An Improved Electrical Switch for the Better and More Safe_Means of Breaking the Continuity of an Electrical Circuit of High Voltage and Again Establishing the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Switch for the Better and More Safe_Means
of Breaking the Continuity of an Electrical Circuit of High
Voltage and Again Establishing the same.
GEORGE SCHULTZ Electrical Engineer 33 Delafield Road Old Charlton London S.E.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The switch is constructed as follows.
Two contact pieces are secured to a hase constructed of incombustible and insulating
material; on this base is mounted a bridge piece supporting the working lever and cover
of the switch. A wedge formed of copper is mounted on the long arm of the lever but
insulated from it. This wedge is forced by the lever between the contact pieces, the
movement being assisted and secured by the action of a short spiral spring, placed in
such a position as to act against three pivots of which two are upon the lever.
This switch or circuit interrupter is of an improved construction, having, in
comparison with other switches now used, more simple and fewer parts, and allowing
of greater safety in working high voltages.
These points are gained
Firstly. By allowing a long break between the contact pieces and the circuit closing
wedge.
Secondly. A better insulation caused by greater space, wherein substantial insulating
material can be inserted to separate those parts, which carry the current from those
parts, which are only used for actuating and protecting the switch.
Thirdly. The mode of employing a spring placed so, as to exert its fullest strength
upon three pivots and thereby causing sharp actions when the wedge leaves or is
inserted between the contact pieces.
ט
T 1
*1 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Switch for the Better and More Safe Means
of Breaking the Continuity of an Electrical Circuit of High
Voltage and Again Establishing the same.
1, GEORGE SCHULTZ, Electrical Engineer, 33 Delafield Road, Old Charlton, London,
S.E. 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 switch for opening or closing an electrical circuit
particularly applicable when the current is of high tension, as there is considerable
distance between the contacts.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a plan of a switch according to my
invention,
Fig. 2 is a side view shewing the position of the contact lever when the circuit
is open.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the base shewing the contact piece in section and
Fig. 4 is a section shewing the lever in position for closing the circuit.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the base on the line X X of Fig. 3.
On a recessed base A of insulating incombustible material, such for instance, as
porcelain, i fix a metal arch B one side of which has a slotted opening B¹. In the
crown of the arch B I pivot at c a lever C, to the top C of which the fingers can be
applied so as to move the lever to either of the two positions shewn in Fig. 2 or
[D71

page_text: Fig. 4.
To the lower end of the lever C but insulated from it is fixed a spring
conducting piece consisting of a strip of copper D, bent as shewn in Fig. 3, inserted
in a piece of insulating material with its two side limbs standing free on each side
of the insulating material. Through the base A are passed two screws E holding
washers F having their sides presented towards each other flattened.
On the screws E are also fitted nuts between which and the washers F are
clamped the conducting wires of the circuit to which the switch is applied. A helical
spring is placed under compression between the shoulders of two pieces; ono of
these is pivotted to the arch Bat b and the other is pivotted to the lever C at g and
has a pin part sliding in a hole of the former piece. The pivots and g are so related
to the pivot c that when the lever is in the position shewn in Fig. 4 these three
centres are nearly in one straight line, so that the spring G exerts no strain to push
the lever away when its conducting piece D is wedged between the washers F
completing the circuit from the one conductor to the other. But when the lever C is
moved so as to withdraw D from between the washers F, then the spring G forces
the lever C rapidly away to the position shewn in Fig. 2 and retains it there, the
circuit between the conductors being thus held open.
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
In an electrical switch the combination with an insulating incombustible base
carrying an arched frame and two separated contacts, a lever pivotted on the arch,
and having at its end an insulated contact piece capable of springing in between
tho two contacts, and a spring pressing against the lever, substantially as herein
described.
Dotal this 16th day of Tu 1800
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.