A New or Improved Electric Oirouit Controller or Appliance.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Electric Oirouit Controller or Appliance.
I WILLIAM BINGHAM CLEVELAND of Geneva County of Ashtabuela State of
Ohio United States of America Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
The objects of my invention are:-
To provide improved means for cutting out a portion of an electric light or
power circuit in cases of emergency such as in case of breaking or dropping of the
wires of the circuit in case of wires of another circuit coming into dangerous
contact with the wires of the circuit or in similar emergency cases to provide
improved means for admitting of such cutting out being safely and completely
performed by a non-expert and to provide improved means for smothering and
extinguishing the arc formed by the contact members in the act of separating them
and cutting off the circuit.
The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail one
mechanical form embodying the invention such detail construction being but one of
various mechanical forms in which the principle of my invention may be used.
In such annexed drawings-
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my improved circuit controller and
Figure 2 a section of another form of the same.
In the drawings the letter A indicates a cylindrical casing advantageously of
cast iron and having a closed bottom and an open externally screw threaded top.
Said top is closed by means of a screw cap A' having an eye a or other fastening
device for attaching the casing to the support of the conductors.
Two partitions B and B of slate soapstone or other similar refractory and non-
conducting material are secured in the casings respectively a distance from its top
and bottom and said partitions have central openings 6 and b'.
A longitudinally slitted contact sleeve C is secured with its base c upon the
upper face of the upper partition and a similar contact sleeve C¹ is secured with
its base d' upon the under side of the lower partition. Said bases c and c¹ have
binding posts o² and c³ in which the respective terminals D and D² of the conductor
and circuit wire are secured said wire terminals passing through insulating
sleeves a¹ and a' in the sides of the casing.
A contact rod E having an insulating eye or handle e at its lower end passes
through an insulating sleeve a in the centre of the bottom of the casing and
through the central openings in the partitions and registering contact sleeves and
having good electrical contact with the latter.
The space within the casing between the two partitions is nearly filled with a
non-liquid filling F of sand gravel marbles broken stone or brick or other more or
less comminuted refractory and non-conducting material.
In practice the casing is suitably supported in the circuit which passes through
one terminal through one slitted contact sleeve through the sliding contact rod
through the other slitted contact sleeve and out through the other terminal. When
a necessity arises for cutting off the circuit the sliding contact rod is pulled down
which may be done by any one without danger and the circuit is broken when the
arc which will be formed between the upper contact sleeve and the end of the
receding contact rod is smothered and extinguished by the comminuted filling
which will tumble in over the rod and thus interrupt and smother the arc. When
the contact is to be again established the rod is pushed upward pushing the filling
out of its way. The space between the partitions in the casing is not completely

page_text: filled as the rod would then be liable to carry particles of the filling into the upper
contact sleeve and thus injure the sleeve or interrupt the contact but a small space
remains open between the partitions and the filling. The arc will not however be
liable to jump from either of the contacts the stationary or the movable to the side
of the casing as it will be drawn with the movable contact until cut off and
smothered by the filling.
The contact sleeves may be supported directly in or upon the ends of a casing
formed of an insulating material or the casing may be lined with an insulating
material in either of which cases all danger of the arc jumping from a contact to
the casing will be avoided.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing two segmental
contacts C and C¹ are secured in the circular casing A and have the terminals D
and D of the circuit wire connected to them by binding posts c³ and c³. The
terminals pass through insulating sleeves a¹ and a' in the sides of the casing.
A movable contact E in the shape of a two armed lever, having segmental ends
is pivoted in the centre of the casing and concentric to the segmental contacts so
that the segmental ends may engage and have good contact with the segmental
contacts. The lever has a suitable handle or other means for swinging it.
A filling F of a refractory substance of high resistance and in a more or less
comminuted state is contained in the casing and completely covers the stationary
contacts and the contact levers.
The operation of this device is exactly similar to the operation of the previously
described device the filling smothering and extinguishing the are formed between
the stationary and the movable contacts when the circuit is cut off. As in this
device it is desirable to have a filling which will easily make way for the contact
lever when the latter is turned to engage the stationary contact without entering
between the same the filling should advantageously consist of small balls or pellets
of a refractory and non-conducting material such as for example globular glass beads.
Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed for the
mode herein explained. Change may therefore be made as regards the mechanism
herein set forth provided the principles of construction respectively hereinbefore
set forth are employed.
Dated this 27th day of October 1801
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Electric Circuit Controller or Appliance.
I, WILLIAM BINGHAM CLEVELAND of Geneva County of Ashtabuela, State
of Ohio, United States of America, 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 :-
The objects of my invention are:-
To provide improved means for cutting out a portion of an electric light or
power circuit in cases of emergency such as in case of breaking or dropping of the
wires of the circuit in case of wires of another circuit coming into dangerous
contact with the wires of the circuit or in similar emergency cases to provide
improved means for admitting of such cutting out being safely and completely
performed by a non-expert and to provide improved means for smothering and
extinguishing the arc formed by the contact members in the act of separating them
and cutting off the circuit.
The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail one
mechanical form embodying the invention such detail construction being but one of
various mechanical forms in which the principle of my invention may be used.

