Fluid-operated Electric Switches.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1893. .
Complete Specification Left. 30th Mar.. 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Fluid-operated Electric Switches.
I, JEAN JOSEPH PAUL CLARIOT of 97, Rue Nollet, Paris, France, Locksmith,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to fluid-operated electric switches for controlling―
i.e. closing, breaking, varying, or distributing, electric currents from a distance
without the use of conducting wires between the switch and the distant points.
whence it is operated whereby the consequences of imperfect insulation, and the
danger of sparking, are avoided since the apparatus which is liable to heating or
sparking may be fixed at a distance from inflammable structures and be cperated
from any number of distinct points either simultaneously or separately.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, wherein
Figure 1 is. an elevation of one arrangement of the switch actuated by water
pressure.
Figure 2 is a section of the switch, shewing the brushes and contact wheel.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modified arrangement.
Figure 4-shews.the switch operated by pneumatic pressure.
Figure 5 is a section of the pneumatic bulb.
Figure 6 is a section of pneumatic cylinder.
Figure 7 shews the apparatus as applied for putting resistances or cells in or out
of circuit.
Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of two switches operated simultaneously.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The switch is mounted upon an insulating plate A, as shewn in Figure 1, and
supposing the fluid employed to be water under pressure this is supplied from a
reservoir a or main, through a pipe b connected to one end of a cylinder d con-
taining a piston c and spring facting in opposition to the fluid pressure, the access
of which is controlled from different points by three-way cocks eel, placed upon
branches interposed in the main pipe b, two being shewn in this example. The
piston rod is jointed to a lever h pivoted at i and provided with a pawl; actuated by
a weight k or a spring-k (Figure 3) and adapted to engage with the pins of a
metal wheel m and cause it to be propelled step by step at each forward oscillation
of the lever h. The wheel m has a cylindrical contact surface n against which
bears a brush o and also a series of any number of peripherally-projecting studs n'
for contact with brushes o' connected to different circuits. A weighted jumper p
pivoted at p and having a V-shaped surface p² bears on the pins 1, causes the
wheel m to pass rapidly from one position to the next in its step by step motion, so
that the circuit is made or broken quickly before the piston completes its stroke.
The brush is connected with one pole of the battery 9 and each brush is
connected with the other pole through the lamp or other electro-receptive device r
apon which the current is to act. The current may be switched on the lamp 1,
wheel moccupying the position shewn in Figure 1, by turning either of the
cocks eel, so as to admit water under pressure to cylinder d whereby the piston c is
moved against the spring, lever h oscillated, and wheel m rotated by the pawl the
listance of one pin l, at the same time that the jumper is first raised, and then
forces the wheel suddenly forward to its new position and holds it there, closing
he circuit at one or more of the brushes o' and contacts n'. By completing the
notion of the cock e or e¹ the fluid is free to escape from cylinder d, the cocks

page_text: The
being three-wayed, and the spring f causes the piston to discharge the water and
resume its initial position together with lever hand pawl j. In order to break the
circuit, the action is similar, the wheel m rotates one tooth which breaks contact
between brushes o' and projections n¹. In Figure 3 the wheel m is made of
insulating material and its periphery is divided into any number of equal parts, of
which alternate ones constitute the contacts n which are connected together, the
circuit being closed or broken according as the two brushes o o', which may also
vary in number, hear upon the contacts n, or upon the insulated portions. A spring
jumper p ensures the sudden motion of wheel m to the extent of one division and
its retention in the position to which it is moved. The pawlj and pins / may be
replaced by a pawl and ratchet wheel mounted on the axis of wheel m.
hydraulic cylinder and piston may also be replaced by a pneumatic bellows, as
shewn in Figure 4, which is expanded by compressing the india-rubber bulb A', to
move lever h, a spring B (Figure 5) expanding the bulb when released at same
time that the bellows c' is collapsed by the spring f, whereby equilibrium is quickly
re-established. The bellows C¹ may be operated from different points by two or
more bulbs A A' connected to the same pipe b. The bulb may also be replaced by
an air-cylinder D (Figure 6) in which a piston E when moved in opposition to a
spiral spring F by pulling the piston rod G forces air into the bellows d, Figure 4.
Several switches may be thus operated simultaneously through the same line of
piping, whether one or more batteries be used.
