Switching Apparatus for Controlling Electric Circuits.
Year: 1899

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JACOB CLOOS, of 621, 21st Street, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, United States of America.]
Switching Apparatus for Controlling Electric Circuits.
I, JOHN LIDDLE, of 154, St. Vincent Street, in the County of the City of Glasgow,
North Britain, 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:―
My invention relates to switching apparatus for controlling circuits, and to a
method of extinguishing or counteracting arcs between contact parts. The
apparatus of the invention is primarily designed for use in controlling the distri-
bution of current from generators to supply circuits, although it may be employed
in other connections.
The invention has for its object the improvement in the construction and opera-
tion of electric switches to secure a more perfect working thereof, and to prevent
injury to the parts of the switch and the apparatus that may be associated therewith.
Generally speaking, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, I employ
a reciprocating support for switch parts and contact mechanism associated there-
with, the apparatus being preferably disposed within a box containing oil in
sufficient quantity to immerse the portions of the contact parts that are initially
engaged with each other.
More specifically, the preferred en bodiment of the invention consists in a
reciprocating support upon which a plurality of plugs are preferably flexibly con-
nected, a base upon which aligned thimbles are mounted, and a box containing
the entire apparatus in which oil is preferably disposed for preventing injury
between the contact members of the switch. I also preferably provide means for
producing a vacuum upon breaking engagement between contact parts, the oil
or other suitable fluid being drawn into the vacuum as the contact parts separate,
whereby arcs are prevented or extinguished. It is desirable in controlling the
distribution of multiphase currrents that all of the circuits conveying these currents
be broken and completed simultaneously in controlling their distribution. To
this end, when my invention is thus employed, I so relatively dispose and pro-
portion the plugs and thimbles that the various transmission conductors including
the same are simultaneously completed or broken. In order that the plugs may
readily accommodate themselves to any irregularities in the engaging portions
of the thimble, I preferably flexibly mount the same independently of each other
upon their common support, as by pivotal or universal joints, which are adapted
to act in the manner desired. In order that my invention may be more fully
understood I will explain the same by reference to the accompanying drawings,
illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved apparatus on line 1-1 of
Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan view thereof on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the switch as employed in a system
of distribution.
1.dinato in nants throughout the different figures

page_text: The insulating base A is mounted within a containing box B, preferably her-
metically sealed. The base supports thimbles or equivalent contact portions CC,
DD, EE, FF, upon its upper face, and thimbies C3 C3, D2 D3, 12 E3, F2, 13,
upon its lower face. In the particular form of switch shown, the thimbles C,
1D, EE and F, are electrically connected in pairs as shown most clearly
in Figure 3, said thimbles being aligned respectively with thimbles CC, DD,
EE, and FF. The thimbles are preferably elongated as shown, in Figure 1.
The base is provided with holes where the thimbles are disposed which serve freely
to admit oil to the working parts. The thimbles upon the upper face of the base
are provided with suitable stems, with which the circuit conductors are connected.
A vertically reciprocating rod G extends through a stuffing box in the cover B',
suitable lever mechanism G¹ being provided for actuating said rod. A support H
of insulating material is secured at an intermediate portion of the rod G, said rod
passing through a hole in the base A, serving to guide the rod G in a rectilineal
path. Plugs I are flexibly suspended from the support H preferably in the
manner shown in Figure 1. These plugs are preferably provided with longitudinal
slits to cause the same to have spring-like engagement with the thimbles. When
the circuits are to be opened, the plugs are elevated to bring the same out of
engagement with the lower thimbles, but not enough to disengage the same from
the upper thimbles. The plugs thus constitute circuit terminals.
