Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1900-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to automatic magnetic circuit breakers in which is
provided an efficient main switch, a metallic switch supplemental, and in shunt
to the main switch, and improved carbon contacts for final break, and means for
insuring the opening of the main switch prior to the opening of the shunt
switch and the closing of the main switch subsequent to the closing of the
shunt switch.
The said invention comprises an improved form of laminated contact member,
each lamina of which is insured a certain amount of free motion at its contact
edge independent of each other lamina so that each lamina may have efficient
contact with the surface of the opposing contact member without interference
by its respective contiguous or neighboring lamina.
These lamina are of metal and each is formed approximately in a circular
arc, the centre of the inner or shorter lamina being closer to the inside edge of
the bridge than the centres of the outer or longer lamina, the result of this
arrangement is a spreading or a separating of the contacting edges of the lamina
allowing room for play above mentioned."
The contacting edges, of..the lamina at each end of the bundle thereof lie in
plains inclining towards each other in the direction of the movement of the
imovable contact to engage with the fixed contacts, that is the engagement of
the laminated contact with the fixed contacts is somewhat of the nature of a wedge
engagement. Said laminated movable contact is adapted to move in a restrained
path to and away from engagement with the fixed contacts.
My invention further comprises improvements in means for manually actuating
the movable contact member to contact with the fixed contact, with a pressure
sufficient to cause an efficient electrical contact. Said means consists of a rod
pivotally secured to the movable contact member. This rod constitutes one
member of a toggle, the other member being an arm or projection of a manually
operated hand-lever which is pivoted to a fixed part of the frame-work of my
device. The two toggle members are connected by means of a pivot secured to
one member and passing through a slot in the other member, to permit pre-
liminary movement of the hand-lever in the act of closing the switch to cause
the closing of a supplemental switch as hereinafter described before the toggle
is actuated to operate upon the movable member to cause its engagement with
the fixed contacts.
My invention further comprises improved means for securing the hand-lever

page_text: .
in the position holding the movable contact in engagement with the fixed contacts
against spring actuation tending to cause their separation. This improved
restraining means consists of a pivoted latch lever adapted to engage by spring
actuation with the hand-lever or an anti-friction roller secured thereto. The free
end of the pivoted latch lever on the other side of the pivot from that engaging
the hand-lever, is adapted to be actuated by a movable core in a solenoid upon
abnormal flow of current therethrough to cause the release of the hand-lever
and the impact thereon by the pivoted latch-lever to cause the hand-lever to
remove its obstruction to the movement of the movable contact member, where-
upon said movable contact member responding to its spring actuation separates
from the fixed contacts.
My invention further comprises an improved metallic switch supplemental
and in shunt to the main switch. A pivoted switch-supporting arm is provided
with a metallic contact bar adapted to bridge the fixed metallic terminals which
are electrically connected respectively with the terminals of the main switch.
This shunt switch-arm is adapted to be operated by the hand-lever above men-
tioned to bring the shunt switch into engagement with its fixed contacts during
the moving of the hand lever, in closing the main switch, but prior to said
closing of the main switch. This is accomplished by the rolling or sliding
engagement of a projection of the hand-lever with the switch arm, said pro-
jection of the hand-lever is preferably provided with an antifriction wheel which
1s adapted to roll by a cam movement over a properly shaped surface on the
supplemental switch lever, said contacting cam surface being so shaped that
further movement of the hand-lever after the closing of the shunt switch, to
secure the closing of the main switch, can take place without causing further
movement of the shunt switch or its supporting member, but also without
releasing the same from the closed position. The shunt switch supporting-lever
is spring actuated and adapted to cause the separation of the movable from the
fixed contacts when the obstruction of the hand-lever is withdrawn. Suitably
attached to the fixed and movable contacts of the supplemental switch are co-
operating carbons for final break. These carbons have a limited spring con-
trolled rotary movement and are so disposed that the contacting carbons secure
approximate contemporaneous engagement of the whole surfaces of the contacting
sides with the opposing or co-operating carbons.
