Improvements in Switches for Electric Ourrents.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
Improvements in Switches for Electric Ourrents.
We WILLIAM ROBERT RAWLINGS and JOHN JOSEPH RAWLINGS both of
82 Gloucester Road, South Kensington, London Electricians 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 :-
1. This invention has reference to the simple and inexpensive construction of
electric switches as we shall now describe.
2. The switches have an external appearance of the well-known tumbler type.
Mounted on a lever is a triangular or double triangular shaped porcelain or other
non-conducting block. The lever is made in such a manner as to place the block
in one of two or three positions. On one or all sides of the block a metal contact
maker or makers of the description hereinafter appearing are mounted below are
two or more plungers made of metal operated by spiral or other suitable springs
in such a manner as to cause the same to exert constant pressure on the said metal
contact makers, or on the non-conducting parts of the block as desired so as to
allow or cause sufficient movement to produce a quick break. The said metal
contact makers are so designed, as bereinafter described as to connect the said
plungers or a selection of them as required. To disconnect the said plungers, the
block is brought into such a position that the non-conducting portion of the same
rests against such of the plungers as are desired to be disconnected.
3. The metal contact makers are so arranged on the block to permit of a com-
bination of connections between various plungers where there are more than two,
so as to cause a selection of different electric circuits either for lighting particular
lights or ringing particular bells, or connecting different telephones, or transmitting
electric power to particular points or such similar objects.
4. The drawings annexed more particularly describe the mechanism of the switch
and its parts.
Fig. 1 shews a cross section of the switch fitted with 2 plungere.
Fig. 2 shews a cross section of the base fitted with 3 plungers.
Fig. 3 shews a cross section of the base fitted with 4 plungers.
Fig. 4 shews a cross section at right angles to Fig. 1 of a 2 way switch.
Referring to Fig. 1 A and B are the 2 plungers to which the wires are connected.
C is the block attached to the lever handle D. E is the bridge piece to carry the
lever and spindle. F is the cover and G a porcelain or other non-conducting
base.
Fig. 4 shews a plunger connected with Y to which and similar points the wires
are attached, and C is the said block and X the metal face mounted on such block
and Z is the non-conducting side of the same when used for a 2 plunger switch.
Fig. 5 shews a plan of the said contact maker for a switch with 2 plungers,
H being the metal contact maker mounted on one face of the block and J the
insulator face of the block.
Fig. 6 shews a plan of a contact maker mounted on block arranged for a switch
with 3 plungers. The contact maker is so arranged on both faces of the block in
such a way that whilst the block is in one position the two outer plungers are
connected, and when the block is in the other position, one outer plunger and the
centre plunger are connected. H is the metal contact maker inounted on the
insulating block J.

page_text: Fig. 7 shews a plan of a contact maker mounted on a block arranged for a
switch with 4 plungers. The metal contact makers are so arranged on both faces
of the block in such a way as to connect the 2 outside and the 2 inside ones when
in one position, and the other position would connect the 2 outside plungers with
the two inside. Thus referring to Fig. 3, 1 and 4, and 2 and 3 would be first
connected whilst the block was in one position and the next position would connect
1 and 3 and 4 and 2. Although we shew several ways how the said plungers may
be connected, it is evident that by the method employed if a slight variation of
the design of the metal contact makers is made, any combination of electric
connections between the plungers can be made.
Fig. 8 shews a plan of a double triangular shaped block with contact makers
mounted thereon. H are metal contact makers mounted on J, the insulating
portion of the block. As drawn 2 of 3 plungers would be connected whilst the
switch was in one position, whilst in a second or middle position none of the plungers
would be electrically connected, whilst in the third position the centre plunger and
the remaining plunger would be connected.
Fig. 9 shews a cross section of the last described block. X and X being the
metal contact makers. It is evident that any combination of metal contacts
designed on a similar method described in Figures 5, 6 and 7 with slight variations
to suit each face of the block, can be used in conuection with blocks shaped as
shown in Figs. 8 and 9 for electrically connecting a selection of plungers in either
of the three positions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A switch for electric currents made by means of a particular combination of
parts as herein before described.
2. A switch for connecting and disconnecting electric currents with a block or
blocks of a triangular or double triangular shape, so operated upon by 2 or more
plungers, as herein before described, as will allow the said block to be forced by
the hand pulling or pushing a lever handle attached to the said block in either of
two or three positions off one or two neutral points.
3. A switch for connecting or disconnecting 2, 3 or more electric circuits by
means of metal contact makers so designed and arranged on insulating blocks, as
herein before described, as to permit a combination of connections for such currents,
in conjunction with 2, 3 or more plungers.
4. A switch for electric currents with insulating base with 3 or more plungers
mounted thereon.
5. A switch with a block of a double triangular shape to permit of 3 movements
lor 3 combinations of electric connections.
Dated this Eighth day of October 1896
JOHN JOSEPH RAWLINGS.
WILLIAM ROBERT RAWLINGS.