Improvements in Electric Switch Apparatus or Means for Controlling Electric Circuits.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Switch Apparatus or Means for Controlling
Electric Circuits.
A communication by JOHN P. CUSHING, of 9 Knapp Street, Boston, in the State
of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Machinist.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Chartered Patent Agent 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 :-
This invention relates to a novel circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board
especially designed and adapted to be used in theatres, halls and like places lighted
by electricity.
Theatres employing incandescent electric lamps as a source of light, are wired in
sections, that is, a number of independent branch circuits are arranged about the
theatre, the said independent circuits being connected to a main or common supply
circuit.
This invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient apparatus to
which the independent circuits referred to may be connected, whereby suitable
resistances may be interposed in the independent branch circuits simultaneously, or
individually, to obtain the desired light effect in the said circuits, and thereby in
the particular portion of the theatre or hall in which are located the lamps in the
branch circuit.
The switch-board or apparatus is also provided with switches, one for each
independent branch circuit, which switches are constructed, as will be described, so
as to be operated simultaneously or individually, whereby all of the independent
branch circuits may be opened and closed simultaneously, or any one of the said
circuits may be opened and closed independently of the others.
The switch-board is also provided with an independent switch for each branch
circuit, and with fuse-blocks which are connected in circuit with both sides of the
branch circuit.
The switch-board is further provided with pilot-switches controlling shunt-circuits
from the branch-circuits in each of which shunt-circuits is located a pilot-lamp
supported by the apparatus and by means of which the condition of any branch-
circuit may be readily seen at the switch board or circuit controlling apparatus.
The mechanism referred to are enclosed in a preferably portable cabinet, which
is provided with a suitable door or doors, by which the operating parts may be
securely locked up when not in use, thereby providing against injury due to careless
handling by careless or incompetent persons, and also protecting the various contacts
from dust, thus keeping the apparatus in the best possible condition.
The cabinet is preferably made portable, so that the operating parts may be
secured in position before the apparatus is placed in the theatre or hall.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation partially broken out of a circuit controlling apparatus
or switch-board embodying this invention.
Fig. 2, a side elevation of the apparatus shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, a side elevation of the apparatus shewn in Fig. 1. partially broken out to
shew the interior construction of the apparatus.
Fig. 4, a transverse section on the line x-x of the apparatus shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5, a sectional detail on an enlarged scale to more clearly shew the
construction of the resistance heads.
Fig. 6, a vertical sectional detail of the form of snap-switch preferred by me for
controlling the branch-circuits.
Fig. 7, a transverse section below the line y—y of the switch shown in Fig. 6. .

page_text: hood being omitted.
Fig. 9, a longitudinal sectional detail of a locking device to be referred to.
Fig. 10, a sectional detail on an enlarged scale to more clearly show the
mechanism for operating the snap-switches simultaneously.
Fig. 11, a detail on an enlarged scale to more clearly show the construction of
the snap-switch.
"
Fig. 12, a detail partially broken out of the box or case containing a number of
snap-switches.
Figs. 13 and 14, details to be referred to, and
Fig. 15 a diagram of circuits to illustrate the invention.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, A represents a cabinet or enclosing case
constituting the supporting frame for the circuit-controllers, as will be described.
The cabinet A is preferably divided by a horizontal partition a into an upper
compartment a¹ and lower compartment a², the upper compartment being provided,
as herein shown, with a rolling front a³ constituting the door for the said compart-
ment and adapted to be slid back within the said compartment when the latter is
opened, the compartment a³ being provided, as herein shown, with hinged doors a*,
one of which is shewn partially open in Fig. 1.
The upper compartment a' of the cabinet is provided with a plurality of pre-
ferably independent resistance heads a of insulating material, there being six such
heads herein shewn, see Fig. 1, marked 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, arranged in two rows of
three each.
The resistance heads a are secured within the compartment a', preferably by
means of angle irons or bars a, a, see Fig. 5, and cross bars or strips a³ located on
the front side of the resistance heads and secured to the angle irons by screws, or
in other suitable manner, the said bars or strips being extended horizontally and
vertically, as herein shown, to practically form substantially square pockets in which
the said resistance heads are located.
