Improvements in Circuit Controlling Apparatus for Electric
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 19th Aug., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, junior, of l'ittsburg, County
of Alleghany, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Circuit Controlling Apparatus for Electric
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
The invention relates to an organization of circuits and apparatus to be employed at.
the central stations of electric lighting systems for securing any desired circuit
connections between different pairs of main lines or supply conductors and different
generators at will, and the object of the invention is to provide convenient apparatus
for this purpose, which may be used without producing any noticeable effect the
upon
lights during the changes in the connections, and which is easily controlled.
The invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the general organization of circuits, and
figures 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation and a front view of the switch devices.
Referring to figure 1, A', A³ and A³ represent three independent electric generators
which may in this instance be conveniently considered as being alternate-current
generators. The poles of the generator Al are respectively connected by conductors 1
and 2 with supply conductors L' and L'. The generator A³ is connected by con-
ductors 3 and 4 with supply-conductors Land L, and the generator A' by conductors 5
and 6 with the supply conductors L' and L°. A series of primary conductors or
conductors leading to converters or other suitable apparatus are represented in pairs
at P1, P2, P3, P4, P³, P, P7, P8. These are supposed to lead to independent apparatus,
but it may be desired to connect them with any one of the different generators

page_text: according to the different circunstances under which the system is to operate at
different times. The conductor P₁ is connected with a contact strap B¹, and the
conductor P² with a similar strap B³. The strap B¹ is provided with three insulated
contact discs 61, 62 and 63, with which it may be connected by suitable switch plugs as
shown at c². The discs 61, 62 and 63, are respectively connected with the lines L, L³
and L' which may for convenience be considered as positive conductors or conductors
having currents of the same character at any given time. Similar discs 64, 68
and are
applied to the strap B2 and these are respectively connected with the
conductors L, L and L. The switch-plug c shows the strap B2 as connected with
disc 6. Thus the lines P¹ and P2 are shown as connected respectively with the con-
ductors L³ and L. By changing the position of the pins cand e the lines P¹ and P³
may be connected with either of the other pairs of conductors.
In connection with the lines P³ and P the same system of connections is shown,
different forms of switches being illustrated. These each consist of a movable
arm B3, B4, respectively connected with the lines P³ and P4, each provided with three
contact-plates as shown at 67, 68, 60 and 610, 61, 618. The connections are essentially
the same as described with reference to the lines P¹ and P2, and by moving the switch
arms, the lines P3 and P* may be connected with any pair of conductors L, L, L³, L'
or L', L. Switches S1, S2 and S³ may be employed for connecting the different
generators in multiple are in an evident manner.
For the purpose of securing convenient connections and allowing for changes in the
connections, without injuring the contacts and without producing false connections,
the device illustrated in figures 2 and 3 is employed. This consists of a support D
carrying, upon suitable studs d², d², a yoke-shaped lever B provided with two contact
plates e and designed to make electrical connection with the individual contact-
plates 61, 62, 63, and 64, and 6º, 6º, 67 and 68. These last named plates are respectively
provided with contact plates h¹, h², h' etcetera, which are respectively connected with
the conductors L², L³, L³, L, L, L, L, L, to any desired extent. By inserting a
switch plug c between any pair of plates b¹ and h¹, for instance, and the corresponding
pair 6 and h, and then moving the switch B into contact with the plates b
and 6, the circuit-connections will be completed from corresponding lines L'
and L to the switch-plates e¹ and e² of the switch B. These plates are respectively
connected with the lines P1 and P. If it is desired to change the connections to the
lines L, L, for instance, then the switch plugs are placed between the plates b³ and h³
and and h, and the switch B is moved over the intervening contact-plates without
completing any circuit-connections therewith, the plugs being removed, until it
arrives at plates provided with the plugs c', c', whereupon the desired circuit-connections
are completed.
Instead of the exact arrangement of plugs shown, one series may be used alone,
as b, h³, etcetera, while the contact plates for the opposite pole may remain normally
connected; that is b¹ and h¹ may be one plate. The plugs would then interrupt the
circuit in only one place, when removed, instead of two.
The dotted lines show the connections made by the respective contact-plates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination with two or more generators, of two or more pairs of lines, a
switch-plate for each of said lines, individual switch-points respectively applied thereto
and connected with the respective generators and means, substantially as described,
for placing each pair of lines in connection with the respective pairs of switch plates at
will, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a group of generators, of independent pairs of main lines,
terminating in individual switch-plates, contact-plates for connecting the individual
switch-plates with the respective poles of one of the said generators and independent
switches for connecting the generators in multiple-arc circuit.
3. A switch or circuit-controlling device consisting of a movable lever, two

page_text: independent contact-plates upon said lever, two independent series of contact-plates
respectively applied thereto, and individual contact-plates applied to the last-named
contact-plates and adapted to be placed in electrical connection therewith at will.
4. A circuit-controlling switch consisting of two independent circuit-closing plates,
two independent series of contact-plates respectively applied thereto, corresponding
series of contact-plates, one or both of which series are normally electrically insulated
therefrom, means for completing the connections between any two of the first-named
contact-plates and their corresponding insulated plates, and means for moving the
circuit closing plates into contact therewith.
5. In a system of electrical distribution, the combination of an outgoing and return
wire, two contact-plates with which said wires are respectively connected, two series
of contact points applied to said plates respectively and arranged in pairs, means for
moving said circuit-closing plates against said pairs of contact-plates simultaneously,
different pairs of supply conductors, and means for completing the connections of any
pair of contact-plates with a corresponding pair of supply conductors, at will, sub-
stantially as described.