- ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MAKIE-AND-BREAK MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES Application filed December The present invention relates'to improvements in make and break mechanism for electric switches and its particular object is to provide a device of thecharacter described by'which movement of the printing wheel of r a stamping device may be caused to synchronize with movements of a clock mechanism so that numerals arranged on the printing wheel always show surface.

It is further proposed to arrange the-make and break mechanism in such a manner that the opening of the switch takes place instantaneously after the closing thereof.

vFurther objectsand advantages'of our invention will appear as the specification proceeds. I i The preferred form of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which I Figure 1 shows a top plan view of our mechanism. v a

Figure 2 a front view thereof.

Figure 3 a side view ofthe same.

While we have shown only the preferred form of theinvent-ion it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto at-v tached without departing from the spiritof the invention.

The shaft 1 emanates from a clock mecha nism not shown in the drawing and the shaft 2 has a printing wheel fixed thereto which latter also is not shown in the drawing.

The object of the present invention being to cause an electrical impulse to be imparted to the shaft 2 causing it to synchronize with the rotary motion of the shaft 1 of theclock mechanism. Power for revolving the shaft 2 is supplied by the electro-magnet 3 which has an armature 4t pivoted relative thereto as shown at 6. A link 7 is pivoted to the free end of the armature as at 8 and has a tooth 9 projecting therefrom which latter is adapted or engagement with the teeth of a toothed wheel 11 fixed on the shaft 2; When the electro-magnet is energized the armature is attracted and causes the link 7 'to move upwhich also forces the link outwardly due to the slanting faces of the meshing the correct time at the exposed minute.

7,1925. Serial No. 73,535.

' is opposedby a spring 12 which latter serves to force the tooth on the link inwardly as .soon as the same has passed the crest of'the wheel tooth responsibl for its outward movement. The upward stroke of the link? is preferably made to exceed the length of a' tooth so that positive engagement of the link tooth with the next wheel tooth is always as sured before the link is moved in the opposite direction for advancing the wheel 11 by the length of one tooth. Reversal of the movement of the link 7 is brought about by the automatic opening of the switch'13 by means to be described hereinafter and the spring 14 which opposes the motion of the armature and forces the latter away from the magnet as'soon as the latter becomes de-energized.

The wheel 11 preferably has sixty teeth thereon and the :electro-magnetis, energized sixty times in an hour-so that each advance movement of the wheel 11 means the passing of one The -make and break-mechanism for the switch 13 includes a ratchet wheel 16 on the shaft 17 which latter is revolved by the shaft 1 through the gear wheel 18 and the pinion 19 in such a manner that the ratchet wheel advances by the length of one tooth per minute. The direction of-rotation is'clockwise as shown in Figure 2, the switch comprising a stationery contact 21' and a movable contact 22 mounted at the end of. a leaf spring 23 oneend of'which is fixed to a block 24of insulating material. An intermediate portion of the spring near the con-' tact 22 is opposed by a lug 26 projecting laterally from the free'end of the leverv 27, pivoted at'a distance from the stationary contact 21 as shown at '28. The lever arm 7 justmentioned extends upwardly and has pivoted to its upper'end, as shown at 29 a link 31 provided with a tooth 32 adapted to engage with and rest 'on any one of the teeth of the toothed member l6,'a leaf spring 38 tending to crowd the tooth ofthe link into engagement with the 'teethof the ratchet. is gradually forced outof the outer periphas viewed in Figure 2 the tooth ofthe link As the ratchet revolvesin'clockwise direction pinion 19 and is electro-magnet thereto which causes ery of the ratchet, hence and since the tooth 32 is the only support for the lever 27 the latter drops while the link 31 rides downwardly over the teeth of the ratchet and allows the spring switch 23 of which this cont-act 22 is a part to move downwardly bringing into engagement contact 22 with the contact 21 whereby the switch is closed.

