Improvements in Instantaneous Make and Break Electric Switches.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instantaneous Make and Break Electric Switches.
EMILE ROUSSEAU 3 Knotts Green Leyton Essex Electrician do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows"
An improvement in the method of construction to ensure absolute reliability in
working, with perfect contact and absolute locking (hitherto quick Make and Break
Switches have been so constructed as to soon knock themselves to pieces), and simplicity
in manufacture.
One of my methods for effecting the above consists in having three pieces of tube
in any metal, preferably gun metal, of a suitable length and of a diameter so that each
of the three pieces may comfortably slide the one over the other. The middle one of
these three pieces of tube is to be rigidly fixed to the base or frame of the switch, and
there is cut on its. bottom end a slot equal in length to a quarter of its circumference
and of a suitable width; on the top end there are cut four equi-distant slots of a suitable
length and depth.
The inner piece of tube, which slides comfortably inside the above, at its top end
provided with two short, projecting lugs diametrically opposite, and which engage
free to travel up and down in the slots at the top of the middle tube, and passing
through the middle tube engage and travel in two slots cut in the outer tube. At the
bottom of this inner piece of tube is cut at right angles to the lugs a slot in length
equal to a quarter of the circumference of the tube and of a suitable depth, and diame-
trically opposite a double slide is cut each slide to equal a quarter of the circumference
of the tube and to meet at their highest point.
The outer tube which carries the contact arm or arms slides comfortably over the
middle tube and has cut on its inside two diametrically opposite grooves into which
the two lugs of the inner tube engage and travel freely up and down; this is kept in
place by projections cast on the outer side of two of the lugs formed by the slots at the
top of the middle tube.
The spindle is firmly fixed into a base of metal of a diameter equal to the external dia-
meter of the middle tube, having two or more steps cut on it. The spring may be wire or
ribbon of any suitable metal, perferably wire, wound in a loose coil of the shape of an
egg, its two ends one top and one bottom to be bent at right angles to the body of the
spring, the first turn of the spring both top and bottom engaging a screw thread on
thick washers which are free to move on the spindle.
On turning the spindle one of the ends of the spring is driven, the other being held
in place by one of the slots in the inner tube, which at the same time is also being
raised-due to one of its slides and a pin on the base attached to the spindle, when it
has been raised sufficiently for its lugs to clear the slots on the top of the middle tube,
the spring is free to exert its entire energy (due to the turning) on the outer tube
carrying the contact bars, causing it to fly violently round into its contact pieces, the
lugs of the inner tube again falling into the two other slots at the top of the middle tube,
thus making an absolute lock; on turning back the other end of the spring is now
free to move and thus exert its force, at the proper time, in the opposite direction ;
the other operations as before, thus having no strain whatever on the spring, except
during the actual time of turning on or off, and thus greatly prolonging its life.
Dated this 19th day of July 1888.

page_text: '
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instantaneous Make and Break Electric Switches.
I, EMILE ROUSSEAU of 3 Knotts Green, Leyton, Essex, Electrician 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 which relates to electric switches has for its object to provide a switch
which will be reliable in its working and the operations of which will be instantaneous 5
so as to prevent sparking the construction being also such that in both of its two
positions viz.;-the make and break positions the switch is securely locked thus
precluding the possibility of any accidental operation of the said switch.
In the accompanying drawings;—
Figs. 1 and 2 are plans with the cover and handle removed showing the switch 1
respectively in its open and closed positions; Fig. 3 is a view of the complete switch
in its closed position and shown with the cover in section and parts of the handle and
block broken away for more clearly illustrating the working parts of the invention,
Fig. 4 is a section of the same on the line a-b of fig. 2; Figs. 5 to 12 are detail views
of detached portions of the switch drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 4; of these
figures, figs. 5 and 6 are respectively an elevation and a vertical section showing the
operating spindle the spring encircling the same and other connected parts; Fig. 7. is
a horizontal section taken on the line c-d of fig. looking downwards and showing
in plan the base into which the lower end of the spindle is secured; Fig. 8 is another
horizontal section on the same line but looking upwards and showing the underside of
the upper washer which encircles the spindle and screws into the upper end of the
spring; Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are perspective views of three pieces of tube employed in
the switch and fig. 12 is a vertical section of the tube represented in fig..11.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A B and C shown clearly in figures 9 to 12 represent the three pieces of tube which
are preferably of gun metal and which are each of such a diameter that the tube A is
capable of being turned easily inside and the tube C of being turned easily outside
the tube B. This tube B is rigidly fixed in the slate or other suitable block D by one
or more screws D" Fig. 4 or other equivalent means, the said block in the usual
manner being formed with holes for the screws by which the switch is to be secured
to a wall or other support. In the lower end of the tube B as shown clearly in Fig. 10
there is formed a recess B¹ which extends approximately one fourth of the whole
circumference of the tube. This recess as hereinafter shown is for preventing the
spindle being turned beyond the necessary limits in either direction. In the upper
end of the tube B there are formed four equi-distant recesses B and B one of the
former of which in fig. 10 is shown in dotted lines. Two of the upwardly projecting
pieces B³ of the tube B each between a recess B2 and a recess B' extend upwards above
the level of the other two projections B. One of these projections B³ is vertically
above the centre of the recess B¹ and the two projections B are diametrically opposite
to each other. The recesses B' are of such a width as will accomodate the herein-
after described arms A*. On the outer side of the tube B there is provided the
collar Band on the outer side of each of the projections B³ there is provided a lug B.
