US676305A - System of motor control. - Google Patents

Description

, .Patented lune I90I. 1 A. a. DAVIS." 1 SYSTEM OF MOTOR CONTROL.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

W I m Jnventbrr m: NORA: PETERs ca. Puma-Lima. wxsuma'rom D. c.

No; 676,305. Patented lune ll, l9fll.

A. a. DAVIS. SYSTEIIUF MOTOR CONTROL.

(Application filed In; 5, 1900.)

(No Iodal.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Jnventolt flaw/2 1 M hour's rri'l'm 0:1,, muraurua, wunmumn, n. a

UNITED STATES ALBERT G. DAVIS,

PAT NT OFFICE.

SYSTEM OF MOTOR CONTROL.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 676,305, dated June 1 1, 1901.

A plicati fil d, March 5, 1900. Serial No- 7,262 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. DAVIS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New 5 York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Motor Control,

(Case No. 1,009,) of which the following is a 5 trolling the operation'of motors on a plurality of cars constituting an electric train may be: divided into two distinct classes, in one of which the controller-contacts are separately operated by a plurality of independent actu- 2o ating devices and in the other of which the controlling-contacts for each motor equipment are mounted on a common support operated by a suitable actuating means. Whichever system is employed it is essential for successful operation'of a train that the controllers on the separate cars shall be soactuated that a given set of motor connections in the motor-circuit will be made simultaneously on all of the cars, and while this result has 0 been successfully attained in those systems 7. in which separatelyactuated contacts are employed it has been thus far impossible in those systems in which the controller-contacts for each motor equipment are mounted 5 on a common support to secure a synchronous operation of the several controllers without resorting to complications which render the system objectionable from a practical standpoint. I

My invention relates to a system of the class in which the contacts for each motor equipment are mounted one common support, and has for its object to provide a simple and effective system for controlling the operation of the various controllers in a train-control or similar system and at the same time one which will insurethesimultaneous operation of all the controllers in a step-by-step manner. In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically, my system asap+ Figs. 2 and OF SCHENEOTADY,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

In Fig.1 the conductors 1 to 14, inclusive,

represent the conductors of a train-control system, the said conductors being shown of a length sufficient for a single car and pro- .vided at; their ends with connecting devices V1 to 14:, inclusive, by means of which they are connected to similar conductors on the. other cars of the train in a manner now well known in the art. M and M represent the motors constituting a car equipment, R the resistance,.which is commonly used in connection with a motor-controller, and O the controller by means of which the resistance ,R and the motors M M are connected in Various circuit combinations. The letters M M indicate the master controllers, placed one at each end of the car and similarly connected to the train-conductors l to 14. The controller on the right is shown in outline merely, while the one on the left is shown in development, its fixed contacts being indicated by the small circles 1 to 14", inclusive, audits movable contacts by the rectangles 1 to la inclusive. The movable contacts are shown developed on a plane surface, as is customary in illustrating such a structure, although in actual construction the movable contacts are commonly.

mounted upon a cylinder, so that by rotation of the cylinder they may be successively brought into engagement with the fixed contacts or brushes 1 to 14, inclusive. SB indicates a storage battery connected at one end to ground and at the other end to the train-conductor 1, it being offcourse understood that all the storage batteries on the train are similarly connected. Each of the storage batteries is kept continually charged by current supplied from the main source of supply through a trolley-shoe T and resistance BR. Whenever any one of the master-controllers is moved so as to bring its fixed and movable c'ontacts into engagement, the several storage batteries supply current in multiple through the contacts of the master-controller to the actuating devices of the several motor-controllers in a manner to be hereinafter described. The motor-controller 0 comprises a plurality of movable.

contacts (1 and a plurality of fixed contacts 6, the contacts shown being adapted for the seriesparallel method ofcontrol, although the particular type of motor-controller used has evidently nothing to do with my inven- 'tion. The movable contacts cl are shown developed on a plane surface, although in actual construction they would be mounted upon a cylinder supported on the shaft 8, by

means of which the said cylinder is rotated. The shaft 3 is supported from a frame F by means of the bearings 13 B B? and is moved step by step as the master-controller is operated in a manner hereinafter to be described. This shaft islongitudinally mjov-;

. S and on the other to the coreof an electromagnet At the other end of the controller-shaft, between the bearingsB and B, there are provided a number of devices or arms m to m, inclusive, through which motion is transmitted to the shaft from the electromagnetic actuating devices 0 to c, incluslve.

' Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, .it will be seen that each of these transmitting devices consists of an arm enlarged at one end to surround the shafts and' at its other end pro,- vided with a latch com prising a beveled head 0, supported by a shank which is squared, asv shown'at p, at its lower end and which engages a square hole in the end of the arm m, a' nut i being provided at the lower end of said shank and a spring 1' being inserted be-,

tween the head 0 and the face of the arm 'm.

Thearms 'm, to m, inclusive,- are uniformly spaced around the shaft 8, so that the latches carried thereby occupy the positions shown in. 2. When the several motor-controllers are being operated from any one ofthe mastiQITrQQHtK'OllQI'S, the shaft 8 will be maintained by the electromagnet in such a .position that the latches on each of the transmitting d'eyi ces 'm, to m, inclusive, will be in alinement with the levers F to Z, inclusivenvhichare directly connected to and operated by the Qoresofthe several electromagnetic actuating devices ,and the said transmitting devices will therefore be inoperative relation to their corresponding actuating devices. The shaft 8 is also provided with an arm m carrying a latch similar in construction to those carried by the several transmitting devices 1 and adapted to engage in the full-on position of the controller astop L, projecting from the frame F. 'A spring S is provided for returning the motor-controller to its off position whenever the electromagnet c? is denergized bythe breaking of the circuit supplying current thereto at the master-controller. The frame F, supporting the motor controller contacts and the transmitting devices, is fastened inany convenient position on the caras, for example,-on the under side of the carbodyan d the electromagnets of the actuating devices are supported in sucha position. as

shown in Figs. 2

= ver Z shown in Fig. 2.

to be inoperative relation to the said control ler, the partsbein g mounted, as shown in Figs.

2 and 3, on a common support G, which. may

represent the bottom of the car. The actuating devices comprise each a lever l, loosely mounted on the shaft 8 and held against 1on at the other end in operative relation to an electromagnet c. This electromagnet, as shown, is of the iron-clad type and has a head 2; projecting toward the movable core h, a and at its lower portion is provided with a non-magnetic bushing between the movable core h and the lower frame of the electromagnet. A rod w, of non-magnetic materialbrass, forexampleisfastened to the cor-eh at its upper end, and this rod carries at its upper 7 end a check-nut or, also of brass, which when the electromagnet is not energizedrests" against the upper head of the rnagnet and maintains the lever l in a definite initial position.

resting against the uppersurface of the le- The latches of the other transmitting devices will lie eachv behind its corresponding actuating-lever, the said latches being regularly spaced onebehind the other, as

Normally the spring S maintains the-shaft 's of the controller in its extreme right-hand position, with th'elatches of the several'transcorresponding l'evers'; but when any one of the master-controllers ismoved into its first operative position, with the movable con-f tacts l and: .2 engaging the corresponding tion illustrated in Fig. 1,):acircuit-is'closed from the train-conductor l, to which thepositive terminals of the storage batterieson. each .of the motor-cars are connected, through the fixed contact 1 and crosseconnected contacts 1 and 2 of the master controller to thefi-xed contact 2, train-conductor 2-, and thencein multiple through the electromagnets c on the several motor-cars to the conductors 15, to

ground, and back to the negative terminals of the several storage batteries. Each of the electromagnets 0 will therefore'be energized and the shaft 8 of each of the motor-controllers will be movedto the left into the position shown in Fig. 1. If now the master-controller is moved into its second operative position current will bestill supplied throughcontacts I 2 and 1 2)" to the electromagnet 0- but in this position another circuit is closed through the movable contact 3 to fixed contact 3 and train- In this position the latch of the transmitting device 'rn will lie in the position and 3, with its lo'ngfside quitting devices outof alinementwiththeir,

