US1916975A - Electric regulation - Google Patents

Description

v ELECTRIC REGULATION Filed March 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllll l l l lnvenfor':

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July 4, 1933. H. GROB ELECTRIC REGULATION 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed March 10, 1930 mvmmw- M W BY ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1933 HUGO GROB, OF BERLIN, GERMANY ELECTRIC REGULATION Application filed March 10, 1930, Serial No. 434,542, and in Germany March 11, 1929.

This invention relates to regulating appa ratus and more particularly to an apparatus in which the possible range of action of carbon resistances of the type subjected to pressure '5 may be increased.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, practical, and inexpensive system and apparatus of the above-mentioned character. Another object is to provide a 19 system and apparatus of the above-mentioned character that will be of efiicient and thoroughly dependable action and capable of long-continued and lasting action in practical use. Another object is to provide an apparatus in which a variable resistance may be dependably made to perform its intended function even though the operating characteristic of the load or circuit control by the variable resistance depart from or fall with- J 20 out the normal range of action of the variable resistance itself.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it might at this point he noted that in systems for producing electric current which, aside from being supplied to a translation or work circuit such as a lamp circuit, is also to be supplied to an accumulator or storage battery to charge the latter so that lighting current may be supplied to the lamp circuit when the generator is stationary, the volta e of the dynamo 0:- generator necessary to c large the battery is too high for the work or lamp circuit; in such systems, there is interposed between the lamps and the generator a selfadjusting resistance, consisting for example of a column or pile of carbon disks subjected to a variable pressure, and it is in this resistance. through which the current to the lamp circuit flows. that that fraction of the voltage that is in excess of the lamp voltage is dissipated.

In such systems, since the adjustment or position of the carbon pile is the same if only a single lamp is burning, the self-adjusting resistance must naturally be capable'of producing a high ohmic value. In thecase of a carbon pile, the ratio between the maximum resistance and the lowest. resistance capable of being obtained is limited and the minimum possible resistance will be relatively hi h; this in many cases is extremely undesira 1e. One of the dominant aims of this invention is to overcome such disadvantages as those just pointed out and to provide a system and apparatus of the above-mentioned nature in which the necessary drop in voltage is produced in the carbon maximum resistance of the carbon pile be relatively low.

Other'objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown two of various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a system and apparatus embodying my invention in a preferred form, and

Figure 2 is a similar diagrammatic representation of a possible modified form.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now first to Figure 1, I have shown a lighting network C which is to be supplied with current from a storage battery 13 and a dynamo A, the latter serving to charge the battery B. Inasmuch as the volt age of the generator A, when the latter is charging the battery B, is too high for the lamp circuit C. there is provided a carbon pile resistance D, like that above-mentioned which, in the specific embodiment here illustrated, is connected in front ofthe lamp circuit C when the generator is supplying current but is disconnected from in front of the lamp circuit C when the battery B is alone supplying current to the lamps C. To achieve this latter action, I provide an automatic double pole switch E which may be actuated by suitable means which may include a coil or winding H connected by conductors P and R across the generator A so that, when pile even though the the dynamo voltage is less than a certain value, such as the battery voltage, the switch E occupies a position to the right of that shown in Figure l, but when the dynamo voltage exceeds this value, coil H pulls the switch into a position to the left from that shown in Figure 1.

In the former position (switch E to the right of the position shown in Figure 1) the lamps are supplied with current from the battery B through a circuit which extends from one side of the battery B, conductor 10, switch member 11, switch contact 12, bridging conductor 13, switch contact 14, switch member 15, conductor 16, winding 17 of a device G to be more clearly described hereinafter, conductor 18, through the lamp network C, conductor 19, and by way of conductor 20 back to the other side of the battery B.

With the switch E in its left-hand position and hence with the dynamo operating at a suitable voltage, the battery B may receive charging current over a circuit that extends from one side of the generator A, conductor 21, conductor 22, switch contact 23, switch member 11, conductor 10, battery B, conductor 20, and by way of conductors 24 and 25 back to the other side of generator A. The voltage across the generator and battery, under these conditions. is too high for the lamps C.

But under these conditions, lamps C are supplied with current from the dynamo A over a circuit which extends from generator A, conductor 21, conductor 26, self adjusting carbon pile resistance D (which may be actuated in any suitable manner), conductor 27, switch contact 28, switch member 15, conductor 16, windings 17 of the device G, conductor 18, through the lamp network C, and then by way of conductors 19, 24 and 25 to the other side of the generator A. The excess voltage is to be dissipated in the carbon pile D so that the higher generator voltage A is not applied to the lamps C, but, bearing in mind what has been above set forth, the maximum resistance achievable in the carbon pile D is not great enough, when the lamp load is very low, as, for example, when only one or two lamps are turned on, to cause a suiticiently high IR drop therein to bring about the dissipation of the necessary amount of generator voltage to bring the ultimate lamp voltage down to its intended value.

