Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Mar., 1889
I, JOHN SMITH RAWORTH, of 112, Belvedere Road, Lambeth in the county of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention consists in certain improvements in switch boards for the distribution
of electricity and has for its object to facilitate the connection and disconnection of
one or more circuits with two or more sources of electric energy as for instance
dynamos or batteries.
In carrying out my invention I provide a two way switch for each circuit, and I
provide each contact plate of the said switch with a complete set of plug or other
movable contacts suitable for putting it in connection with each source of supply.
Thus by first making the necessary connection for any particular dynamo or battery
say No. 1 and then turning the two way switch to the corresponding contact plate,
the circuit will be completed.
Should it be desired to change the circuit to No. 2. dynamo or battery, connection
must first be made between this dynamo or battery and the other plate of the two
way switch and then, by suddenly moving the switch, the circuit is instantly trans-
ferred from No. 1 to No. 2; the connection between No. 1 dynamo and the first
contact plate may then be severed.
Thus by the use of two complete sets of contacts for each circuit, new connections
can be made with certainty and celerity, the final transfer being made by the two-
way switch.
I use by preference a two-way switch of a tumbler or turn-over pattern of which
there are many in use, provided with a lever and springs to ensure certain and
instantaneous action.
In cases which involve the use of currents of great energy or high potential I
may provide independent power for turning the two way switch as for example by
means of springs, weights or pneumatic cylinders. When I use pneumatic cylinders
I may provide a jet of air adapted to blow out the arc set up at the moment of
breaking a circuit.

page_text: When two or more sources of electric supply are arranged for working in parallel
I may use more than one switch for each circuit so that extra connection may be
made without breaking circuit.
In adapting my switchboard for charging accumulators I treat the charging wire
(when such is provided in addition to the discharging wire) as a separate circuit and
provide it with a two way switch, but I do not provide any means of connecting this
switch directly with the discharging wire.
Dated this 17th day of April 1888
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Switch Boards or Apparatus for the Distribution
of Electricity.
I, JOHN SMITH RAWORTH of 112 Belvedere Road, Lambeth, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, 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 consists in certain improvements in switch boards for the distribution
of electricity and has for its object to facilitate the connection and disconnection of
one or more circuits with two or more sources of electric energy as for instance
dynames or batteries.
In carrying out my invention I provide a two way switch for each circuit and
I provide each contact plate of the said switch with a complete set of plug or other
moveable contacts suitable for putting it in connection with each source of supply.
Thus by first uiaking the necessary connection for any particular dynamo or battery
say No. 1 and then turning the two way switch to the corresponding contact plate
the circuit will be completed.
Should it be desired to change the circuit to No. 2 dynamo or battery, connection
must first be made between this dynamo or battery and the other plate of the two
way switch and then, by suddenly moving the switch, the circuit is instantly trans-
ferred from No. 1 to No. 2; the connection between No. 1 dynamo and the first
contact plate may then be severed. Thus by the use of two complete sets of contacts
for each circuit, new connections can be made. with certainty and celerity, the final
transfer being made by the two way switch.

page_text: I use by preference a two way switch of a tumbler or turn-over pattern of which
there are many in use, provided with a lever and springs to ensure certain and
instantaneous action.
In cases which involve the use of currents of great energy or high potential I may
provide independent power for turning the two way switch as for example by means
of springs weights or pneumatic cylinders. When I use pneumatic cylinders I may
provide a jet of air adapted to blow out the arc set up at the moment of breaking a
circuit.
When two or more sources of electric supply are arranged for working in parallel I
may use more than one switch for each circuit so that extra connection may be made
without breaking circuit.
In adapting my switch board for charging accumulators 1 treat the charging wire
(when such is provided in addition to the discharging wire) as a separate circuit and
provide it with a two way switch but I do not provide any means of connecting this
switch directly with the discharging wire.
The accompanying drawings illustrate two arrangements of apparatus for carrying
my invention into effect.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a front view and a transverse section of a switchboard
constructed according to my invention. A1, A2, A3, A' are conducting bars each in
connection with a dynamo supplying electrical energy. The electric current passes
from any one dynamo through one of the moveable contact pieces B and a two way
switch to the outer circuit commencing at the terminals F. The metallic conducting
bars A1, A2, A3, A* may be secured to an insulating base plate D made of any suitable
material such as slate by means of binding screws or pillars E to which the conductors
from the dynamos or batteries may be attached. The moveable contact pieces B of
which there are two to each switch are mounted on levers B¹ that are capable
of movement upon joints B2, provided with contact springs B³. The moveable contact
pieces B are free to slide on the levers B¹ so that they may be caused to make contact
with either of the conducting bars A2, A2, A3, A4 that may be conveying current from
any of the dynamos. The sliding two way switches Care carried in blocks C¹ to
which the outer circuits are severally connected. Each contact piece is capable of
sliding upon its block (thus enabling the circuit to be instantaneously transferred
from one dynamo to another. When accumulators are used in connection with
dynamos I attach one end of the battery circuit to the terminals F, F, of the two way
switches C.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate respectively in transverse and in longitudinal section a
switch board constructed according to this invention for use with currents of high
potential. In this arrangement G, G, are cylinders containing pistons that are
connected by a piston rod G2 and are moved by pneumatic or other fluid pressure
admitted by means of a twoway cock or valve G³. The cylinders with their pistons
are so arranged that when one piston is at the commencement of a stroke the other
piston is at the end of its stroke. To the piston rod G2 are attached pins G* to which
are fastened the ends of a belt or chain G that is wound round the circumference of a
pulley H. This pulley H when partly revolved by the belt or chain communicates
motion through helical springs H³, H' to a shaft H. This motion may be com-
municated to either of the two way switch levers H' by means of right and left handed
pawls H which may be put in gear when desired with toothed wheels H secured to
the switch levers. In connection with the use of pneumatic or similar devices for
carrying out this part of my invention I may use a blast of air or other non-inflammable
gas to diminish the danger from fusion or burning caused by formation of "arcs."
For this purpose I make passages or channels K in the levers of the two way switches
like or similar to those shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, which passages or channels are so
arranged that when the switch levers break contact at the contact plates or tongues H
a current of compressed air or other non-inflaminable gas passes from the pneumatic
reservoir J through passages K' in the pillars K', upon which the two way switches
are mounted, and along the passages or channels K in the levers, blowing out or
interrupting any are that might form. J¹ is a pipe leading to the reservoir J from

page_text: any suitable source of supply of compressed air, such as bellows or pumps. LL are
the moveable contact pieces equivalent to the moveable contact pieces B in Figs. 1
and 2.
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,
1st. The construction and use of switch boards or apparatus for the distribution of
electric currents with a two way switch for each circuit or battery of accumulators
and a double set of moveable contact pieces which may be connected at will with
either of the dynamos or other sources of electric energy.
2nd. My improved switch board or apparatus for the distribution of electricity,
constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described with reference to and shewn in
Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings annexed.
3rd. In a switchboard or apparatus for the distribution of electricity the combination
of a double set of moveable contacts and two way switches provided with independent.
means of motion derivable from weights springs or pneumatic or other fluid pressure
substantially as described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the
drawings annexed.