The
When applying the invention to work switches for putting resistances or cells in
or out of circuit where a to and fro movement of the switch is required, the
wheel m would have a single contact n rotating within a circle of contacts n' to n³,
insulated as at u, Figure 7, and respectively connected, say, to the correspondingly-
numbered cells 1 to 8 of an accumulator X, so that the cells being also connected
together, a progressively-increasing number of cells will be switched into circuit
accordingly as contact n is moved from n' to n8. The motion of wheel m in oppo-ite
directions is produced by duplicating the pawls j and their fluid-operated actuating
mechanism, the pawls being oppositely-acting and their actuating cylinders being
connected to different pipes 123 respectively furnished with cocks ee³. With this
apparatus is combined an indicator for shewing the position of the contact and
consequently the number of cells in circuit. For this purpose the pipes 263 are
prolonged and communicate with a second pair of cylinders d' whose pistons operate
a wheel m' in an exactly similar manner and to the same extent as wheel m.
wheel m' revolves. in front of a disc bearing the numbers 1 to 8 corresponding to
the contacts n' to nº, and has an aperture t whose position always corresponds to
that of contact n and at which the number exhibited indicates that contact is made
between n and the similarly numbered one of the ring of contacts n' to n³. The
number of the contacts to n would vary according to the purpose for which the
apparatus is to be applied. Two exactly similar wheels m may also be superposed
and insulated from one another, so as to permit of acting simultaneously on both
poles. The same object may also be attained by operating several switches at one
time from the same point, as in Figure 8, wherein the current from the battery q
passes through the brush o, wheel m, and then, contact being established as shewn,
through the brush o¹ to the electro-receptive device r, the return being through
the brush o, wheel m³, and brush o³, to the battery g. It will be evident that the
making and breaking of the circuit would be simultaneous in the two switches.
Dated this 15th day of July 1893.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
CLARIOT,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: Fluid-operated Electric Switches.
1, JEAN JOSEPH PAUL CLARIOT, of 97, Rue Nollet, Paris, France, Locksmith,
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 statenient :-
This invention relates to fluid-operated electric switches for controlling-i.e.
closing, breaking, varying, or distributing,-electric currents from a distance without
the use of conducting wires between the switch and the distant points whence it is
operated, whereby the consequences of imperfect insulation, and the danger of
sparking, are avoided, since the apparatus which is liable to heating or sparking
may be fixed at a distance from inflammable structures, and be operated from any
number of distinct points, either simultaneously or separately.
Reference is to be had to the drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification,
wherein
Figure 1 is an elevation of one arrangement of the switch actuated by water.
pressure.
Figure 2 is a section of the switch, shewing the brushes and contact wheel.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modified arrangement.
Figure 4 shews the switch operated by pneumatic pressure.
Figure 5 is a section of the pneumatic bulb.
Figure 6 is a section of a pneumatic cylinder.
Figure 7 shews the apparatus as applied for putting resistances or cells in or out
of circuit.
Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of two switches operated simultaneously.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The switch is mounted upon an insulating plate A, as shewn in Figure 1, and
supposing the fluid employed to be water under pressure this is supplied from
a reserveir a or main, through a pipe connected to one end of a cylinder d
containing a piston c and spring acting in opposition to the fluid pressure, the access
of which is controlled from different points by three-way cocks e e', placed upon
branches interposed in the main pipe b, two being shewn in this example. The
piston rod y is jointed to a lever h pivoted at i and provided with a pawlj actuated by
a weight k or a spring k (Figure 3) and adapted to engage with the pins 7 of a metal
wheel m and cause it to be propelled step by step at each forward oscillation of the
lever . The wheel m has a cylindrical contact surface n
against which bears
a brush o and also a series of any number of peripherally-projecting studs n' for
contact with brushes o' connected to different circuits. A weighted jumper p.
pivoted, at p' and having a V-shaped surface p² bears on the pins /, and causes the
wheel m to pass rapidly from one position to the next in its step by step motion, so
that the circuit is made or broken quickly before the piston completes its stroke.
The brush o is connected with one pole of the battery and each brush o' is
connected with the other pole through the lamp or other electro-receptive device r
upon which the current is to act. The current may be switched on the lamp r,
wheel moccupying the position shewn in Figure 1, by turning either of the
cocks e e', so as to admit water under pressure to cylinder whereby the piston c is
moved against the spring, lever h oscillated, and wheel m rotated by the pawl; the
distance of one pin 1, at the same time that the jumper p is first raised, and then
forces the wheel suddenly forward to its new position and holds it there, closing the
circuit at one or more of the brushes o' and contacts n'. By completing the motion
of the cock e or e¹ the fluid is free to escape from cylinder d, the cocks being three-
wayed, and the spring f causes the piston to discharge the water and resume
its initial position together with lever and pawl j. In order to break the circuit,
.

