A New or Improved Duplex Electric Switch.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1896--Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by FRIEDERICH WILHELM BUSCH, of Ludenscheid,
Westphalia, in the German Empire, Electrical Engineer.]
A New or Improved Duplex Electric Switch.
J, PHILIP FREDERICK WILLIAM SIMON trading as Conze and Simon, of
52 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Electrical Engineers, 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:-
This invention relates to a construction of duplex electric switch in such a
manner that when the handle is turned one quarter round, the parts that are
making contact suddenly separate breaking the contact, and when the handle is
turned another quarter round they suddenly make contact again, and so on
successively each quarter turn of the handle causing alternately a sudden break
and a sudden make of contact.
The switch is constructed as shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1, is a side view with the cover on,
Fig. 2, is a side view, and Fig. 3 is a plan the cover being removed.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section, Fig. 5 a plan, partly in section, of the handle, and
Fig. 6 is a plan looking from below.
The handle H may be fixed on the axis A, but it is preferably fitted as shewn with
a spring sliding pin entering a notch of the axis which is so shaped that when the
handle is turned in the direction of the arrow Fig. 5, the axis A turns with it, but,
when the handle is turned in the opposite direction, the spring pin is merely pressed
back escaping the notch, and the axis is not turned.
To the lower end of the axis A is attached a wheel B having four ratchet teeth
directed one way, and four spiral arcs extending from each to the next, so that
when it is turned in the direction of the arrow Fig. 6, a sliding pin C is pushed
outwards in opposition to a spring.
This pin operates as a pawl engaging the ratchet teeth of another four toothed
wheel D which is immediately above B, and has its ratchet teeth directed the
opposite way. The wheel D is fixed on a sleeve E which surrounds the axis A
and is fitted to revolve in a brushed hole of the base F which is made of porcelain
or other insulating material. On the top of the sleeve E is fixed one end of a
helical spring S having its other end bent upwards so as to meet a pin projecting
from the axis A, this spring yielding so as to allow the axis A to be turned partly
round without turning the sleeve E.
On the sleeve is fixed a disc G of ebonite or other nonconductor, in which are
fixed two metal segments K.
On two opposite studs are fixed springs Land L' which, bear upon the upper
surface of the disc G and on other two opposite studs are fixed springs M M' which
bear against the under surface of the disc G. The springs are so shaped that the
bearing part of M is immediately under that of L and the bearing part of M
under that of L. A line wire is connected to each of the springs L, M, L', M'.
The switch operates as follows:-
In the position of the parts as shewn in Fig. 3, the springs are all bearing on

page_text: metallic segments of the disc G, consequently there is conduction between L and M,
and between L' and M¹.
On turning the handle H in the direction of the arrow it turns the axis A
straining the spring S but not turning the sleeve E, because it is held stationary
by the pin C engaged with a tooth of the wheel D. As the axis A is turned and
the wheel B with it, the spiral arc of B pushes outwards the pin C, and when it is
thus disengaged from the tooth of D, the strain of the spring S causes the sleeve E
to make a sudden partial turn and with it the disc G, so as to bring the insulating
segments G between the springs L and M and between I and M', thus preventing
conduction between the springs and consequently opening both circuits.
By the next partial turn of the handle H, the disc is again suddenly turned so
as to bring its metallic segments between the two pairs of springs, thus closing the
circuits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A duplex electric switch constructed and operating substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of October 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.