Accordingly, I provide an auxiliary resistance F which I arrange to be connected in parallel with the work circuit C; more specifically. conductor 29 connects one end of resistance Fto one terminal of generator A while a conductor 30 connects the other end to a movable contact J adapted to coact with a stationary contact K which is connected by conductor 31 to conductor 27, the latter being in efiect an extension of conductor 18 that leads to one side of the lamp circuit C.

Contact J is mounted upon a member N which is resilient, member N being in turn carried by an armature M pivotally related to the poles 32 and 33 0f the device G and about which poles are the above-described windings 17; a spring L opposes swinging movement of the magnet tongue or armature M toward the magnet poles.

The electromagnet G, its armature M, and the spring L are constructed in any suitable manner so that, much as is the case with a voltmeter, the armature M assumes and retains a different position that varies with the magnitude of excitation of the windings l7. Windings 17 as will be clear from what has been above set forth, carry the current flowing to the lamp circuit C and when the lamp load is small, for example when only a single lamp is burning, armature M is pulled down to such an extent that contacts J and K are engaged and resistance F is made effective, being thereby shunted about the lamp circuit C. Resistance F thus increases the load on the generator A but this increased load passes through the variable carbon pile resistance D in a circuit that will be seen to extend from generator A, conductors 21, 26, carbon pile D, conductor 27, conductor 31, contact K, contact J, conductor 30, resistance F, and by way of c'onductor 29 back to the other side of the generator A.

The resultant current flow through this above-described circuit and hence through the resistance F is of such a magnitude that, together with the current flowing to the lamp circuit, there is produced in carbon pile D the necessary IR drop to bring the lamp voltage C down to its normal or intended value.

If now more lamps are turned, on so that the current to the work circuit C increases, the pull on armature M becomes stronger and armature K is swung to a greater extent in counter-clockwise direction, resilient strip member N coming in contact with a station* ary stop 0 at a current value through the windings 17 beyond which the above-described compensating eilect of resistance F is no longer needed. If the current to the work circuit C. is further increased, as by turning on more lamps, the continued and now increased pull of armature M moves the latter in further counter-clockwise direction but this action results in bending the resilient strip N, as shown in the dotted line position, in such a way that contact member J is lifted from the contact K, thus opening the circuit of resistance F.

Should the work current now diminish, as by turning off some lamps, the above-described action takes place in reverse order, contacts J and K being closed to bring resistance F and its effect into action again at such a value of lamp current where the carbon pile D has to be supplemented by the effect and action of fixed resistance F. If

v Q i becomes zero.

the lamps C are all turned off, windings 17 are deenergized and contact J is held by spring L out of engagement with fixed contact K.

When the generator is at rest or its voltage insuflicient' to actuate switch E into its lefthand position, the lamp circuitC is supplied with current directly from the battery in the circuit first above-described, but it will be noted that in this circuit, due to the righthand position of switch E, neither carbon pile D nor fixed resistance F is made efi'ective in the illustrative embodiment shown in Figure 1.

I do not wish to be'limited to the specific form of construction for the minimum and maximum switch G as above described and any other suitable switching mechanism may be employed; as illustrative of a possible other construction for this switching mechanism, I make reference to Figure 2 in which the circuit arrangements are the same as above-described and shown with respect to Figure 1, but armature M of the switch G rigidly carries a contact S adapted to make and retain contact with a stationary contact T as long as the current flowing through windings 17 is at or below the limiting value when fixed resistance F is to be brought into action. But in the circuit of resistance F I have included contacts V and W, one of which, W, for example, is adapted to be engaged by a member X and moved away from contact V, thus to break the circuit of resistance F when the armature M occupies positions corresponding to those of Figure 1 when resilient strip N in the latter figure is bent to hold contact J disengaged from contact K.

It will thus be seen that'there has been provided in this invention a system and apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove pointed out, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. It will be seen that even though the maximum resistance of the carbon column D is relatively low and insufficient to produce the necessary IR drop, at low lamp loads, to protect the lamps C against the higher voltage of the generator A, the carbon resistance is automatically and in a sense artificially loaded by means of a low additional current from the generating plant, thus to bring the IR drop necessary to pro tect the lamps C against over-voltage; this loading is maintained as long as the network current is below certain value but is automatically discontinued immediately that the current to the lamps exceeds this value or It will furthermore be seen that the system and apparatus are well adapted to meet the varying conditions of hard practical use.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment cuit, switching means for controlling the circuit of said auxiliary resistance, and means responsive to current flowing to said work circuit adapted, when said current is below a certain value and the carbon pile resistance is insutlicient, to close the circuit of said auxiliary resistance and to open the circuit of the latter when the work circuit current is above a certain value.