The angle irons a, a are secured, as by countersunk screws aº, see Fig. 5, to
preferably iron girders a¹0 extended across the compartment a¹ and secured to
cross bars or braces a", see Fig. 3, fastened to or forming part of the back of the
cabinet.
Each resistance head as has secured to it, on its rear side, a casting or spider a¹³.
see Fig. 5, provided with tubular bosses a", a on its opposite sides, through which
is extended a shaft or arbor a" having its rear end, as herein shown, screw threaded,
as at a to receive a nut a, a washer a being interposed between the said nut and
the end of the boss a18.
The arbor a, on the front side of the resistance head, has mounted on it a collar
or hub a" which is made fast on the said arbor, as by a set screw, not shewn, or in
any other usual or well known manner.
The collar or hub a" is provided, on substantially diametrically opposite sides, as
herein shown, with two sets of ears a, a, between which are secured contact
arms b, b', the said contact arms being insulated from the ears a", a" by suitable
strips of insulation interposed between the said contact arms and ears, the said
arms being fastened to the ears, as herein shewn, by screws 6³.
The contact arms are preferably provided at their outer ends with two sets
of contact brushes bª, 6º, 6º, 67, which engage and make contact with the opposite
sides of contact segments & secured to or forming part of supporting ter-
minals 60, 6 respectively.
The terminals 610, 61 on the front side of the resistance heads are secured in
suitable manner, as by screws or bolts 613, see dotted lines Fig. 5, to metal castings,
blocks or plates 614 on the rear side of the said resistance head, to which castings
resistance coils 6, shown in Fig. 15, are connected by a clamping device, shewn as
a threaded conical or tapering nipple 45 split longitudinally and screw threaded to
be engaged by a threaded nut 46, see Fig. 5, the resistance coil being firmly
clamped in the nipple 45 by screwing the nut 46 upon the same.

page_text: The resistance heads may have secured to them any number of terminals 610, 61
desired or required to correspond to the desired or required number of resistance
coils, whereby the desired or required effect with the lamps 68 interposed in the
circuits connected to the said resistance heads may be obtained.
Each resistance head a³ has secured to its front face on opposite sides of the pivot
or arbor a, terminal plates or surfaces 61, 620, preferably arc-shaped, as herein
shewn, to which the line wires 20, 21 are connected and with which co-operate
spring contact brushes or strips 1, "fastened to or forming part of the contact
arms respectively.
The supporting terminals 60, 612 are preferably arranged concentrically on the
resistance heads, as shown in Fig. 1, and the positive wire 22 of a branch circuit is
connected to the end-most terminal 61, herein shown in Fig. 15, as the terminal
marked 10 on the extreme left, while the negative branch wire 23 is connected
to the diametrically opposite terminal 610, marked 12, on the extreme right in
Figs. 1 and 15.
The contact arms co-operating with the terminals on preferably all of the
resistance heads are detachably connected together, as will be described, so that all
the contact arms may be moved simultaneously or individually.
The pivot or arbor a¹ of each resistance head, as herein shewn, has loosely
mounted on it a collar or hub c provided with a plurality of arms, the hubs or
collar c of the uppermost row of resistance heads being provided, as shewn, with
three arms e, c, c, preferably substantially at right angles to each other, and the
hubs or collars of the lower row of resistance heads being provided with but two
arms c³, c².
The collar or hub c and its attached arms loose on its arbor a¹ are made fast
thereon so as to be moved when the said arbor is rotated, by means of a locking
device, as will be described, which engages and locks one of the arms of the hub
or collar to a handle e fast on the arbor a¹, the said handle being made fast on the
said arbor by a pin, or it may be a set screw c³, see Fig. 5, or in other usual manner.
The locking device referred to is preferably made as shewn in Fig. 9, it consisting
of a shell provided at its bottom with a flange c' by which the shell may be
screwed or otherwise secured to the handle c*.
The shell has secured within it a sleeve es having its lower end of less diameter
than the shell to leave a cylindrical space in which is located a spiral spring c the
lower end of which bears against a collar or flange c* on a rod or stem c¹º extended
through the sleeve and shell c, the upper end of the spring abutting against the
said sleeve as clearly shewn in Fig. 9.
