Improvements in Electric Switches for Use in connection with Galvanic Batteries, applicable also for other purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application; 17th June, 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Switches for Use in connection with
Galvanic Batteries, applicable also for other purposes.
I, WILLIAM SHAW, of 146 Pleasance, Edinburgh, Ventilating 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: -
At the present time one of the chief drawbacks to the use of voltaic electricity
for motive power is that the battery cells require to be frequently recharged if a
constant and comparatively powerful current is to be maintained for any length of
time, and my invention has mainly for its object to provide an automatic switching
appliance by means of which the battery cells can be alternately rendered active
and passive, so that, during their passive state, they can recuperate. In this
manner as will readily be understood the battery cells can be made to give a
practically constant current for long periods of time without recharging.
The current generated can be utilised for driving ventilating fans, sewing
machines, turning lathes, medical appliances, and generally for driving machines
and appliances which require a small motive power.
On the annexed sheets of drawings, I have, by way of illustration or example,
shown a convenient method of carrying my invention into effect or practice when it
is desired to drive, say, a ventilating fan.
On the drawings:
:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the battery cells, showing them connected to the
automatic switch and to an electric motor.
:
Fig. 2 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale, of the automatic switch and its
mechanism.
Fig. 3 is an end view, looking to the right hand, of the switch mechanism.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the switch, looking to the right hand of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of the switch.
Fig. 6 is a side view of the switch.
Fig. 7 is a view of a battery cell and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the zinc
element.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate the same or similar parts.
The whole electrical apparatus for driving the ventilating fan, which 'is' not
shown, consists of a primary battery of, say, 96 Leclanche car-porous, cells
arranged in two sets A, B, of 48 each. The cells may be the usual 3 pint ones.
I have chosen this number of cells as an example, as it enables a ventilating fan
about two feet in diameter to be driven with case and practically at a constant: and
regular speed for at least 24 hours. Instead of using Leclanche cells I can use
any other suitable and well known primary cells.
It will be seen (Fig. 1) that the individual cells of each set A, B, are arranged
in four vertical rows of twelve each and that these rows are geared together from
the positive pole of the one cell to the negative pole of the next. The horizontal
row at the top has all its negative poles geared together whilst the horizontal row
at the bottom has all its positive poles geared together. A wire a leads from the
negative pole of the top left hand corner cell of the set A. to the one pole C¹ of the
small electric motor C, whilst a wire a leads from the corresponding cell of
the set B to the same pole of the motor. A wire leads from the positive pole of
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the bottom right hand corner cell of the set A to the switch D, whilst a wire b¹
leads to the switch from the corresponding cell of the set B. c, c', are wire
couplings. d is an endless driving band leading from the electric motor C to the
fan to be driven. e is a wire connecting the switch D with the pole C2 of the
motor.
The arrangement is such that the switch D, by means of clockwork mechanism
is caused at one time to close the circuit through the set of cells A, wire a,
motor C, wire e, and wire b thereby bringing the 'set of cells A into action, and, at
another time, to close the circnit through the set of cells B, wire a', motor C,
wire e, and wire ', thereby bringing the set of 'cells B into action. During the
action of the cells A the circuit through the cells B is broken and vice-versa. The
alternate action of the sets of cells A, B, allows the cells for the time, being in a
passive state to recuperate their 'strength. In this manner a practically constant
current can be maintained for long periods without recharging.
.i
The automatic switching appliance which is illustrated at Figs. 2 to 6, consists
of clockwork mechanism, of the American clock, or other suitable and well known
pattern, fitted on a board D₁ and having its wheels so arranged and geared together
as to give one revolution, in, say, 20 minutes to the spindle. Fitted on the spindle
is a hand having a leader haud f2. These hands f, f, revolve within an
elliptical ring 9 secured to a 'bar,h. As will be seen from the end view Fig. 3 both
spring wheels 2, 3, are preferably made to gear with the pinion, of the spindle f
The balance wheel of the escapement mechanism has preferably parts broken
out of it.
+
The bar is connected to the switch proper D which consists of two blocks i, i',
made of wood and vulcanite or 'like insulating material. These blocks are con-
nected together at the centre, on both the upper and lower sides, 'by means of
spring steel strips, so as to have a slight movement. Passed through the blocks
are guide pins k, k, which slide in longitudinal grooves 1, 1, in plates m, m, secured
respectively to the bed o and cover p (see also dotted lines Fig. 4). Let into the
underside of the blocks are insulating pieces q, q, through which pass the metal.
contacts r, r. The wire 6 (Fig. 1) passes through the hole s made in the insulating
material to the contact whilst the wire b' (Fig. 1) passes through the hole's also
made in the insulating material 'to the contact r.
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1.1.
For the purpose of pressing down the contacts and giving them a sure rubbing
action the springs t, are provided on the upper side of the switch. The tension
of these springs can be regulated by means of the cover p which is capable of
sliding on the four pillars p' and is normally pressed upwards by the springs p². By
screwing up or slackening the nuts p³ on the pillars the cover can be raised and
lowered so as to regulate the tension. The bed o is supported on standards o
secured to the board D'. The metal bar m² secured to the plate m, or the bed,
passes up through a slot in the cover p and acts as a guide to steady the movements
of the latter on the pillars.pl.
Fitted in suitable insulation in the bed is a contact u to which the wire e,
(Fig. 1) is attached. This contact is so located with relation to the contacts r,,
of the switch that when both sets of cells A, B,'are switched off it occupies a
position exactly at mid distance between the said contacts'r, .
With this, arrangement, presuming that the parts are in the position shown at
Fig. 2, then the circuit is closed through the contacts r, u, wires b, e, and battery A,
and this circuit remains closed for the space of say 10 minutes, when the "handsif, f
have travelled
so far round, on the spindle f, as to move the elliptical ring gand
switch to the right hand a sufficient distance to bring the contact over the contact u
when the circuit will be, shut off from battery A and closed through contacts r, u,
wires b¹, e, and battery B. The continued movement of the hands, f, in about
another 10 minutes, forces the switch back so as to again close the circuit through
battery A and so on. The constant movement of the elliptical ring backwards and
forwards therefore automatically switches on and off the batteries A, B. The
distance is so slight between the contacts r, u, r, that as soon as the current from

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one battery is cut off the current from the other battery is almost simultaneously
put on, so that a practically constant current is supplied to the motor.
automatic switching appliance can be used with any electric appliance, motor, or
dynamo.
As the clockwork mechanism is regular in its action it follows that the switch D
will be also regular in its action.
The clockwork can be made so as to run for 12, 24, or more hours without
rewinding.
In order to prevent a rapid and undue waste of zinc I may coat the zinc elements
of the battery, as usual, with mercury but I prefer to make, as is done in some
cases, the elements of an amalgam of mercury and zinc. Fig. 8 shows a zinc
element with a coating v of mercury.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. In combination, a battery of primary cells divided into sets, and an automatic
switching appliance for switching the sets on and off alternately at regular intervals
so that the set which is for the time being switched off and rendered passive cau
have time to recuperate before being again switched on, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. The combination, of the sliding switch D with its elliptical ring 9, or its
equivalent, and of clockwork mechanism for sliding the switch back and forward
substantially as herein before set forth.
3. A sliding switch D constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown at Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings annexed.
4. The combination of parts of the apparatus consisting of the sets of battery
cells A, B, the electric motor C and automatic clockwork switch D with their
connecting wires, all arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 12th day of June 1895
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.