Improvements relating to Electric Switches, Cut-outs, Ceiling-roses, and similar devices.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1890-Accepted. 22nd Nov.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements relating to Electric Switches, Cut-outs, Ceiling-roses,
and similar devices.
We, RICHARD BROWN EVERED of the firm of Evered & Co., of Drury Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Brass-founder, and THOMAS RUDLING, of 47 Parma Crescent,
Lavender Hill, in the County of Surrey, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
--
Our invention relates to electric circuits for lighting and other purposes, and to
devices, such as switches, wall-plugs, ceiling-roses, safety cut-outs or fusos, bell-pushes
and the like, which connect or support the wires forming the said circuits, or which
control the flow of the current in the said circuits.
Our said invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of the
said devices so that they will be more efficient and may be produced more cheaply than
those heretofore employed.
In carrying our said invention into practice, we construct the switches, wall-plugs,
ceiling-roses and cut-outs, in such a manner that we are enabled to dispense entirely
with the screws heretofore employed for securing the terminals to the base or holder
on which they are mounted. For this purpose we make the terminals by stamping
them from metal and provide them with spikes which can be passed through the base
or holder and bent over at the back thereof in a groove which we form for the purpose
and which is afterwards filled with any suitable non-conducting material.
Our improved switch comprises a base of porcelain, china, wood, or other suitable
material provided with a screw cap or cover, which has fitted therein a thumb-piece or
plug for operating the contact bar of the switch, the said cap and thumb-piece or plug
being also made of porcelain, china, wood, or similar material.
The plug, instead of being secured to the contact bar, is formed with a notch or
recess and is adapted to engage with a projection on the contact bar when the cover is
placed upon the switch. By this mode of construction, we prevent the entrance of
dust into the interior of the case.
The said notch or recess in the plug is of sufficient length to enable the said plug or
thumb-piece to turn loosely through a considerable angle without turning the contact
bar, so that, when the said bar is held by the contact springs in the position in which
the circuit is completed, and it is desired to break the circuit, the thumb-piece is turned
in the proper direction and the contact bar, when freed from the contact springs, will,
under the action of its spring, be forced quickly back into its central position, thus
ensuring a sudden breakage or interruption of the circuit. For securing the said
thumb piece or plug in the cover, it may be provided on the inside of the cover with a
groove into which is sprung a split ring, which prevents the said thumb-piece being
drawn out, but, at the same time, permits free rotary motion of the said thumb-piece.
It will be readily understood that with a slight modification this switch may be used
either as a single or double contact switch, and it may be made with or without a
safety cut-out.
For securing the bottom bar or plate of the switch to the base, the said bottom
plate or bar is stamped or cut from a sheet of metal, a prong or projection being left
at each end thereof. These prongs are passed through the base and are bent over in
the annular groove at the back, which is then filled up with some non-conducting
material as above described. The contact plates of the switch are similarly formed and
secured.

page_text: The contact springs are secured to the said contact plates by a hollow binding post
or terminal which is passed through the said spring and plate and riveted or
clinched.
The binding posts or terminals are so arranged that each of the wires for conveying
the current can be passed straight through the base from the back thereof and
through the binding post, and be clamped in the binding post by means of a set-
screw.
In our improved ceiling-roses, we use hollow binding posts or terminals as in the
switch above described, and we sometimes arrange in the said rose a cut-out or safety
fuse in which the ends of the fusible wire, instead of being secured to screws, are
clamped between metal plates secured together by screws. We thus avoid the liability
to stretching of the wire and consequent reduction of its thickness such as sometimes
occurs when the wire is wound around the screws.
The clamping plates are made and secured to the base in a manner similar to the
contact plates in the switch above described.
The clamps and binding posts or terminals are all enclosed by a cover as in the
switch, a single hole being made in the cover for the passage of the wires from which
the lamp is suspended. We construct the main and branch cut-outs or safety fuses
according to our invention as follows, viz. :-The fusible wire and terminals are arranged
upon a base of porcelain, china, wood or the like provided with a cover of the same
material adapted to enclose the whole of the parts so that none of the wires or other
parts through which the current flows are left exposed.
In one form of cut-out, the base is made of rectangular shape, and across the ends of
the same are arranged and secured by screws, metal pieces which serve as terminals.
These terminals are so constructed that the connecting wires can be passed straight
through a hole in the base from the back thereof and through the terminals, and be
secured in the said terminals by set-screws.