'fixed contacts 1 and 2-, (this being the posiconductor 3, whence current will flow through the energizing-coil of the electromagnet c to the common, conductor 15 and thence to ground. The electromagnet c will therefore be energized and its core be drawn up. The

in its full-on position by the latch on the taste 3 ;'1agement with the men on the transmittihg side of the lever Z and will slide over the same, compressingthe spring 7' until in the final position of the lever L it will have snapped back into its normal position on the upper side ofthe lever Z When the mastercontroller is moved into its third position,

the electromagnet 0 will be energized, and bymeans of the lever Z and the transmitting de- Vice m the shaft swill be moved through another step, the latch'of the transmitting device m snapping over the lever Z so as to be in a position to be operated by the said lever' when the mastercontroller is moved into its next position; As the master-controller is'th'us' moved the actuating devices Will be successively energized, each device moving the motor-controller into a certain definite position until in the position of the controller marked 14 the lever of the last actuating de-.

vice will be operated and the latch on the holding-arm 121 will be caused to engage the fixedstop L. With the controller in its final position 15 the electromagnetic actuating devices 0 to c, inclusive, will all be deenergized and the controller will be maintained holding-arm m. It now the controller is brought to its ofi position, the circuit supplying current to the electromagnet 0 will be broken as the contacts 1" and 2* leave the brushes 1'2, and the spring S will draw the shaft 3 back nntil'the latch on the hold ing-lever m 'no longer engages the stop L,

when the spring S, which has been put under tensionby the revolution of the controllershaft, will throw the controller back to its zero position, in which position it will be held by a lug (not shown)with the latch of the transmitting device m lying in such a posi energized it 'will engage the upper surface of the lever P.

It is of course to be understood that the master-controller M, from which the several motor-controllers are operated, may be situated in any desired position on the train and that in'it-s operation it serves merely to connect the several train-conductors to the source of current-supply, the corresponding actuating devices ofthe controllers on the several cars being connected to the same train-wire, so that they will'be simultaneously operated. It is also to be noted that in'the operation of the master-controller only two of the electromagnetic actuating devices 0 to 0 inclusive,

are in operation at the same time, the first being thrown out of circuit as the third beyond it is beingicut in. It'is'of coursepossible to so arrange the contacts of the mastercontroller that the circuit to any one actuating device is brokenas the circuit to the suc- As the lever ceeding'device is completed; but in order to insure successful operation and to permit the. controllerhandle to be moved with considerable speed it is advisable to elongate the contacts of the master=controllerin the manner shown. 7

In'the embodiment of my invention which I have shown I have provided actuating de-. vices equal in number to the numberof steps through which the motor-controller is to be moved, and 'I have provided a device independent of the actuating devices for holding the controller only in its full-on position; but it is evident that I may, if desired, operate a number of transmitting devices from a single actuating device and provide holding devices at any desired positions of the motor-controller. For example, the transmitting devices m m m and m might be combined in the same structure and operated from the lever Z Similarly m m m and m might be operated from the lever Z and m m m, and m operated from the lever L Similarly the holding'device "m might be constructed with a plurality of arms carrying latches adapted to engage the stop L both in the full series and in the full parallel position of the controller. a In' this case the contacts of the master-controllers'M would be so arranged that in the full series, as well as in the full parallel position, all of the actuating devices would be open-circuited.

While my invention is especially intended for controlling the several motor equipments of a train-control system, it is also applicable whenever it is desired to control a number of motors simultaneously or even when it is desired to control a single motor or motor equipment from a distant point. Also it is obvious that the system of connections'and details of construction may be widely varied or modified withoutdeparting from the spirit-of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, istion'that when the electromagnet c is again 1. In combination, a controller comprising fixed and 'movable contacts, a common support for said movable contacts, a series of separately-actuated devices for moving said controller, step by step, through a series of operative positions, and means for succes sively operating said actuating devices.

In combination, a set of fixed contacts, a cylinder carrying a set of movable contacts adapted to engage therewith, a plurality of independent actuating devices for moving said cylinder, step by step, through a series of operative positions, and means for successively operating said actuating devices.

3. In combination, a cylinder carrying'electric contacts, a plurality of electromagnetic devices for operating said cylinder, each of said devices being adapted to move said controller-cylinderthrough a portion only of its full'movement, and means for successively energizing said electromagnetic devices.