The stem co is provided with projectious " on substantially diametrically opposite
sides, preferably formed by inserting a pin through a hole in the said stem, the said
projections being adapted to enter channels or grooves c¹ in the sleeve c³.
The stem co is provided, as herein shewn, with a knob or handle c" preferably of
insulating material, and the stem beyond the collar ex is made of sufficient length
to extend through a hole in the handle c and into and preferably through a hole 47
in the arm of the loose collar or hub c.
The spring acts to force the stem co through the sleeve c³ and shell cº, and the
said stem may be withdrawn from the said sleeve and shell sufficient to remove the
projection from the groove c¹³, and withdraw the lower or inner end of the stem
from the hole in the arm and thereby disconnect the handle et from the arm c³,
permitting the handle e', the spindle a and the contact arms b, b' to be moved
without moving the hub c, and the stem co may be held in its inoperative position
by rotating the said stem to bring the projections c¹ out of line with the channels
or grooves c³, they at such time resting against the outer end of the sleeve c.
In order that the contact arms bb, of two or more, and preferably of all the
resistance heads may be operated simultaneously, we have connected the loose
hubs of the said resistance heads with the main actuating device, shown as a bar or
rod c¹, see Fig. 1, preferably made of wood or other insulating material, re-enforced

page_text: or strengthened by suitable metal plates or band c, having lugs or ears c¹ to
which, as herein shown, the arms e¹ of the loose hubs or collars are connected, the
arm of the hub c of the resistance head marked 2 being directly connected to
the lug or ear c, and the arm c' of the hubs c of the resistance heads marked 3, 4,
being respectively joined by links or rods ca, c, to the said Jugs or ears, the connecting
rod being also firmly secured substantially near its longitudinal center to a
second lug c¹.
The arm c² on the hubs c of the resistance heads marked 2, 3, 4, are respectively
joined by connecting rods co, c, c to the arms c³ on the hubs c of the resistance
heads marked 5, 6, 7.
The main actuating bar or rode is herein shewn as located at the top of the
apparatus and is connected preferably by a link to one end of a lever " pivoted,
as at to the side of the frame or cabinet, the latter being cut out as at c² to
form a pocket in which the upper end of the lever is located, the said frame on
its front side being provided with a slot communicating with the pocket c², and
through which the long arm 50 of the lever is extended to project in front of the
cabinet so that the resistance may be operated from the front of the cabinet,
the long arm 50 of the lever being bent as at 51, see Fig. 2, to project through the
slot, and the said arm is preferably provided with a handle a" of insulating
material.
Instead of locating the actuating device or bar at the top of the cabinet, it
may be placed at the bottom or side, if desired, and the required connections
readily made.
The side of the cabinet is provided with a removable piece a" normally closing
the pocket 28. but which may be readily removed to permit of access to the lever c³
within the said pocket.
When the handle c* of each resistance head is fastened to the arm c³ of the hub c,
the contact arms b, b' and their attached brushes may be moved simultaneously to
throw into or remove from their individual branch circuits any desired or required
amount of resistance, to thus produce the desired or required light effect in the
various branch circuits, that is, in the various parts of the theatre, hall or like
place.
As represented, in the circuit marked D at the left in Fig. 15, the lamps or lights
in the branch circuit shewn are burning with their full or normal brilliancy when all
the resistance coils 615 are cut out of the circuit, that is, when the contact arms are
moved so as to bring their brushes in engagement with the terminal on the extreme
right of the upper row of terminals 10 and the extreme left of the lower
terminals, which may be accomplished by moving the lever e" in the direction
of arrow 200, Fig. 1, and if it is desired to dim the lights or lamps in the branch
circuits, the lever 26 will be moved in the direction opposite to that indicated by
arrow 200 to bring the contact brushes into their dotted line position shewn in
Fig. 15, but it is evident that the line wires 22, 23 of the branch circuits may be
disconnected from the terminals to which they are herein shewn as connected, and
be joined or connected to the terminals on the opposite extremity of the rows of
terminals.
