An Electric Switch.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1892
An Electric Switch.
I, GEORGE SYLVESTER GRIMSTON of Claremont, Glenluce Road, Westcombe
Park in the County of Kent, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a cheap and simple electric switch which is constructed
as follows:-
In the centre of a base of ceramic or other suitable non-conducting material is
mounted a spindle terminating in an insulating button or handle by which it can be
turned. Through the body of this spindle passes transversely a metal blade spring
which, fixed by its one end to the spindle, extends radially ontwards and near its
outer end passes through between two studs standing up from an arm which can
turn on the axis of the spindle but is subject to frictional resistance due to its being
pressed down on a plate below by a spring acting on the spindle. This plate has
connected to it the one wire of the circuit to which the switch is applied, the other
wire being connected to a plate in form of an annular segment which is fixed near
the circumference of the base and to which is attached a spring pawl. At another
part of the base, about a quarter of the circle round, is fixed another plate to form
a stop with another spring pawl attached to it. In one position of the parts, the
outer end of the blade spring being caught behind the spring pawl first mentioned,
the frictionally resisted arm being pressed down upon the segmental plate, the two
wires are connected through this plate, the arm and the other plate on which the
arm is pressed. On now turning the spindle in the one direction, (a stop preventing
it from being turned in the opposite direction) the blade spring is bent into a curve
so that its end becomes withdrawn from behind the spring pawl, whereupon the
arm turns until it meets the stop, and the blade spring becomes engaged behind
the second spring pawl. The arm being thus moved off the segmental plate, the
circuit is opened. In order to close the circuit again, the spindle has to be turned
back, beuding the blade spring until its end escapes the second spring pawl, where-
upon the arm moves back on to the segmental plate and the blade spring is again
engaged behind the first pawl. A cover enclosing the mechanism is screwed or
otherwise fixed on the base, the button or handle projecting through a hole in
the cover.
Dated this 1st day of February 1892.
ABEL & IMKAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Electric Switch.
I, GEORGE SYLVESTER GRIMSTON, of Claremont, Glenluce Road, Westcombe
Park, in the County of Kent, Electrical Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to a cheap and simple electric switch which is constructed
as I shall describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a section, and Fig. 2 is a plan with the cover removed, of a switch
according to my invention.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew details hereinafter referred to.
In the centre of a base A of ceramic or other suitable non-conducting material

page_text: is mounted a spindle B terminating in an insulating button or handle C by which it
can be turned. Through the body of this spindle passes transversely a metal
blade spring D which, fixed by its one end to the spindle, extends radially outwards
and near its outer end passes through between two studs ee standing up from an
arm E, which can turn on the axis of the spindle B but is subject to frictional
resistance due to its being pressed down on a plate F below it by a spring G acting
on the spindle. The plate F has connected to it the one wire of the circuit to
which the switch is applied, this wire being passed through a hole in the base;
the other wire, which passes through hole, is connected to a spring plate H in
form of an annular segment which is fixed near the circumference of the base and
to which is attached a spring pawl J, shewn in elevation at Fig. 3. At another
part of the base about a quarter of the circle round is fixed another plate K having
its end flanged to form a stop, with another spring pawl L attached to it as shewn
in elevation at Fig. 4. In one position of the parts, as shewn in Fig. 2, the outer
end of the blade spring D being caught behind the spring pawl J, the arm E
being pressed down upon the segmental plate H, the two wires from f and h are
connected through this plate H, the arm E and the plate F on which the arm E is
pressed.
On now turning the spindle in the direction of the arrow Fig. 2 (a stop M
preventing the spindle and spring D from being turned in the opposite direction)
the blade spring D is bent into a curve so that its end becomes withdrawn from
behind the spring pawl J, whereupon the arm E turns until it meets the stop K and
the blade spring D becomes engaged behind the second spring pawl L. The
arm E being thus moved off the segmental plate H, the circuit is opened. In
order to close the circuit again, the button C has to be turned back, bending back
the blade spring D until its end escapes the spring pawl L, whereupon the arm E
moves back on to the segmental plate H and the blade spring D is again engaged
behind the pawl J.
A cover N enclosing the mechanism is screwed or otherwise fixed on the base A
the button or handle C projecting through a hole in the cover.
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 :-
An electric switch constructed and operating substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of October 1892.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicant.