IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WORKING GEAR AND APPLIANCES USED IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING
Year: 1881

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 19th day of October 1888, amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.
LETTERS PATENT to Killingworth William Hedges, of 25 Queen Anne's Gate,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WORKING GEAR AND APPLIANCES USED IN
ELECTRIC LIGHTING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Killingworth William
Hedges at the office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August
1881.
KILLINGWORTH WILLIAM HEDGES, of 25 Queen Anno's Gate, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WORKING GEAR
AND APPLIANCES USED IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING."
The object of this Invention is to improve the working gear and appliances used
in electric lighting.
One part of this Invention relates to the construction of a switch or contact
breaker in which a piece of metal is caused to slide laterally off and on to one or
more metallic connections so as to either break the circuit or change the direction
of the current.
The means at present in use for this purpose causes a large quantity of sparks
to be given off and consequent wear and tear to ensue. To lessen this I place
some insulating material, preferably that known as vulcanised fibre, on or about the
same level as the metallic connections and from the end of the arm of the lever, I
carry a loose contact piece pressed down by means of a spring. Electrical
connection between the uprighi forming the binding screw on which the lever
rotates and the metallic connection is insured by means of a metallic curved or
other spring which exerts a pressure upon the enlarged end of the contact piece.
This contact piece can be turned round or rotated either automatically or by hand
in order to present a fresh wearing surface.
In working electric circuits for lighting purposes it is sometimes found necessary
to substitute one machine for another instantaneously. For this purpose it is
necessary to keep a spare machine running and in order to be able to instantly change
the current from one machine to another, I connect one of the terminals from
n *

page_text: cach working machine to an apparatus consisting of a row of brass plates each of
which is divided by two holes, in which suitable plugs may be inserted. One end
of the plates is connected with the spare machine which is kept constantly running,
and the other end of each plate is connected to one of the separate working
machines. By changing the position of the plugs the current from the spare
machine may thus be substituted for that from any one of the other machines, or
vice versa.
In order to ascertain the locality of a fault in the event of a circuit failing, the
faulty connection is indicated by a disc or other indicator being connected to the
armature of an electro-magnet worked by the current which has passed through
the above instrument, such armature being released when the current ceases
to pass.
My said Invention further consists of an improvement in the driving gear of
machines for producing the electric light. where it is desirable for the machine to
be near the motor. For this purpose I cause the wheel fixed on the driving shaft
to be pressed against the driven pulley of the machine as in the ordinary
frictional gear, but in addition thereto I utilize a third wheel or loose pulley upon
a separate shaft and cause it to press upon the opposite side of the driven pulley
of the machine by encircling it with a strap which also goes partially round the
driving wheel. The centre of the third wheel is not in line with the other two,
but is capable of being moved nearer to such line, and by such movement the
contact becomes more forcible and the strap is at the same time tightened, or
increased in tension.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Killingworth William Hedges in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st February 1882.
KILLINGWORTH WILLIAM HEDGES, of 25 Queen Anne's Gato in the City of
Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WORKING GEAR AND APPLIANCES USED
IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING."
The object of this Invention is to improve the working gear and appliances used
in electric lighting.
One part of this Invention relates to the construction of a switch or contact
breaker, in which a piece of metal is caused to slide laterally off and on to one or
more metallic connections, so as to either change the direction of the current, or
break the circuit.
The means at present in use for this purpose causes a quantity of sparks to be
given off, and consequent wear and tear to ensue. To lessen this I place some
insulating material, preferably that known as vegetable fibre, on or about the
same level as the metallic connections; and from the end of the arm of the lever I
carry a loose contact piece pressed down by means of a spring. Electrical
connection between the upright forming the binding screw on which the lever
rotates, and the metallic connection is insured by means of a netallic curved or
other spring, which exerts a pressure upon the enlarged end of the contact piece.
This contact piece can be turned round, or rotated, either automatically or by hand,
in order to present a fresh wearing surface. In working electric circuits for
lighting purposes it is sometimes found necessary to substitute instantaneously one
machine for another. For this purpose it is necessary to keep a spare machine'
running, and in order to be able to instantaneously change the current from one
machine to another, I connect one of the terminals from each working machine to
an apparatus consisting of a row of brass plates each of which is divided by two
holes, in which suitable plugs may be inserted. One end of the plates is connected
with the spare machine, which is kept constantly running, and the other end of
each plate is connected to one of the separate working machines. By changing the
position of the plugs the current from the spare machine may thus be substituted
for that from any one of the other machines or vice versa.
In the event of a circuit failing, the faulty connection is indicated by a disc,
or other indicator, being connected to the armature of an electro-magnet worked
by the current which has passed through the above instrument, such armature
being released when the current ceases to pass.
My said Invention further consists of an improvement in the driving gear of
machines for producing the electric light, where it is desirable for the machine to
be near the motor. For this purpose I cause the wheel fixed on the driving shaft
to be pressed against the driven pulley of the machine, as in the ordinary frictional
gear, but in addition thereto I utilize a third wheel, or loose pulley, upon a separate
shaft, and cause it to press upon the opposite side of the driven pulley of the
machine, by encircling it with a strap which also goes partially round the driving
wheel. The centre of the third wheel is not in line with the other two but is
capable of being moved nearer to such line, and by such movement the contact
becomes more forcible, and the strap is at the same time tightened or increased in
tension.
And, in order that my Invention may be more perfectly understood, I proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. I. is a plan and Fig. III. a side view of a switch or contact breaker
according to my Invention. D is a loose contact piece which is pressed. downwards

page_text: on the plate B by means of the spring G, which ensures a good contact being
maintained. The top of the contact piece D is prolonged as shown at D¹ for the
purpose of turning D so as to shift, its position on B. Electrical contact between
the lever H and loose contact piece D is provided for by the metallic connection G,
which also may assist in keeping D pressed down. Figs. I. and III. represent an
arrangement of contact breaker for currents of high electro-motive force, the
current entering at 1 and leaving by I¹ or vice versa; by turning the handle, the
lever H will cause the two contact pieces D D to slide off B B on to the insulating
substance A until stopped by the block K. By arranging other metallic con-
nections B the contact pieces D may be slid on to these, and the direction of the
current changed in the usual manner.. Fig. II. shows an arrangement in which the
current enters at M and passing through the spring G to D, leaves by the binding
screw 1, or if preferred the spring G may be placed on the top of the lever H, as
shown in Figs. I. and III., but in both cases D is left free to turn on its axis, so as
to ensure a good contact. This turning of D on its axis can if required be effected
by the motion of the lever H when contact is made or broken.
Fig. VII. is a plan and Fig. VIII. a section at A B of my improved apparatus
for substituting the electric current from. a spare machine for that from any one of
the working machines which may have broken down. C is a block of insulating
material on which is mounted on its upper side a series of binding screws D D D
and B B B. Each of the binding screws D is connected by means of a short
length of brass or other material H, on the underside of C to a series of plates K
on the upper sido of C, and each of these plates K may by means of ordinary
plugs be connected with either the arm L or one of the binding screws B, as may
be desired. Each of the binding screws B is connected with the wires leading to
the lights. The lead from the spare machine is connected to the binding screw A¹
and the leads from the working machines to D D D, whence the currents pass in
each case through plugs A inserted in holes E to the binding screws B B B.
When for example the working machine connected with the binding screw D¹
breaks down and it is desired to substitute the current from the spare machine, a
plug G is inserted where shown in the Drawing, and the current from the spare
machine then passes through the binding screw A¹ to arm L the plug G, and along
the plate K to the binding screw B₁. By inserting a plug at F the spare machine
may be used separately, if its lead is connected to the binding screws A¹, A".
By means of an indicator Fig. IX. the electro-magnet of which, M, is placed in
circuit of each of 'the working machines, it may be seen at once which of the
working machines has broken down. The indicator may be caused to display a
sign D, and to strike a bell as shown, at the moment the electro-magnet M ceases
to pull.
Fig. IV. shows the arrangement according to my Invention of driving the
shafts of machines for producing the electric current. B represents the driving
pulley, D that on the spindle of the machine it is required to drive, and L an idle
wheel which is encircled by a belt H also passing round B. The idle wheel L is
free to revolve on a spindle K¹ fixed on the block K which can be adjusted in a
vertical direction in the slot N of the lever M. The object of the slot N being to
secure a better grip of L on the pulley D, also a means of tightening the belt H
by lowering the wheel L and block K thus causing the centre line of L to become
more in line with the centre line of B and D, and thus increase the distance
between Land B. Fig. V. shows an end view of the lever M which is free to pivot
on the centre O. Fig. VI. is an alternative arrangement in which the standard P
carries the wheel L, in this case P is free to approach and leave the pulley D; by
slotting the holes in the base or in the bed plate R as shewn. On the best
position for driving being determined the block K may be prevented from moving
by tightening a nut or set screw P as shewn in Fig. V.