If it is desired to effect the lights or lamps in some branch circuits and not in
others, the stem c" of the locking device, which secures the handle c' of its resis-
tance head to the co-operating arm on the loose hub c of the said resistance head, is
withdrawn to disengage the said stem from the arms c³, so that when the lever c" is
moved, the contact arms of the resistance head having its locking device disengaged
or rendered inoperative, as for instance on the heads 5, 6, will not be moved.
At the same time the handles c¹ of the heads 5, 6, may be moved individually to
operate the contact arms connected to their arbors a¹, and consequently the desired
light effect in the branch circuits controlled by the resistance heads 5, 6, may be
effected.
For instance it may be desired to dim the lights in all the branch circuits except

page_text: in the circuits in which are located the resistance heads 5, 6, and to have the lights
only partially lowered or dimined in the circuit of the head 5, and fully dimmed in
the circuit of the head 6, which may be effected by turning the disconnected handles
into the positions shewn in Fig. 1, so as to interpose in the said particular circuits,
the amount of resistance required to obtain the desired light effect.
In order that a handle c, which has been disconnected from the arm c³ may be
automatically connected again to its arm by the movement of the lever c6, the
arm c³ of each loose hub c has secured to or forming part of it cams or projections 90,
91, see Figs. 1 and 14, on opposite sides of the said arm, and the cams 90, 91,
are bevelled or inclined as shewn, and they engage the projecting end of the stem c
of the locking device when the latter is in its unlocked position and force the said
stem back against the spring c until the arm c³ has been moved far enough to bring
the hole 47 in line with the stem co, at which time the spring c forces the stem c
into the hole 47 and thus secures the handle to the arm c³.
The switch-board or apparatus is provided with a plurality of switches B,
preferably one for each branch circuit, which switches, hereinafter designated by me
as snap or gang switches, are constructed, as will be described, so that they may be
operated simultaneously or individually as desired.
Each snap-switch B is preferably constructed, as shewn in Fig. 6, 7, and 8, it
consisting of a hollow stem d, through which is extended a spindle or rod d
provided at its lower end with a cam or projection, movable in a longitudinal
slot in the hollow stem d, into which slot projects a pin or rod dª.
The hollow stem is provided at its lower end, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, with
a flange d³ fitted into an opening de in a base d', secured, as shewn in Fig. 3, to a
vertical wall d³.
The base is preferably extended across the apparatus and provided with a
cover or hood do, fastened as by screws 10, see Fig. 6, to a post on the base d
A plate having an opening through which the hollow stem d is extended is
secured as by screws d to the base d'.
The hollow stem d has mounted upon it a metallic sleeve, on which is loosely.
fitted a metallic bushing ds, provided near its lower end with ratchet teeth dis
normally in engagement with a pawl pivoted to an arm fitted in and secured
to the hollow stem d.
The bushing has fastened to it a hub of insulating material provided with
notches or teeth 14, see Fig. 8, the alternate teeth or notches having secured to
them contact piece with which co-operate brushes or terminals to which the
line wires 20, 21 are connected, the branch circuit being completed when the said
brushes or terminals are in engagement with the said contact pieces and the said
branch circuit is broken when the brushes or terminals are in contact with the
insulated teeth of the hub 28.
The toothed hub 23 is rotated by means of the pawl 20 on the arm 1, the said
pawl being normally held in engagement with the ratchet teeth d by a spring (",
see Fig. 7.
The snap-switch is provided with a hollow handled, see Fig. 6, fastened as by
screws to the sleeve ", the said hollow handle having extended into it the upper
end of the rod or spindle d' upon which is fitted a cap secured to the spindle or
rod, as shewn, by a pin as, the said cap being also fitted over a head or flange (134
on a spindle extended above the handle and through an opening in a cover (1³,
the spindle being encircled, as shewn, by a spiral spring which acts against
the cap and normally forces the rod within the handle, so that the cam or
projection d is out of engagement with the pin, and the latter is at such time
forced into the hollow stem by the spring actuated pawl, the latter being brought
into engagement with the ratchet by the spring d
The spindle has a pin or projection (travelling in a longitudinal slot in a
cylindrical boss on the inner side of the cover de, by means of which pin the
spindle and rod d' are held locked when the said spindle and rod are drawn
out from the hollow handle to place the cam in engagement with the pin and

page_text: force it out against the pawl d, thereby disengaging the said pawl from its ratchet
and permitting the arm to be moved without moving the toothed hub (133.