The closing of the switch energizes the electro-magnet 3 and brings about the endwise motion of the link 7 previously reterred to. While the link 7 climbs upwardly and is forced outwardly by the slanting face of the tooth engaged by the same, its upward end just clears a finger 34: projecting from a lever 27 so as to assume the position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 when the tooth 9 passes thetop of the wheel tooth'engaged by it. After the link tooth has passed the wheel tooth it is forced inwardly again by the action of the spring 12 for engagement with the next tooth and during this inward motion of the link 7 its upper end forces the finger 34 of tee lever 27 inwardly thereby turning the entire lever aboutits pivot 28 and liiting the link 31 sufiiciently to cause its tooth 32 to engage with the next ratchet tooth while at the same time the switch opened by the lug 26 raises the spring switch 23. To prevent any tendency of the ratchet to revolve in the opposite direction due to the fact that the link 31 rides upwardly on the teeth during the switch opening movement we provide a pawl 38 which engages with the positioned to drop behind a new tooth prior to the upward movement of the link 31.

The operation of the device is as follows The shaft 1 revolved by a clock mechanismnot shown transmits rotary motion through the gear wheel 18 and the pinion 19 to the shaft 17 in such a manner that the toothed wheel or ratchet 16 on the said shaft rotates by the length of one tooth per minute. As theratchet revolves the tooth 32 on the link 31 which rests on one of the teeth of the ratchet is gradually forced outwardly by the next tooth and finally at the end of the minute is knocked off so that the link rides downwardly on the wheel and allows the lever 27 to drop and the switch 13 to close. r

The closing of the switch energizes the attracts the armature the link 7 to rise. motion the tooth 9 riding on the slanting face of one of the teeth ofthe wheelll is forced outwardly until it passes the point of the tooth and this upward and outward motion of they link 7 brings its upper end into the dotted line position. for engagement with the finger 3 After having passed the point ,of the tooth During this rising on the wheel 11 the tooth 9 is allowed to go inwardly again and this inward motion causes the upper end of the link to turn the lever 27 about its pivot whereby the switch 13 is opened. This inward motion further brings about an engagement of the link tooth 9 with the next tooth on the wheel 11. The opening of the switch de-energizes the electro-magnet 13 and the armature is forced away from the magnet by the spring 14 which movement causes the lever 7 to revolve the wheel 11 by the length of one tooth. It will be seen that in this manner the switch is closed once every minute, and opened again, which opening brings about a corresponding turning motion of the wheel 11 which latter is provided with sixty teeth'so that it carries out a complete revolution in one hour. a

It is understood that while thepreterred impul e is sixty times per hour the intervalsmay be varied to give the electrical impulse at intervals of verymuch greater or very much less frequency either regular or irregular in'spacing, and the ratio of desired action to actual established contact made by the spring switch may be varied to any desired degree. 7

We claim:

1. in combination, a. rotating ratchet wheel, a stationary switch contact, a movable switch contact in operative relation to said stationary contact; an electro-me gnet, means for actuating said movable contact, said means being held by said ratchet wheel, and released by the rotation of said wheel; said movable contact engaging said stationary contact upon therelease of said means, thereby energizing said electro-magnet, means actuated by the energized electro-magnet for opening said switclnand means to transmit the movement of the electro-magneu'to a driven shaft, said means being actuated by the return movement of said switch opening means when said magnet is ale-energized.

2. In combination, a rotating ratchet wheel, a stationary switch contact, a movable switch contact in operative relation to said stationary contact; an electro-magnet, resilient means forfactuating said movable contact, said means being held by said ratchet wheel, and released by the rotation of said wheel; said movable contact engaging said stationary contact upon the release of said means, thereby energizing said electro-magnet, resilient means actuated by the energized electro-magnet for opening said switclnand means to transmit the movement of the electro-magnet,to a driven shaft said means being actuated by the return movement, of said switch opening means when said magnet is V (lo-energized. V I

3. In combination, a rotating wheel having notches on the periphery thereof, a stationary switch contact, a movable switch contact, means to connect said movable contact with a notch of said wheel to be held in open switch upon the rotation of said notched wheel; an electro-magnet energized by the closing of said switch, means actuated by the movement of the electro-magnet when energized, to bring said connecting means in engagement with another notch on said wheel, thereby opening said movable switch contact, means for returning said electromagnet actuated means when the opening of said movable contact causes the electro-magnet to be ole-energized, and means for trans, mitting the movement of said electro-mag net, to a driven shaft said last means being operated by the returning movement of said magnet actuated means, in synchronism with the rotation of said notched wheel.