I am aware that a small pulley has been driven by the friction of two larger
ones placed on each side of it over which a belt passes, also that this arrangement
has been described and is well known at the present date. One of the great

page_text: disadvantages of this arrangement amongst others is that there is no means of
tightening the driving strap when it becomes necessary to do so, but by altering
the strap itself: Whereas in my plan by placing (Figs. IV., V., VI.,) the centre of
the idle pulley either above or below the line joining the centres of the driving and
middle pulley the tendency of the belt is either to lower or raise the block K and
thus to increase the distance between the centres of the idle pulley L and the driving
pulley B, and so to tighten the strap.
Although I have shewn and described my improved mode of driving.electric
light machinery, it is evident that it is also equally applicable to driving the shafts
of other high speed machinery, if the pulley is of sufficient size to allow of the
adjustment of the centre line, by means of the moveable block K, combined with
the spindle K and in the construction of switches or contact breakers I make no
claim to rotating the contact pieces. But what I claim and desire to be secured to
me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. In the construction of switches or contact breakers, the use of the loose contact
piece D made free to revolve in the arm H, pressed down by a spring C, sub-
stantially as described and shewn.
2. The combination of the loose contact piece D, free to revolve in the arm H,
the spring C, and the metallic connecting piece G.
3. The arrangement for substituting the current from a spare machine for that
from a working machine, substantially as described in the Specification, and shewn
in Figs. VII. and VIII.
4. Mounting the third or loose pulley out of the centre line of the other two
pulleys, substantially in the manner described, so that the driving straps may be
tightened or loosened automatically or by. hand, and thereby the grip of the two
outer pulleys on the centre one may be rapidly increased or diminished to suit the
varying resistance of the centre pulley to rotary movement.
.
In witness whereof I the said Killingworth William Hedges have hereunto
set my hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of January in the
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
year
KILLINGWORTH WILLIAM HEDGES. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Killingworth William Hedges, of 25, Queen Anne's Gate;
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an Invention
"
of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WORKING GEAR AND APPLIANCES USED IN
ELECTRIC LIGHTING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Killingworth William
Hedges at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August
1881.
KILLINGWORTH WILLIAM HEDGES, of 25 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WORKING GEAR
AND APPLIANCES USED IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING."
The object of this Invention is to improve the working gear and appliances used
in electric lighting.
One part of this Invention relates to the construction of a switch or contact
breaker in which a piece of metal is caused to slide laterally off and on to one or
more metallic connections, so as to either break the circuit or change the direction
of the current.
The means at present in use for this purpose causes a large quantity of sparks
to be given off. and consequent wear and tear to ensue. To lessen this I place
some insulating material, preferably that known as vulcanised fibre, on or about the
same level as the métallic connections, and from the end of the arm of the lever I
carry a loose contact piece pressed down by means of a spring. Electrical
connection between the upright forming the binding screw on which the lever
rotates and the metallic connection is insured by means of a metallic curved or
other spring which exerts a pressure upon the enlarged end of the contact piece.
This contact piece can be turned round or rotated either automatically or by hand
in order to present a fresh wearing surface.
In working electric circuits for lighting purposes it is sometimes found necessary
to substitute one machine for another instantaneously. For this purpose it is
necessary to keep a spare machine running, and in order to be able to instantly change
the current from one machine to another, I connect one of the terminals from
[Price Gd1

page_text: each working machine to an apparatus consisting of a row of brass plates, each of
which is divided by two holes, in which suitable plugs.may be inserted.
One end
of the plates is connected with the spare machine which is kept constantly running,
and the other end of each plate is connected to one of the separate working
machines. By changing the position of the plugs the current from the spare
machine may thus be substituted for that from any one of the other machines, or
vice versa..
In order to ascertain the locality of a fault in the event of a circuit failing, the
faulty connection is indicated by a disc or other indicator being connected to the
armature of an electro-magnet worked by the current which has passed through
the above instrument, such armature being released when the current ceases
to pass.
