Improvements in Switches for making and breaking RICCIO Circuits.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 24th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Jan., 1888
Improvements in Switches for making and breaking RICCIO
Circuits.
I, ROBERT DANIEL SMILLIE, of 39 West Bridgend, Dumbarton, in the County of
Dumbarton, North Britain, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object the construction of switches for electric circuits
in an improved manner, and so that they cannot be left incompletely adjusted.
In carrying out my Invention the tongue or switch by moving which the contact
is made or broken is centered on a spindle which is turned by means of a handle
or button in order to move the switch, but the switch and spindle instead of being
fixed rigidly together are made with a pin or projection on one, engaging in a notch
or slot in the other, so as to allow of a limited movement between them. The centre
part of the switch is made of a cam-like form, and a blade spring is arranged to bear
on it, the part pressed on by the spring being shaped so as to produce a tumbler"
action by which whenever the switch is moved just free of the contact grip or plate,
the spring moves it further in the same direction so as to take it completely beyond
sparking distance, the pin-and-notch connection between the switch and spindle
allowing of this movement even if the handle or button is held in the middle
position.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Switches for Making and Breaking Electric
Circuits.
I, ROBERT DANIEL SMILLIE, of 39 West Bridgend, Dumbarton, in the County of
Dumbarton, North Britain, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner thesame is to be performed, to be particularly described.
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object the constructing of switches for electric circuits
in an improved manner, and so that they cannot be left incompletely adjusted.
In carrying out my Invention the tongue or switch by moving which the contact
is made or broken is centered. on a spindle which is turned by means of a handle or
button in order to move the switch, but the switch and spindle instead of being fixed
rigidly together are made with a pin or projection on one engaging in a notch or
slot in the other, so as to allow of a limited movement or play between them.
The centre part of the switch is made of a cam-like form, and a blade spring is
arranged to bear on it, the part pressed on by the spring being shaped so as to produce
a "tumbler "action by which whenever the switch is moved just free of the contact
grip or plate, the spring moves it further in the same direction so as to take it completely
beyond sparking distance, the pin-and-notch connection between the switch and
spindle allowing of this movement even if the handle or button is held in the middle
position.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append. a sheet of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and showing two modifications of my improved switch.
Figure, 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a front elevation, figure, 2,
is a similar view but with the spindle in section; and figure, 3, is a vertical section
as at right angles to figures, I, and 2, of one modification of the switch. Figures, 4, 5,
and 6, are similar views of a second modification.
The modification shown in figures, 1, 2, and 3, comprises a switch by means of
which one wire can be put into contact with either of two other wires or be set midway
not in contact with either. The usual disc, 7, of wood or other suitable non-conducting
material is provided for carrying the various parts of the switch. The disc, 7, may,
if desired have screwed upon it a porcelain or other cover, 8, as shown in dotted lines
in figures, 3, and 6, and capable of being secured by screws to any desired fixture.
The tongue or switch, 9, by moving which the contact is made or broken is centered
loosely near the inner end of a spindle, 10, between a collar, 11, on the spindle, and a
contact plate, 12, fixed to the disc, 7. The inner end of the spindle, 10, is entered
into a hole in the plate, 12, and the spindle is held in position by a screw, 13, in its
inner end. The switch, 9, is fitted with a pin, 14, which engages in a notch (or it
might be a slot) in the collar, 11, on the spindle, 10, so as to allow of a limited move-
ment between the switch, 9, and the spindle, 10, when the latter is turned by means of

page_text: a handle or button, 15, on its outer end in order to move the switch, 9. The centre
part of the switch, 9, is made of a cam-like form, and a blade spring, 16, one end of
which is fixed by a screw, 17, to a projection on the plate, 12, the other ond being
made with an angular projection, 18, arranged to bear on the cam-like part of the
switch, 9. The part pressed on by the spring, 16, is shaped so as to produce a
"tumbler "action by which whenever the switch, 9, is moved just free of either of
two contact plates, 19, the spring, 16, moves it further in the same direction so as to
take it completely beyond sparking distance.
The modification shown in figures, 4, 5, and 6, is arranged for a single contact, and
is in other respects like the first modification. The contact plate, 12, is however
shown as connected with the terminal plate, 20, by a fusible wire, 21, which should
the current become dangerously strong will be fused and the circuit broken. A
similar fusible connection may of course also be used in the modification first herein-
before described.
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-The combination and arrangement of parts of switches for making and breaking
electric circuits substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures, 1, 2,
and 3, of the accompanying drawings.
2-The combination and arrangement of parts of switches for making and breaking
electric circuits substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 4, 5,
and 6, of the accompanying drawings.
3-In switches for making and breaking electric circuits providing for a limited
movement or play between the switch and spindle substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
4-In switches for making and breaking electric circuits the combination of a
tumbler-action spring device applied to the switch with a construction allowing move-
ment or play between the spindle and the switch substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-third day of December 1887.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.