Year: 1898

page_text: I, PERCY HERBERT BRANT, 1, Column Villas, Belvidere Road, Shrewsbury,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This switch is for the purpose of switching on one or any number of electric
incandescent lamps, or are lamps, in any combination. The starting of electric
motors; the separate or simultaneous ringing of electric bells, in any combination,
and the single, consecutive, alternate or simultaneous discharge of electrically
connected mines, for blasting purposes, and the like.
The combination of lights, motors, bells, or mines, to be decided on before
fixing the switch.
It consists of I, the cylinder, pins, and spring, II, the contact board, contained
as a whole in a box, suitable for the purpose.
I. THE CYLINDER,
This consists of an ebonite tube, carried on a brass spindle, supported at one
end by a brass pillar, and at the other by the spring-plate, the end which passes
through the pillar, terminating in an ebonite disc, for the purpose of turning the
cylinder. The disc carrying numbers, which, on arriving in line with a fixed
point, indicate the number and positions of lights in use, and the like. The other
end terminating in a hexagonal nut, which nut is clipped by the U spring
fastened to the spring plate, the spring plate carrying a short pivot, which enters
into a hole in the nut, thus making the bearing for that end. The ebonite
cylinder is divided along its axis into six parts, each line of division, excepting
one, being sub-divided into four, holes are drilled at the points of division of the
five lines, into which are inserted brass pins, terminating in copper contact pieces.
II. THE CONTACT BOARD.
The contact board is a flat piece of ebonite, on the one edge of which are cut
four gaps, corresponding to the four pins, horizontally, on the cylinder. To the
edges of these gaps are fixed narrow brass strips, each being provided with a set
screw for the convenient attachment of wires. They are arranged in the follow-
ing order beginning at the left-hand, on the left of gap I one contact piece and
connection for switch wire. On the right, contact piece and connection, which
On the
bridges over the intervening ebonite into the left hand side of gap II.
right of gap II contact piece and connection for switch. On the left of gap III,
contact piece and connection for switch. On the right of gap III contact piece
and connection, similar to the right of gap I, which bridges over into the left
of gap IV. On the right of gap IV, contact piece and connection for switch.
It will thus be seen there are four separate switch pieces, corresponding to
four lights, and two feed pieces, which being arranged in the above order feed
the switch pieces with a positive current.

page_text: The board is fixed on a wooden support, parallel to the cylinder, and at such a
distance from it, that by turning the disc one sixth part, or one side of the
hexagonal nut, the pins in line with that side, engage in the gaps in contact board,
thus making a connection between contact pieces. This switch is arranged for
four lights, with five combinations of the same, viz., four in line, two middle, two
ends, two left hand, two right-hand, and off. The cylinder makes six distinct
movements, in one revolution.
I claim the revolving action of cylinder, thus making any combination possible,
also the type of contact pieces on cylinder and board, together with the whole
design and action of switch.
PERCY HERBERT BRANT, 1, Column Villas, Belvidere Road, Shrewsbury,
Electrician, 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 switch is for the purpose of switching on one or any number of electric
incandescent lamps or arc-lamps, in any combination. The starting of electric
motors, the separate or simultaneous ringing of electric bells, in any combination,
and the single, consecutive, alternate or simultaneous discharge of electrically
connected mines, for blasting purposes, and the like. The combination of lights,
motors, bells or mines, to be decided on before fixing the switch. It consists of
I, the cylinder, pins and spring, II, the contact board, contained as a whole in a
box suitable for the purpose.
I. THE CYLINDER.
This consists of an ebonite tube A, carried on a brass spindle B, supported at
one end by a brass pillar C, and at the other on the spring plate D, the end which
passes through the pillar, terminating in an ebonite disc E, for the purpose of
turning the cylinder, the disc carrying numbers, which, on arriving in line with
a fixed point, indicate the number and position of lights, and the like, the other
end terminating in a hexagonal nut F, which nut is clipped by the U spring G,
fastened to the spring plate D, the spring plate carrying a short pivot H, which
enters into a hole in the nut I, thus making the bearing for that end. The
ebonite cylinder is divided along its axis, into six parts, each line of division,
excepting one, being sub-divided into four, holes are drilled at the points of
division of the five lines, into which are inserted brass pins J, terminating in
copper contact pieces K, which pieces are wedge shaped and fastened at right
angles to the pin.
II. THE CONTACT BOARD.
The contact board is a flat piece of ebonite, A on the one edge of which are cut
four gaps, 1, 2, 3, 4, corresponding to the four pins, horizontally on the cylinder.
To the edges of these gaps are fixed narrow brass strips B, each being provided
with a set screw for the convenient attachment of wires C, they are arranged in
the following order, beginning at the left hand. On the left of gap I, contact
piece and connection for switch wire, on the right, contact piece and connection,
which bridges over the intervening ebonite into the left hand side of gap II, on

page_text: the right of gap II, contact piece and connection for switch, on the left of gap III,
contact piece and connection for switch, on the right of gap III contact piece
and connection, similar to the right of gap I, which bridges over into the left of
gap IV, on the right of gap IV contact piece and connection for switch.
It will thus be seen there are four separate switch pieces, corresponding to four
lights and two feed pieces, which being arranged in the above order feed the
switch pieces with the positive current. The board is fixed on a wooden support
parallel to the cylinder, and at such a distance from it, that by turning the disc
one sixth part, or one side of the hexagonal nut, the pins in line with that side
engage in the gaps in contact board, thus making a connection between contact
pieces.
This switch is arranged for four lights, with five combinations of the same, viz.,
four in line, two middle, two ends, two left-hand, two right hand, and off.
Any number of lights, and the like, may be accomodated by employing a
larger and longer tube, or by placing pins closer together, with gaps to correspond,
and the combination may be altered in each switch, by unscrewing the pins and
inserting them in other holes, such holes being already drilled and tapped for
the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
I. The revolving action of cylinder, thus making any combination possible.
II. The type of contact pieces on cylinder and board.
TIT The L