Each plug has a flexible connection with the common support independently
of the other plugs, so that each plug may engage itself with its thimble without
in any way influencing or controlling the engagement of any other plug with its
thimble. It is obvious that this construction might be reversed, that is, the
thimbles could be mounted on a moving support and each could be flexibly con-
nected therewith independently of the others.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 3, the switch, in the form illus-
trated, is especially adapted for use in controlling a plurality of circuits which
convey, for example multiphase currents. A generator K of biphase current is
illustrated. The thimbles and plugs are preferably so relatively disposed and
proportioned that the conductors would be simultaneously opened or closed by the
switch when operated. The circuits may be readily traced by an inspection of
Figure 3, dotted lines being employed to illustrate the path afforded for the current
by the plugs, where said plugs are obscured by other portions of the diagram.
Translating devices, as lamps L, and a motor L', are connected with the circuits.
The oil in the box serves to obviate or extinguish ares. To reinforce this
action of the oil, I preferably employ the construction shown in Figure 3. The
lower ends of the thimbles are perforated, leather-faced caps being preferably
employed for normally sealing these perforations, springs being provided normally
to maintain the caps or valves in a closed position.
The plugs snugly fit the interior bores of the thimbles. As the plugs are
elevated, a vacuum is created in each thimble. As the plugs are removed from
engagement with the thimbles, oil rushes in at the top opening of each thimble
to fill the vacuum therein, whereby arcing between the plugs and thimbles is
most thoroughly counteracted.
While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodi-
ment of my invention, it is obvious that modifications may be readily made without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a switch, the combination with a terminal thimble, of a terminal plug
filling the bore of the thimble, and a valve in the thimble adapted to co-act with
the plug to produce a vacuum or partial vacuum in the thimble upon the with-
drawal of the plug, to cause the admission of fluid between the thimble and plug,
substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In an electric switch, the combination with a thimble, of a plug and valve
co-operating with the plug and thimble for the production of a vacuum between
the switch contacts, substantially as described.
3. In an electric switch, the combination with a thimble, of a terminal plug,
and a valve co-operating with said plug for the production of a vacuum in the
thimble to cause the admission of fluid between the thimble and plug, substantially
as described.
4. In an electric switch, the combination with a support, of a plurality of con-
tact plugs, each having a flexible connection with and depending vertically from
said support, each flexible connection being independent of the other, and a
plurality of thimbles arranged beneath said piugs, which are adapted for insertion
within the thimbles, said plugs being relatively movable, the plugs by reason of
their flexible connection with said support being movable toward or from each
other, whereby the plugs may accommodate themselves to their thimbles inde-
pendently of each other, substantially as described.
5. The herein-described method of preventing or extinguishing ares between
contact portions of electric switches which consists in causing a vacuum or partial
vacuum, and effecting thereby the flow of an insulating fluid between said contact
portions.
6. The herein-described method of preventing or extinguishing arcs between
contact portions of electric switches which consists in causing a vacuum or partial
vacuum, and effecting thereby the flow of an insulating fluid in proximity to said
contact portions.
7. In an electric switch, the combination, with a plug, of means controlled
thereby for producing a vacuum or partial vacuum, whereby arcs may be extin-
guished or prevented, substantially as described.
8. In an electric switch, the combination with a support, of a plurality of con-
tact plugs, each having a flexible connection with said support, each flexible
connection being independent of the other, and a plurality of thimbles
adapted for engagement with said plugs, said plugs and thimbles being
relatively moveable, the plugs by reason of their flexible connection with said
support being moveable toward or from each other, whereby the plugs may accom-
modate themselves to their thimbles independently of each other, substantially as
described.
9. In an electric switch, the combination with one switch member comprising
a plurality of contact portions in the form of plugs, of a second switch member
comprising a plurality of contact portions in the form of thimbles, a support for
the plugs and a support for the thimbles, the contact portions of one member of the
switch each having a flexible connection with its support, whereby the thimbles
and plugs may be readily engaged with each other, substantially as described.
10. In an electric switch, the combination with a plug, of means controlled
thereby for producing a vacuum or partial vacuum and a supply of insulating
liquid, whereby arcs may be extinguished or prevented, substantially as described.
11. In a device for extinguishing or preventing arcs between contact points,
the combination with a supply of insulating liquid, of means for causing a vacuum
or partial vacuum to effect a flow of said fluid between contact points, substantially
as described.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.