As shown more clearly in figures 11 and 12 the upper end of the inner tube A
is formed with a recess A¹ which extends round approximately one fourth of the
circumference of the tube and at its outside the said tube is provided with the out-
wardly extending arms A'. The lower end of the tube A is formed with a recess A
at the side of the tube A diametrically opposite to that where the recess A¹ is
formed in the upper end, this recess A³ similarly extending round approximately
ope fourth the whole circumference of the tube. Immediately opposite the recess A
in the under end of the tube A are formed the slides or inclined cam surfaces A' A
(shown in dotted lines in fig. 11) each of which extends horizontally over approxi
mately one fourth of the whole circumference of the tube and vertically to such a
height as will impart the necessary vertical movement to the tube A as hereinafte

page_text: The tube C shown most clearly in fig. 9 and which is capable of being turned
freely around the outside of the tube B is supported in the proper position upon
the said tube B by the collar B' from off which it is prevented from being raised
by the projections B. At its inside the tube is provided with slots or
recesses which run parallel with the axis of the said tube C and are of such
width as will accomodate the outer ends of the arms A' and at the outside of the
tube C there are provided the contact arms C, which are adapted to make electrical
contact with the usual springs D¹ figs. 1 and 2 to which the ends of the circuit wire
are connected in the ordinary manner.
One
The spindle E at its lower end is firmly secured into a base E' which has two
or more steps E' formed upon it. As shown most clearly in fig. 6 between the
upper face of the base E' and a shoulder formed on the spindle E is situated a
thick washer or collar E³ the outer surface of which is screw threaded and which
is free to be rotated but cannot be moved longitudinally upon the spindle E.
of the steps E bears against the lower end of the tube A. In the recess B¹ of
the tube B against the end of which another of the steps E' bears a pin E* secured
in the base E is capable of being moved, the ends of the said recess by stopping
the movements of the pin E limiting the extent to which the spindle E may be
turned which extent in the example represented is one quarter of a revolution.
Another pin or projection E* secured in or forming part of the base E¹ is located
beneath normally immediately between the two inclined cam surfaces A* A* so that
when the spindle E and with it the pin E is partially rotated in either direction
the said pin passing beneath one or other of the cam surfaces forces upwards the tubes A.
A third pin or the equivalent E* carried by the base E¹ projects upwards and
engages with the lower out-turned end of the spring F. This spring which may
be of ribbon but which is preferably of wire as shown is of egg-shape the coils at
its middle being of larger diameter than those at the ends. The extreme ends F1
and F of the spring F are bent outwards at right angles to each other and to the
axis of the spring. The lowest one or two coils of the spring F as shown in figs. 6
and 7 are screwed over the collar E' while into the uppermost one or two coils of the
spring as shown in figs. 6 and 8 is screwed the threaded portion E' of the washer or
collar E which like the collar E³ is free to turn upon the spindle E this collar E*
being also free to move longitudinally on the said spindle E. The collar E is formed
with a step so that it can fit into and upon the upper end of the tube A. With
the upper out-turned end F2 of the spring Fengages the lower end of a pin E
which is shouldered down and screwed through the collar E. Besides being engaged
by the pins E and E the out-turned ends F1 and F2 of the spring extend outwards
into the recesses A and A¹ respectively. Against the end a³ of the recess A¹ the
out-turned end F is adapted to take a purchase when the spindle E is partially
rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in fig. 1 that is when turned for
completing the circuit and against the end a fig. 11 of the recess A³ the out-
turned end F is adapted to abut when the spindle is partially rotated in the opposite
direction for breaking the circuit. Against the upper end of the pin E an
arm E10 secured in the spindle E is adapted to bear, this arm E10 being screwed
or otherwise suitably secured into or on the said spindle on the upper end of which a
suitable handle E" is secured by a screw E" or in other desired manner. The
working parts of the switch are closed in by the cover D' fig. 3 and the ordinary
means are provided for connecting the circuit wires with the springs D¹.