Owing to a limited angular movement of these carbons a slight sliding con-
tact is also secured to increase the efficiency of same.
191
J
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Electric Circuit Breakers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 automatic magnetic circuit breakers in which is
provided an efficient main switch, a metallic switch supplemental and in shunt
with the main switch, and improved carbon contacts for final work, and improved
means for insuring the opening of the main switch prior to the opening of the
. shunt switch and the closing of the main switch subsequent to the closing of
the shunt switch.

page_text: Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my device in the
closed position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of
my device in the open position with part broken away. Fig. 4 is a horizontal
section on line of Fig. 2. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout
the several views.
The main switch is movably mounted on the horizontal rods 7 and 8 and
properly insulated therefrom and is adapted to co-operate with the fixed con-
tacts 9 and 10 to make and break circuit." The rod 11 is pivotally secured to the
switch 6 and constitutes one member of a toggle, the other member being the
hand lever 12 pivoted at 13 to a part of the framework of my device. The two
toggle members are connected by means of the pivot 14 secured to the hand
lever 12, and passing through the slot 15 in the rod 11. This slot is adapted to
permit of preliminary movement of the hand lever 12 to cause the closing of a
supplemental switch before the actuation of the main switch 6, as will be herein-
after described.
The movable bridge 16 and the fixed contacts 17 and 18, with which it is adapted
to co-operate, constitute the supplemental switch in shunt with the main switch.
Said bridge 16 is carried at the free end of the arm 19 which is pivoted at 20
shown in Fig. 2 to the framework of my device.
The pivoted arm 19 is provided with cam edges 25 adapted to co-operate with
the antifriction rollers 21, secured to the projections 22 of the hand lever 12.
Said can edges 25 are so disposed with respect to the rollers 21 that the operation
of the hand lever in one direction will cause the closing of the supplemental
switch, while its operation in the other direction will permit the arm 19 to
respond to the actuation of the spring piston 23 shown in Fig. 2 to cause the
opening of the supplemental switch.
It will be noted that in moving the hand lever 12 in the upward direction
indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 the rollers 21 immediately begin to operate
upon the cam edges 25 and cause the closing of the switch 16, before the pivot 14
has travelled the length of the slot 15 and caused the closing of the main switch 6.
After the switch 6 is closed the remainder of the cam edges 25 (along which the
rollers 21 must travel in completing the movement of the hand lever to close
the main switch) conform to the arc of a circle, the centre of which corresponds
with the centre of pivot 13, so that said further movement of the hand lever
operates to maintain the arm 19 and switch 16 in the closed position without
causing further motion thereto, and consequently upon the reverse movement of
the arm 12 no movement of arm 19 is permitted until the rollers 21 have
traversed the arc portion of the cam edges 25 above described, when the pivot 14
has then travelled sufficiently to permit the switch 6 to respond to the actuation
of spring piston 24 to cause, the opening of said main switch.
The hand lever 12 is normally restrained in a closed position, as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, by the latch 27, which engages with the anti-friction roller 28.
shown in Figs. 1 and 4 secured to hand lever 12. The spring piston 30 is adapted
to increase the efficiency of latch 27. The movable core 31 upon a predetermined
flow in its surrounding solenoid 32 is adapted to actuate latch 27 to release the
hand lever 12 to permit the opening of the switches in the manner above described.
The springs 26 are adapted to quicken the movement of said hand lever 12
when the same is released.
My improved laminated bridge is made as follows; the laminæ are of metal
and, as is best shown in Fig. 4, the end portions of these laminæ are formed
approximately in circular arcs, the centres of the arc formed by the inner and
shorter laminae being closer to the inside edge of the bridge than the centres of
those of the outer and longer laminæ. The result of this arrangement is to
provide a separation from each other of the contacting edges of the laminæ to
allow room for play or overtravel" in closing.
