Improvements in Electric Contact Breakers, applicable to Motors, Clocks, or the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
"
Improvements in Electric Contact Breakers, applicable to Motors,
Clocks, or the like.
I, MARTIN VAN BUREN ETHRIDGE, of No. 17 Locust Street, Everett,
Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 has for its object to provide a simple and effective electro-
mechanical motor, particularly adapted for impelling a clock-train or other light.
mechanism, and it consists mainly in an improved electro-mechanical motor, com-
prising an electric circuit including an electro-magnet, a pivoted lever adapted to
be oscillated and provided with means for imparting a step by step movement to a
clock mechanism, a circuit closing and breaking device operated by oscillating
movements of said lever and consisting of, first, a loose weight adapted to be moved
independently on said lever by gravitation, and, secondly, two electrodes supported
by the lever and arranged to be alternately separated and connected by movements
of the weight, said electrodes being included in the electric circuit, and means
controlled by the electro-magnet whereby a movement in one direction is imparted
to said lever when the circuit is closed and in the opposite direction when the
circuit is broken.
The invention also consists in certain other improvements relating to the general.
purposes of my invention, all of which I will now proceed to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification :
Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of an electric clock embodying my invention,
showing also a diagram of the electrical connections.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 represents a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents a section on line 4-4, Figure 2.
Figure 5 represents a section on line 5-5, Figure 4.
Figure 6 represents a section on line 6-6, Figure 2.
Figure 7 represents a modification.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings:
a represents an electro-magnet, which is included in an electric circuit, of
which represents the battery or other source of electricity, and c c¹ c² the
connecting wires.
d represents a lever, which is pivoted at d¹ to a fixed support. Said lever is
provided at or near one end with a weight d², which is preferably adjustable.
A circuit closing and breaking device, adapted to be operated by oscillating
movements of the lever d, is provided, said device including an electrode e, which is
connected with the wire c¹, an electrode e¹ which is connected with the wire c²,
the electrode e being movable toward and from the electrode e¹, and a loose
gravitating weight e2 which is preferably a ball adapted to roll in a tube or guide d
constituting a part of the lever d, the arrangement being such that, when the lever
is at one extreme of its oscillating movement, the weight or ball will move
toward one end of the tube d³ and thus cause the separation of the electrode e from
the electrode e¹ and break the circuit; and, when the lever is at the other extreme
of its movement, the ball will roll toward the other end of the tube d³, and, striking
a movable piece connected with the electrode e, will move said electrode into contact
with the electrode e¹, thus closing the circuit.
i represents a lever or arm, which is pivoted at ¹to a fixed support, and is
n
17

page_text: provided at its swinging end with a weight arranged to exert downward pressure
on the end of the lever d opposite the weighted end or the end carrying the
weight d. The circuit breaking and closing devices are arranged so that the circuit
is closed by the movement of the weight e² to the left-hand end of the tube d³, and
broken by the movement of the weight toward the opposite end of said tube.
When the circuit is closed, the electro-magnet a attracts the lever i, which acts as
an armature and therefore raises the weighted end of the said lever. This move-
ment separates the weight from the tube d, and permits the weight d to depress
the end of the lever on which it is located, thus giving the lever d a movement in
the direction indicated by the arrow . The tube d is inclined by this movement,
so that the weight e gravitates toward the right-hand end of the tube, and thus
breaks the circuit, whereupon the lever i is released and falls, with the weight 22,
the latter being thus caused to descend upon the tube and give the lighter end
of the lever da downward movement, the armi and its weight being sufficiently
heavy to overcome the weight d², so that, when the circuit is broken, the lever is
given a movement in the direction opposite that indicated by the arrow .
It will be seen that, by the arrangement described, there can be no variation
in the rapidity of either movement of the lever d, each movement being caused by
gravitation.
It will be observed that the weight d² and weighted arm i constitute means
controlled by the electro-magnet whereby a movement in one direction is imparted
to the lever d when the circuit is closed, and a movement in the opposite direction
when the circuit is broken. My invention is not limited to the particular means
here shown, however, and I may use any other suitable means adapted to accomplish
the same result.
The details of construction of the circuit-closing and breaking device may be
variously modified. I have here shown the electrode e supported by a ring e³ of
insulating material, the wire c¹ being connected with said ring, which is movable
in the tube d³. The electrode e' is affixed to a ring e of insulating material, which
is fixed in the tube d³. The ring is provided with two rods ee, which are
connected with a movable ring es of insulating material, located near the left-hand
end of the tube and sliding through holes in the ring et. When the ball e² moves
toward the electrodes, it strikes a cross-bar e' extending between the rods e e, and
gives said rods and the ring es and electrode e a movement in the direction indicated
by the arrow z in Figure 3, thus breaking the circuit. When the ball moves in the
opposite direction, it strikes the ring e, and gives the latter, the rods e, ring e³ and
electrode e a movement in the opposite direction, thus closing the circuit. The
movable ring 3 is connected with the conducting wire el, a portion of the latter
being disposed in the tube d in the form of a helix, as shown in Figure 3, in order
that the ringe may have the requisite freedom of movement within the tube.
The tube is preferably of glass, this material affording the desired insulation and
presenting a smooth surface on which the ball e² may roll with the minimum. of
friction. I prefer to exhaust the air from the tube, to prevent the corrosion or
sparking of the electrodes.
The described mechanism constitutes an electro-mechanical motor which may be
used as a circuit breaking and closing device for a variety of purposes. I have here
shown an arrangement whereby the power developed by the oscillations of the
lever d is utilized in running a clock-train. The lever d is provided with a power-
transmitting device, which, as here shown, is a bar m, rigidly attached to one end
of the tube do, and provided at its ends with pawls m² m². o represents a ratchet,
mounted to rotate loosely on a shaft, which is journalled in fixed bearings, and is
engaged with the pawls m² m². The ratchet o has a hub o', which projects into the
interior of a recessed or hollow gear wheel pl affixed to the shaft p. 7 is a spring
attached at q to the bub o' and at q² to the gear pl. The gear p¹ is one member of
a time-train, which, as here shown, includes a pinion r, affixed to an arbor s¹, a
gear s affixed to said arbor, a pinion t on an arbor u, an escape wheel v on the last-
mentioned arbor, and a balance wheel 2, the staff of which has a disk n³, on which

