Multiple Fuses and Switch for use in Electric Circuits.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 21st Jan.,
1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Multiple Fuses and Switch for use in Electric Circuits.
CHARLES SCOTT SNELL of Culver Park, Saltash, Cornwall Electrical Engineer
and WOODHOUSE AND RAWSON UNITED LIMITED of 88 Queen Victoria Street
London, E.C. Electrical Engineers and Contractors, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the combination of a contact making brush and contact
plates, with a supplementary plate so arranged as to be common to one end of a set
of fuses, which at the other end are attached to the individual contact plates afore-
mentioned.
We preferably make use of a laminated brush having a centre spindle in
connection with a suitable terminal, but if considered advisable the brush may be
double ended the spindle having no terminal but a long contact plate, with a
terminal provided for the extreme end of the brush to rest upon and "feed" from.
The whole switch may be encased and a pointer and scale or other suitable
indicating arrangement provided to show position of fuse.
The switch may also be provided with springs and a polygon shaped collar
attached to the moveable brush, the whole being so arranged as to cause definite
positions to be taken up by the brush..
Upon a fuse "breaking" or "blowing" the switch arm may be made to move
automatically on to the next contact by a spring or its equivalent allowing any
prearranged interval of time to intervene. This is conveniently and readily effected
by the movement of the brush being controlled by simple clockwork with an air
fan or other suitable escapement.
Dated this 16th day of March 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Multiple Fuses and Switch for use in Electric Circuits.
CHARLES SCOTT SNELL of Culver Park, Saltash, Cornwall Electrical Engineer
and WOODHOUSE AND RAWSON UNITED LIMITED of 88 Queen Victoria Street,
London, E.C. Electrical Engineers and Contractors, 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 the combination of a contact making brush and contact
plates with a supplementary plate so arranged as to be common to one end of a set
of fuses which at the other end are attached to the individual contact plates afore-
mentioned.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
-1
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a multiple contact and fuse switch.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig.
3 is a plan and section of a spring for causing the brush to take up definite
positions.
Fig. 4 is a polygon shaped piece of metal and spring for the same purpose as
that described in Fig, 3 but in addition it gives to the switch more or less of a soap
action.

page_text: Fig. 5 is an elevation of a similar class of switch but arranged to automatically
switch in a fresh fuse.
Fig. 6 is a plan of the same.
Like letters refer to like parts.
In Figs. 1 and 2 A represents the brush working on the centre spindle B in
connection with the terminal C, the brush A will alternately rest upon and feed
from the several contacts marked D D' D" D, E E E E are the fuses
which connect the terminals D D D D to the fuse plate and common terminal F,
which is continuous and forms the other terminal of the switch. The spring G
shown in detail in Fig. 3 is fixed to the spindle B at the lower side of the brush,
and rotates with it, the catch H engaging in the holes J J J J of the
plate I Fig. 2.
Now
suppose that the brush A is resting on the contact D and the fuse E blows,
then all that is necessary to again complete the circuit, is to move.
the brush on
one notch of the plate 1, when a fresh fuse E' is inserted and so on over the other
contact plates, and the broken fuses can be replaced at leisure. We only mention
four contacts but it is obvious that we may use any other suitable number.
Fig. 4 shows an alternative method for causing the brush to take up a definite
position and in addition effects a quick action. A is a portion of the brush B the
spindle and K a polygonal piece of sheet metal having straight and equal sides
double in number to the contact plates, which is fixed to the brush A and rotates
with it.
Lisa Ushaped spring fixed to the base, the sides of which embrace any two
opposite sides of the plate K and hold it tightly in position.
The whole switch may be boxed in with a cover M and a pointer N fixed to the
brush to indicate its position.
The switch represented in Figs. 5 and 6 is for the same purpose as that already
described but the locking device is dispensed with and an automatic movement is
given to the switch should the fuse blow or break. A spring O Fig. 5 coiled about
the spindle B one end of which engages with the brush while the other is fixed to
the spindle, constantly exerts a rotary force on the brush A, which is arrested by
an arm P fixed on the side of the brush pressing against one of the fuses E. It
will thus be seen that if, the fuse against which the arm P is resting should break
or blow the brush would immediately move towards the next contact plate, which
it would do with a snap, were it not that this was prevented by a train of gear
wheels Q R S T attached to an air fan U so set as to allow any required time to
elapse before making a fresh contact.
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
claim. is :-
I. The combination of a multiple contact switch of a contact making. brush and
combined contact and fuse plates with a supplementary terminal plate-common to
one end of a set of fuses substantially as described.
II. The combination of a multiple contact switch with a polygonal shaped collar
of metal embraced by a spring to cause the brush to take up certain definite positions
substantially as described.
III. The combination of a multiple contact and fuse switch with a spring
constantly working in one direction of rotation which is- restrained. by. an. arm
resting on a fuse and retarded by an air fan, substantially, as described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1900.
C. SCOTT SNELL.
WOODHOUSE & RAWSON UNITED, LIMITED,
A. L. Foley, Secretary...