"
"
When the switch is either in its "make ог break" position there is no strain
upon the spring F and it is only while the operative parts are being moved from one
to the other of these positions that any strain is upon it.
Assuming the switch to be in its "break" position that is as shown in fig. 1 and
that it be desired to complete the circuit by electrically connecting together the
springs D', the spindle E by its handle E is turned in the direction indicated by
the arrows in fig. 1. When so turning the spindle the lower out-turned end F¹ of
the spring F is pressed against and moved round by the upwardly projecting pin E
while the upper end F of the spring for the time being presses against the end a' of

page_text: the recess A¹ so that power is thus being stored in the spring F. When turning the
spindle E in "winding up "the spring F in this manner the pin E is moved under
the cam surface A' and the base E¹ being supported against vertical displacement by
the block D the tube A is caused to rise inside the tube B the arms A² meanwhile
gradually slipping up towards the top or out of the recesses B2 in the fixed tube B
and upwards in the recesses C₁in the outer tube C. So soon as the tube A is raised
sufficiently high to disengage the arms A³ from the recesses B² the power then possessed
by the spring F will by the pressure of the upper end F" thereof against the end a¹ of
the recess A¹ cause the tube A to fly round to the position indicated in fig. 2 where it is
arrested by the projections B³ of the fixed tube B intercepting the path of the arms A*
and as the tube Calways moves with the tube A in a rotary direction the arm C³
thereof will make electrical contact with the springs D' and thus complete the circuit
the switch being locked in the position so assumed by the arms A being drawn down
by the spring into the recesses B'. In the reverse manner when it is desired to
break the circuit by means of the switch the spindle E is turned in the direction
indicated by the arrows in fig. 2 the lower end F of the spring F then bearing against
the end as of the recess A³ in the tube A and the upper end of the spring F being
pressed against by the lower end of the pin E the upper end of which is being forced
round by the arm E10 of the spindle E. Meanwhile the pin E by moving under the
cam surface A will have caused the tube A to ascend and the arms A' thereof to rise
in the recesses B' and C¹. So soon as the arms A' have been raised clear of the
recesses B' in the fixed tube B the power then possessed by the spring F will drive
the tube A and (through the arms. A³ thereof) the tube C round until the said tubes
are arrested by arms A abutting against the projections B' when by the said arms A'
being drawn downwards by the spring F they will engage with the recesses B' and
thus securely lock the switch until it is again operated for closing the circuit.
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 ;-
1. In an electric switch the combination with a spindle such as E of a spring such
as F encircling and so connected to the said spindle by washers or collars such as E
and E7 that each end of the spring alternately is capable of being moved round with
the spindle in opposite directions while the other is held stationary substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In an electric switch the combination with a spindle such as E of a spring such
as F encircling the same and the ends of which are turned outwards so that they may be
engaged with and carried round in opposite directions by pins such as E and E operated
by the spindle substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In an electric switch the combination with a spindle such as E of three tubes
such as A B and C operating substantially as and for the purpose herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In an electric switch the combination with a fixed tube such as B of tubes
such as A and C capable of being turned respectively inside and outside of the said
tube B and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
"
5. In an electric switch the combination with a fixed tube such as B provided with
recesses such as B and B of a tube such as A capable of being turned within the
tube B and carrying arms such as A' which besides engaging with a tube such as C
for turning it around the outside of the tube B are also adapted to engage with the
recesses B and B' for securely locking the switch in its "make "break" position
substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In an electric switch a tube such as A on which is formed a double inclined cam
such as A* A* substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
or
7. In an electric switch the combination with a spindle operating two pins such

page_text: as E and E of a spring such as F and a tube such as A having two recesses such as A'
and A' so arranged that when one end F¹ of the spring is moved in one direction by
the pin E the other end F' abuts against the end a¹ of the recess A¹ and when the
end F of the spring is moved in the opposite direction by the pin E the end F¹ of
the said spring abuts against the end a³ of the recess A' substantially as and for the
purpose berein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. The complete electric switch consisting essentially of three tubes such as A B
and C contact arms and springs such as "and D¹ spindle such as E hase such as E
collars or washers such as E3 and E8 spring such as F and pins such as E' E' E* E*
and E all substantially as and operating in the manner herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
EMILE ROUSSEAU.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.