A Combined Switch and Ceiling Rose or other like Fitting for Electric Lighting Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 23rd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Switch and Ceiling Rose or other like Fitting for Electric
Lighting Purposes.
We, SAMUEL JEVONS, The Minories, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Electrical Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY LLOYD, The Minories, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of our said invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object a combined switch and ceiling rose or other
fitting for electric lighting purposes by which we are enabled to dispense with
the ordinary wall switch thus considerably reducing the cost of installing the
light and obtain a double pole switch thereby "cutting off" or breaking the
circuit in both flexible wires which are consequently Head" when not in use
the switching action being accomplished by slightly pulling the flexible wires
or pendant which are so connected as to prevent any strain coming on the
electrical contacts. We also provide a continuous strip of insulating material
between the opposite poles and the "break" which is very wide takes place
instantaneously thus being specially suited for high pressure circuits.
Our combined switch and ceiling rose and other fitting consists of three
main parts first a fixed base second a movable plunger or its equivalent operated
in one direction by the pull on the flexible wires or other connection and in
the other direction by a spiral spring or its equivalent and third a solid cylinder
or drum or its equivalent capable of rotating on its axis by contact between
the plunger and drum. These parts are made of porcelain or other insulating
material and are fitted with the necessary metal contacts and other parts.
The following is an example of our method of constructing a combined
switch and ceiling rose.
The fixed base may be similar to those at present in use with ordinary switches
or ceiling roses but is provided with two guides or downwardly projecting
pieces. A recess or hole is formed in the centre between the guides in which
a spiral spring is fixed the lower end being attached to the movable plunger
for carrying or supporting the said plunger. A strip of metal is fixed to cach
guide or projecting piece on opposite sides and is provided with a terminal
to each of which a main wire is attached. The movable plunger which fits
between the guides is formed with a slot in its centre through which the cylinder
or drum passes.
The lower end of the spiral spring before mentioned is fixed
to the upper surface of this plunger. Pivoted in a slot formed in one of the
sides of the plunger is a detent or catch the slot in which it works being so
formed that when pressure comes against this detent or catch in one direction
it is rigid or immoveable but when pressure is applied in the reverse direction
the catch moves on its pivot the end of the said catch or detent being bevelled
The lower end of the unmoveable
so as to allow any object to slide over it.
plunger is preferably formed cylindrical with a spiral groove or grooves formed
A hollow or recess
on its surface in which the ends of the flexible wires fit.

page_text: is formed in the end of this cylindrical portion of the plunger.
It will be seen
that as the plunger exactly fits between the guides and is in the same thickness
or in the same plane that a continuous strip of insulating material is formed.
The flexible wires to which the shade holder and lamp are suspended pass up
the hollowed or recessed cylindrical end of the plunger through holes on either
side and around the spiral grooves the ends being then fixed by screws to oppo-
site corners of the flat portion of the plunger which corners are bevelled for this
purpose. The screws which hold these wires also hold strips of metal which
lie flush against the opposite surfaces of the plunger. The strips of metal both
on the guides and on the plunger project beyond the edges thus acting for the
double purpose as side guides for the plunger and also as contact pieces. The
cylinder or drum is formed at its centre so as to present four edges or points
at right angles to each other the extreme ends of which are exactly flush with
the surface of the cylinder. The ends of this drum are reduced and formed
square and upon these ends contact bridge pieces are fitted. This drum is sup-
ported by a spindle mounted in brackets fixed to the base of the rose so as to
allow the drum to revolve freely in the slot of the plunger. The contact bridge
pieces are preferably formed in two parts the hole in the centre of one part
exactly fitting the square end of the drum and the hole in the other part is made
smaller and this part is divided where this hole occurs so that it is fitted on to
the ends of the cylinder in two parts which ends are reduced at this particular
part to suit the size of hole the parts are then soldered together thus securely
fixing the bridge pieces in position. Fixed to the inner surface of the brackets
which support the drum are suitable spring clips or their equivalents embracing
and acting upon the square ends of the drum in such a manner as to give the
drum after it has made a certain revolution a sudden impetus by which means
the contacts make and break the circuits instantly.
The action is as follows:-
If the electric current is on and the light burning by pulling the flexible
wires which support the lamp the plunger is lowered in its guides and as this
plunger lowers the detent or catch engages with one of the edges or points on
the centre of the drum causing it to revolve a certain distance and expand the
spring clips which then turn it round suddenly to complete a quarter revolu-
tion and consequently the bridge pieces are moved also say from a horizontal
to a vertical position thus breaking the contacts and extinguishing the light.
Immediately the flexible wires are released the spring by which the plunger is
suspended draws it up to its normal position ready for the next pull and as this
plunger ascends the detent does not act upon but merely slides over the then
presenting edge of the centre portion of the drum consequently the drum re-
mains stationary.
The next pull acting in the same manner rotates the drum another revolution
and the bridge pieces are moved from the vertical to the horizontal position thus
making contact again.
The whole of the parts may be enclosed in a cover attached to the base of
the rose in the usual manner the opening in this cover through which the
plunger passes serving the purpose of an extra guide.
Dated this 2011 1aw of Tul. 1900
SAMUEL JEVONS.
WILLIAM HENRY LLOYD.
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicant, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.