The spindle d is provided, as shewn, with a head d" of insulating material
serving as a handle for the said spindle.
The head on the spindle is loose in the cap and permits the said spindle
to be readily turned to place the pin or projection (40 out of line with its slot d³
without moving the rod ¹.
In order that the snap-switches B. in all the branch circuits may be operated
simultaneously, the arms of the several switches are pivotally connected to an
actuating device, shewn as a bar or rod e, see Figs. 6 and 12, which is connected, as
shewn in Fig. 10 to an arm e', similar to the arms ", but which is secured to or
forms part of a collar on a shaft or arbor e³ having its upper end journaled, ns
shewn, in an upright e fastened to the plate ³, as by screw, the said shaft or
arbor being shewn as extended through the cover and having fast on it a crank
or lever e provided with a handle e' of insulating material.
If it is desired to operate all the snap-switches B at once, that is, by one
movement of the lever e, the spindle of each switch is turned so as to place its
pin in its slot and upon releasing the said spindle the spring will force inward
the spindle and the rod and remove the cam from engagement with the pin d*,
whereupon the spring forces the pawl into engagement with the ratchet d",
so that when the lever is moved in the direction of arrow 400, Fig. 1, the
actuating arbor or rod e, and the arms a pivotally attached to it are moved in the
direction indicated by arrow 400, and the hubs of the switches are rotated so as
to remove one notch or tooth from engagement with the brushes or terminals and
bring a second notch or tooth of the hub in engagement with the contact brushes or
terminals.
If the tooth or notch removed from engagement with the brushes or terminals is
provided with a contact strip d", the circuit will be opened and vice versu.
If it is desired to open some of the branch circuits and leave others closed, and
vice versa, when the handle e is moved the spindle of the switches controlling
the circuits to remain closed, will be withdrawn from the hollow handle and locked
by turning them so as to bring the pin out of line with the slot or opening (39 in the
cover the withdrawal of the spindle bringing the cam in engagement with
the pin and forcing the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet do, so that
when the lever and the actuating bar are again moved in the direction of
arrow 400, only the tooth hubs d having their ratchets engaged by the pawls (20
will be rotated.
I have herein shewn one form of switch by which to open and close the branch
circuits, and while I prefer to construct the switch as shewn and described, I do
not desire to limit myself to the particular construction shewn, as it is evident it
may be variously modified.
Each branch circuit has connected to it a loop circuit f, see Fig. 15, in which is
located a lamp f¹, similar to the lamps in the branch circuit, and hereinafter
designated by me as a pilot lamp, and in order that the operator at the switch-board
or apparatus may know the condition of the branch circuits, the said pilot lamp is
secured to the switch-board or apparatus, it being herein shewn in Fig 1, as
connected to a hollow rod or pipe extended across the frame or cabinet above the
saine, and resting upon suitable supports, shewn as hollow posts, there being as
many pilot lamps fi as there are branch circuits.
The switch-board also is provided, as herein shewn, with pilot switches D³,
which may be of any usual or well known construction, there being one for each
loop-circuit f
The switch board or apparatus is also preferably provided with fuse-blocks f
joined by fuses f' to which the line wires are connected, as shewn in Fig. 15, there
being one such fuse for each line wire.
The fuse-blocks are secured to the apparatus, as herein shewn, within the
compartment a, and the said compartment also contains within it suitable plug

page_text: switches to which the positive and negative line wires leading from the dynamo
are connected, there being three such plug switches shewn in Fig. 15, to which the
three main line wires ff","are joined, after the manner of the well known
Edison three wire system.
10
The switch-board or apparatus is also provided. as herein shewn, with switches/13
to which the other branch circuits, not provided with resistances, may be connected,
and by which each of said branch circuits may be positively opened and closed as
desired.
