Improvements in Electrical Switches.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Switches.
We, ELIJAH ATKINS and WALTER ATKINS, both of Hall Road, Handsworth,
Staffordshire, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
"
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
electrical switches, and its object is to provide an improved arrangement of spindle
spring, whereby less friction exists, and increased certainty of "making or
breaking the connection, than in those of present make; also to provide that
the connecting cross bar shall be mounted loosely upon a square portion of the said
spindle and be loosely connected to the manipulating handle or turn key, so that on
"make" or "break che square of the spindle shall be forward of the square hole
in the cross bar, and also of the handle or turn key, that is, that in turning the
handle forward, as soon as the spindle reaches a certain point in its travel, the
springs drive it home in advance and independently of the said handle.
A switch made according to this our invention is somewhat as follows:-Upon
the base block is provided a central pivot pin to receive the spindle.
The lower part of this spindle is of a square form, for a certain length, and
terminating with a round part having a cross cotter pin hole therein for attachment
to the handle or turn key.
Upon each side of the lower part of the square portion of the spindle, lamina or
flat springs are placed, whose ends lie upon each side of the block, while their
central part is sprung open to receive the said square part of the spindle.
Hitherto springs of this character have been used for this purpose, having their
layers or plates rivetted together and thus preventing any lateral movement.
In this our invention however, we place these plates in loosely, so that as the
square of the spindle is turned round, the innermost plates slide backward or
forward as the case may be with it, and thus no rubbing friction takes place between
the square corner and the first plates, the plate upon the one side moving to the
one way, while the plate upon the other side moves in the opposite direction.
Not only do these springs thus made facilitate the turning of the spindle, but
necessarily they are much easier to make, being simpler in construction than
previous ones.
Again. We now arrange that the upper part of the square on the spindle shall
receive the current connecting cross bar, the hole in the latter being made somewhat
larger, thus affording considerable play, but so arranged that the square of the
spindle (upon which the springs are acting) is not quite home at the time the cross
bar is home, so that the springs are thus exerting their power to keep it home, either
at the "making or "breaking" of the current.
"
Again. In connecting the handle or turn key to the spindle, we arrange that
considerable play or freedom shall be, between the two parts; thus, when the
handle is turned, as soon as the square of the spindle reaches a certain point the
springs carry it rapidly forward independently of the handle, so that the handle
and the operator is relieved of the accompanying rapid jerk, but at the same time
is fully conscious that the bar has passed home.
This may be done in several ways, as for instance, that portion of the spindle
may be round, (as before intimated) having a cross cotter pin, hole, which is much
larger than the cotter pin (connecting the handle thereto) which passes there-
through or, such spindle part may be square, and a larger square hole in the
handle.

page_text: The usual cap or cover &c., is further provided, completing the switch.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1891.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.
-
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Switches.
We, ELIJAH ATKINS and WALTER ATKINS, both of Hall Road, Handsworth,
Staffordshire, Manufacturers, 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:
or
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
electrical switches, and its object is to provide an improved spindle spring arrange-
ment, whereby less friction exists, and increased certainty of "making'
breaking the connection, than in those of present make; also to provide that
the connecting cross bar shall be mounted loosely upon a square portion of the said
spindle and be loosely connected to the manipulating handle or turn key, so that
on "make or "break" the square of the spindle shall be forward of the square
hole in the cross bar, and also of the handle or turn key, that is, that in turning the
handle forward, as soon as the spindle reaches a certain point in its travel, the
springs drive it home in advance and independently of the said handle.
גי
In order to more fully explain this our invention, we have hereunto appended an
illustrative sheet of drawings upon which are figures and letters of reference,
in which similar letters refer throughout the several views, to the same thing
or part.
Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation of the switch (on line 1-1, Fig. 2).
Fig. 2, is a plan of the switch with the cover and the handle removed.
Fig. 3. is a sectional view on line 2--2, (Fig. 2).
