Year: 1895

page_text: We, GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL, JR. and ALEXANDER VERNON OFFICER,
both of Denver, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, United States of America,
Gentlemen, doing business at 1735 Champa Street in the aforesaid city, 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 improvements in automatic electric switches for use in
connection with a direct or alternating current whereby the circuit may be closed
or broken through the instrumentality of push buttons.
This switch is specially
designed for use in an incandescent circuit. It will therefore be considered in
this Specification with reference to its use in controlling lamps in a circuit of this
description; but it must be understood that its availability is not limited to this
use. The object of the invention in this particular relation is to provide a means
whereby all or any of the lamps in a building may be turned on or off from any
room of the building by simply pressing a button. This object is accomplished
through the instrumentality of two solenoids placed end to end and connected by a
tube composed of non-magnetic material in which is located a movable bar
composed of magnetic material adapted to reciprocate in the tube as the current
is alternately passed through the coils of the solenoids. The reciprocating bar is
slotted to receive a cross-head which extends outward between the solenoids at right
angles to the bar. The tube is also slotted; and the solenoids are separated to
allow the bar the length of stroke required in making and breaking the circuit,
which is accomplished through the instrumentality of the cross-head and copper
brushes which the cross-head engages and disengages as the bar moves back and
forth under the influence of the lines of force or magnetic attraction induced by the
passage of the current through the coils.
The solenoid circuits are completed through auxiliary brushes which engage
projections applied to the reciprocating bar. The function of this feature is the
cutting of the solenoids out of the circuit after momentary energization.
The invention will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing,
Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of the device, partly in section.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuit.
Fig. 4 is a side view in detail of the push button mechanism.
Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in these views, let the
numeral 5 designate an insulating base upon which are mounted the solenoids 6
and 7. The solenoids are provided with insulating end plates 13, 14 and 15, 16
respectively. The outer end plates are secured to the base in any suitable manner.
Through the hollow of the solenoids passes the non-magnetic tube 19 preferably
composed of brass. This tube forms the connection between the solenoids which
are separated by a space 20. The portion of the tube which passes through this
space is slotted as shown at 21. Through the slotted portion of this tube passes a
cross-head 24 composed of some good conducting material, as copper.
cross-head are attached two guide rods 25 slidingly mounted in apertured lugs
formed on the end plates 15 and 16. This cross-head also passes through a central
To this

page_text: To
slot formed in a bar 26 composed of magnetic material, preferably soft iron.
the extremities of the bar 26 are respectively attached projections 27 and 28
composed of conducting material, preferably copper. To the end plates 13 and 15
of the solenoids are attached the auxiliary brushes 49, 50 and 51, 52 respectively
so located that the projections 27 and 28 alternately engage both auxiliary brushes
of each pair as the magnetic bar reciprocates.
On the opposite sides of the solenoid 6 are supported double brushes 32 and 33
composed of some good conducting material, preferably copper.
These brushes
are adapted to engage the cross-head as it is actuated in one direction by the
magnetic bar. The brushes 32 and 33 are supported upon metal lugs 34 and 35
respectively attached to the insulating base in any suitable manner.
Let the numerals 36 and 37 designate the wires of the main circuit in which the
lamp 38 is located. The switch mechanism is interposed in the line 37 of the
circuit. From this wire 37 leads a wire 39 to the brush 32; from the brush 331
leads a wire 40 to the main wire 37; hence, when the cross-head 24 engages the
brushes 32 and 33, the circuit is closed through the switch mechanism, and the
lamp is lighted. This cross-head is shifted for the purpose of making and breaking
the circuit through the instrumentality of the solenoids 6 and 7, push buttons A, B
and a conducting bar C located beneath the push buttons, but normally detached
from both. From the circuit wire 36 leads a wire 41 to the bar C. From the
push button A leads a wire 42 to the binding post 43; from this binding post leads
a wire 44 to the coils of the solenoid 6 from which leads a wire 45 to the auxiliary
brush 49 attached to the insulating plate 15 of the opposite solenoid.
From the auxiliary brush 50 leads a wire 46 to the brush 33 from which leads a
wire 46 to the auxiliary brush 52 attached to the plate 13 of the solenoid 6. From
the auxiliary brush 51 leads a conductor 47 to the coils of the solenoid 7; while
from the opposite terminal of these coils leads a conductor 48 to the binding
post 53 from which leads a conductor 54 to the push button B. The operation of
the switch is as follows, assuming that the magnetic bar 26 and its attachments 27, 28,
together with the cross-head 24, are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the
lamp circuit being broken. Now, if the push button A is pressed to engagement
with the bar C, the electric current may be said to pass from the wire 36 through
the conductor 41 to the part C, thence to the push button A, thence via wire 42 to
binding post 43, thence via the wire 44 to the coils of the solenoid 6, thence via the
wire 45 to the auxiliary brush 49, thence via the projection 27 to the auxiliary
brush 50, thence via the wire 46 to the lug 34 supporting the main brush 33, and
thence via a conductor 40 to the main wire 37, completing the circuit. As the
current passes through the coils of the solenoid 6, the magnetic bar 26 will move
toward the left (referring to the figs. of the drawing), disengaging the projection 27
from the auxiliary brushes 49 and 50 and forcing the cross-head 24 to engagement
with the main brushes 32 and 33, thus completing the lamp circuit and
simultaneously cutting the coils of the solenoid 6 out of the circuit. The
projection 28 is at the same time brought between and to engagement with the
auxiliary brushes 51 and 52. When it is desired to extinguish the lamp 38, the
push button B is pressed. In this case, the current may be said to pass from
the wire 36 through the following circuit elements, namely; the wire 41, the bar C,
the push button B, the wire 54, the binding post 53, the wire 48, the coils of the
solenoid 7, the wire 47, the auxiliary brush 51, the projection 28, the auxiliary
brush 52, the wire 46, the lug 34, or the brush 33, and the wire 40 to the main
wire 37. Hence, when the current takes this path, the solenoid 7 will again
shift the magnetic bar 26, disengage the cross-head 24 from the brushes 32 and 33,
break the lamp circuit and thrust the projection 27 between and to engagement
with the auxiliary brushes 49 and 50.
Though the position of the auxiliary brushes as shown in the drawing is believed
preferable, we are aware that they may be otherwise arranged or fashioned without
departing from the spirit of the invention; hence, we do not limit the invention to

