US1158898A - Electrically-operated device. - Google Patents

Description

F. CONRAD.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.20, 190s.

Patented Nov. 2, 19i5.

30 NVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK CONRAD, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed September 20, 1906. Serial No. 335,525.

To all whom it may concern and State of Pennsylvania, have invente d a new and useful Improvement in ElectrlcallyOperated Devices, of whichthe fo'll owing is a specification.

My invention relates to electro-magnetically operated switches and other devices, and particularly to such as are adapted to be actuated by alternating currents.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, whereby predetermined conditions may be maintained when the currents traversing the circuit to which it is connected are of less than a given frequency of alternation, and whereby other conditions may be established when the currents in the circuit are of a higher frequency. 1

Whilev the invention is adapted to other and more extended applications, it is particularly useful in signal systems for electric railways in which alternating currents are employed to operate both the signals and the railway vehicles. As sometimes arranged, the track rails are utilized as conductors not only in the railwaysystem, but also in the signal system, the currents for operating the signals being of a different frequency from those that operate the vehicle motors. It is therefore desirable that someidevice be provided for controlling the operation of the signals that shall not be responsive to currents of the frequency that operate the vehicle motors, and it is the object of the present invention to provide such a device.

Figure 1 of the "accompanying drawing is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of a device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a simple diagrammatic view of a system in which my invention may be conveniently employed, and Fig. 3 is a modification of the device of Fig. 1.

The legs of a substantially U-shaped magnetizable core 1 are provided near their outer ends and upon their inner opposing faces with polar projections 2, 3, 4 and 5, the diagonally oplposite projections 2 and 5 being longer than the other pair of diagonally opposite projections 3 and 4. The core 1 is provided with a main winding that comprises two coils 6 and 7, while the longer or at one end of each section or block.

polar projections 2 and 5 are surrounded by suitable closed circuit windings 8 and 9. Pivotally-mounted between the polar projections is a magnetizable armature 10 having a flexible switch member 11 that is adapted to engage a stationary contact terminal 12. p The armature 10 is normally maintained in the position shown by means of a helical tension spring 13 that serves also to c'onduct the current from a stationary termlnal 14: to the switch member 11. The magnetizable core and the windings therefor are so constructed and proportioned that,

when currents of less than a predetermined frequency traverse the coils 6 and 7, the closed circuit'coils 8 and 9 will exert a comparatively slight choking effect upon the .flux from the polar projections 2 and 5, and

since these projections are nearer to the movable armature 10 than the remaining polar projections, the armature will be maintained in the position shownboth by the magnetic fluxes and the spring 13. At and above a higher frequency, however, the windings 8 and 9 will offer a higher impedance and greater amounts of flux will be caused to traverse the shorter projections 3 and A than the longer projections 2 and 5. The armature 10 will consequently be rotated in such a direction as to cause the switch member 11 to engage the stationary contact terminal 12.

. As here shown, the device is employed in a signalsystem for railways, in which one of the track rails is divided into a plurality of sections or blocks 15 and 16 that are insulated from each other, and in which secondary winding 17 of a transformer 18 is connected between the said sections and the other track rail 19. Primary winding 20 of the transformer 18 is supplied, from any suitable source such as that shown at 21,

with currents that are of a different and preferably higher frequency than that which may be employed to operate the motors of vehicles upon the railway system. One of the devices constituting the present invention is connected between the track rails near The switch member 11 and the stationary contact member 12 form the terminals of a suitable local circuit for controlling the operation of a signal 22, substantially as indicated. When a train or a vehicle occupies the block or section 15, the secondary winding 17 of the transformer 18 is short-circuited thereby,

and little or no current traverses the main winding of the switching device. When the block is vacant, however, the main winding of the switching device is energized with high frequency currents and the switch member 11 is drawn into engagement with the stationary contact terminal 12, the local circuit being thereby established and the signal 2:2 is set in safety position. If'lower frequency currents are in any" manner caused to traverse the main winding of the relay device, it will be understood from the fore going description that the switch is not operated and the indications of the signals are consequently not interfered with.