Fig. 4, is a sectional plan view on line 3-3, (Fig. 1).
Fig. 5, is a detailed plan view of the spindle, and spring guide.
Fig. 6, is a detailed inverted plan view of the spindle, springs, and guide.
Fig. 7, is a detailed sectional view on line 4-4, (Fig. 5).
A, is the base block. B, B, are the conducting wires which pass upwards through
the block to the terminal screws C, C. In the centre of the block may be provided
the pin D, which receives and steadies the spindle E. As a rule however, this
pin D, may be dispensed with, the spindle being sufficiently steadied by the guide F.
This guide F, has a central hole through which the spindle is passed, and is further
formed into a somewhat cross shape in plan view, its ends H, H, being boxed
shaped, whilst its two shorter arms 1, 1, fit into the recess J, in the base block.
The box ends H, H, also fit into prepared recesses in the base. At the lower end
of the spindle is provided an enlarged square or other suitably shaped part K, upon
each side of which are placed the loose lamina springs L, having their ends enclosed
in the box parts H, H. It will be thus seen that ou turning the spindle E, around,
every quarter of a turn the springs are forced outwards, and immediately the angle
passes the centre, the springs exert their power of closing, and thereby suddenly
completes the quarter turn of the spindle.
By making these springs loose, at every turn of the spindle, the angles of the
latter cause the innermost of the springs to move bodily forward a short distance,
which thus decreases considerably the friction in working. Upon the spindle E, is
further carried the connecting har M, having in it a square hole taking on to a
square part N, of the spindle. This square part N, is somewhat smaller than the
square hole in the cross bar. The purpose of this is that should the jaws or
openings of the terminal springs 0, 0, not be in line with each other, or that the
spindle should not be upright, the play in the hole of the cross bar M, would permit
of its readily and freely accommodating itself thereto.

page_text: The outer ends of this bar M, engage with the terminal springs 0, 0, when the
circuit is completed, (see dotted lines in Fig. 2, and also see Fig. 3), and are
disengaged therefrom when the circuit is opened, (see Fig. 2). Upon the upper
end of the spindle is secured the handle P, through which and also through the
spindle, is passed the cotter pin Q, which secures the one to the other. The hole in
the spindle through which the pin Q, passes, is considerably larger than the said
pin, to permit of plenty of play.
A cap or covering R, is secured or otherwise fastened on to the base A, con-
cealing the various parts from view.
Its action will now be understood to be as follows:
Upon moving the handle P, forward a quarter of a turn, the spindle is of course
turned correspondingly, but in so doing, and before any arcing takes place, (imme-
diately the angles of the square K pass their centre,) the springs forcibly close, and in
so doing drive forward the spindle, and thereby suddenly drive home the ends of the
cross bar M, which completes the circuit; the independent forward motion of the
cross bar and the spindle, being due to the play in the holes in the spindle through
which the pin Q, passes, and the play in the hole in the cross bar M. Upon turning
the handle in the opposite direction, the corresponding opposite operations take
place, and a sudden break is effected. In the cross bar M, pieces of insulating
material S, S, are inserted, to prevent any possibility of metallic contact taking
place by the cross bar impinging against the rear side of the terminals. It will be
seen that the insulating material is stripped off the ends of the wires B, B, such
stripped ends being passed up into the terminal screws C, C, and secured thereto
by the set pins T,
T.
We are aware that prior to this, lamina springs have been used for this purpose
having their layers or plates rivetted and thus preventing any lateral movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In an electric switch the combination with the terminals O, O, cross bar M,
and spindle K, of the loose lamina springs L, constructed and operating substantially
as described and illustrated.
2. In an electric switch, the mounting of the cross or connecting bar M, loosely
upon the spindle E, in the manner shown and described, and for the purposes
specified.
3. The general combination and arrangement of the parts constituting this our
improved electric switch, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 21st day of November 1801
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicants' Agent.