mproved Electric Devices for Controlling the Power Supply of Motors and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
mproved Electric Devices for Controlling the Power Supply of Motors
and the like.
We, MENARD KENNERLY BOWEN, and GEORGE WASHINGTON KNOX, both of
No. 1410, Marquette Building, City of Chicago, County of Cook and State of
llinois, United States of America, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of
his invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
lescribed and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to devices for controlling the power supply of motors and
the like and has for its object to provide a new and improved means for this and
like purposes.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, showing a controller in circuit;
Figure 2 is a view with parts removed of one form of controller embodying
our invention, as seen from above;
I
Figure 3 is a side elevation in part section on line 3-3, Figure 2; showing
the parts of the controlling device in operative relation;
Figure 4 is a view with parts removed of a modified construction embodying our
invention:
Figure 5 is a side elevation in part section. on line 5-5, Figure 4, showing the
parts of the controller in operative relation.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.
Our invention is adapted to be used in connection with motors of any and all
descriptions. In order to make our invention clear, we have illustrated its use
in connection with a particular motor and system, such for example as used upon
street cars, but we wish it to be understood that we in no manner limit our inven- .
tion by the drawings herewith presented, such drawings being simply for pur-
poses of illustration.
Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the
controller and associated circuits used upon the ordinary electric street railway
cars. The power supplying medium to the motors A is controlled by the con-
troller B. In controlling electric motors, it is customary to insert a variable
resistance in the circuit when the motor is started and cut out this resistance as
the counter electro-motive force of the motor rises. If this resistance in the
motor circuit be cut out at too rapid a rate, that is before the motor has had time
to create a sufficient counter electro-motive force, an unnecessarily large current
will flow through the motor, and even though the motor is uninjured, this current
will be needlessly wasted. In the operation of street railways, where a number of
cars are used that are being continually stopped and started, this too rapid ad-
mission of current to the motors is a source of great waste in the operation of the
system. For purposes of illustration, we have shown our invention as applied to
a street car system to prevent the too rapid admission of current to the motors,
thus obviating the great loss due to this source.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, we have shown the controller as enclosed in

page_text: .1.
a suitable casing, the controller being provided with a suitable operating handle C¹.
This controller is provided with a suitable retarding device adapted to retard its
operation, the retarding device acting to stop the movement of the controller at
predetermined intervals, said retarding device being independent of the force
applied in operating the controlling device, so that when once set it acts in a
predetermined manner and insures the proper admission of the current to the
motor. This retarding device may be of various constructions and for purposes
of illustration we have shown two simple 'inechanisms for performing. this function.
As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the retarding device comprises two engaging parts
or pawls D D opposed to an engaging part C associated with the controller. The
engaging part in this instance is shown as a toothed wheel or part. The pawl D
is movably connected to the lever D2 pivoted near its middle, said lever in turn
being movably connected with the ari D³. This arm D is connected with some
suitable device preferably constructed to oppose its movement in a pre-
determined manner as shown in this figure, the arm is connected with a
piston Ds working in the cylinder D5. This piston is provided with an openinig D
controlled by the valve D and the cylinder is provided with a suitable opening
or the like 18 for admitting air thereto in a predetermined manner. The arm D³
is suitably connected to the pawl D₁ and a spring D9 is connected with the system,
said spring adapted to force the piston toward the inner end of its cylinder. A
suitable guide or holding device ①10 is provided for the engaging part D, so as to
allow said engaging part to, reciprocate. If now the handle of the controller is
moved so as to begin to admit current to the motor, the engagement between the
part C² and the part D forces the part D backward, moving the several parts
connected therewith. This moving of the parts withdraws the piston from the
.bottom of the cylinder and moves the part or pawl D₁ into engagement with the
part C². The motion of the controller is then stopped and the movement of the
piston from the bottom of the cylinder is facilitated by the opening of the valve 17
which admits air into the cylinder back of the piston. When the parts are in
the position shown in dotted lines and the motion of the controller handle stopped,
the spring D forces the piston back to the end of its cylinder, thereby disengaging
the part or pawl D₁ from the part C² and allowing the controller to be moved
forward another step. This process is repeated until the desired admission of
current is obtained. It will be seen that the withdrawal of the part 11 from
engagement with the part C2 may be controlled by controlling the size of the
opening D8, which permits the escape of the air between the piston ])+ and the end
of the cylinder. It will thus be seen that this construction is independent. of
the power applied to the handle of the controller and that said handle can only
be moved a certain distance and is then checked or retarded, the operator being
required to wait until the parts are so adjusted as to permit of another forward
movement of the controller handle.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, we have shown a modified construction, wherein
the arm D³ is connected with a diaphragm E instead of the piston. This diaphragm
is so arranged that while it moves freely in one direction its movement in the
other direction is retarded so that the release of the controller will take place at
a predetermined time and in a predetermined manner. This result is accom-
plished by placing back of the diaphragm a plate. E provided with an inlet open-
ing E, controlled by the valve E³, and an outlet E. The valve E³ opens when
the diaphragm moves toward the controller, but closes in the backward move-
ment of the diaphragm, so that the air back of said diaphragm tends to prevent
its return, the air being exhausted through the opening E in the desired manner.
This construction allows the spring D° to act in such a manner as to release the
controller and allow its further advancement.
It is of course evident that various constructions may be used to obtain the
result desired and we have not endeavored to set forth all these constructions, but 5
have only shown two simple constructions, which we consider sufficient to make
our invention clear. Other constructions for this purpose will of course readily

page_text: suggest themselves to those versed in the art and we therefore do not limit our-
selves by the device we have shown for purposes of illustration.
Neither have we thought it necessary to burden our specification with the many
uses to which our invention may be put and the many fields in which it may be
advantageously used, as such uses will depend upon the varying conditions and
will readily suggest themselves.
We have used the word "motor" in the specification and claims, but we wish
it to be understood that we do not use it in a technical sense, but use it with the
understanding that it is to include any and all translating and similar devices.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
-
1. The controlling devices for motors substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown under two arrangements at Figs. 2 to 5 of the drawings annexed.
2. A controlling device for motors, consisting of a movable part having suitable
contacts and provided with a retarding device independent of the current and
adapted to retard the movement of said movable part, the retarding device inde-
pendent of variations in the force applied in operating the controller, all as herein
shown and described.
3. A controlling device for motors, consisting of a movable part having suitable
contacts and having a retarding device associated therewith comprising two parts,
one adapted to engage the movable part so as to be actuated when the movable
part is moved, the other associated with said first part so as to be moved into
engagement with the movable part to retard its forward movement, as herein
shown and described.
4. A controlling device for motors, consisting of a movable part having suit-
able contacts and having two pawls associated therewith, one engaging the mov-
able part so as to be moved when said controlling device is operated, the other
connected with the first pawl so as to be moved into engagement with the movable
part and check its further movement at predetermined intervals, and a releasing
device for said latter part adapted to release it and permit a further movement
of said movable part, as herein shown and described.
Dated this 6th day of March 1899
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.