structurally, the relay device may assume many desired and "convenient forms, one that is especially simple being shown in Fig. 3, in which one of the inner faces of a substantially rectangular core 23 has a polar projection 24 hearing. an exciting winding 25, and the opposite face has two polar projections 26 and 27 of unequal length, the longer projections 26 being provided with a closed circuit winding 28. An armature 29 is normally maintained in the position shown by means of a spring 30, and is moved from that position only when the winding 25 is traversed by currents of greater than a predetermined frequency which cause a greater amount of flux to traverse the shorter projection 27 than the projection 26. i

The device may be employed in connection with direct current railway systems as well as in alternating current systems, and it is, of course, not limited in its application to signal systems, but may be employed in other systems where similar conditions prevail.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical device comprising awinding, a core member therefor having two poles that are continuously of like polarity, and an armature that is movable relatively to the core member and opposite ends of which are subjected to opposing influences by the respective poles of like polarity.

2. The combination with a movable armature, of a magnetizable core having a pair of unequally extendingpolar projections of 1 like polarity, a magnetizing winding therefor, and a closed circuit winding for the longer polar projection.

3. An electrical device comprising a winding, a core member therefor having two poles of like polarity, an armature that is movable relatively to the core member and opposite ends of which are subjected to opposing influences by the respective poles of like polarity, and means for delaying changes of flux in one of said poles.

4. An electrical device comprising a windmg, a core member therefor having two poles of like polarity, an armature that is movable relatively to the core member and opposite ends of which are subjected to opposing influences by the respective poles of like polarity, and a closed circuit Winding surrounding one of the said poles.

5. The combination with a magnetizable core having a pair of polar projections of each polarity, of a main winding therefor, closed circuit windings for one projection of each pair, and a movable armature that is normally disposed nearer one projection of each pair than to the others.

6. The combination with a magnetizable core having a pair of polar projections of each polarity, of a movable armature that is normally disposed nearer one projection of each pair than to the others, a main winding for the core, and closed circuit windings for the projections that the armature is normally nearest to.

7. The combination with a magnetizable core having two pairs of unequally projecting pole pieces, and a movable armature between the same, of a main winding for the core, and closed circuit windings for one pole piece of each pair.

8. The combination with a magnetizable core having two pairs of unequally projecting pole pieces, and a movable armature between the same, of a main winding for the core, and closed circuit windings for the longer pole pieces.

9. The combination with a magnetizable core having polar projections that extend unequal distances from opposite inner sides thereof, of a movable armature between the projections, a main winding for the core, and closed circuit windingsfor one of the projections from each side of the core.

10. The combination with a magnetizable core having polar projections that extend unequal distances from opposite inner sides thereof, of a movable armature between the projections, a main winding for the core, and closed circuit windings for the longer polar projections.

11: An electromagnetic device comprising a winding, a core therefor affording two magnetic paths the reluctance of one of which is substantially invariable, means for rendering the reluctance of the other path dependent upon the frequency of the current traversing the said winding, and an armature movably mounted in the said paths and having its opposite ends subjected to opposing influences by the fluxes traversing the respective paths.

12. A relay comprising a core having two sets of poles, an energizing winding which at times is traversed by two alternating currents of different frequencies, means associated with the core for having one set of poles stronger than the other set of poles when the winding is traversed by one of the alternating currents, and other means associated, with the core for having the second set of poles stronger than the first mentioned set when the winding is traversed by the second alternating current, and a vanemovable in one direction by one set of poles and in the opposite direction by the other set of poles.

18. A relay comprising a core having two sets of poles, a winding for said core which is at times traversed by two alternating currents of different frequencies, a vane movable in one direction by one set of poles when the winding is traversed by the alternating current of the higher frequency and movable in a reverse direction by the second set of poles when the magnetic field produced by said alternating current of lower frequency is dominant in said second set of poles.

