My Improved contact maker or breaker
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN TOWNSEND BUCKNILL Major in H.M. Corps of Royal Engineers and of
Thornfield in the County of Southampton do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
My Improved contact maker or breaker, or maker and breaker consists of a steel
or other elastic ring, preferably circular for most purposes but it may be elliptical
or of other form-This ring is fitted either internally or externally with contact
points which are insulated from the ring and from each other; and other points
may or may not be added on suitable supports and situated either inside or outside
the ring. A simple form of contact maker is shown on figure 1 and consists
of 2 points normally separated but which are brought together by the distortion
of the ring A. C. B. D whether by a pull in the direction C. D or by a thrust in
the direction A. B see figure 2-A simple form of contact breaker is shewn on
figures 3 and 4 the 2 points c. d normally touching being separated by the ring being
extended by a pull in the direction C. D or compressed by a thrust in the direction A.B.
Figure 5 represents a multiple contact maker the point being normally separated
and figure 6 the same with points brought together by a pull on the major axis or
a thrust on the minor axia.
Figure 6 may also represent a multiple contact breaker the points being normally
touching and Figure 5 may represent the same with the points separated by a pull
on the minor axis or a thrust on the major axis.
Figure 7 represents a ring arranged as a combined circuit closer and breaker A. B
making contact and C. D breaking contact when the ring is distorted as in figure 8
by a pull in the direction C. D or a thrust in the direction A. B.
Figure 9 shows another combination in which 3 contacts are made inside the
ring, and 3 contacts are broken outside the ring, but I prefer not to use outside
contacts and when a combination of this kind is required I prefer to employ 2 or
more rings as indicated on Figure 10, where 3 contacts are made and three broken
by a pull P from the support $-In this manner a series of rings may be employed

page_text: in one or more lines and any desired alteration made in a large number of con-
nections between different wires by a simple pull on a cord, the alteration being
retained as long as desired by fastening the cord and the normal condition
regained by releasing the cord.
The applicability of this system to telegraphic purposes is evident.
It would also be well adapted for firing Artillery electrically by means of the
.ordinary lanyard with which Gunners are drilled.
The system is also extremely useful in some forms of mines or torpedoes whether
for land or sea service.

page_text: COMPLETE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Contact Makers and Breakers.
I, JOHN TOWNSEND BUCKNILL Major in H.M. Corps of Royal Engineers and of
Thornfield in the County of Southampton 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 :-
A simple form of contact maker is shown on Figure 1 and consists of 2 points
normally separated but which are brought together by the distortion of the
ring A C B D whether by a pull in the direction C D or by a thrust in the
direction A B see Figure 2. A simple form of contact breaker is shown on
Figures 3 and 4, the two points c d normally touching being separated by the ring
being extended by a pull in the direction C D or compressed by a thrust in the
direction A B.
Figure 5 represents a multiple contact maker the points being normally separated
and Figure 6 the same with points brought together by a pull on the major axis or
a thrust on the minor axis.
Figure 6 may also represent a multiple contact breaker the points being normally
touching and Figure 5 may represent the same with the points separated by a pull
on the minor axis or a thrust on the major axis.
Figure 7 represents a ring arranged as a combined circuit closer and breaker AB
making contact and C D breaking contact when the ring is distorted as in Figure 8
by a pull in the direction C D or a thrust in the direction A. B.
Figure 9 shows another combination in which 3 contacts are made inside the
ring, and 3 contacts are broken outside the ring, but I prefer not to use outside
contacts and when a combination of this kind is required I prefer to employ 2 or
more rings as indicated on Figure 10 where 3 contacts are made and 3 broken by
a pull P from the support S. In this manner a series of rings may be employed
in one or more lines and any desired alteration made in a large number of
connections between different wires by a simple pull on a cord, the alteration being
retained as long as desired by fastening the cord and the normal condition regained
by releasing the cord.
The applicability of this system to telegraphic purposes is evident.
It would also be well adapted for firing Artillery electrically by means of the
ordinary lanyard with which Gunners are drilled.
The system is also extremely useful in some forms of mines or torpedoes whether
for land or sea service.
The elastic rings which I employ are preferably of steel, blocks of vulcanite or
other insulating material are attached to them and the contact points are fixed
thereon in any suitable mechanical manner. The points are connected to small
terminal screws for the attachment of insulated wire leads,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
1-A contact maker or breaker consisting of a spring ring with insulated
contacts fixed within it which by the flecture of the ring can be brought together
or separated substantially as described.
2. The contact maker substantially as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2.
3. The contact breaker substantially as illustrated by Figures 3 and 4.
4. The multiple contact maker substantially as illustrated by Figures 5 and 6.
5. The multiple contact breaker substantially as illustrated by Figures 5 and 6.1
6. The combined contact maker and contact breaker substantially as illustrated
by Figures 7 and 8.
7. The compound contact maker and contact breaker with internal and external
contacts substantially as illustrated by Figure 9.
8. The combination of a ring contact maker and a ring contact breaker so that 1
the same strain closes the one and opens the other substantially as illustrated by
Figure 10.