An Electrical Switch or Circuit Closing and Interrupting Device of Improved Construction. CITTINGICE
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 20th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 21st Jan., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Electrical Switch or Circuit Closing and Interrupting Device of
Improved Construction.
1. GERALD PERCIVAL, Electrician, 30 Old Georges Street Cork Ireland do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for Ax ELECTRIC SWITCH OR CIRCUIT CLOSING
AND INTERRUPTING DEVICE to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of an arrangement of two or more inclined surfaces and one
or more springs so placed in relation to one another that the springs always tend to
press towards one or other of the inclined surfaces, so that if picces of metal be
interposed between the spring or springs and the inclined surfaces the piece or pieces,
of metal so interposed will be kept in contact with the inclined surface or surfaces in
such a manner that on a relative motion being imparted to the spring or springs and
incline or inclines the piece or pieces of metal, resting on the incline or inclines,
shall be caused to move up or down the said incline or inclines according to the
direction of the relative motion.
The inclines being so formed that when the motion is such that the metal in contact
with the incline moves up to the highest point of the incline further motion in the
same direction shall cause the metal piece, pressed by the spring, to fall instantly
quite clear of the incline on which it had been resting, and terminate its falling
motion by coming in contact with the lowest part of the next ensuing inclined surface.
Whereby, if one incline be faced with conductor such as a metal and the next with
an insulator the 1 metal piece carried by the spring will in falling break contact with
an insulator and make contact with a conductor or vice-versa according to which it
had been previously in contact with, or if the two inclines in juxtaposition to each
other be both conductors but insulated from each other the metal piece will make
contact with the second conductor immediately on falling from the first.
For most purpoes it is convenient to form the inclined surfaces so that when in
position they together form a kind of ratchet wheel either internal or external or
crown shaped.
The spring or springs may be conveniently formed in one piece with the contact
piece or pieces.
Dated this 20th day of January 18$7.
GERALD PERCIVAL,
30, Old Georges Street, Cork.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Electrical Switch or Circuit Closing and Interrupting Device of
Improved Construction.
GERALD PERCIVAL 30 Old Georges Street Cork Electrician.
do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH OR CIRCUIT CLOSING AND
INTERRUPTING DEVICE OF IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention consists of an arrangement of two or more inclined surfaces and one
or more springs so placed, in relation to one another, that the spring or springs
always tend to press towards one or other of the inclined surfaces, so that if pieces of
metal be interposed between the spring or springs and the said inclined surfaces the
pieces of metal so interposed will be kept in contact with the inclined surface or
surfaces in such a manner that on a relative motion being imparted to the spring or
springs and incline or inclines the piece or pieces of metal resting on the incline
or inclines shall be caused to move up or down the said incline or inclines according
to the direction of the relative motion.
The incline or inclines being so formed that when the motion is, such, that the
metal piece, in contact with the said incline moves up to the highest point of the
incline further motion in the same direction shall cause, the metal, picce pressed by
the spring, to fall instantly quite clear of the incline on which it has been resting and
terminate its falling motion by coming in contact with the lowest part of the next
ensuing inclined surface whereby if one incline be faced with a conductor and the next
with insulator the metal piece carried by the spring will, in falling, break contact
with an insulator and come into contact with a conductor or vice versa according to
which it has previously been in contact with; or if the two inclines in juxtaposition
to each other be both conductors but insulated from each other, the metal piece will
make contact with the second conductor on falling from the first. For most purposes
it is convenient to form the inclines so that when in position they together form a
kind of ratchet wheel either internal, external, or crown shaped. In cases where the
inclines are arranged in the form of a crown wheel, that is, if the inclines forming
the teeth of the wheel were cut on the end of a cylindrical or poligonal tube, I form
the inclines which make the teeth of such wheel either of an insulating substance, and
face the teeth or some of them with metal, the metal faces being insulated from each
other, and being soldered to, or formed in one piece with, projections carried down
through the body of the teeth or projecting to the outside of the teeth, to which
projections the source of electricity and the conductors to which electricity is some-
times to be supplied may conveniently be connected by any of the usual methods such
as screwing, clamping, or soldering. And when the inclines forming the teeth of the
Baid crown wheel are so constructed the body of the teeth or insulating portion may
conveniently be made in one piece with the base or foundation of the whole switch.

page_text: But it is not necessary that the body of the teeth should be in one piece with the base,
as the base or foundation may be of an ornamental material such as vulcanite, hard
wood or slate or Porcelain and the teeth of a commoner or more easily worked
material. In the accompanying drawings Sheet 1.
In the centre of the body equidistant from all the teeth a projection or pivot or a
recess or bearing (Fig. 4. Letter L.) as may be most convenient is formed and on or
in this an axle or shaft (Fig. 4. Letter H.) is mounted so that it can be turned round.