14. A relay comprising a core having two sets of poles, an energizing coil which at times is traversed by two alternating currents of different frequencies, and means associated with the core for having one set of poles cause a stronger turning effort than the other set when the coil is traversed by one of said alternating currents, and a vane movable in response to the turning effort of said setof poles.

15. A relay comprising a core having two sets of poles, an energizing coil which at times is traversed by two alternating currents of different frequencies, means associated with the core for having one set of poles cause a stronger turning effort than the other set when the coil is traversed by one of the alternating currents, and for having the second set of poles produce a stronger turning movement than the first mentioned set when the coil is traversed by the second alternating current, and a vane movable in one direction by one set of poles and in the opposite or reverse direction by the other set of poles.

16. A relay comprising a core having two sets of poles, a coil for said core which is at times traversed by two alternating currents of different frequencies, a vane movable'in one direction by one set of poles when the coil is traversed by the alternating current of the higher frequency and movable in a reverse direction by the second set of poles when the'eflect of the magnetic field produced by said alternating current of lower frequency dominates the effect of magnetic field due to alternating current of higher.

frequency.

17 A relay comprising an energizing coil adapted at times to be traversed by alternating currents of different frequencies, a core having two magnetic paths, a vane within the influence of the flux traversing both of said magnetic paths, and means for causing the flux traversing one path or the other to exert a superior turning movement ing currents of different frequencies, acore on the vane according to what frequency of alternating current is traversing the coil.

18. A relay comprising an energizing coil adapted at times to be traversed by alternathaving two magnetic paths, a vane within the influence of the flux traversing both of said magnetic paths, and means associated with the core divisions causing a turning effort in one direction with a high frequency energizing current and causing or permitting a motion in the opposite direction with an energizing current of low. frequency.

19. A relay comprising a magnetizing winding, a core divided outside of said winding to form two paths for the flux threading said coil, means for producing magnetic dissimilarity of the two paths, a vane mounted within the influence of the flux traversing both paths and oppositely affected by the flux traversing the two paths, and contacts controlled by the motion of said vane.

20. An electrical device comprising a winding, a core member therefor having two poles that are continuously of like polarity, an armature that is movable relatively to the core member and opposite ends of which are normally .spaced unequally from the said poles and are respectively subjected to the influence thereof.

21. An electromagnet comprising a magnetizing winding, and a core member and an armature providing a magnetic circuit therefor and havinga plurality of paths in which the ratio of the fluxes changes as the condition of the current in the magnetizing winding changes, the armature being oppositely influenced by the fluxes traversing said paths and being actuated in accordance with the changes in the ratio of the fluxes in the magnetic paths.

22. An electrical device comprising a winding, a core member therefor having two poles of like polarity, an armature that is movable relatively to the core member and opposite ends of which are subjected to opposing influences by the respective poles of like polarity, and means whereby the relation of the magnetic pulls exerted upon opposite ends of the armature is caused to reverse upon the occurrence of a predeterminedchange in an electrical condition of the current traversing the said winding.

23. An electromagnet comprising a magnetizing winding, a core member providing a magnetic circuit therefor and having a plurality of paths between which a redistribution of the fluxes occurs with a predetermined change in the condition of the current in the magnetizing winding, and an armature oppositely influenced by the fluxes traversing said paths and actuated in accordance with the redistribution of the fluxes.

24. An electromagnet comprising a core member having two magnetic paths, means for causing said paths to have different reluctances under predetermined conditions, and an armature that is movable relatively to the core member and is oppositely i11- fluenced by-the fluxes traversing the two paths.

25. An electromagnet comprising a core member having two magnetic paths of normally different reluctances, means for reversing therelation of the reluctances of the said magnetic paths under predeterminedsions of the magnetic circuit, and a closed circuit coil surrounding one of the divisions of the magnet circuit.

