Electrical Contact Maker and Current Diminisher for Train Lighting Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1839
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1890-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Electrical Contact Maker and Current Diminisher for Train Lighting
Purposes.
EDWARD JOHN HOUGHTON of Camden, Underhill Road, Dulwich S.E. Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
When automatically charging accumulators for train lighting purposes it is neces-
sary to use a centrifugal governor or similar apparatus to actuate a contact inaker at
the moment the dynamo attains the proper speed for charging, and as the dynamo
generally attains this speed gradually it is needful to use au easily working contact so
as to reduce friction as much as possible.
For this purpose I arrange a contact according to the following plan. I make a
block of wood or other non conducting material, preferably of rectangular shape, and
having a sliding bar to work easily through it longitudinally. This bar is attached at
one end to the plunger of the governor so as to move with it laterally. Upon the
other end of this bar I fix two springs which press upon adjustable contact plates on
opposite sides of the block so that as the dynamo, and therefore the governor, increases
in speed the springs will make contact at the required speed. It is sometimes neces-
sary to insert resistance in the circuit so as to reduce the current when the dynamo
attains too high a speed which I accomplish by means of an adjustable screw, contact
blocks and plunger fixed upon the said block and made to break contact and conse-
quently let resistance into the circuit when required. The drawing shows how these
operations are effected.
A is the block, B the bar fixed at C to the governor plunger (not shewa). D D the
contact springs pressing and sliding upon the contact plates E E to which are
attached the circuit wires. F is an adjustable screw which by pressing upon the
insulated end of the plunger G and compressing the holical spring which embraces it
causes it to disconnect the block a from the block a' and so to let in any resistance
which may be affixed between the blocks.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Electrical Contact Maker and Current Diminisher for Train Lighting
Purposes.
EDWARD JOHN HOUGHTON of Camden, Underhill Road, Dulwich S.E. Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invection and in what manner the
saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:.-
When automatically charging accumulators for train lighting purposes it is neces-
sary to use a centrifugal governor or similar apparatus to actuato a contact maker at
the moment the dynamo attains the proper speed for charging, and as the dynamo
generally attains this speed gradually it is needful to use an easily working contact so
as to reduce friction as much as possible.
For this purpose I arrange a contact according to the following plan. I make a
block of wood or other non conducting material, preferably of rectangular shape, and
having a sliding bar to work easily through it longitudinally. This bar is attached at
one end to the plunger of the governor so as to move with it laterally. Upon the
other end of this bar I fix two springs which press upon adjustable contact plates on
opposite sides of the block so that as the dynamo, and therefore the governor, increases
in speed the springs will make contact at the required speed.

page_text: It is sometimes necessary to insert resistance in the circuit so as to reduce the
current when the dynamo attains too high a speed which I accomplishby means of an
adjustable screw, contact blocks and plunger fixed upon the said block and mado to
break contact and consequently let resistance into the circuit when required. The
drawing deposited with the provisional specification shows how the operations are
effected.
A is the block, B the bar fixed at C to the governor plungor (not shown). DD the
contact springs pressing and sliding upon the contact plates E E to which are attached
the circuit wires. F is an adjustable screw which by pressing upon the insulated ond
of the plunger G and compressing the helical spring which embraces it causes it to
disconnect the block a from the block and so to let in any resistance which may be
. affixed between the blocks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An electrical contact maker as described.
2. Combination of centrifugal governor with the said electrical contact maker.
3. Combination of centrifugal governor with electrical contact maker for inserting
resistance into or removing it from a circuit at varying speeds of the dynamo.
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