2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a generator, a storage battery to be charged thereby, a work circuit, a pressure-operated carbon pile resistance in circuit with the work circuit for protecting the latter against over-voltage, a circuit adapted to pass current through said carbon pile to cause an IR drop therethrough, and means responsive to a condition resulting in over-voltage on said work circuit for making said circuit effective.

3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a generator, a storage battery to be charged thereby, a work circuit, a pressure-operated carbon pile resistance in circuit with the work circuit for protecting the latter against over-voltage, and means for artificially loading said carbon pile resistance when the resistance thereof is insuflicient to produce the necessary IR drop to protect the work circuit against over voltage.

4. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a generator, a storage battery to-be charged thereby, a work circuit, a pressure-operated carbon pile resistance in circuit with the work circuit for protecting the latter against over-voltage, an artificial load, a circuit including switching means for supplying current to said artificial load through said carbon pile, and means operating said switching means to make said circuit effective when the load current is below a certain value.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a generator, a storage battery to be chargedthereby, a work circuit, a pressure-operated carbon pile resistance in circuit with the work circuit for protecting the latter against over-voltage, an artificial load, a circuit including switching means for supplyirn current to said artificial load through said -arbon pile, and electromagnet meansresponsive to current flowing to said work circuit for controlling said switching means.

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6. In apparatus of the character described, in combinatlon, a source of current, a work circuit supplied thereby, a variable resistance in circuit therewith for protecting the work circuit against over-voltage, means for increasing the IR drop through said resistance, and means'responsive to conditions producing excess voltage in said work circuit for making said last-mentioned means effective.

7. In apparatus. of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit supplied thereby, a variable resistance in circuit therewith for protecting the work circuit against over-voltage, means for artificially loading said variable resistance, and means operative when the current to said load is below a certain value for making said last-mentioned means eilective.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit, a carbon pile resistance operating by variation in pressure interposed therebetween and having a certain maximum resistance, and means dependent upon conditions when said maximum resistance is insullicient to produce the necessary IR drop to protect said work circuit for increasing the IRdrop through the resistance.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit, a carbon pile resistance operating by variation in pressure interposed thcrebetween and having a certain maximum resistance, a circuit adapted, when closed, to send additional current through said resistance, and means for closing said circuit operating when the said maximum resistance is insufficient to produce the necessary IR drop to protect said work circuit.

10. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit. a carbon pile resistance operating by variation in pressure interposed therebetween= and having a certain maximum resistance, an artificial load connected in a circuit so that the current supplied thereto passes through said resistance. switching means for controlling the circuit of said artificial load. and means responsive to a function of the current supplied to said work circuit for operating said switching means.

11. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit, a carbon pile resistance operating by variation in pressure interposed therebetween and having a certain maximum resistance, an artificial load connected in a circuit so that the current supplied thereto passes through said resistance, switching means for controlling the circuit of said artificial load, and means operating when said maximum resistance is insufficient to cause the necessary IR drop to protect said work circuit for operat ing said switching means to make said artificial load circuit effective.

12. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit, a carbon pile resistance operating by variation in pressure interposed therebetween and having a certain maximum resistance, means for artificially loading said resistance and including switching means adapted in one position to effect artificial loading of said resistance and in another position to discontinue artificial loading thereof, and operating means for said switching means including means for holding the latter in said first position when the current to said work circuit is below a certain value and for holding it in said second position when the current to the work circuit is above said Value.

13. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit supplied thereby, an artificial load adapted to be connected in parallel with said work circuit, and means responsive to the establishing of current in said work circuit for connecting said artificial load in parallel with said work circuit and upon increases of said current to a predetermined value for disconnecting said load from said'work circuit.

14. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit supplied thereby, a load adapted to be connected to said source, and means responsive to establishing said work circuit for connecting said load to said source and responsive to the increased demand of said work circuit for disconnecting said load from said source.

15. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a work circuit supplied thereby, means including a carbon pile resistance for controlling a function of said source interposed between said source and said work circuit. and means responsive to a small current demand of said work circuit for increasing the potential drop across said carbon pile and responsive to an increased current demand of said work circuit for decreasing the potential drop across said carbon pile.

In testimony whereof I have. affixed my signature.

HUGO GROB.

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