Improvements in Electric Regulating Switches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 14th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
Date of prication, 20th July, 1090
Complete Specification Left. 14th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Regulating Switches.
We, RooкES EVELYN BELL CROMPTON and EDMUND ARTHUR NORMAN POCHIN,
Engineers, both of Mansion House Buildings London, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our improvements relate to the mechanism which operates that class of regulating
switches in which the contact piece has to be moved successively from any one contact
block to an adjacent one and more particularly to those switches in which it is desired
to effect this operation by a definite and completed movement of a handle so that the
operation of moving the contact piece exactly from its correct position on one block
to its correct position on the next block may be performed without any special care
or attention on the part of the operator or it may be carried out in the dark. In
order to effect this we prefer to arrange a moving contact so as to slide on a central
bar alongside of which is conveniently placed in order the contact blocks on which
the moving contact must successively rest; in some cases this central bar can act as
one terminal of the switch and in other cases we can provide as this terminal a second
bar parallel to it on which the sliding contact piece can also rest. In order to operate
the sliding contact and move it successively to the desired positions on each contact
block we provide at the back of it a boss or projection through which a cylindrical
hole is bored parallel to the central bar the back of this hole being slotted out.
We mount a cylindrical rod so as to be guided parallel to the central bar in such a
position that it passes through the whole in the contact piece. The cylindrical rod
has an handle at one or both ends and its length is such that it can move backwards
and forwards through a stroke exactly equal to the distance between two successive
blocks. This cylindrical rod is also provided with pins or projections attached to it
in such a manner that if the rod be revolved to a certain position so that these pins
coincide with the slot at the back of the cylindrical hole the rod and pins can pass
down through the hole and slot without moving the contact piece. If on the other
hand the rod is turned through a portion of a revolution these pins are so placed as
to carry the contact piece up and down with the rod. We prefer to supply the
cylindrical rod with adjustable stopping pieces which may take the form of a pair
of nuts or of collars with set pins so that the stroke of the vertical rod may be from
time to time adjusted accurately in order to insure that any complete movement of the
rod between the limit of these stops carries the contact piece with it in the exact
required distance from one contact block to the next one.
The switch is worked in the following manner.
If the attendant desires to move the contact piece from one contact to the adjacent
one in any required direction he does this by pushing the handle and with it the
cylindrical rod in the required direction to the full limit of the stops. If the cylindrical
handle is already at the limit of its stroke in the required direction he first turns it so
that the pins can pass through the slot at the back of the contact piece and draws it
to the other end of its stroke then turns the cylindrical rod partly round and pushes
it in the required direction and repeats this operation each time he wishes to advance
the contact piece to the next block; reversing the operations if he wishes to move the
contact in the reverse order.
Dated the 20th day of July 1896

page_text: Improvements in Electric Regulating Switches.
We ROOKES EVELYN BELL CROMPTON, and EDMUND ARTHUR NORMAN POOHIN
Engineers, both of Mansion House Buildings, London 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 improvements relate to the mechanism which operates that class of electric
regulating switches in which the contact piece has to be moved successively from any
one contact block to an adjacent one and more particularly to those switches in which
it is desired to effect this operation by a definite and completed movement of a handle
so that the operation of moving the contact piece exactly from its correct position on
one block to its correct position on the next block may be performed without any
special care or attention on the part of the operator or it may be carried out in
the dark.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show in front view, side view and plan view an electric
regulating switch intended to be fixed in a vertical position against a switchboard or
wall or other suitable support.
A is the supporting slate of a switchboard against which the mechanism is bolted.
B is a central vertical bar on which the moving contact b slides; C to represent
six contacts with which it is intended that the switch should make electrical connection
from the terminal bar D. In some cases the moving contact b can be arranged to
make a good contact with the bar B in which case one arm of the contact 6 and the
terminal bar D are unnecessary. In order to operate the sliding contact b and bring
it successively to the desired position on each contact we provide it with a boss or
projection d through which a cylindrical hole is bored the axis of this hole being
parallel to the vertical bar B and we mount the vertical cylindrical rod e so as to slide
through the two brackets E; the rod e is provided with handles f and with pairs of
lock nuts g at each end by which the stroke or travel of the rod can be regulated to
correspond with the distance between any of the adjacent contacts. The rod e is
provided with six pins h and the block D has cut into the back of it a slot i of such
width that the pins h h can pass through it when the rod is turned into such a
position that the pins coincide and are in line with the slot. If, however, the rod e is
turned through a portion of a revolution, the pins h h will no longer coincide with
the slot so that any vertical motion imparted to either of the handles ff is
communicated to the moving contact b.
The switch is worked in the following manner.
In the drawing Fig. 1 the moving contact b is shown on contact ; if it be
desired to move the contact bonto C the handle fis turned a little and then pushed
downwards until the upper pair of nuts 9 come in contact with the bracket E; this
brings correctly into position on to the contact C. If on the other hand it is desired
to move onto the handle is pressed down without turning it so that the pin
that is now shown above the slot passes to the lower end of the slot the handle is
then turned slightly and pulled upwards carrying b with it into the desired position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an electric regulating switch the mechanism by which a moving contact is
transferred successively from one fixed contact to another fixed contact by means
of a cylindrical rotating rod provided with driving pins, substantially as herein
described.
2. In an electric regulating switch the use of a sliding and rotating rod provided

page_text: with pins and with adjustable nuts or collars for regulating the travel in order to
ensure that the moving contact is transferred by each operation of the switch to a
definite position on each successive contact, substantially as set forth.
3. The construction and use of electric regulating switches so that the operation of
removing the contact piece, with exactitude, from a correct position on one block to
a correct position on the next block may be performed, without the exercise of
special care or attention on the part of the operator, or the aid of light being
requisite, substantially as set forth and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 13th day of April 1897.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.