Other holes are formed in the terminals to receive the ends of the fusible wire which
is secured therein by set-screws. At about the middle of the base, is fixed a screw
which passes through a hole in the cover and is provided with a nut for securing the
same to the base. A bridge or distance-piece of porcelain or other insulating material
is provided on the base for keeping the cover in position.
In a double-pole cut-out, we employ two terminals at each end of the base and two
fusible wires secured as above mentioned.
The bridge-piece of porcelain or other insulating material serves also to separate the
two fusible wires.
In another modification of our cut-out, in which the fusible wire is clamped between
metal plates as described with reference to the ceiling-rose, we arrange the clamping
plates and terminals on a circular base and pass the ends of the conducting wires
through the latter directly from the back into the terminals, in which they are secured
by set-screws. The fusible wire, instead of being secured to the adjacent ends of the
contacts as heretofore, is secured to the remote ends of the said contacts, and is
preferably bent or curved to an irregular shape. By these means, a greater length of
fusible wire may be used, than has heretofore been used on a small base. The said
cut-out is provided with a cover of any suitable material to exclude dust and protect
the parts.
11

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Electric Switches, Cut-outs, Ceiling-roses,
and similar Devices.
We, RICHARD BROWN EVERED, of the firm of Evered & Co., Drury Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Brass-founder, and THOMAS RUDLING, of Parma Crescent,
Lavender Hill, in the County of Surrey, 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:-
Our invention relates to devices such as switches, wall-plugs, ceiling-roses, safety
cut-outs or fuses, bell-pushes and the like for use in electric lighting and other circuits
which devices are employed to connect or support the wires forming the said circuits
or which control the flow of the current in the said circuits.
Our said invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of the
said devices so that they will be more efficient and may be produced more cheaply than
those heretofore employed.
In carrying our said invention into practice we construct the aforesaid devices in
such a manner that we are enabled to dispense largely or entirely with the screws
heretofore employed for securing the terminals or conducting pieces to the base or
holder on which they are mounted. With this object we provide the said terminals
with elongated projections or spikes which can be passed through the base or holder
and bent over or clinched at the back thereof in a groove or recess which we form for
the purpose and which is afterwards filled with any suitable non-conducting material.
We prefer to form the aforesaid terminals or conducting pieces, provided with spikes,
by stamping the same from sheet metal.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved electric switch, having a portion cut
away to show the loose key hereinafter described.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same with the cover and key thereof removed.
Figure 3 is a vertical central section on the line x, x Figure 2, showing another
form of key hereinafter described in position.
Figure 4 is a detailed view of the terminals or conducting pieces which we employ
in our improved fittings.
Figure 5 is an elevation of one form of our improved ceiling rose.
Figure 6 is a plan thereof the cover being removed.
Figures 7 and 8 are similar views of an improved cut-out or safety-fuse constructed
according to our said invention and more particularly adapted for the control of small
currents.
Figure 9 is an elevation, part of the outer case being removed, and
Figure 10 is a plan, showing the arrangement of the terminals of an improved single
cut-out for carrying comparatively larger currents constructed according to our said
invention.
Figure 11 is a plan with the cover partially removed of a double-pole cut-out con-
structed on the same principle as the preceding.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, our improved switch comprises a base A of porcelain,
wood, china or other suitable material provided with a screw-cap or cover B which has
fitted therein a key C for operating the contact har D of the switch, the said cap and
key being also made of porcelain, china, wood or like material.
The key C is not rigidly attached to the contact bar D but is formed with a notch
or recess or preferably with a projection E adapted to engage with a pair of ledges F
on the contact bar. To exclude dust from the interior of the case, we construct the
key C of such diameter as to fit easily but without slack the central hole in the cover
through which it passes and we further provide the same with a collar Carranged to
abut against the said cover.
In the key shown in Figure 3 the collar Cabuts against the inner face of the cover,
and the key is passed through the said cover from the interior thereof, while in the

page_text: case shown in Figure 1 the collar abuts against the outer face of the cover, and the
key is passed through from the exterior and is retained in place by a split ring not
shown in the drawing passed over and secured to the lower portion thereof.