page_text: is a pallet, co-operating with the escapement v', the whole forming a well-known.
time-train, the rate of movement of which is governed by the balance v². It will
be seen that the oscillating movements of the lever d, imparted to the bar m, cause -
the pawls m² m² to impart a step by step rotation to the ratchet o, and thus cause..
the latter to partially wind or compress the spring 7 at frequent intervals. Said,
spring is therefore kept in a practically uniform state of compression or force, so
that it drives the time-train at an even and uniform rate. The spring is prevented.
from unwinding by a pawl m³, arranged to prevent backward rotation of the
ratchet o. When the spring becomes compressed beyond a given limit, it opposes
sufficient resistance through the ratchet o to the oscillating movements of the
lever d to stop said movements until the force of the spring is partially expended:
on the time-train, whereupon the lever d will resume its movements.
The move-
ment of the time-train is therefore not dependent on the rate of movement of the
lever d.
7
I do not limit myself, however, to the above-described means for transmitting power
from the lever d, and may use any other suitable means, such as a forked arm v
(Figure 7), made like an escapement arm, rigidly attached to the tube d or lever d,.
and formed to impart a step by step movement to a star wheel 7, affixed to an.
arbor, which may be one of the members of a time-train.
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:
1st. The improved circuit breaking and closing device or motor, comprising an
electric circuit, including an electro-magnet, a pivoted lever adapted to be
oscillated, a loose weight adapted to be moved independently on said lever by
gravitation when the lever is inclined, electrodes supported by the lever and
arranged to be alternately separated and connected by movements of the weight, said
electrodes being included in the electric circuit, and means controlled by the
electro-magnet whereby a movement in one direction is imparted to said lever when
the circuit is closed and in the opposite direction when the circuit is broken, as set
forth.
2nd. The improved circuit breaking and closing device or motor, comprising an
electric circuit, including an electro-magnet, a pivoted lever adapted to be
oscillated, a loose weight adapted to be moved independently on said lever by
gravitation when the lever is inclined, electrodes supported by the lever and.
arranged to be alternately separated and connected by movements of the weight,.
said electrodes being included in the electric circuit, means controlled by the
electro-magnet whereby a movement in one direction is imparted to said lever when
the circuit is closed and in the opposite direction when the circuit is broken, and
means for transmitting power from said lever, as set forth.
3rd. The combination of an electric circuit, including an electro-magnet, a
pivoted lever provided with a guide, a train of gearing, a spring engaged with one
of the members of said train, means actuated by said lever for winding said spring
intermittingly, a loose weight adapted to be moved independently in said guide by
gravitation when the lever is inclined, electrodes supported by the lever and
arranged to be alternately separated and connected by movements of the loose
weight, said electrodes being included in the electric circuit, and means controlled
by the electro-magnet whereby a movement in one direction is imparted to said lever
when the circuit is closed, and in the opposite direction when the circuit is broken,
as set forth.
4th. The combination of an electric circuit including an electro-magnet, a
pivoted lever provided with a weight, a train of gearing, a spring engaged with one-
of the members of said train, means whereby power is imparted from the lever to
said train, a loose weight adapted to be moved independently on said lever by
gravitation when the lever is inclined, electrodes supported by the lever and
arranged to be alternately separated and connected by movements of the weight,.

page_text: said electrodes being included in the electric circuit, a weighted arm pivoted to a
fixed support and arranged to be attracted by the electro-magnet when the circuit
is closed, and thereby elevate the weighted arm, the latter being arranged to exert
a downward pressure on the lever against the influence of the weight on said lever
when the circuit is broken, the weighted arm giving the lever a movement in one
direction when the circuit is broken, while the weight on the lever gives the latter
an opposite movement when the circuit is closed, as set forth.
5th. A lever adapted to be oscillated and provided with a guide and with two
electrodes, one fixed and the other movable relatively to the lever, and a loose
weight adapted to be moved independently in said guide by gravitation, the
arrangement being such that movements of the weight alternately separate and
connect said electrodes, as set forth.
6th. An oscillatory lever, composed in part of an exhausted tube, and provided
with electrodes, and with a gravitating weight, all located in said tube, the arrange-
ment being such that movements of the weight alternately separate and connect said
electrodes, as set forth.
..7th. The combination with the train and the oscillating lever, of the spring
engaged at one end with one of the members of said train, a ratchet rotatable
independently of said train and engaged with the other end of said spring, and con-
nections between said ratchet and lever through which the ratchet is rotated step by
step by the movements of the lever, as set forth.
Dated this 8th day of November 1892.
MARTIN VAN BUREN ETHRIDGE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.