My said Invention further consists of an improvement in the driving gear of
machines for producing the electric light where it is desirable for the machine to
be near the motor. For this purpose I cause the wheel fixed on the driving shaft
to be pressed against the driven pulley of the machine as in the ordinary
frictional gear, but in addition thereto I utilize a third wheel or loose pulley upon
a separate shaft, and cause it to press upon the opposite side of the driven pulley
of the machine by encircling it with a strap which also goes partially round the
driving wheel. The centre of the third wheel is not in line with the other two,
but is capable of being moved nearer to such line, and by such movement the
contact becomes more forcible and the strap is at the same time tightened or
increased in tension.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Killingworth William Hedges in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st February 1882.
KILLINGWORTH WILLIAM HEDGES, of 25, Queen Anne's Gate, in the City of
Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WORKING GEAR AND APPLIANCES USED
IN ELECTRIC LIGHTING."
The object of this Invention is to improve the working gear and appliances used
in electric lighting.
One part of this Invention relates to the construction of a switch or contact
breaker, in which a piece of metal is caused to slide laterally off and on to one or
more metallic connections, so as to either change the direction of the current or
break the circuit.
The means at present in use for this purpose causes a quantity of sparks to be
given off, and consequent wear and tear to ensue. To lessen this I place some
insulating material, preferably that known as vulcanised fibre, on or about the
same level as the metallic connections, and from the end of the arm of the lever I
carry a loose contact piece pressed down by means of a spring. Electrical
connection between the upright forming the binding screw on which the lever
rotates, and the metallic connections is insured by means of a metallic curved or
other spring, which exerts a pressure upon the enlarged end of the contact piece.
This contact piece can be turned round or rotated either automatically or by hand
in order to present a fresh wearing surface. In working electric circuits for
lighting purposes it is sometimes found necessary to substitute instantaneously one
machine for another. For this purpose it is necessary to keep a spare machine
running, and in order to be able to instantaneously change the current from one
machine to another, I connect one of the terminals from each working machine to
an apparatus consisting of a row of brass plates, each of which is divided by two
holes, in which suitable plugs may be inserted. One end of the plates is connected
with the spare machine which is kept constantly running, and the other end of
each plate is connected to one of the separate working machines. By changing the
position of the plugs the current from the spare machine may thus be substituted
for that from any one of the other machines, or vice versa.
In the event of a circuit failing, the faulty connection is indicated by a disc
or other indicator, being connected to the armature of an electro-magnet worked
by the current which has passed through the above instrument, such armature
being released when the current ceases to pass.
My said Invention further consists of an improvement in the driving gear of
machines for producing the electric light, where it is desirable for the machine to
be near the motor. For this purpose I cause the wheel fixed on the driving shaft
to be pressed against the driven pulley of the machine as in the ordinary frictional
gear, but in addition thereto I utilize a third wheel or loose pulley upon a separate
shaft, and cause it to press upon the opposite side of the driven pulley of the
machine by encircling it with a strap which also goes partially round the driving
wheel. The centre of the third wheel is not in line with the other two, but is
capable of being moved nearer to such line, and by such movement the contact
becomes more forcible, and the strap is at the same time tightened or increased in
tension.
And in order that my Invention may be more perfectly understood, I proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. I. is a plan, and Fig. III. a side view of a switch or contact breaker
according to my Invention; D is a loose contact piece which is pressed downwards

page_text: on the plate B by means of the spring G which ensures a good contact being
maintained. The top of the contact piece D is prolonged, as shown at D', for the
purpose of turning D so as to shift its position on B. Electrical contact between
the lever H and loose contact piece D is provided for by the metallic connection G,
which also may assist in keeping D pressed down; Figs. I. and III. represent an
arrangement of contact breaker for currents of high electro-motive force, the
current entering at I and leaving by I', or vice versa; by turning the handle the
lever H will cause the two contact pieces D, D, to slide off B, B, on to the insulating
substance A until stopped by the block K. By arranging other metallic con-
nections B the contact pieces D may be slid on to these, and the direction of the
current changed in the usual manner; Fig. II. shows an arrangement in which the
current enters at M and passing through the spring G to D leaves by the binding
screw I¹; or if preferred the spring G may be placed on the top of the lever H, as
shown in Figs. I. and III.; but in both cases D is left free to turn on its axis, so as
to ensure a good contact. This turning of D on its axis can if required be effected
by the motion of the lever H when contact is made or broken.