4. In combination, a motor-controller comprising fined and movable contacts, ac, on 1- I D move said controller through a portion only mon support for said movable contacts, a plurality of electromagnetic devices for operating said controller, each of said devices beingadapted to move said controller cylinder through a portion only of its full movement, a source of current-supply, and means for successively energizing said electromagnetic devices from said source.

5. In combination, a controller, a plurality of independent actuating devices for said controller, separate electromagnets for operating vices corresponding to a particular operative for operating said controller, means for separately and successivelyenergizing said electromagnetic devices,and means-wherebyeach electromagnetic device when energized operates to move the controller into a definite operative position. I

8. In combination, a motor-controllercomprising fixedand movable contacts, a common support for said movable contacts, aplurality of actuating devices for shifting said movable contacts through a series of operative positions, eachof said actuating devices being adapted to move said common support through a portion only of its full movement, and amaster-controller operatively connected to saiding'constructed and arranged to successively ing adapted to move the controller through a portion only of its full movement, a trainline to which the windings of the electromagnetic actuating devices are connected,

and a. master-controller connected and arranged to supply currentv simultaneouslyto the windings of the corresponding electromagnetic actuating devices of the several controllers.

10. In a train system, one'orrmoremotorcontrollers each having its movable contacts mounted on a common support, a plurality of separate actuating devices operatively related to the common support of each con- "controllers each comprising a set'of, fixed coni acts and a set of movable contacts'mounte'd I on acommon support,a plurality of separate electromagnetically-actuated devices operativel'y related to the. movable contacts of each I controller, each of said devices being adapted to move said controller through a portion j 1 only of its full movement, a plurality .of trainconductors. to which the windings of. the electromagnetic actuating devices are connected, }.'and a master-controller for controlling the troller, each of said devices. being'adaptedto of its full. movement, a train system to which the separate actuating devices areoperatively. connected, anda master-controller connected and arranged to simultaneously operate; the

corresponding actuating devicesof the sev- ,eral controllers 11. In a train system, one or more motorconnection between a sou-roe of, supply and a said conductors. v v

12. In combination a controller, means tendi'ng to maintain said controller in its off position, aplurality of independent actuatin-gdevices for said controller, a. fixed stop, devices i for transmitting motion, from any one of" said actuating devices to said controller, a holdjing device, means, whereby the operation of I any one transmitting device will bring arr-1 .other of said devices into engagement vwith 1 i its corresponding actuatingdevice,and means 7 whereby certain ofsaidactuating deviceswill lbring said holding device into engagement with said fixed stop. v

.13. In combination, a cylinder carrying electriccontacts', a shaft fort-evolving said :cyli-nder, a plurality of independent, actuat ing devices, arms on the'shafteach adapted to, engage; with, a corresponding actuating de- 1 Vice, means normally maintaining said arms I in an inoperative position with respect, to said actuating devices, and means for bringing "said arms intoan operative position.

actuating devices, said master-controller be- 14. In combination, a shaft,a plurality of independent actuating devices,- arms corresponding innumber to said actuating devices carried by said shaft, and latches on the said arms, the said arms being so related to the several. actuating devices that a movement ofone arm by its actuating, device will bring gthelatch of another arm into engagement with its corresponding actuating'device.

15.v In combination, a controller-,a plurality of independent actuating devices, means fortransmitting motion from any one of said actuating devices to said controller, means for controlling the relative positions of said actulatingdevices and said transmitting means, so that, in one position, the said transmitting means will be inoperative relation to the corresponding actuating devices, and means for returning said controller to its zero. position whenever said transmittingmeans are in an j inoperative position. I 16., In combinatioma con-troller,,aplurality f of independent actuatingdevices, a fixed-stop,

means for transmitting motion from any one of said actuating devices to said controller, means carried by the controller for actuating said fixed stop, means for controlling the positions of said actuating devices and said fixed stop with respect to said transmitting means and said engaging means, so that in one position they will be in operative relation and in another position inoperative, and means 10 for returning. said controller to its zero position Whenever said transmitting means and said engaging means are in an inoperative position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of March, 1900.

AL-BERT e. DAVIS:

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, MABEL H. EMERSON,

Images