page_text: the construction and arrangement shown. The function of these auxiliary brushes,
and the parts co-operating therewith, is to cut the solenoids out of the circuit after
momentary energization whereby the liability to accident by burning out the coils
is reduced to a minimum.
By slotting the reciprocating bar, whereby the cross-head is loose therein, the
bar acts as a hammer on the cross-head and has more power than if the cross-head
were fitted tightly in the bar. Since the bar moves a short distance before it
engages the cross-head, it strikes the latter with considerable momentum or impetus ;
hence, the result heretofore stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination with the main circuit, of a pair of solenoids, a reciprocating
bar supported therein, branch circuits in which the solenoids lie, and push buttons
whereby the current is alternately passed through the solenoids, and the main
circuit closed or broken, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the main circuit, of a pair of solenoids, a reciprocating
bar supported therein, a branch circuit in which the solenoids lie, auxiliary brushes
supported at the solenoid extremities and in the path of projections applied to the
reciprocating bar, said brushes being interposed in the branch circuit, and the
arrangement being such that the circuit of each solenoid is completed through
the auxiliary brushes remote from said solenoid, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the main circuit, of a pair of solenoids, a reciprocating
bar supported therein, a cross-head adapted to be actuated by said bar, brushes
arranged in the path of the cross-head through which the main circuit is completed,
auxiliary brushes arranged at the solenoid extremities, through which the circuits
of the solenoids are completed, projections applied to the reciprocating bar and
adapted to engage the auxiliary brushes, and suitable means, as push buttons, for
closing the solenoid circuits, substantially as described.
4. In an electrical switch, the combination with the main circuit in which the
translating devices are placed, of a pair of solenoids, branch circuits in which the
solenoids lie, means for alternately and momentarily closing the solenoid circuits, a
movable bar supported in the solenoids, brushes through which the main circuit
is completed, and auxiliary brushes through which the solenoid circuits are
completed, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that the
movement of the bar cuts its actuating solenoid out of the circuit, substantially as
described.
5. The combination with the main circuit in which the translating devices are
placed, of a pair of solenoids, a reciprocating bar supported therein, branch circuits
in which the solenoids lie, suitable means, as push buttons, whereby the current is
alternately passed through the solenoids, and the main circuit closed or broken, and
suitable means for automatically cutting the solenoids out of their circuits after
momentary energization, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the main circuit in which the translating devices are
placed, of a pair of solenoids, a reciprocating bar supported therein, branch circuits
in which the solenoids lie, auxiliary brushes arranged at the solenoid extremities,
and lying in the path of projections on the reciprocating bar, a cross-head passed
through a slot formed in the reciprocating bar, brushes lying in the path of said
cross-head, and suitable means for alternately and momentarily closing the solenoid.
circuits, substantially as described.
7. In an electric switch, the combination with the circuit for supplying the
translating devices, of a pair of solenoids, branch circuits in which the solenoids lie,
means for alternately and momentarily closing the solenoid circuits, a movable bar
supported in the solenoids, and brushes arranged at the solenoid extremities and
adapted to engage projections on the movable bar whereby the circuit of each

page_text: solenoid is completed through the brushes remote therefrom, the actuating
solenoid being cut out of the circuit by the movement of the bar, substantially as
described.
Dated the 12th day of March 1895.
GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL, JR.
ALEXANDER VERNON OFFICER.