Improvements in Electrical Spring Switches.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 25th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Spring Switches.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM LANCASTER of Albert Works, Graham Street Birmingham
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
An improved Electrical Switch constructed to fly off, or on and off, by means of a
spring so as to give a quick, and reliable make or break for any Electrical Circuit.
In order to clearly describe my invention I attach drawings illustrating my improved
switch and the manner in which the same is carried into effect. Similar letters in all
figures indicate similar parts.
Fig. 1. is a plan view of a base B of the Switch which can be made of any suitable
insulating material, as china, slate, wood, &c., having a specially countersunk hole O
to receive the spring and crank movements.
Fig. 2 is a view of the moving contact piece with spring and crank. C, is a
metallic base piece upon which is fixed the spring D by the screw E. L is the crank
or cam piece fixed into the contact piece G but loose in so that in moving G by
means of the handle I the crank piece L is also moved and at a certain point causes G
to fly over in the direction that the handle is turned. The handle may be loose from
the contact piece G or not as required. H is a metallic washer with a small pin
which is used when the contact piece G is required to be free form the handle I. as
"
hereinafter described.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of Fig. 2. as shewing the crank and spring when the
contact piece G is in an off" position.
"
Fig. 3. is a plan view of the complete switch shewing the contact piece in an
on position and in contact with M.
Fig. 4. is an under view of C shewing the spring D without the crank piece L.
Fig. 5 is the same as fig. 4 with the crank Land contact bar G shown in an
position.
"
" off"
Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 5. but with the crank piece L and contact bar G in the
on" position.
Fig. 7. is a one side view of L.
Fig. 8. is another side view of L.
Fig. 9. is the contact piece G.
Fig. 10 is a view of E and L for "fly off" only.
Where the handle is required to be loose from the contact bar G the washer H is
fixed to the handle and has a suitable pin K fixed in the centre which passes through
the centre of G, C, and L.
Another pin is fixed as shewn in drawing P fig. 10 to work in the slot S. Fig. 9.,
in the contact piece G thus having a free movement as defined by the slot S is caused
to fly over by means of the spring when the handle is held.
Dated this 24th day of November 1888.
DADD T TANCASTER
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Spring Switches.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM LANCASTER of Albert Works Graham Street Birmingham
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
Improvements in Electrical spring switches constructed to fly off, or on and off,

page_text: by means of a spring so as to give a quick and reliable make and break for any
electrical circuit."
In order to clearly describe my invention, I attach drawings illustrating 3 forms of
my improved switches and the manner in which the same may be carried into effect.
Similar letters in all cases indicate similar parts. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a base (B)
of one form of switch-which can be made of any suitable insulating waterial, as
china, slate, wood, etc.,—having a special countersunk hole O to receive the spring and
crank movements. Fig. 2 is a view of a moving contact piece with spring and
crank is a metallic base piece upon which is fixed the spring D, by the screw E,
Lis the crank or cam piece fixed into the contact piece G but loose in C so that in
moving G by means of the handle I the crank piece L is also moved and at a certain
point causes G to fly over in the direction in which the handle is turned. The handle
may be loose from the contact piece G or not as required, H is a metallic washer with
a small pin which is used when the contact bar G is required to be free from the
handle I.
"
"
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of fig. 2 and shows the crank and spring when the
contact bar G is in an "off" position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a complete switch
(single break only) showing the contact bar in an on position or in contact
with M. Fig. 4 is an under view of C. shewing the spring D without the crank
piece L. Fig. 5 and 5ª is similar to fig. 4 but with the crank piece fixed and in an
"off" position.
Fig. 6 and 6 is similar to fig. 5 and 5" but showing the crank piece L and contact
bar G in an «
position relative to C. Fig. 7 is a side view of L. Fig. 8 is
on
"
another side view of L. Figs. 9 and 9ª is the contact piece G.
Figs. 10 and 10ª is the washer H with pin.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view of complete switch.
As shown in the accompanying drawings I do not confine myself to the use of fork
springs only or to single break contact only.
Figs. 12 and 12" are plan views of bases for switches with spiral spring on and off
movements. Fig. 13 is a plan view and figure 14 is a sectional view of a single break
switch with spiral spring on and off movements. Fig. 13ª is a double break contact
switched with spiral spring on and off movement similar to fig. 13. As herein-
before mentioned similar letters indicate similar parts B being the base of insulating
material upon which is fixed the metallic piece C by means of screws Y upon this
metallic piece C is pivoted at N the contact piece G upon G is pivoted at R
the handle I having the washer H (fig. 10") fixed thereto the handle thus being
pivoted in the centre of C and the contact bar G pivoted out of the centre on a
separate pivot-The screw or pivot R passes through the slot S in the contact bar G
and is screwed to a shoulder that allows G free movement as defined by the slot
between C and H. To the pin P is attached one end of the spring D the other end
being attached to the pin P2. Thus when the handle is turned in the direction of the
arrow (fig. 13 Y to X) the spring is moved over the centre of the pivot N and pulls
the contact bar G over to the contact bar moving in a reverse direction to the
handle when the handle is turned to its normal position the spring takes the position
as shown in fig. 5ª when the handle is turned in the reverse direction X to Y and
reaches its normal position as in drawing the spring takes the position as shown in
Fig. 6, in each case tending to pull G further" on or further "off." The spring
turning from different centres gives a longer and surer on and "off" movement.
66
"
In use with the forked springs when the handle is required to be loose from the
contact bar G the washer H is fixed to the handle and has a suitable pin K fixed in
the centre which passes through the centre of G. & L. Another pin is fixed as
shewn in drawing at P fig. 10 to work in the slot S fig. 9 the contact piece C thus
having a free movement as defined by the slot is caused to fly over by means of
the spring when the handle is turned into such a position as to enable the spring
to act even if the handle is afterwards held. With the spiral spring the handle
is held to the contact bar by the spring only which has to be moved over the

page_text: pivot or centre of the contact bar before the contact bar will move thus giving a quick
and reliable make and break.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said
Invention, and the modes of carrying same into effect, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The combination of a crank piece with a fork spring, with a base piece
and contact bar and a loose handle as herein described and illustrated.
2nd. The combination of a spring moving with the handle and acting upon a
contact har moving in a separate centre to the handle as herein described & illustrated.
3rd. Electrical spring switches constructed after the manner as herein described
and illustrated.
Dated this 92nd dovr of Santambor 1480
EDWARD W. LANCASTER.