Improvements in Electric Current Switches.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Current Switches.
We, WILLIAM LOWRIE, Engineer, and CHARLES JAMES HALL, Electrician, both of
117, Bishopsgate Street Within, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This improvement relates to switches adapted principally for switching on or cutting
off the electric current supply of a small installation, such as that of a house, and is as
follows,
Upon a porcelain base is secured two terminals, (connected to the house circuit),
having a split contact tube. At a short distance therefrom, also secured to the base,
are two other terminal blocks, supplied with current from the main circuit, and
formed with bored projections at each end, which serve as guides to two sliding plugs
operated by an insulated handle. The handle is in the centre between the sliding plugs,
and is connected therewith by a cross bar of a non conducting material. The handlo
passes through an orifice in the base, and the arrangement is such that on pulling
or pushing the handle the plugs slide to and fro in their guide ways, (with which
they are connected by a flexible conductor); the plugs being prolonged for that
purpose. When the plugs are pushed in to their full extent, electrical contact is made
between them and the split contact tubes, the current from the outer circuit passing
from the terminal, to the sliding plugs at the bored projections in which they
slide. By pulling out the handle, the contact with the house terminals is suddenly
and simultaneously broken.
A porcelain cover is fitted over the switch upon the base aforesaid, and the whole
is secured to, and enclosed within a metallic base and cover to preserve it from dust or
injury.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Current Switches.
We, WILLIAM LOWRIE, Engineer, and CHARLES JAMES HALL, Electrician, both of
117 Bishopsgate Street Within, in the City of London 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 :-
This invention relates to switches principally adapted for the switching on or cutting
off the electric current supply of a small installation such as that of a house.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2, is a plan
with the covers removed to show the working parts, and Fig. 3. is a transverse section,
through a switch, constructed according to our invention. The arrangement is as
follows:-
Upon a porcelain base a, two terminals b, b, are secured and connected to the
house circuit. Each terminal is formed with a split contact tube 61, and at a short
distance from the terminals b, b, are also secured upon the base a, two other
terminal blocks c, c, supplied with current from the main or working circuit. These
are formed with bored projections at each end, c¹, c¹, which serve as guides to two
sliding plugs d, d, operated by an insulated handle e. The handle is in the centre
between the sliding plugs d, d, and is connected therewith by a cross bar el of a
non-conducting material. The handle passes through an orifice a¹ in the base a,
and the arrangement is such that on pulling or pushing the handle e, and with

page_text: it the cross bar e¹, the plugs d, d, slide to or fro in their guide ways c', c'; the
plugs being prolonged for that purpose. When the plugs d, d, are pushed in to their
full extent, electrical contact is made between them and the split contact tubes 61, 61,
the current from the outer circuit passing from the terminals c, c, to the sliding
plugs d. d, at the bored projections c. c, in which they slide and also by a flexible
connection, c². By pulling out the handle, the contact with the house terminals is
suddenly and simultaneously broken.
A porcelain cover a² is fitted over the switch upon the base a, aforesaid, and the
whole is secured to, and enclosed within, a metallic base and cover to preserve it
from dust or injury. Suitable binding screws are used for making the circuit
connections.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A longitudinally sliding contact making electric current switch, enclosed in a
double case, and operated by an exterior handle, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. The combination of an earthenware base and cover carrying and enclosing
split tube house terminals, working circuit terminals with guide ways therein, sliding
plugs working in the said guide ways, a non-conducting cross bar connected to the
sliding plugs and to a sliding handle for actuating the same; substantially as and for
the purpose described.
3. The combination of an earthenware base and cover enclosing a sliding electric
current switch, a metallic base and cover for receiving, enclosing and supporting
the same, and correspondingly coinciding orifices in the said earthenware and metallic
receptacles to form a guide way for the actuating handles; substantially as
described.
Dated this 02-1 doar of t
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.