IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC "CUT-OUTS " OR APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PREVENTING TOO HIGH AN IN
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Vilhelm Anderson of Stainsby Road, Poplar,
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
"CUT-OUTS
"
OR APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PREVENTING TOO HIGH AN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Vilholm Andersen
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th April 1883.
FREDERICK VILHELM ANDERSEN of Stainsby Road, Poplar in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC "OUT-OUTS OR APPARATUS FOR
AUTOMATICALLY PREVENTING TOO HIGH AN ELECTRIC CURRENT PASSING IN A
CIRCUIT
"
My Invention has for its object to provide an apparatus which can be inserted
in any electric circuit, and which will, when so placed, automatically break the
circuit to prevent too high a current from passing
The apparatus constructed according to my Invention consists of an Electro-
magnet, which is included in the circuit to be govorned; an Armature; a main-
spring, and a switch by which the circuit is either closed or broken, according to
the position assumed by the switch. This switch is so constructed that, by means
of either a spring or weighted lever, or the equivalent thereof, thore is, when the
circuit is closed a constant tendency to break the circuit. This tendency is resisted
by the Armature which is pressed against the moving part of the switch by the
main-spring, thus preventing any motion on the part of the switch whilst a normal
current is passing, the attraction of the magnet, when a proper current is passing,
being more than counterbalanced by the pressure of the main-spring forcing the
Armature in the opposite direction from that in which the magnet tends to move
it-When the current becomes too high, the increased force of the Electro-magnet
overpowers the spring so that the pressure is taken off the Switch which instantly
falls and breaks the circuit.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Vilhelm Andersen in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th October 1883.
'
FREDERICK VILHELM ANDERSEN of Stainsby Road Poplar in the County of
Middlesex " IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC " CUT-OUTS OR APPARATUS FOR
AUTOMATICALLY PREVENTING TOO HIGH AN ELECTRIC CURRENT PASSING IN A
CIRCUIT
"
My Invention has for its object to provide an apparatus which can be inserted
in any electric circuit and which will when so placed automatically break tho
circuit to prevent too high a' current from passing,
The apparatus constructed according to my Invention consists of an electro
magnet which is included in the circuit to be governed, an armature, a main
spring and a switch by which the circuit is either closed or broken nccording to
the position assumed by the switch. The said switch is so constructed or arranged
that by means of a spring a weighted lever or the equivalent thereof there is, when
the circuit is closed, a constant tendency to break the circuit. This tendency is
resisted by the armature which is pressed against the moving part of the switch
by the main spring, thus preventing the movement of the switch. whilst a normal
current is passing, the attraction of the magnet when a proper or normal current is
passing, being more than counterbalanced by the pressure of the main spring
forcing the armature in the opposite direction from that in which the magnet tends
to move it. When the current becomes too high the increased force of the electro
magnet overpowers the spring so that the pressure is taken off the switch which
instantly moves to break the circuit.
"
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in both the figures.
"
Figure 1 is an elevation and figure 2 is a plan (with the case in Section) of an.
apparatus or automatic "cut out constructed or arranged according to my
Invention, E is the core of an Electro magnet coiled with the circuit wires c.
To the lower part or foot of the said magnet or to other convenient place is binged
the armature A. The main spring S acts upon the said armaturo against the
attraction of the magnet E, the amount of the pressure of the said spring being
capable of being regulated by the screw 7, screwing into the said armature and
forming virtually part thereof. ² is a screw passing loosely through a hole in the
armature A and screwed into the core of the magnet E as shewn so that whilst it
allows the requisite play to the said armature, it prevents it from receding too far from
the pole of the magnet. The switch which is employed may be of any construction
which is capable of being retained and released by the means described. As shewn in
the drawing it consists of a block B, capable of turning in bracket pieces b. a, repre-
sents a stop for retaining the Switch in position, 8, (Figure 2) is a spring, tending to
turn the Switch over in the direction of the arrow, (Figure 1,) and H, is a handle by
which the Switch is turned into position-T" T are the screws for the attachment
of the line wires-A projection bis preferable, provided upon the block B to engage
with a recess in the armature A to keep the Switch securely in position. When
the parts are in the position shewn in the Drawing the circuit is completed through
the apparatus and so long as the current does not exceed the predetermined
strength for which the spring S has been adjusted the said spring counteracts the

page_text: attraction of the electro magnet E tending to draw the armature A towards itself
but as soon as the said strength is exceeded the said spring is no longer powerful
enough to counteract the attraction of the said magnet and consequently the powor
of the spring is overcome and the armature A is drawn towards the pole of the
said magnet and the block B being thus released, the spring 8, causes it to turn
over and the contact previously made by the pieces C₁ C is destroyed and the
circuit is broken.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing as the same may be
varied without departing from the nature of my Invention. For example, the
spring S may be replaced by a weight or other constraining device which will
yield when the electro magnet acquires any predetermined amount of energy and
the switch may be of any kind which can be arranged so that it is maintained by
the armature so as to complete the circuit when the current is insufficient to move
the armature but so that it is released when the armature is attracted and moved
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is:
First. The improvements in electric "cut-outs" consisting of the combination of
an Electro magnet with its coil or coils in the circuit to be controlled with an
armature against which a force is exerted to counteract the force of the attraction
of the electro magnet so that the said armature is maintained in position to causo
the completion of the circuit when a proper or normal current is passing but
which armature is moved so as to break the circuit when the current becomes of
too great a strength, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing,
Second. In Electric "cut outs" the combination of an Electro magnet energised
by or from the circuit to be governed with an armature A and a counteracting
spring S, (or its equivalent) and a switch substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the electric
"cut-out" herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Frederick Vilhelin Anderson have to this my
Specification set my hand and Seal this twentyfifth day of April One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
n 17 ANDRDODA