t. In combination, a rotating ratchet wheel, stationary switch contact, a movable switch contact in operative relation to said sta-i tionary contact; an electro-magnet, means for moving said movable. contact, said means being held by the ratchet wheel and being lowered by the rotation ofsaid wheel so as to lower said movable contact upon the stationary contact, for energizing the electromagnet; a link pivoted to the. free end ofa resiliently mounted armature of said electromagnet and having a tooth projecting there from; a toothed wheel adapted to rotate atransmission shaft and being disposed in operative relation to said tooth of the link; said link being moved upwardly and outwardly by the armature when the electromagnet is energized so as to bring said tooth thereon in engagement with a successive toot-h I of the toothed wheel; and resilient means for I. a stationary switch causing said link to separate said contacts at 2 the end of the upward movement ofthe link,

thereby causing, the de-energizing of said electro-magnet and the return movement of said link, thus turning said toothed wheel.

5. In combination, a rotating ratchet wheel, contact, a movable'switch contact in operative relation to said stationary contact; an electro-magnet, a pivoted lever for moving said movable contact into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, means for connecting said lever to the ratchet wheel, said means being lowered by the rotation of said wheel so as to lower said movable contact upon the stationary contact for energizing the electronnagnet; an

armature of said electro-magnet being resilientlymounted thereon; a link pivotallysecured to the free end of the armature and having a tooth protruding therefrom; a toothed wheel adapted to rotate a transmission shaft and being disposed inoperative relation to said tooth or the link so as to allow the engagement of a successive. wheel a tooth by said link tooth when said link is moved upwardly and outwardly by the action of the energizedelectro-magnet; and resiliinto and'out of engagement with said stationary contact, means for connecting said lever tothe ratchet wheel, said means being lowered by the rotation of said wheel so as to lower said movable contact upon the stationary contact for energizing the electromagnet; ail-armature of-said electro-magnet being resiliently mounted thereon; a link v pivotally secured to the free end of the armature and having a tooth prot-miding therefrom, a toothed wheel adapted to rotate a transmission shaft and being disposed in operative relation to said tooth of the link so as to all'ow the engagement of a successive wheel toothby said link tooth when said link ismoved upwardly and outwardly by the action of the energized electro-magnet; a

linger on the free end of the link;' and a spring-for pressing said finger into engagement with the end ofthe pivoted lever after theupward and outward movement of the link, thereby raising said lever in a switch opening posit-ion; the link tooth turning the toothed wheel when the link ismoved downwardly by the armature of the deenergized electro-magnet.

7. In combination a rotating ratchet wheel,

"a pivoted lever, a link pivotally related tothe it'ree end of the lever and engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a stationary contact, a movable contact supported by the free end of the-lever and above the stationary contact, an electromagnet, an armature-pivotally related to the magnet at one of its ends, a linkpivotally'related to the armature at the other of its ends, a toothed wheel, a tooth carriedby the link capable of slidable engagement with the teeth of the wheel, a spring for urging the link inwardly of the teeth of the wheel, a lug lying in the path of the inward movement of the link for rocking the free end of the lever upwardly upon its pivot.

8. In combination a rotating ratchet wheel, a pivoted lever, a link pivotally related to the free end of the lever forengaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a spring for urging the link into engagement with the ratchet wheel, a stationary contact, a movable contact supported by the free end of the lever and above the stationaryfcontact, an electromagnet, an

armature pivotally related'to the magnet at one of its ends, a link pivotally related to the armature at the other of its ends, a

toothed'wheel, a tooth carried by the link by the lever to one side and below the pivotal V and capable of slidable engagement with the teeth of the wheel, a spring for urging the link inwardly of the teeth of the wheel, a lug carried by the lever and lying in the path of the inward movement of the link for rocking the free end of the lever upwardly upon its pivot.

9. In combinationa rotating ratchet wheel, a pivoted lever, a link pivotally related to the free end ofthe lever for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a spring for urging the link into engagement with the ratchet wheel, a stationary contact, a movable contact supported by the free end of the leverand above a the stationary contact, an electromagnet, an

armature pivotally related to the magnet at one of its ends, a link pivotally'related to the armature at the other of its ends, a toothed wheel, a tooth carried by the link and capable of slidabl eengagement with the teeth of the wheel, a spring for urging the link inwardly of the teeth of the wheel, a lug carried point thereof and lying in the path of the inward movement of the last mentioned link for rotating the lever upon its pivot.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

CHARLES S. DUTTON. EGBERT ALEXANDER. GEORGE H. DERRICK.

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