Improvements in Automatic Electric Switches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Electric Switches.
We ARTHUR BALLANCE of 14 Terries Street Hedon Road, Electrician, and
EVERETT HEBDEN HEWSON of 341 Hedon Road, Provision Merchant, both in
Hull in the County of Yorks, 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 on Patent No. 639195, and has for its
object the automatic control of mast head and side lights of ships, where electric
current is employed, to be used in connection with double filament or other
incandescent lamps, it is also applicable as a burglar alarm by being operated by
a push button or the like, when it will set a bell ringing and switch on the light.
:
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. is a front elevation of our improved switch showing lamp connections.
Fig. 2. is a view looking in at bottom end of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. shows switch bar with enlarged end and slot to receive insulating or
other pin.
Fig. 4. is elevation of switch as used for burglar alarm showing connections.
For the purpose of our invention we employ two solenoids A A preferably end
to end, these solenoids are pegged or otherwise attached to a bed of slate or any.
other suitable incombustible material B. The core C, working in these solenoids,
consists of preferably two iron bars, one bar for each solenoid, connected to a
central brass boss D, this brass boss has projecting from its underside a stud E,
(see Fig. 2) of ebonite or any other suitable non-conducting material, to the bottom,
end of which is attached a brass or the like runner F. On the bed piece B'
underneath this runner we attach a metal piece G, describing the same arc as that
made by the roller F, this metal piece G is divided or broken at any suitable place.
on its surface preferably at the centre G'. The switch box H is pivotted at its
centre by means of a screw J or the like, the end of the said switch bar H, through
which the stud E, passes is preferably enlarged at H. (see Fig. 3) the enlarged
part having a slot in it so that the core of the solenoid gets an impetus before
pulling the said switch bar over. We also employ two or more contact blocks KK,
Ecrewed or otherwise attached to the slate bed B, it is by means of these contact
blocks that as the switch bar comes in contact with either one or the other the
switch operates oue or other filament of the lamp or lamps.
The solenoids A A, for this purpose, are wound with differential coils, one
coil A', of solenoid A, on left, being connected in circuit with one filament L' of
lamp L, the other coil A, a shunt to the main M, one coil A³ of the other.
solenoid, would be connected in like manner to the other filament L' of the lamp L,
and the other coil A', a shunt to the main M, thus it will be seen that each
filament of the lamp is connected to one or other of the solenoids A A, and contact
blocks K K, and are independent of each other, being operated solely by the
movement of the switch bar H.
For the purpose of causing the cores CC, to work smoothly within the
solenoids A A, without too much play we may fit rollers N N, on the inner ends of
the bobbins of the solenoids, just over and under the holes, the cores bear on these
rollers and move in and out easily without shaking.

page_text: When operating the lamps the switch bar H, being for instance on the left
contact block K, the path of the current would be as follows:-Through the wire O
connected to the positive main, or dynamo marked +, the holder L3 of the lamp,
thence to the connection L, common to both filaments of the lamp L, through the
filament L', to one coil A' of solenoid A on the left, and also to switch block K on
the left, down the switch bar H, to centre stud J, from there back to the main or
dynamo P by means of negative wire marked, this is the lamp circuit. The
shunt circuit is from the positive M of the dynamo or main through second coil A²
of solenoid A on the left, to left contact block K, through bar H to negative
wire P, this shows the connection on left solenoid, the coil A3 of the right
solenoid A is connected in like manner to the block K, on the right, the path of
the current being through the other filament L2 of the lamp L, through the coil As
of the right solenoid A, contact block K, the switch bar H, and negative wire P
back to the dynamo or mains.
The shunt circuit of the second coil A', of solenoid A on right, is connected to
positive marked +, of dynamo or main M, through coil A, thence to block K on
right through switch bar H, and back to the negative or mains marked P.
The action is as follows:-On connection being made the current passes from the
dynamo or mains, through either path as given, through the solenoid A, say
the one on the left, in opposite directions one coil overcoming the magnetism of the
other, hence the switch bar is kept in its place on left contact K, so long as the
filament L' of the lamp L, to which the connection is made is intact, should this
from any cause fail, or the connection break the current at once ceases, in the
coil A', the second coil A2 at once attains its full power, sucks in the core C, and
draws the bar H over unto the opposite contact block K, bringing other filament L³
of the lamp L into action, as the bar passes over, the metal runner engages the two
divisions G of the metallic arc G, thereby closing local battery circuit R,
operating relay, indicator, bell or the like, which is connected to the metallic arc,
if both filaments L¹ & L² of lamp L fail, the bar oscillates continuously between
contact block, and contact block, keeping the alarm R going until such time as the
lamp is replaced by a good one.
When using the switch for a burglar alarm, the solenoids A A, are wound with
only one coil each, and are operated by means of push buttons or the like S, S', S',
connected to doors, windows, or the like, these pushes are connected in parallel
from any part of a building, and any number may be used, the path of the current
being as follows:-If switch lever H is on left contact block k, on push S being
pressed the current may be said to flow from the positive main M, through left
hand solenoid A, across the push S, pressed or released, through indicator T and
switch U, to contact block K on left, through switch bar H, to centre stud or
pivot J, through wire P, to the negative marked, the alarm action being
brought into play by the indicator drop falling upon two contact points, thus
closing local battery and bell circuit R, the action is as follows:-On the push S
being pressed or released, the solenoid A on the left is energized, sucking in the
core C, hauling the switch bar H to contact K on the right, instantaneously
lighting lamps L, and ringing alarm R; for switching off the light, an independent
push S3 is employed, by pressing which the right hand solenoid A is energised,
sucking in the core C, hauling the switch bar H over to the left contact K, this
cuts off the lights and brings the bar H back to its original position ready for
action again.
For day purposes an ordinary switch U may be inserted between indicator T
and left contact bar K, so that any door, window or the like, can be opened during
the day without actuating the switch.
A second independent push button S' is placed anywhere between connection M¹
and left contact block K for the purpose of switching on to the lighting circuit for
ordinary lighting purposes, and can be used without in any way affecting the other
pushes attached to indicator.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. For the control of masthead and side lights in ships, an automatic electric
switch consisting of a slate or the like bed B, having attached thereto two
solenoids A A, with differential winding A', A', A and A', cores C, C, connected
to central boss D, stud E with runner F, metal arc G, switch bar H, pivot J,
switch contacts KK, lamp L with two filaments L' L, connection to holder L',
antifriction runners N N, local battery circuit R, the whole in combination with
the main circuit, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and
described.
2. A combined automatic switch and burglar alarm consisting of slate or the
like hed B, solenoids A, A, cores C C, metal boss D, antifriction runners NN,
switch bar H, pivot J, contacts K K, indicator T, switch U, push buttons S, S¹,
S2, S3, and S4, local battery circuit R, the whole in combination with the main
circuit, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and described.
Dated thie Nineteenth day of March 1806
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,.
Patent Agent for the Applicants.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,.
Patent Agent for the Applicants.