Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Switching Gear of Electrical Transformers and other Electrical Circuits.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan, 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Switching Gear of
Electrical Transformers and other Electrical Circuits.
ALFRED HENRY WALTON 17 South Street Manchester Square W. London
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in detail arrangements of an automatic
electro magnetic switch or switches for transformers or other electrical circuits.
Its object is to increase the efficiency and economy of working same.
My improvements comprise a novel method of actuating the switch or switches,
by the aid of gravity, controlled by the electrical transformers or other. electrical
circuits which require to be adjusted or regulated.
With the above object, I prefer to use an electro magnet or solenoid whose core
is magnetized by the electric current from the transformer or other circuit that
is required to be adjusted or regulated. The armature of the electro magnet or
core of the solenoid; having been adjusted by means of set screws, springs, or
balance weights to act at any desired load of current passing, the armature of
the electro magnet or core of the solenoid is raised and thus releases a weight,
which, descending by gravity, actuates the closing of the switch or switches of
other independent circuits.
1906
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Switching Gear of
Electrical Transformers and other Electrical Circuits.
I ALFRED HENRY WALTON of 17 South Street Manchester Square
London W. Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in detail arrangements of an automatic
electro magnetic switch or switches for transformers or other electrical circuits
and its object is to increase the efficiency and economy of working the same.
My improvements comprise a novel method of actuating the switch or switches
by the aid of gravity controlled by means of the electrical energy itself, which
requires to be adjusted or regulated.
In order that the nature of my invention may be readily understood reference
is made to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrates and that by way
of a type or example one contemplated form of my said invention.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the automatic switch showing the full details of
the apparatus as arranged for transformers working on a three wire system, the

page_text: coils a a¹ being in the main circuit, one on each of the outer wires. Fig. 2 shows
a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 shows point at which the weight operates.
Fig. 4 is a section on line A A. Fig. 3.
a and a¹ are electro magnets magnetized by the aforesaid electrical energy
requiring adjustment having, laminated cores 6 and 6' with projecting pole pieces c
and suitably shaped for attracting the armatures d and d' which armatures
are pivoted to the pieces e and e¹ of the bases f and f of the electro magnets.
The armatures are counterweighted and adjusted by the regulating screws g and g¹
which regulate the position of the balance weights h and h¹ these weights being
locked in any desired position on the screws by the nuts g as shown.
The armatures d and-d' are tongued as at d" in..order to engage (when being
drawn up to the pole pieces) with the collar piece j attached to a spindle k whose
freedom of motion through the pillar is limited by the collar and nuts g" as
shown; at the same time the armatures d and d' are inoperative until they reach
the collar; thus preventing the working of the apparatus from being uncertain and
also relieving the armatures d'and d from any friction and making the pull.of the
magnets perfectly constant.
m is an adjustable weight sliding on the tongued barn and looked. by the set
screw gas shown.
This weight is thrown slightly forward beyond. its centre of gravity by the
india-rubber stop p Fig. 2.
The object of the tongue o on bar n is such that while engaging with: the
tongue it prevents the weight falling further forward by gravity, whilst the
current is gradually energising the electro magnets up to the prearranged
maximum at which the switch or switches is or are set to act.
The bar n works on a spindle g running thro bearings rrrr to which: spindle
the arms 8's s¨ss are connected by pins w keys or other suitable means.
The arm n is free to move on the spindle y for a certain distance so that it
may gain sufficient momentum before the moment.of actuating, the body, of the
arms-sis on either side of it.
The method of actuating these arms is shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 in which
part of each side n is cut away thus showing engaging parts of the arms with ss
which are similarly treated. To one of the arms s is attached a link v having a
slott shown dotted in Fig. 2 the object of this slot is to enable the link v to close
the small switch shown at a in Figs. 1 and 2 for closing the primary of the
transformen after the larger switches yy.yyy have been closed.
The three switches y y y, when closed introduce the secondary of the next
transformer or group of transformers as previously arranged..
The two switches y y' are for the purpose of short circuiting the coils a and a'
affor they have completed their work thus saving:any losstof energy in same.
It may thus be seen that on any predetermined amount of current passing through
the coils of the electro magnets a and al-their-armatures-dsand.d. are: drawn up
immediately thus' releasing the-weighted arm n which turns freely for a limited
distance on the spindle q..
On-the-prongs of the clutch see Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 engaging, the spindle q at once
turns and being, attached by pins w to the arms ssssss. closes first the five
larger switches and then. by the means of the pin and slott the small switch
attached to the link w.
In opening the switches the action is the same and the larger switches open
first and the smaller switch. opens last.
The chief. object and advantage of this arrangement is that owing to the
secondary of the, transformer being closed. first, the rush of current which would
occur if the primary were switched in first is prevented by the iron being
magetized by the secondary coil and also sparking is greatly reduced: when
transformers are taken out of circuit.
The links w Fig. 1 and 2 are insulating pieces.

page_text: The link v being metal is insulated from the small switch at the point Fig. I
by means of an insulating bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In automatic electrical switching devices applicable to transformers and the
like the particular combination and arrangement of interacting parts, controlled
and operated by the current regulated, in the way and manner and for the purposes
described.
2. In automatic switching devices for use with transformers and the like the
combination with the electro magnets a al of the adjustably weighted switch
operating bar n, the tongue o thereon engaging with adjustable collar piece j, the
armatures d d counterweighted, pivoted and arranged so as to release said switch
bar n, when the prearranged current is reached substantially as described and for
effecting the purposes set forth.
3. In automatic transformer controlling devices, the particular construction and
combination of co-operating parts whereby the secondary circuit is closed in advance
of the primary and the electro magnet coils a a' cut out substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of January 1897.
ALFD. H. WALTON.