Fig. VII. is a plan, and Fig. VIII. a section at A, B, of my improved apparatus
for substituting the electric current from a spare machine for that from any one of
the working machines which may have broken down; C is a block of insulating
material on which is mounted on its upper side a series of binding screws D, D, D,
and B, B, B. Each of the binding screws D is connected by means of a short
length of brass or other material H on the underside of C to a series of plates K
on the upper side of C, and each of these plates K may by means of ordinary
plugs be connected with either the arm L or one of the binding screws B, as may
be desired. Each of the binding screws B is connected with the wires leading to
the lights. The lead from the spare machine is connected to the binding screw A¹,
and the leads from the working machines to D, D, D, whence the currents pass in
each case through plugs A inserted in holes E to the binding screws B, B, B.
When for example the working machine connected with the binding screw D'
breaks down, and it is desired to substitute the current from the spare machine, a
plug G is inserted where shown in the Drawing, and the current from the spare
machine then passes through the binding screw A¹ to arm L, the plug G, and along
the plate K to the binding screw B¹. By inserting a plug at F the spare machine
may be used separately, if its lead is connected to the binding screws A¹, A".
By means of an indicator Fig. IX. the electro-magnet of which M is placed in
circuit of each of the working machines, it may be seen at once which of the
working machines has broken down. The indicator may be caused to display a
sign D and to strike a bell as shown, at the moment the electro-magnet M ceases
to pull.
Fig. IV. shows. the arrangement according to-my Invention of driving the
shafts of machines for producing the electric current. B represents the driving
pulley D, that on the spindle of the machine it is required to drive; and L an idle
wheel which is encircled by a belt H, also passing round B. The idle wheel Lis
free to revolve on a spindle K¹ fixed on the block K which can be adjusted in a
vertical direction in the slot N of the lever M, the object of the slot N being to
secure a better grip of L on the pulley D, also a means of tightening the belt H
by lowering the wheel L and block K, thus causing the centre line of L to become
more in line with the centre line of B and D, and thus increase the distance
between L and B; Fig. V. shows an end view of the lever M which is free to pivot
on the centre O; Fig. VI. is an alternative arrangement in which the standard P
carries the wheel L. In this case P is free to approach and leave the pulley D by
slotting the holes in the base Q or in the bed plate R as shewn. On the best
position for driving being determined the block K may be prevented from moving
by tightening a nut or set screw P, as shewn in Fig. V.
I am aware that a small pulley has been driven by the friction of two larger
ones placed on each side of it, over which a belt passes, also that this arrangement
has been described and is well known at the present date. One of the great.

page_text: disadvantages of this arrangement, amongst others, is that there is no means of
tightening the driving strap when it becomes necessary to do so but by altering
the strap itself, whereas in my plan, by placing (Figs. IV., V., VI.,) the centre of
the idle pulley either above or below the line joining the centres of the driving and
middle pulley, the tendency of the belt is either to lower or raise the block K, and
thus to increase the distance between the centres of the idle pulley Land the driving
pulley B and so to tighten the strap.
Although I have shown and described my improved mode of driving electric
light machinery, it is evident that it is also equally applicable to driving the shafts
of other high speed machinery if the pulley is of sufficient size to allow of the
adjustment of the centre line by means of tho moveable block K combined with
the spindle K', but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is,-
i. In the construction of switches or contact breakers, the use of the loose contact
piece D made free to revolve in the arm H, pressed down by a spring C, sub-
stantially as described and shewn.
2. The combination of the loose contact piece D free to revolve in the arm H,
the spring C, and the metallic connecting piece G.
3. The arrangement for substituting the current from a spare machine for that
from a working machine, substantially as described in the Specification and shewn
in Figs. VII. and VIII.
4. Mounting the third or loose pulley out of the centre line of the other two
pulleys, substantially in the manner described, so that the driving straps may be
tightened or loosened automatically or by hand, and thereby the grip of the two
outer pulleys on the centre one may be rapidly increased or diminished to suit the
varying resistance of the centre pulley to rotary movement.
In witness whereof, I, the said Killingworth William Hedges, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
KILLINGWORTH WILLIAM HEDGES. (L.S.)