27. An electrical. device comprising a winding, a core member therefor having a divided magnetic circuit, an'armature that is intermediately pivoted and the ends of which are oppositely influenced by the fluxes traversing the respective divisions of the magnetic circuit, and a closed circuit coil surrounding one of the divisions of the magnetic circuit. I

28. A switch for electrical circuits comprising an intermediately pivoted armature, a switch member actuated thereby and nor-. mally maintained in open switch position, core member having a divided magnetic circuit, the ends of the armature being oppositely influenced by the fluxes traversing the respective divisions thereof, an energizing winding for the core member, and a closed circuit winding surrounding one of the divisions of the magnetic circuit.

29. An electrical device comprising a winding, a core member therefor having a divided magnetic circuit, an armature that is movable relatively to the core member and the ends of which are oppositely influenced by the fluxes traversing the respective divisions of the magnetic circuit, and means for delaying changes of flux in one of the divisions of the magnetic circuit.

30. An electrical device comprising a core member having two poles of like polarity and another pole of opposite polarity, a main winding surrounding the latter pole, a closed circuit winding surrounding one of the other poles, and an armature that is invtermediately pivoted and opposite ends of which are subjected to opposing influences by the respective poles of like polarity.

31. An electrical device comprising a core member having two poles of like polarity and another pole of opposite polarity, a

main windingsurrounding the latter pole, a closed circuit winding surrounding one of the other poles, and an armature that is intermediately pivoted and opposite ends of which are subjected to the influence ofthe poles of like polarity, the air gaps between the ends of fiearmature and the said poles of like polarity being normally of diflierent widths.

32. An electrical device comprising a core member having two poles'of like polarity and another pole of opposite polarity, a

main winding surrounding the latter pole, and an armature that is intermediately pivoted and opposite ends of which are subjected to opposing influences by the respective poles of like polarity.

33. An electrical device comprising a core member having two poles of like polarity and an intermediate pole of opposite polarity, a main winding surrounding the intermediate pole, a closed circuit winding surrounding one of the other poles, and an divided magnetic circuit, an armature thatis movable relatively to the core member and upon which opposing forces are exerted by the fluxes traversing the respective divislons of the magnetic circuit, and a closed circuit winding surrounding one of the divisions of the magnetic circuit.

36. An electrical device comprising a winding, a core member therefor affording two magnetic paths the reluctance of one of which is substantially invariable, and the effective reluctance of the other path being dependent upon the rate of change of the current traversing the said winding, and an armature movably mounted in the said paths and oppositely influenced by them.

37. An electrical device comprising a winding, a core member divided outside of said winding to form two paths for the flux threading therethrough, the said paths being magnetically dissimilar, and a movable member mounted within the influence of the fluxes traversing the two paths and oppositely affected thereby.

38. An electrical device comprising .a winding the currents in which produce nonopposing fluxes, and magnetizable material and an armature providing two dissimilar magnetic paths, the armature being nor-.

mally unequally spaced from the two paths in the magnetizable material and being oppositely influenced by the fluxes traversing the said two paths.

39. An electrical device comprising a winding the currents in which produce nonopposing fluxes, and magnetizable material and an armature providing two dissimilar magnetic paths, the armature being normally unequally spaced from the two paths in the magnetizable material and being op-- positely influenced by the fluxes traversing the said two paths, and a closed circuit winding surrounding one of the said paths.

40. An electrical device comprising a winding that is energized throughout its full length under all normal operating conditions, and magnetizable material and an armature providing two magnetic paths, the armature being normally unequally spaced from the two paths in the magnetizable material, and being oppositely 1nfluenced by the fluxestraversing the said 2 two paths.

41. An electrical device comprising a winding that is energized throughout its full length under all normal operating conditions, magnetizable material and an arma- 3 ture providing two magnetic paths, the armature being normally unequally spaced from the two paths in the magnetizable material, and being oppositely influenced by the fluxes traversing the said two paths, and 3 means for retarding changes of the flux in one of the said paths.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of September, 1906.

, FRANK CONRAD. Witnesses:

()rro S. SCHAIRER, BIRNEY Hines.

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