An Improved Electric Switch.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1895-Accepted, 24th. Aug.,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Communicated from abroad by HENRY STUEBNER, 226 Franklin Street,
Electrician, HENRY T. PAISTE, 31st and Ludlow Streets, Manufacturer of
Electrical Supplies, and WARREN G. MILLER, Dealer in Electrical Supplies,
all of the City and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America.]
An Improved Electric Switch.
I, Herbert SeFTON JONES of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Co., Agents
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 31, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of
Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
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 is more particularly a double push button switch to be used in
systems of electric lighting, and general distribution. It is designed for making
and breaking the current in a double pole system, or where main and distribution
circuits are employed, to close and open a double set of contacts, and, generally,
for making and breaking any circuit.
The specific object of the invention is to produce a quick acting switch of
simple, compact and economical construction, and to overcome arcing and burning
which result sometimes from the construction or improper use of switches.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which―
Figure 1 is a side view of the mechanism with the circuits closed, the casing
being broken away for the purpose of illustration.
Figure 2 is a view of the face plate.
Figure 3 is a view of the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1 with the circuits
opened, the casing being broken away for the purpose of illustration.
Figure 4 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrow on the line A-A of
Fig. 1.
Figure 5 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrow on the line A'-A¹
of Fig. 3.
Figure 6 is a side view of the push rod and cross-bar carrying the bridges.
Figure 7 is a back view of the bearing block.
Figure 8 is a side view of the short push rod.
The casing 1, of hard rubber or other insulating material, is preferably made
0 in a solid piece with a recess to receive the mechanism, which, when inserted,
is enclosed by the face plate 2 having screw holes 63 for securing the plate to the
bearing block 5, 61 for securing it to the casing, and 60 for securing it over the
opening which receives the casing. Openings 62 and 64 permit the operation of
the push buttons on the ends of the push rods 3 and 4, the latter moving in
35 bearings 70 and 71 in block 5.
40
The movements of these rods are limited by the pins 6 and 7 integral therewith
which play in the slots 8 and 9, and their relative actions are secured by means of
the spring 27 which is coiled around the hub 10 while its ends engage the pins 6
and 7.
A catch 21 is pivoted to the rear of the bearing block on the screw 22, the
end 23 of this catch being held in constant contact with the surface 16, 15 or 14
or in engagement with the notch 13 of the rod 4, while its opposite end engages

page_text: the notch 17, or bears against one of the surfaces 18, 19 or 20 of the rod 3. This
action of the catch is effected by means of the coiled spring 29, seated in the
recess 26 of the bearing block and bearing outward against the projection 25 of
the arm 24.
A cross bar 11 of insulating material is secured on the end of the push rod 3,
and conducting pins or bridges 12 and 121 extend through the ends of the cross-bar
and, when the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 1, close the circuits. In
this position current from the main or supply wire 40 will pass through the corre-
sponding binding plug 30, the contact clip 53, the bridge 12, the clip 52, the second
binding plug and the wire 41, through the distribution system, returning by the
wire 42 and its binding plug to the clip 51, thence through the bridge 121, the
clip 50, the corresponding binding plug, and the return wire 43 of the main system
-to the source of electric energy.
The binding plugs 30 are seated in the rear wall of the casing and are provided
with sockets 31 to receive the ends of the wires which are held in place by the
binding screws 32, the plugs also holding the clips in place by a screw or other
suitable engagement.
In the position of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the end 23 of the catch lies
in the notch 13 of the rod 4, thus holding the rod, while the opposite end of the
catch bears against the surface 20 at the foot of the incline 19 of the rod 3, this
rod being held in position by the spring 27 one end of which engages the pin 7
while the other end is held by the pin 6.
When pressure is applied to the button on the rod 3 the rod moves in, tightening
the coil of the spring 27 about the hub 10, while the incline or wedge surface 19
rocks the catch 21 until the junction of the incline and the surface 18 is reached.
At this point the end 23 of the catch clears the notch 13 and the accumulated
tension of the spring instantly throws the short rod 4 outward, and, the resistance
of the spring having been withdrawn from the pin 7, the rod 3 flies in and is held
by the engagement of the catch with the notch 17, the parts taking the position
shown in Fig. 1.
When the current is to be cut out the button of the rod 4 is pressed in, but the
rod 3 and the bridges 12 and 12 will not move until the incline 15 has rocked the
catch 21 until it clears the notch 17 when the rod 3 is thrown outward by the tension
of the spring 27, breaking contact instantly.
If, as sometimes happens, the rod 4 is held in while pressure is applied to the
rod 3 the latter will move in until its movement has coiled the spring 27 till it
binds upon the hub 10. The inward movement is checked at this point before
partial contact is made, the spring being readily regulated to check the inward
movement at the point desired.
It will be seen that the contact at the beginning of making and the end of
breaking will be a single point, the tangent point of the bridges and clips. This
construction reduces flashing.
It will be evident to those skilled in the art that minor changes may be made in
the mechanism without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not
wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific details shown and
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a mechanical movement, two reciprocating push rods, a block provided
with seats for the said push rod and having a hub, in combination with a spring
coiled about the said hub and having its ends in direct engagement with the push
rods, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a mechanical movement, in combination, two reciprocating push rods,
means for holding each of the rods until the other has moved a predetermined
distance, a spring coiled about a fixed hub and having its ends in engagement with

page_text: he push rods, and means for releasing each of the rods when the other has moved
predetermined distance, substantially as shown and described.
3. In an electric switch in combination, two reciprocating push rods, a catch which
directly engages and holds each until the other has moved a predetermined distance,
and means for withdrawing the catch from each when the other has moved a
predetermined distance, a conducting bridge and a pair of contact clips, substan-
tially as shown and described.
4. In an electric switch, a reciprocating push rod and cross-bar rigidly secured
thereto and carrying one or more conducting bridges, in combination with one
or more sets of contact clips, a catch for holding the bridge or bridges in contact
with the clips, a spring for effecting the break of contact, and a second recipro-
cating rod for actuating the said catch and spring, substantially as shown and
described.
5. In an electric switch, two reciprocating push rods each having a projecting
pin extending therethrough; a block having a hub, bearings for the said rods, and
slots to limit the movements of the said pins and rods; in combination with a spring
coiled about the said hub and having its ends in engagement with the said pins,
substantially as shown and described.
6. In an electric switch, two reciprocating push rods each having a projecting
pin extending therethrough, a block having a hub, bearings for the said rods, and
slots to limit the movements of the said pins and rods; in combination with a spring
coiled about the said hub and having its euds in engagement with the said pins;
and a catch for holding each rod until the other has moved a predetermined
distance, substantially as shown and described.
7. In an electric switch, two reciprocating push rods each having a transverse
projection, a notch and an incline; a block having a hub, bearings for the said rods
and slots to limit the movements of the said rods; in combination with a spring
coiled about the said hub and having its ends in engagement with the said rods;
and a spring actuated catch for engaging the notch of each rod until withdrawn by
the incline on the other, substantially as shown and described.
11
- do of July 1895.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.