An Improved Electrical Push-button for Signalling Circuits.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 15th July, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Push-button for Signalling Circuits.
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JAMES MOUNTJOY ELLIOTT, Electrical Engineer of 10 Woodquest. Avenue
Herne Hill London, S.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention • to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method by which a way or channel is
provided in the push, for the passage of an electrical conductor or conductors from
the interior to the exterior of the push-button.
If desired the conductors can be partially carried through the push and .connected
to a make-and-break device in the push, which may be in connection with another
circuit.
I attach the conductors in the first place to the contact pieces on the base
of the push-button, from whence they are brought into the way or channel in
the push & carried through to the outside of the said push, the orifices of the
way or channel being preferably at the side of the push.
By this means an additional circuit is readily provided which can be utilised in
various ways for signalling purposes, such as by attaching the conductors to another
push-button which may for convenience sake be portable; or the conductors may
be attached to an electrical make-and-break device which is in connection. with
another signalling circuit.
My push can be made in any size required to suit existing push-buttons, and can
be readily applied by an unskilled person.
Dated this 27th day of February 1892.
JAMES MOUNTJOY ELLIOTT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Push-button for Signalling Circuits.
I JAMES MOUNTJOY ELLIOTT of 10 Woodquest Avenue, Herne Hill in the
County of London, Electrical 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 :-
It is the usual plan in fixing bell pushes in the rooms of houses and buildings to
put the bell-pushes in positions which are more or less convenient for general use,
but which for special cases are inconvenient and necessitate a person rising from
his seat to ring the bell, this often being a source of inconvenience.
The present invention is intended to obviate this inconvenience by means of
special devices in push-buttons which can easily be adapted as I shall presently
shew to any, existing push.
By the word push-button I mean any contrivance which serves to bring the
contacts on the push into electrical communication with one another.
My invention consists in passing conductors, which may be flexible or otherwise
through the push-button, such conductors being primarily in connection with the
contacts on the base of the push, and their other ends being connected to one or
more make and break devices such as a portable push which can be moved to any
desired position and thus extend the range of the fixed push.
A special coupling arrangement may be attached to the conductors close to the
fixed push to enable this auxiliary make and break device to be detached when not
required.

page_text: Throughout the drawings which accompany the Specification similar parts are
marked with like letters of reference.
Fig. 1 shews an external view. of an arrangement which is applicable to small
pushes, while
Fig. 2 shews a section through the line of Fig. 1.
A conductor is attached to the spring or contact d of the push A and led
through the way or channel in the push-button c. A second conductor y is
attached to the spring or contact e and led through the way or channel in the
push-button c.
The other ends of the conductors æ and y are attached to the piece k, Fig. 1-
forming what may be called a "coupling arrangement ΟΙ "coupler "which is
employed to enable the auxiliary make and break device or push to be attached
when required or detached when not wanted.
In Fig. 1 the ways or channels pass transversely through the push-button c
and terminate at the side of the push-button, but any other course which may be
more convenient mechanically may be adopted and the conductors may be of any
required length.
Though better insulation is obtained by leading each conductor as described
through a separate channel it is in most cases more convenient to twist the two
insulated conductors together and lead them through a common channel b as shewn
in Fig. 4.
1 find it covenient to make the flange f, which is usually found on every push-
button (most clearly shewn in Fig. 4) deep enough to allow, the way or channel b
to be brought out through it at the side.
This allows the button c a certain amount of free motion without the insulation
on the flexible conductors getting abraided by the rubbing between the base of the
button c and the top contact or spring of the push.
The coupling arrangements before alluded to with reference to Fig. 1. can be
made up in any convenient way, a simple method being illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3,
or as far as electrical arrangements are concerned in any of the couplers
hereinafter described, any desired ornamental shape being given to them on the
exterior.
In Fig. 1. m m are two metal tubes to which the ends of the conductors & and y
are secured in any convenient way such as by soldering.
nn Fig. 3, are two metal pins connected to the ends of flexible conductors
which are in connection with the portable push or pushes or other make and break
device.
