A Combined Ceiling Switch, Cut-out, and Ceiling Rose for Electric Incandescent Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Ceiling Switch, Cut-out, and Ceiling Rose for Electric
Incandescent Lamps.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT PRYKE, of 48 Upper Thames Street, City of London,
Wholesale Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention, is to construct an electric switch, an electric cut-out,
and a ceiling rose in a combined form, so that the switching can be effected by a
pull on a cord, or wire, like as by a bell pull and a lift or return of the pull cord to
permit of the current being switched off.
The invention is specially adapted for incandescent lamps in workshops and
places where the lamps in clusters or otherwise are in connection with, or supported
by, or suspended from a ceiling, from projecting brackets, and other parts of a
building.
For the purpose of my invention, I prepare a pottery, a porcelain, or other base,
as an insulator with a series of small holes in and through it, and also with a large
central aperture, in which a cylinder, or barrel is secured. Within this barrel, I
arrange a plunger with a channelled neck and an eye at one end. The plunger has
also a couple of stud pins working in slots in the barrel as guides for the end on
motion of the plunger, said stud projecting and pressed by springs fitted at
either side of the cylinder with their free cuds in the small holes of the base, which
are otherwise plugged.
On the base, a couple of spring brass lips are fitted with their ends curled and
within range of the plunger when pulled to make contact between the terminals to
which the conducting wires are affixed.
The pull cord is attached to the eye of the plunger, and when pulled down, the
channel of the plunger is engaged by the curled ends of the two lip plates, coupled
by the weight of the cord to keep the plunger down, the spring on the studs being
put into tension and the current switched on, but by lifting the weighted cord, the
springs return the plunger to its normal position and the current switched off.
The base is provided with the usual cut-out, and is covered by an ornamental cap,
through the centre of which the pull cord is passed.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Robert Pryke.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Ceiling Switch, Cut-out, and Ceiling Rose for Electric
Incandescent Lamps.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT PRYKE, of 48 Upper Thames Street, City of London,
Wholesale Ironmonger, 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 object of this invention, is to construct an electric switch, an electric cut-out,
and a ceiling rose in a combined form, so that the switching can be effected by a
pull on a cord or wire like as by a bell pull and a lift on return of the pull cord to
permit of the current being switched off.

page_text: My invention, as shown in the annexed drawings, Figure 1 being a vertical
section, Figure 2 an under plan, Figure 3 an elevation with cover removed, consists
of a base of porcelain or other insulating material on which the parts formed of
brass, or other conducting material are mounted.
Figure 4 shows a diagram of electrical connections.
The parts A and B are the terminals carrying the current from the supply cable
to the flexible conductor connected to the lamp holder.
In the centre of the porcelain base is fixed a hollow vertical cylinder C slotted
on either side for about three fourths of its length to receive the arms c, c, of a
piston D sliding therein. This piston composed of brass, or other conducting
material carries the two arms e, e, sliding in the two slots previously referred to,
and slides within the cylinder Calready described. A brass eye d is fitted at one
of its extreme ends for operating the piston in the manner hereafter set forth. The
piston D is likewise grooved above this eye d for the connections G, H.
On either side of the hollow vertical cylinder, are two plates E and F engaging
by means of springs e, f, with the two arms of the centre piston, and having a
tendency to keep the said piston within the vertical cylinder. Two connections G, H,
composed of springy brass, or other conducting material are also fitted on either side
of the said piston and cylinder in such a manner that when the piston is withdrawn
from the cylinder, the ends of these connections G, H, engage with the piston to
complete the electric circuit.
Between the parts A. and H is fitted an ordinary fusible wire or strip g, which
conveys the electric current to the latter.
All the foregoing parts are fixed to the porcelain base by means of screws
running through same and secured with metal plates suitably tapped at reverse
side of porcelain base.
The working of my invention is as follows:-The supply cables J, J, pass
through slots on reverse side of porcelain to allow the same to be screwed flush
to ceiling, or other part as required. From the cables J, J, is jointed the
conductor a b to the parts A and B. The current then passes through the fusible
strip y between A and H on its way to the lamp.
Flexible conductors, i are fixed to the parts B and G and pass through the
eye of the sliding piston D. These conductors then proceed in the direction
of the lamp L.
Above the lamp holder is fixed a hollow receptacle M filled with shot (such as
the ordinary shot weight) for the purpose of keeping in position the sliding
piston D when drawn out. The shot weight together with the lamp, shade, and
holder act as a counter-balance upon the piston enabling same when drawn out
to make the connection with the parts G and H, thus completing the electric
circuit.
To put the lamp out of circuit it is only necessary to slightly raise the shot
weight by means of the cord allowing the piston to fly back by the action of the
springs e and f.
All the working parts of this invention are encased in a suitable cover K having
a hole in centre to allow conductors to pass through.
Advantages :-
1. The article is in itself a perfect quick break switch and being affixed to the
ceiling instead of on the wall renders the ordinary wall switch together with the
casing and leads usually fitted to the wall, unnecessary.
2. In addition to being a perfect switch it is designed to take the place of the
ordinary ceiling rose and cut-out, as at present employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The novel and particular arrangement of parts as shown in the annexed
drawings for the purposes described.

page_text: 2. As a ceiling rose, an electric lamp switch, an electric cut-out in combination,
the parts being arranged for operation as described and substantially as shown by
the annexed drawings.
T
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Robert Pryke.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Robert Pryke.