For securing in position the terminals G and also the cross bar or plate H to which
the contact bar D is pivoted, the said terminals and bottom plate are provided with
prongs or spikes G' which are passed through the base A and are bent over in grooves
or recesses at the back. The said grooves or recesses are then filled up with some
non-conducting material I as above described. Contact springs G2 are secured to the
said terminals G by a hollow binding post or terminal J which is passed through the
said spring and plate and rivetted or clinched thereto. The binding posts or terminals J
are so arranged that each of the wires for conveying the current can be passed straight
through the base from the back thereof and through the hollow of the binding post
and be clamped in the said binding post by means of a set screw J¹.
The projection E on the key is of such dimensions as to enable the said key to turn
loosely through a considerable angle within the ledges F of the contact bar, so that
when the said bar is switched to break the circuit, it will, when freed from the terminal
spring pieces G2, be forced quickly back into its central position under the action of a
spring D¹ connected thereto. By this means a sudden breakage or interruption of the
circuit is ensured. The said spring D₁ may be conveniently formed of wire twisted
round one of the spikes G' as a pivot and having two prongs which press on opposite
sides of a pin D2 projecting through the bar H from the lower face of the contact
bar D. The said pin D2 is formed with two flat sides on which the prongs of the
spring D' act.
It will be readily understood that with a slight modification this switch may be used
either as a single or double contact switch and constructed with or without a safety
cut-out or fuse.
In our improved ceiling rose as shown in Figures 5 and 6 we use hollow binding
posts or terminals J as in the switch above described and we sometimes arrange in the
said rose a cut-out or safety-fuse in which the ends of the fusible wire K instead of
being secured to screws are clamped between double terminal plates L the said plates
being secured by pinching screws M. We thus avoid the liability to stretching of the
wire K and consequent reduction of its thickness such as sometimes occurs when the
wire is secured under a screw head simply. The clamps and binding posts or terminals
are all enclosed by a cover as in the switch above described, a single hole B¹ being
made in the cover for the passage of the conducting wires, the said wires first
passing through holes N¹ in a bridge N before passing out of the said cover.
We construct the main and branch circuit or safety fuse cut-outs according to
our invention as follows viz. :-The fusible wire and terminals are arranged upon
a base of porcelain, china, wood, or the like, provided with a cover of the same
material adapted to enclose the whole of the parts so that none of the wires or
other parts through which the current flows are left exposed. In the form of our
cut-out shown in Figures 7 and 8 the fusible wire K is clamped between metal
plates as described with reference to the ceiling rose. The said clamping plates and
terminals are arranged on a circular base A and the ends of the conducting wires
are passed through the latter directly from the back into the terminals in which
they are secured by set screws. The fusible wire instead of being secured to the
adjacent ends of the said contacts are secured to opposite ends, and the wire is
preferably bent or curved to an irregular shape. By these means a considerable
length of fusible wire may be used on a small base. The said cut-out is provided
with a cover B of any suitable material to exclude dust and protect the parts.
another form of cut-out, for larger currents, the base A Figures 9 and 10 is made
of rectangular shape, and near the ends of the same are arranged, and secured by
screws, metal terminals. These terminals are so constructed that the connecting
wires can be passed straight through a hole in the base from the back thereof and
through the terminals and be secured in the said terminals by suitable set screws
The ends of the fusible wire K are secured as shown between the terminal plates
and holding down nuts P on the screw which fixes this terminal to the base. A
In

page_text: about the middle of the base is fixed a screw Q which passes through a hole in
the cover B and is provided with a nut Q adapted to secure the same to the
base. A bridge or distance piece R of porcelain or other insulating material is
provided on the base for keeping the cover in position.
A
In a double cut-out shown in Figure 11 we employ two terminal plates O at
each end of the base and two fusible wires K secured as above mentioned.
bridge R of porcelain or other insulating material serves to separate the two fusible
wires.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it understood
that we claim :-
First. In an electric switch, cut-out, ceiling-rose, or the like, the improved
method or manner of securing the terminals and other conducting portions to the
base plate, substantially as above described.
Second. In an electric switch, the contact bar, and key for actuating the same,
constructed and operating substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third. The improved electric switch, constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings and operating as, and
for the purpose above specified.
Fourth. The improved electric cut-out constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 7 and 8, or Figures 9 and 10 or Figure 11 of the accom-
panying drawings and operating as and for the purpose, above specified.
Fifth. The improved electric ceiling rose constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, and operating
substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Dated this 13th day of October 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.