14
The contacting edges of the laminæ at each end of the bundle thereof lie
approximately in planes inclining toward each other in the direction of the

page_text: movement of the movable contact or bridge 6 to engage with the
fixed contacts* 9 and 10; that is, the engagement of the laminated
contact with the fixed contacts is somewhat in the nature of a wedge
engagement. Said laminated movable contact is adapted to move in a restrained
path to and away from engagement with the fixed contacts.
Suitably secured to the fixed contacts 17 and 18 and the movable contact 16
of the supplemental switch are co-operating carbons 33 and 34 for final break.
These carbons are pivoted at 35 and 36 respectively and provided with springs 37
and 38 and projections 39 and screws 42 as adjustable means for limiting the
spring actuated movement of the carbons which are so disposed that a flat contact
of the carbons is maintained after the shunt metal contacts have separated and
until they have come sufficiently apart when the carbons separate upon a line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In an automatic magnetic circuit breaker the combination of a main
switch, a hand lever for operating the movable contact of same, a supplemental
switch in shunt with the main switch, a pivoted arm carrying the movable con-
tact of the shunt switch, the hand lever adapted to act upon the pivoted arm by
cam engagement to close the shunt switch, the hand lever being connected to the
anovable contact of the main switch with a certain amount of play to secure the
closing of the shunt switch before that of the main switch, and the opening of
the main switch before that of the shunt switch.
2. In an automatic magnetic circuit breaker the combination of a main switch,
a hand lever for operating the movable contact of same, a supplemental switch
in shunt with the main switch, a pivoted arm carrying the movable contact of
the shunt switch, the hand lever provided with a projection adapted to act upon
the pivoted arm by cam engagement to close the shunt switch, means connected
between the hand lever and the main switch for closing the latter after the hand
lever has closed the shunt switch, and adapted to permit the opening of the
main_switch before the opening of the shunt switch.
3. In an automatic magnetic circuit breaker the combination of a main switch
and a supplemental switch in shunt therewith, spring means for causing the
opening of the switches, and a pivoted closing member having toggle joint con-
nection with the main switch and so disposed as to permit the switches to
respond to their respective spring actuations, the main switch first and the shunt
switch last, a latch for normally restraining the said pivoted closing member
against said spring actuation of the switches and automatic magnetic means for
actuating the latch.
4. In an automatic magnetic circuit breaker the combination of a main switch
and a supplemental switch in shunt therewith, a hand lever having toggle joint
'connection with the main switch and also adapted to control the supporting
member of the movable contact of the shunt switch, the various parts so
arranged and disposed that the movement of the hand lever to cause the closing
of the main switch will first close the shunt switch, and the movement of the
hand lever in the other direction will permit the opening of the main switch
before the opening of the shunt switch.
5. In an automatic magnetic circuit breaker the combination of a main switch
and a supplemental switch in shunt therewith, a pivoted hand lever and a rod
pivotally secured to the movable contact of the main switch and having also a
pivot and slot connection with the hand lever, a pivoted member carrying the
movable contact of the shunt switch and operated to hold it in the closed position
by, the hand-lever prior to the closing of the main switch, and until after the
opening of the same.
6. An electric contact member composed of metal laminæ, the outer ends of
which are formed approximately in circular ares the centres of the arcs of the

page_text: inner and shorter laminæ being closer to the inside edge of the bridge than
those of the outer and longer lamina to provide a separation from each other
of the extremities or contacting edges of the laminæ.
7. An electric contact member composed of metal laminæ the outer ends of
which are formed approximately in circular arcs, the centres of the arcs of the
inner and shorter laminæ being closer to the inside edge of the bridge than
those of the outer and longer lamina, said laminæ being separated and lying
apart, toward and at their extremities or contacting edges.
8. An electric contact member composed of metal lamina the outer ends of which
are formed approximately in circular arcs, the centres of the arcs of the inner and
shorter lamine being closer to the inside edge of the bridge than those of the
outer and longer laminæ, said laminæ being separated and lying apart toward
and at their extremities or contacting edges, said contact faces of the lamina
so disposed as to co-operate with the inclined surfaces of the fixed contacts which
are inclined toward each other.
Dated this 1st day of February 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.