The auxiliary make and break device or push is thus connected up to the fixed
push by inserting the pins n n¹ into the tubes m m³.
It is plain that if now the two conductors are brought into contact by pressing
the portable push or other make and break device, the effect will be the same as if
the springs of the fixed push had been brought directly into contact and the bell
will ring.
If it is desired that the connections shall be of a more permanent character, the
coupling arrangements of Figs. 1 and 3 may be dispensed with.
Thus in Fig. 4 the conductors a and y pass directly through the way or channel b
in the push-button c to the portable push or other make and break device.
All that is necessary in this case is to pass the conductors and y through the
way or channel b, connect them at one end to the contact springs d and e of the
fixed push A Fig. 2 and at the other end to the contacts or springs of the portable
push or other make and break device.
A. most compact and convenient arrangement when the size of the push will
allow of its convenient application is represented by Figs. 5. 6. and 7 of which
Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the push-button c, the push being shewn with its
cover B screwed on.
Fig. 6 shews a front view of the push and push-button.
Fig. 7 shews a back view of the push-button c.

page_text: In this case coupling arrangements are provided in the button itself so that the
separate piece & used in the arrangement shewn in Fig. 1 is unnecessary.
In Figs. 5. 6. 7 the metal contact tube m' is connected by the flexible conductor to
the contact or spring d Fig. 5, while the second metal tube m which has its base
slightly enlarged makes electrical contact at its end with the contact or spring e
which presses against it.
If thought desirable to prevent any possibility of undue strain on the conductor x,.
the button may be prevented from rotating by a projecting piece of metal a
Fig. 8, which can be made in any convenient manner to catch against the spring or
contact e.
The electrical circuit is then coupled up in a similar way to that herein before
described by inserting the pins n n of the coupling piece Fig. 3 into the metal
tubes mm in the push-button c Fig. 5.
Another form of coupling arrangement applied directly to the push-button is
illustrated in Figs. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. in which-Fig. 9 shews a sectional view,
Fig. 10 a back view and Fig. 11 a front view of the push-button c.
Fig. 12 shews a sectional view and Fig. 13 a front view of the detachable
coupling piece.
A rectangular way or channel is made in the button c, Figs. 9 and 11, in which
two flat strips of metal m m' are fixed opposite one another in any convenient way
such as by allowing the lugs h, h at the ends of the strips to grip the button c,.
the other extremities of the strips being held fast by driving home a small conical
plug r.
The strips mm are connected electrically as in the case of the button e Fig. 5
to the springs or contacts and e.
A sectional view of the detachable coupling piece is shewn in Fig. 12. in which
the flat metal strips are held firmly in position in any convenient way such as
by fixing the ends of the strips into the notches p, pin the pin which should
be of any convenient insulating material.
11
The other extremities of the strips are connected respectively to the conductors.c
and in any convenient way such as by soldering.
The flexible conductors attached to the metal strips n n¹ are as before, carried to
the portable push or pushes or other make and break device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A push-button through which one or more conductors pass from the inside of
the pusli to the outside, any such conductor passing through a way or channel in.
the push-button itself.
2. The use of electrical conductors passing through the push-button and attached
at one end to the contacts in the push, and at the other end to an auxiliary make
and break device or push, with or without the intervention of an intermediate
coupling device.
3. The devices for the attachment of an auxiliary make and break device or
push as illustrated and described with reference to Figs. 1. 2. and 3.
4. A push-button with coupling arrangements in the push-button itself as
illustrated and described with reference to Figs. 5. 6. 7. 8 in which the contact.
tubes in the push-button are connected to the springs or contacts of the push,.
the metal pins in the detachable coupling piece being connected through flexible
conductors to a portable push or pushes or any other make and break device.
5. A push-button with coupling arrangements directly in it as illustrated and
described with reference to Figs. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. in which a common way or
channel is employed for the conductors.
n
DC Mil 1 T.... 1000
JAMES MOUNTJOY ELLIOTT.