An Improved Electric Current or Pressure Regulating Device.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electric Current or Pressure Regulating Device.
I, RICHARD HOLSTEN of Stralsund in the Empire of Germany, Electrician, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an automatic electric current or pressure regulator
of that kind in which two ratchet wheels are revolved in the one or the other
direction according to the influence of an electric current- or pressure- measuring
device, and the regulating is effected by the transference of this movement to the
spindle of the current- or pressure- switch.
The operating device of this automatic current- or pressure- regulator applicable
for dynamos, motors and current accumulators, consists of two continuously
reciprocating push rods and pawls, which by spring action are held out of engage-
ment with the ratchet wheels but which may be brought into engagement by
means of two electromagnets. As soon however as one of the two electromagnets
is inserted, for instance, in the circuit of a volt- or ampére- meter, it attracts its
armature and thereby causes an engagement of the pawl mounted on the recipro-
cating push rod with the respective ratchet wheel, and causes this to revolve
backwards.
In carrying out the invention, a shaft is mounted in supports or standards and
provided at one end with a belt pulley, which shaft is continuously rotated by means
of belt driving gear or an electromotor. At the other end of this shaft a crank is
arranged, which by means of its crank rod moves to and fro a rod which is guided
in a straight line in supports and carries a crosshead. On each side of the cross-
head a push rod is pivotally mounted. The other ends of these push rods slide on
pins in their reciprocating movement, which pins are attached to the armatures
of two electromagnets. Two vertical ratchet-wheels mounted on a common shaft
in a support and having teeth pitched in opposite directions are arranged under
the push rods. The shaft transmits its motion directly, or by means of a chain
vheel and chain, to the lever of the current or pressure- switch, for instance of
a rheostat. The push rods are each provided, with a pawl so formed that on its
engaging with the respective ratchet wheel, the latter can only turn in one direc-
tion, i.c. opposite to the direction of rotation of the other ratchet wheel. The
two electromagnets have each on their upper surfaces two guide rods connected by
a crossbar, said guide rods being for the purpose of guiding the armatures which
are held raised by means of a rod and a spiral spring, bearing against the
cross bar.
The armatures are provided with the said pins on which the push rods slide and
are held raised in such a way that the pawls cannot engage the ratchet wheels.
The electro magnets are connected with a volt- or ampére- meter in such a way
that at any time on the pressure becoming too high or too low, the one or the other
electromagnet is switched into the circuit. Consequently it attracts its armature
and causes a descent of the respective push rod and pawl, which then turns its
ratchet wheel and thereby alters the strength or pressure of the current.

page_text: The clicks or pawls engage so deeply in the teeth of the ratchet wheels that
the push rods cannot be raised by the springs of the armatures until the forward
stroke is ended and the return of the push rods takes place.
The regulating device hereinbefore described has the advantage of switching
backwards and the backward rotation of the ratchet wheels may be altered by
an alteration of the throw of the cranks.
The backward push is especially advantageous in the case of cell switching
devices where the in- and out- switching lever must never remain standing between
two circuit terminals, as otherwise the respective cell would be short circuited.
Dated this 7th day of December 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Electric Current or Pressure Regulating Device.
I, RICHARD HOLSTEN of Stralsund in the Empire of Germany, Electrician, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an automatic electric current or pressure regulator
of that kind in which two ratchet wheels are revolved in the one or the other
direction according to the influence of an electric current- or pressure- measuring
device, and the regulating is effected by the transference of this movement to the
spindle of the current- or pressure- switch.
The operating device of this automatic current or pressure- regulator applicable
for dynamos, motors and current accumulators, consists of two continuously
reciprocating push rods and pawls, which by spring action are held out of engage-
ment with the ratchet wheels but which may be brought into engagement by
means of two electromagnets. As soon however as one of the two electromagnets
is inserted, for instance, in the circuit of a volt- or ampére- meter, it attracts its
armature and thereby causes an engagement of the pawl mounted on the recipro-
cating push rod with the respective ratchet wheel, and causes this to revolve
backwards.
A form of construction of this invention is shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an elevation
Figure 2 a plan and
Figure 3 a side view.
In carrying out the invention, a shaft is mounted in supports or standards a a¹
and provided at one end with a belt pulley, which shaft is continuously rotated
by means of belt driving gear or an electromotor. At the other end of this shaft
a crank c is arranged, which by means of its crank rod c¹ moves to and fro a rod f
which is guided in a straight line in supports d d and carries a crosshead e.
each side of the crosshead e a push rod g g is pivotally mounted. The other ends
of these push rods g g' slide on pins in their reciprocating movement, which
pins are attached to the armatures h h of two electromagnets i i. Two vertical
ratchet-wheelsk k¹ mounted on a common shaft m in a support and having teeth
pitched in opposite directions are arranged under the push rods g gl. The shaft m
transmits its motion directly, or by means of a chain wheel n and chain, to the
lever of the current- or pressure- switch, for instance of a rheostat o. The push
rods are each provided with a pawl g² so formed that on its engaging with the

page_text: respective ratchet wheel k¹, the latter can only turn in one direction, i.e. opposite
to the direction of rotation of the other ratchet wheel. The two electromagnets
have each on their upper surfaces two guide rods g g¹ connected by a crossbar p,
said guide rods being for the purpose of guiding the armatures
which are
held raised by means of a rod r and a spiral spring s bearing against the cross
bar p.
The armatures are provided with the said pins on which the push rods g g¹
slide and are held raised in such a way that the pawls g2 cannot engage the ratchet
wheels.
The electro magnets are connected with a volt- or ampére- meter in such a way
that at any time on the pressure becoming too high or too low or the strength of
current too great or too low, the one or the other electromagnet is switched into
the circuit. Consequently it attracts its armature and causes a descent of the
respective push rod and pawl, which then turns its ratchet wheel and thereby
alters the strength or pressure of the current.
The strength or pressure of the current is regulated according as the one or
other ratchet wheel of the one or the other electromagnet is operated.
The clicks or pawls 92 engage so deeply in the teeth of the ratchet wheels that
the push rods g g cannot be raised by the spring s of the armatures until the
forward stroke is ended and the return of the push rods takes place.
The regulating device hereinbefore described has the advantage of switching
backwards and the backward rotation of the ratchet wheels may be altered by
an alteration of the throw of the cranks.
The backward push is especially advantageous in the case of cell switching
devices where the in- and out- switching lever must never remain standing between.
two circuit terminals, as otherwise the respective cell would be short circuited.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
In automatic electric current or pressure regulators having two ratchet wheels
mounted on a common shaft, one or other of which wheels is revolved in different
directions according to the existing strength of current or pressure, the arrange-
ment of two push rods (g g') receiving a permanent to and fro movement by means of
adjustable crank gearing and provided with fixed pawls (3), which push rods are
mounted freely on projections of cross bars (h h) formed as armatures of electro-
magnets in such a way that the actual weight of the push rods and pawls is
counterbalanced by springs (s) in the ordinary working and the pawls remain out
of engagement with the ratchet wheels, but on a higher or lower pressure or
strength of current one or other pawl engages by its own weight with its respective
ratchet wheel, the cross har belonging thereto being drawn down by the attraction
of its electro-magnet, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 30th day of August 1897
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.