page_text: Referring to the drawings left with the Provisional Specification :—
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my improved circuit controller and
Figure 2 a section of another form of the same.
In the drawings the letter A indicates a cylindrical casing advantageously of
cast iron and having a closed bottom and an open externally screw threaded top.
Said top is closed by means of a screw cap A having an eye a or other fastening
device for attaching the casing to the support of the conductors.
Two partitions B and B of slate soapstone or other similar refractory and non-
conducting material are secured in the casings respectively a distance from its top
and bottom and said partitions have central openings b and b.
A longitudinally slitted contact sleeve C is secured with its base c upon the
upper face of the upper partition and a similar contact sleeve C is secured with its
base c upon the under side of the lower partition. Said bases c and c have binding
posts and c in which the respective terminals D and D of the conductor and
circuit wire are secured said wire terminals passing through insulating sleeves a and
a in the sides of the casing.
A contact rod E having an insulating eye or handle e at its lower end passes
through an insulating sleeve a in the centre of the bottom of the casing and through
the central openings in the partitions and registering contact sleeves and having
good electrical contact with the latter.
The space within the casing between the two partitions is nearly filled with a
non liquid filling E of sand gravel marbles broken stone or brick or other more
or less comminuted refractory and non-conducting material.
In practice the casing is suitably supported in the circuit which passes through
one terminal through one slitted contact sleeve through the sliding contact rod
through the other slitted contact sleeve and out through the other terminal. When
a necessity arises for cutting off the circuit the sliding contact rod is pulled down
which may be done by anyone without danger and the circuit is broken when the
arc which will be formed between the upper contact sleeve and the end of the
receding contact rod is smothered and extinguished by the comminuted filling which
will tumble in over the rod and thus interrupt and smother the arc. When the
contact is to be again established the rod is pushed upward pushing the filling out
of its way. The space between the partitions in the casing is not completely filled
as the rod would then be liable to carry particles of the filling into the upper
contact sleeve and thus injure the sleeve or interrupt the contact but a small space
remains open between the partitions and the filling. The arc will not however be
liable to jump from either of the contacts the stationary or the movable to the side
of the casing as it will be drawn with the movable contact until cut off and
smothered by the filling.
The contact sleeves may be supported directly in or upon the ends of a casing
formed of an insulating material or the casing may be lined with an insulating
material in either of which cases all danger of the arc jumping from a contact
to the casing will be avoided.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing two segmental
contacts C and C are secured in the circular casing A. and have the terminals D
and D of the circuit wire connected to them by binding parts c and c. The
terminals pass through insulating sleeves a and a in the sides of the casing.
A movable contact E in the shape of a two armed lever having segmental ends
is pivotted in the centre of the casing and concentric to the segmental contacts 80
that the segmental ends may engage and have good contact with the segmental
contacts. The lever has a suitable handle or other means for swinging it.
A filling F of a refractory substance of high resistance and in a more or less
comminuted state is combined in the casing and completely covers the stationary
contacts and the contact levers.
The operation of this device is exactly similar to the operation of the previously
described device the filling smothering and extinguishing the arc formed between.
the stationary and the movable contacts when the circuit is cut off. As in this

page_text: device it is desirable to have a filling which will easily make way for the contact
lever when the latter is turned to engage the stationary contact without entering
between the same the filling should advantageously consist of small balls or pellets
of a refractory and non-conducting material such as for example globular glass
beads.
Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed for
the mode herein explained. Change may therefore be made as regards the
mechanism herein set forth provided the principles of construction respectively
herein before set forth are employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
°
1. The combination of a stationary contact and a movable contact of a casing
and a comminuted non-liquid filling in casing said filling being so disposed in the
casing as to tumble into the space between the contacts when the movable contact
is withdrawn substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of a casing a comminuted non-liquid filling therein a
stationary contact above said filling and a movable contact arranged to be with-
drawn into the filling substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of a casing a comminuted non-liquid filling therein a slitted
contact sleeve above said filling and a contact rod sliding in the casing and through
the filling and registering with and sliding into the contact sleeve substantially as
set forth.
4. The combination of a casing slitted contact sleeves in the upper and lower
portions of said casing a comminuted non-liquid filling partly occupying the space in
the casing between said sleeves and a contact rod insulated from the casing and
movably inserted through the latter and through the contact sleeves substantially as
set forth.
5. The combination of a stationary and movable contact a casing and a non-
liquid filling in said casing said filling being so disposed as to interpose between
said contacts when the movable contact is withdrawn substantially as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of July 1892.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.