This shaft is made hollow and has a slot (Fig. 4 Letter J) cut longitudinally through
it and through this slot a metal rod or bar (Fig. 4 Letter C.) is passed so as
to project at each side of the axle radially and sufficiently to reach to and rest upon
the teeth of the wheel, or inclines. In the interior of the tube or hollow of the axle a
spiral spring is fitted so, as to press or else draw (Fig. 2 Letter K.) the metal bar
into contact with the surface of the inclines when the axle is in its place in the centre
of the base so that if the said axle be turned round in the direction of the rise of the
inclines the bar of metal will be forced up the slot and the spring put under stress
whereby the spring will on the metal bar reaching and passing the highest point of
the teeth on which it is resting be forced to fall on to the lower part of the next
ensuing inclines. In this form the number of teeth or inclines should be even so that
the metal bar may always have two inclines to rest upon at opposite sides of a
diameter. The metal bar may be solid or for apparatus intended for carrying large
currents, with projecting brushes of wire or thin plates of metal at the ends so as to
make a good contact. On the end of the shaft or axle carring the metal Bar a knob
(Fig. 4. Letter L.) or handle is fixed by which the axle may be conveniently turned
round and I usually provide this knob with a flange which is made wide enough to
close the hole or orifice in a suitable Cap (Fig. 1. Letter M.) or Case which I place
over the outside of the base and which can also act as a convenient guide or support
for the knob and consequently for the upper end of the shaft or axle. Or instead of a
hollow axle a solid one may be used with a radial bar sliding on it by means of an eye
in the middle and pressed into contact with the inclines by a spiral spring on the out-
side of the axle (instead of in the interior of it) the axle being provided with a feather
or projection at the portion on which the eye of the bar slides by which said bar may
be propelled.
In the form described contact is made or broken at two places simultaneously at
opposite ends of a diameter but if this is not desired then I make the metal bar to
project to only one side of the axle as far as the inclines, attaching it to a sleeve or
guide sliding in or on the central axle in which case the said axle should be of metal
and also the pivot or bearing on or in which it turns this pivot or bearing being
connected to one terminal of the apparatus. And it is not then necessary for the number
of inclines to be even. Sheet 1, on drawings represents this form of apparatus subject
to the modifications mentioned.
In another form of switch I carry out my invention and form the acting portions
by making a series of teeth in a circle in the general form of an internal (Fig. 2
sheet 3.) ratchet wheel the teeth being of metal and insulated from each other or
made of an insulator and all or some faced (Fig. 2 sheet 3 Letter A.) with metal (as
may be required) (the insulator being of a suitable nature as before described)
on the inclined sides or faces the other sides or faces of the teeth being formed
radially or nearly so by which construction the contact blocks or pieces or
brushes of metal must be arranged to have a radial or approximately radial motion
which obtain by mounting them on short levers (Figs. 2. & 4. sheet 3. Letter C.)
pressed outward by springs or on springs attached tangentially or nearly so to a
suitable wheel or disc (Fig. 2. & 4. sheet 3. Letter d.) capable of being rotated about
an axis in the centre of the ratchet wheel or series of inclines whereby the contact
blocks or brushes are kept in contact with the inclines and can be caused to move on
them and on reaching the highest point of the said inclines and passing it the levers
or springs, carrying the contact blocks or brushes, will instantly fall quite clear of the
said inclines on which they had been resting and come in contact with the lower part
of the next ensuing inclines.

page_text: If it is only desired to make or break contact at only one place at a time then only
one lever or spring and contact block or brush is required or need be used, which is
connected electrically, through the disc on which it is mounted and the bearing or
axle on which the disc is mounted to one terminal of the apparatus (Fig. 2 sheet 3.
Letter F.) and the metal faces of the inclines to the other terminals of the apparatus
(Fig. 2 sheet 3 Letters E E).
But if it should be desired that contact should be broken or made in two places at
once, then two levers or springs and blocks or brushes (are required) being both
attached, to the disc by which they are moved, at opposite ends of a diameter of the
said disc, the contact blocks or brushes being in electrical connection with each other
through the disc or by means of a flexible conductor attached to them both, when this
latter form is used the number of inclines should be even; the metal faces of the
inclines being connected to the terminals of the switch.
When I use an arrangement of the inclines such that they form a sort of a ratchet
wheel with the teeth on the outside edge (Fig. 4 sheet 2) then it is generally more
convenient to rotate the wheel; and, it is mounted on the central axle, and the contact
blocks or brushes (Figs. 2 & 5 sheet 2) with their supporting levers or springs
(Fig. 2 & sheet 2) are mounted on the base, and are connected to the terminals
(sig. 2 & 5 sheet 2 Letter E.) of the switch. I sometimes construct the wheel in this
form of switch in metal and face some of the teeth with a sufficient thickness of an
insulating substance such as Vulcanite Mica &c. or I make the wheel of an insulator
and face some of them with metal (Figs. 2 & 4 sheet 2. Letter A. A.)
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner it is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
First. In Electrical switches or circuit closing or interrupting devices, the use of
inclines, constructed and applied substantially as set forth, to produce sudden or
instantaneous closing or interrupting of any electrical circuit in which the apparatus
is interposed.
Second. In Electrical switches or circuit closing or interrupting devices, the use of
contact blocks or brushes or bars constructed, mounted, or applied so as to be capable
of being pressed upon and moved or slid up such inclines and used with such inclines
substantially as described.
Third. In Electrical switches or circuit closing and interrupting devices, the use of
such inclines arranged or formed in a series consecutively one after another in a
circle or poligon, whereby they together take the form of a ratchet wheel so that, if
contact blocks or brushes or bars be slid up the inclines on passing beyond the
highest part of the inclines, the blocks shall be free to fall instantly upon a lower part
of the next ensuing inclines substantially in the manner described and for the purposes
set forth.
Datel this 18th day of October 1887
GERALD PERCIVAL,
Electrician,
30, Old Georges Street, Cork.