page_text: the action is similar, the wheel m rotates one tooth which breaks contact between
brushes o' and projections n'.
l
In Figure 3 the wheel m is made of insulating material and its periphery is
divided into any number of equal parts, of which alternate ones constitute the
contacts n which are connected together, the circuit being closed or broken according
as the two brushes o o', which may also vary in number, bear upon the contacts n, or
upon the insulated portions. A spring jumper p ensures the sudden motion of wheel m
to the extent of one division and its retention in the position to which it is moved.
The pawl and pins may be replaced by a pawl and ratchet wheel mounted on
the axis of wheel m. The hydraulic cylinder and piston may also be replaced by a
pneumatic bellows, as shewn in Figure 4, which is expanded by compressing the
india-rubber bulb A', to move lever, a spring B (Figure 5) expanding the bulb
when released at same time that the bellows c is collapsed by the spring f, whereby
equilibrium is quickly re-established. The bellows c¹ may be operated from
different points by two or more bulbs A A' connected to the same pipe b. The
bulb may also be replaced by an air-cylinder D (Figure 6) in which a piston E
when moved in opposition to a spiral spring F by pulling the piston rod G forces air
into the bellows d, Figure 4. Several switches may be thus operated simultaneously
through the same line of piping, whether one or more batteries be used.
When applying the invention to work switches for putting resistances or cells in
or out of circuit where a to and fro movement of the switch is required, the wheel m
would have a single contact n rotating within a circle of contacts n' to 18, insulated
as at u, Figure 7, and respectively connected, say, to the correspondingly-numbered
cells 1 to 8 of an accumulator X, so that, the cells being also connected together,
a progressively-increasing number of cells will be switched into circuit accordingly
as contact n is moved from n' to 8. The motion of wheel in opposite directions
is produced by duplicating the pawls j and their fluid-operated actuating mechanism,
the pawls being oppositely-acting and their actuating cylinders being connected to
different pipes 263 respectively furnished with cocks ee³. With this apparatus is
combined an indicator for shewing the position of the contact and consequently the
number of cells in circuit. For this purpose the pipes 623 are prolonged and
communicate with a second pair of cylinders d' whose pistons operate a wheel m¹ in
an exactly similar manner and to the same extent as wheel m. The wheel m³ revolves
in front of a disc bearing the numbers 1 to 8 corresponding to the contacts n' to n³,
and has an aperture t whose position always corresponds to that of contact n and at
which the number exhibited indicates that contact is made between n and the
similarly numbered one of the ring of contacts n' to n³. The number of the
contacts n² to n would vary according to the purpose for which the apparatus is to
be applied. Two exactly similar wheels m may also be superposed and insulated
from one another, so as to permit of acting simultaneously on both poles. The
same object may also be attained by operating several switches at one time from
the same point, as in Figure 8, wherein the current from the battery passes
through the brush o, wheel m, and then, contact being established as shewn, through
the brush o' to the electro-receptive device r, the return being through the brush o²,
wheel m', and brush o³, to the battery q. It will be evident that the making and
breaking of the circuit would be simultaneous in the two switches.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The combination, with an electric switch constructed of contact segments and
brushes substantially as described, of fluid-pressure actuated operating mechanism
consisting of a pawl and lever acting on pins on the switch disc, a piston and
cylinder or its equivalent, a bellows acting on the pawl lever, and connected with a
system of tubes containing fluid transmitting pressure under the control of three-
way cocks, or put under pressure by compressible bulbs or hand pumps, as
specified.

page_text: 2nd. In an apparatus of the kind herein described, for switching resistances, cells,.
or other electrical apparatus in and out of circuit, the combination, with the switch
wheel having a single contact, of a circle of contacts within which the wheel is
caused to rotate, of a duplicate set of oppositely acting fluid operated mechanism for
rotating the switch in opposite directions, as hereinbefore specified.
3rd. The combination, with a switch having a single contact rotating within a
circle of contacts and of oppositely-acting actuating mechanism, of an indicator disc
and of fluid-operated actuating mechanism therefor whereby the indicator disc is
operated simultaneously with and in the same direction and to the same extent as
the switch so as to indicate at all times on a number dial the position of the switch,.
as described.
4th. The combination of two or more switches and their fluid operated actuating
mechanism with a single fluid-pressure pipe, as specified.
Dated this 30th day of March 1894
J. J. P. CLARIOT,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.