Patent GB-190713815-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Controlling Mechanism suitable for use in connection with Systems of Lighting
Inventor: SPENCER ALEXANDER
Filed: 1907-06-14
Granted: 1907-12-12
Abstract: 13,815. Spencer, A. June 14. Lighting and extinguishing gas; systems of lighting. -Each gas cock, or the electric switch controlling the lamps of a railwaytrain or other lighting installation, is operated by a reversible electromotor h, Figs. 2 and 3, of any suitable kind, the armature spindle g of which is connected to the plug or switch through mechanism comprising a pin-andslot or other lost-motion device, such that at each operation of the motor its spindle moves part of a revolution before the actuation of the cock or switch is started, whereby the momentum of the rotary armature is utilized to move the plug or switch quickly. In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 for controlling a system of gas lighting for trains, a disk m fixed to the armature spindle g has pins n projecting through arc-shaped slots in a loosely-mounted disk f connected to the plug lever by a link d. The motion of the disk f is limited in both directions by studs e, r which engage fixed stops s. For hand actuation, a sliding bar v extending across the back of the carriage has two pins u, which engage a lever t of the plug b. Springs y move the bar back to the neutral position. The motors are included in a circuit which also includes a suitable source of electricity, such as a battery, and a switch for reversing the current, or a magneto-electric generator adapted to produce a current in either direction at will. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, three lines 2, 3, 4 run the length of the train. Across the line 2, 3 the armature windings 5 are connected, and across the third line 4 and earth the field windings 6 are connected. A switch is employed comprising eight contacts 8, 9, 10 . . . arranged in sets of two pairs. Each set of contacts is arranged to be connected simultaneously by two bridge-pieces 16 carried by an insulated cross-bar fixed to a push-rod 18, Fig. 5. The connexions are such that by depressing one or other of the two pushes 18, the current can be sent through the armature windings 5 in either direction without altering the direction through the field windings 6. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, the motors have permanent field magnets, the armature windings 5 being connected in parallel between a single line 25 and earth. The arrangement shown in Fig. 8 is similar to that shown in Fig. 7, except that the field magnets are electro-magnets contained in a separate circuit from the armature windings. The switch in this case has two additional contacts and an.additional bridge-piece in each set. Between the various coaches of a train, the line conductors may be connected by-a slip coupling of any suitable construction. In the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11, plug contacts 35, 36 are contained in a casing formed by a socket 33 and block 34 on each piece fitting together: Another construction, shown in Figs. 12 and 13, is similar to the Westinghouse brake pipe coupling, the three contacts 38, 39, 40 being arranged in a plane in 'the direction of the axis of the train. Instead of separate couplings, the ordinary pipe couplings of the Westinghouse brake may be fitted with electrical contacts of the pin-and-socket type.