As represented at the right of Fig. 15, two branch circuits are shown as con-
nected to one resistance head, so that the lamps therein may be lowered at the
same time, and the lamps in one circuit may be of one color, as for instance, red,
and the lamps in the other circuit may be of a different color, as for instance, blue,
such as may form part of the foot-lights.
I have herein shewn each resistance head as provided with two rows of terminals
to which the resistance are connected, and two contact arins co-operating with the
said terminals, and while I prefer this construction, as the same amount of resistance
is interposed on both sides of the line, I do not desire to limit the invention in this
respect, as only one row or set of terminals and one contact arm may be used.
I have herein shewn six resistance heads arranged in two rows of three each, but
I do not desire to limit the invention in this respect, as any other desired number or
arrangement may be employed.
It will be noticed that the contact terminals and brushes co-operating with them,
are located on the front side or face of the resistance head where they may be
readily cleaned, adjusted and repaired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board; a supporting frame, and a
plurality of resistance heads secured thereto and provided with a plurality of
contact members or terminals to which the resistances are connected; combined
with a plurality of independently movable contact arms co-operating with the said
contact terminals or members; an actuating device for said contact arms; handles
connected to said contact arms to move therewith; and means to detachably connect
the said contact arms with the actuating device, substantially as described.
2. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board; a supporting frame, and a
plurality of resistance heads secured thereto and arranged in rows, and a plurality
of contact members or terminals on said heads to which the resistances are
connected, combined with a plurality of contact arms co-operating with the said
contact terminals, an actuating device connected to the contact arms of one row of
resistance heads, and an independent connection joining the contact arms of the
resistance heads in different rows, whereby the contact arms of all the resistance
heads may be operated by a single actuating device, substantially as described.
3. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, a supporting frame,
and a plurality of resistance heads secured thereto and arranged in rows, and a
plurality of contact members or terminals on said heads to which the resistances are
connected, combined with a plurality of contact arms pivoted to said resistance
heads, hubs loosely mounted on the pivot of the said contact arms and provided
with arms, handles fast on the said pivots, locking devices to secure the arms of the
loose hubs to the said handles, an actuating device or bar connected to an arm of
the loose hub of one row and an independent connection or bar joining arms of the
loose hubs, and means to move said actuating device or bar, substantially as
described.
4. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, a supporting frame, and
a plurality of resistance heads secured thereto and provided with a plurality of
contact members or terminals to which the resistances are connected, combined with
_a plurality of contact arms pivoted to the said resistance heads, an actuating device

page_text: for said contact arms, arms loose on the said pivots, handles fast on the pivots, and
locking devices to secure the said loose arms to the handles, substantially as
described.
5. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, the combination with a
resistance head provided with contact members or terminals to which the resistances
are connected, of contact arms pivoted to the said resistance head, a hub loose on
the pivot of the said contact arms and provided with arms, a handle fast on said
pivot, and a locking device to secure said loose hub to the handle, substantially as
described.
6. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, the combination with a
resistance head provided with contact members or terminals to which the resistances
are connected, of a contact arm pivoted to the said resistance head, a hub loose on
said pivot and having arms, one of which is provided with cams 90, 91, and with a
hole or opening 47, a handle fast on said pivot, and a locking device for said handle
consisting of a shell c secured to the handle, a stem 10, and a spring in said shell
to act on said stem and engage the stem with the hole 47, substantially as
described.
7. The herein described switch-board, it consisting of a cabinet provided with
a door, and having one side cut away to form a pocket, a plurality of resistance
heads arranged in an upper and lower row and provided with contact members
or terminals, contact arms pivoted to said resistance heads, hubs loose on the
pivots of the contact arms and provided with arms, handles fast on said pivots,
locking devices to secure one arm on the loose hubs to the handles, an actuating
bar fastened to arms of the loose hubs of one row, a lever pivoted in the pocket c
to which the actuating bar is connected, and independent connections joining the
arms of the loose hubs of the upper and lower rows, substantially as described.
8. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board a cabinet having a door
and provided with a plurality of resistance heads located therein and having
contact members or terminals, contact arms co-operating therewith, and a plurality
of pilot lamps supported by said cabinet, substantially as described.
9. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, a cabinet having a door
and provided with a plurality of resistance heads located therein and having
contact members or terminals, contact arms co-operating therewith, and a plurality
of pilot lamps supported by said cabinet, and independent switches located in said
cabinet and governing the said pilot lamps, substantially as described.
10. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board the herein described
switch consisting of a revoluble hub having notches or teeth, some of which are
provided with contact pieces with which co-operate circuit terminals, a ratchet,
a pawl to engage said ratchet, a hollow handle for said switch, a device extended
through the hollow handle to disengage the pawl and ratchet when drawn out
of the hollow handle, and a locking device to secure the disengaging device in
operative position until positively released, substantially as described.
11. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, a cabinet or supporting
frame provided with a plurality of switches consisting of a revoluble hub having
notches or teeth some of which are provided with contact pieces with which
co-operate circuit terminals, a ratchet, a pawl to engage said ratchet, a hollow
handle for said switch, a device extended through the hollow handle to disengage
the pawl and ratchet when drawn out of the hollow handle, and a locking device
to secure the disengaging device in operative position until positively released,
an arm to produce revolution of the said revoluble member, an actuating bar to
which the arms of the said switches are connected to move therewith, and means
to produce movement of the said actuating bar, substantially as described.
12. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, a cabinet provided with a
rolling front a³, a plurality of resistances supported within said cabinet and having
pivoted contact arms, contact terminals arranged in arcs on opposite sides of the
pivot and with which co-operate the said contact arms, resistances connected to
said terminals, hubs loose on the said pivots having arms, an actuating bar to

page_text: which said loose hubs are connected to be actuated thereby as described, handles
fast on the pivots, locking devices to secure the loose arms to the said handles,
circuit terminals on the resistance heads, brushes on the contact arms to engage
the said circuit terminals, a plurality of snap switches B to control circuits in
which the resistances are located, a plurality of pilot lamps supported by said
cabinet, a plurality of switches D controlling the pilot lamps, a plurality of
switches, and fuse-blocks fe located within the cabinet, substantially as
described.
13. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, a cabinet, a plurality of
resistance heads located therein, angle irons a, a', and cross bars or strips a
secured to the said angle irons to form pockets within which the resistance heads
are secured, castings or spiders a secured to the back of the resistance heads and
provided with bosses a, a, a pivot or arbor supported in said bosses, contact arms
fast on said arbor, and provided with brushes, terminals on the resistance heads
with which the said brushes co-operate, terminal plates 61, 620 on the resistance
heads, brushes on the contact arms co-operating with the said plates, hubs loose on
the said pivots and having arms, means to connect the arms of hubs on different
resistance heads, handles on the pivots, and locking devices to fasten said handles
to one of the arms of the loose hubs, substantially as described.
14. The herein described locking device consisting of the shell c, the sleeve c
located therein, and provided with a groove c¹³, a stem eo extended through said
sleeve and shell and provided with a collar c, and a spring encircling the said stem
between the collar cand sleeve, substantially as described.
15. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, the combination with a
resistance head provided with contact members or terminals arranged in two
independent arcs or rows on the one and the same face of the resistance head, of
independent contact arms pivoted to the said resistance head on one side of the
same, a handle to move said contact arm simultaneously, and independent resistances
connected to each row of terminals, substantially as described.
16. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, the combination with a
resistance head provided on its front face with circuit terminals, and on its rear
face with terminals or castings electrically connected to the terminals on the front
face of the resistance head, and provided with a clamping device consisting of a
threaded split nipple and nut to engage said nipple to clamp the end of a wire
thereto, of a contact arm pivoted to the front face of the resistance head and a
handle to move said contact arm, substantially as described.
17. In a circuit controlling apparatus or switch-board, a cabinet having a door,
and provided with a plurality of resistance heads located therein and having
contact members or terminals, contact arms co-operating therewith, a plurality of
pilot lamps, and independent switches located in said cabinet, and electrical
connections joining said pilot lamps with said switches, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of September 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.