A General Switch for Groups of Electric Lamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1896-Accepted, 31st Juiv. 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A General Switch for Groups of Electric Lamps.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(which has been communicated to me from abroad by the firm of Rudolf
Kissling & Sohn, of Budapest, in the Kingdom of Hungary) and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
In designing electroliers or other groups of electric lamps it has been difficult to
give full play to artistic taste, since each of the glow lamps employed has to be provided
with a separate switch involving a more or less awkward shape of the fixing. Since,
moreover, each separate switch must remain quite accessible, artistic design is rendered
difficult.
A further inconvenience of the usual electrolier is that the switches of the separate
lamps are at a certain height, so that they can scarcely be reached from the floor.
Nor can this objection be overcome by fixing a general switch on the wall, since it is
only possible with such a switch to put all the lamps in or out of circuit at the same
time. In order to put each lamp of the same group in or out of circuit independently
of the others, the separate switch of this lamp has to be manipulated by itself.
The separate switch necessary for each lamp as well as the general switch and the
returning of the leads through this general switch considerably enhance the cost of
an installation.
The object of the present invention is to overcome these inconveniences by carrying
the leads of all the lamps of an electrolier or other group through a common central
switch so arranged that any determined number of the lamps in any determined order
inay be put in or out of circuit.
Thus, in the first place, the advantage is obtained that the separate switch heretofore
used for each lamp is rendered unnecessary, so that small and artistically ornamented
fittings can be used and the development of taste in designing such electroliers is no
longer hindered.
•
By employing the central switch which is the object of the present invention for
only one electrolier, it can be situated on the electrolier itself, advantageously at the
middle, low down and therefore in the most accessible place, whereby the use of a
separate general switch on the wall, as well as the return leads to the same are
unnecessary.
The accompanying drawings shew the invention carried out in two forms adapted
for use on the electrolier itself.
Figure 1 is an elevation of one form (the casing being partly in section).
Figure 2 is a vertical section of modified form.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan looking from below of Fig. 2 with the casing removed.
The switch consists essentially of two contact carriers, A and B, of ebonite, porcelain
or other suitable insulating material.
As shewn in Figure 1 both contact carriers A and B are made in the form of discs.;
the upper A being fixed whilst the lower B can be partly rotated by the handle C.
The contact brushes k are fixed in sockets or holdfasts k¹ into which the ends of the

page_text: leads from the separate lamps or groups of lamps are led. The disc A is fastened to
the electrolier by means of its stem a
In the side of the lower disc B facing the contact brushes ka metal circular
seginent K, is fixed-while the rest of the surface of the disc is covered by the insulating
layer I, which, however, reaches only from the centre of the disc to the path of the
brushes. The metal segment K is attached in the middle of the disc B to a socket
which revolves on the pivot of the arm K¹ fixed to the disc A; on this arm is the
pin K passing through a slot in the disc A and carrying the binding screw 2 for the
reception of the lead supplying the current.
The parts K2 and the socket serve, therefore, for conducting the current to the
contact plate K.
If the contact brushes k, which are made of thin metal foil, were not always caused
to slide in the same direction over the plate K, not only would they soon wear out
but the certainty of action of the switch would be impaired after a short use.
This disadvantage of the sliding contact is effectually prevented by the safety
arrangement under the contact carrier B, which renders it possible to work the switch,
that is to turn. the contact carrier B, by turning the knob C in one direction, whilst
by turning it in the opposite direction the engagement of the knob is disengaged
from the contact carrier B and the latter is left in position.
As will be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the knob C is not united directly to the contact
carrier B, but carries the latter on the stirrup D through which the spindle f of the
knob C passes.
In the circular and widened part d of the stirrup, sloping teeth are
cut with which the pin p of the spindle f engages owing to the action of the spring r.
If the knob C be turned to the right direction for establishing the switch contacts the
pin engages with the nearest tooth and carries with it the stirrup D and with this
the disc B, to which the stirrup is firmly attached. When the knob C is turned in
the opposite direction, the pin slides over the sloping surfaces of the teeth without
engaging with them so that the stirrup D and the disc B remain in position.
The application of the central switch shewn in Figures 2 and 3 is especially adapted
for large dimensions.
In order that the current tension in the switch may not become too great, whereby
the usual weak contact brushes for cutting in and out separate lamps would become
useless in a very short time, these contact brushes must be made of proportionately
strong dimensions.
The forin of switch described above with reference to Figure 1 is not adapted for
the use of strong contact brushes, as in this case the friction between the contact
carriers A and B would be too great; moreover, such contact brushes would very easily
break.
The switch (Figures 2 and 3) which surmounts this difficulty consists of a carrier A
bearing the contact brushes which receive the current and the carrier B united with
the contact K which supplies the current. B consists of a cylindrical socket, of
insulating material, turning on the pivot z of the current leads K³ and k².
A portion of the socket B, corresponding with the number of contact brushes k is
covered with a metal plate K which supplies the current. This plate is a continuation
of the central socket h surrounding the pivot 2 and serving at the same time as a
sleeve for it. This socket also forms the lead for the current from K¹ to the contact
plate K.
The contact carrier A is a hollow cylinder, open at the bottom, and cut away at one
side with the exception of a piece a¹, in order to make the inner parts accessible.
The piece a serves to fasten the arm K¹.
P
When the carrier B is turned by means of the handle through the parts n d
for the purpose of putting the separate groups of lamps in or out of circuit, the strong
brushes slide almost without friction over the curved plate K so that they are little
worn.
Obviously, this construction could be altered by arranging the current supplying
contact K in the inside of the carrier A, whilst the current receiving contacts k
correspondingly insulated could be attached to the carrier B,

page_text: Also, the safety contrivance n d p could be omitted. Also the form of the switch
could be varied without departing from the essential character of the invention.
Finally, although the foregoing description is especially applicable for glow lamps,
the invention could obviously be applied to groups of are lamps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A general switch for putting lamps or groups of lamps in and out of circuit,
independently of each other, characterised by a carrier B provided with a current
supplying contact K and a carrier A provided with current receiving contacts k, which
can be moved relatively to each other so that some of the contacts can be moved in
or out of contact with K, substantially as described.
2. The construction of the switch in which the carrier A, provided with the contact
brushes belonging to the separate lamps or groups of lamps, is fixed, and the
carrier B turns on a spindle z of a conducting arm K₁ attached to the carrier A and
carries a contact plate K in electrical contact with the sleeve h of the said spindle,
which contact plate is thus in connection with the current lead through the arm K¹
and by rotation of the carrier B closes or opens the circuit of one or more of the
contact brushes.
3. The modified construction characterised by the current yielding contact K
arranged on an insulated carrier B in the form of a curved surface, which contact can
be displaced relatively to an insulated carrier A, provided with the current receiving
contacts, substantially as described.
4. The construction of the switch, characterised by a hollow carrier A of insulating
material open on one side and provided with contact brushes belonging to separate
lamps or groups of lamps, on which a current conducting piece K¹ with spindle z is
fastened, and by an insulated carrier B turning as a sleeve on this spindle and provided
with current supplying contact K having the conducting piece K¹ and capable of being
brought in touch with the contact brushes separately by turning the carrier B,
substantially as described.
5. In the switches above referred to, the ratchet teeth n on the stirrup D of the
carrier B, and the pin p fastened to the spindle f of the knob C, arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 05th day of Mov 1907
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.