page_text: A Combined Switch and Ceiling Rose or other like Fitting for Electric
Lighting Purposes.
We, SAMUEL JEVONS, The Minories, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Electrical Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY LLOYD, The Minories, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention has for its object a combined switch and ceiling rose or other
fitting for electric lighting purposes by which we are enabled to dispense with
the ordinary wall switch thus considerably reducing the cost of installing the
light and obtain a double pole switch thereby cutting off" or breaking the
circuit is both flexible wires which are consequently dead when not in use,
the switching action being accomplished by slightly pulling the flexible wires
or pendant which are so connected as to prevent any strain coming on the
electrical contacts. We also provide a continuous strip of insulating material
between the opposite poles and the "break which is very wide takes place
instantaneously thus being specially suited for high pressure circuits.
"
Our combined switch and ceiling rose and other fitting consists of three
main parts first a fixed base second a moveable plunger or its equivalent operated
in one direction by the pull on the flexible wires or other connection and in
the other direction by a spiral spring or its equivalent and third a solid cylinder
or drum or its equivalent capable of rotating on its axis by contact between
the plunger and drum. These parts are made of porcelain or other insulating
material and are fitted with the necessary metal contacts and other parts.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto three double sized sheets of
drawings upon which we have illustrated examples of our method of construct-
ing a combined switch and ceiling rose but it will be evident that the principal
may be applied to switches generally.
Figure 1 is an enlarged view of our combined switch and ceiling rose com-
plete without the cover.
Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 shewing the bridge piece out of con-
tact and the circuit broken.
Figure 4 is a part sectional side view of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a part sectional view of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a detached view of the moveable plunger.
Figure is a plan view of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an edge view of the dise against which the spring for keeping the
contact bridge pieces in position bears.
Figure 9 is a plan view of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an edge view of the contact bridge piece.
Figure 11 is a plan view of Figure 10.
In carrying our invention into practice the fixed base B may be similar to
those at present in use with ordinary switches or ceiling roses but is provided
with two guides or projecting pieces and 2 and the recess or hole in the
centre between these guides in which the spiral spring S is fixed, the lower end being
attached to the moveable plunger P as clearly shewn at Figure 5. Fixed to
the guides 162 on opposite sides are the strips of metal provided with
the terminals respectively to each of which a main wire is attached. The

page_text: the screws
which
moveable plunger P is formed with the slot p¹ in its centre through which the
cylinder or drum D made of insulating material passes and with the slot p²
in the upper end in which the detent or catch 3 is preferably formed slightly
concave at its lower end. The end of the plunger P is preferably formed
cylindrical with the spiral grooves on its surface and a hollow or recess
at the end communicating with the grooves . The flexible wires W and Wi
pass up the hollow or recessed cylindrical-end through the holes into and
around the spiral grooves through the holes 7 the ends being then fixed by
or terminals 12 to opposite sides of the plunger as shewn at
Figures 1 and 3. These screws t¹ t also hold the strips of metal 28
lie flush against the opposite surfaces of the plunger their outer edges project-
ing beyond the edges of the plunger as clearly shewn at Figure 7. The inner
edges of the metal strips 665 also project beyond the edges of the guides b1 63.
These strips of metal and 28 act for the double purpose as side guides
for the plunger and also as contact pieces being so arranged that the overhang-
ing edge of the strips on the guides bear against the insulated sides of the
plunger and the overhanging edges of the strips on the plunger bear against
the insulated sides of the guides and it will be seen that as the plunger exactly
fits between the guides and is the same thickness or in the same plane a con-
tinuous strip of insulating material is formed. The cylinder or drum D is
formed at its centre with four ridges or points and dat or about
right angles to each other the other portions of the cylinder to within a
short distance of either end being formed square and upon these ends and de
the contact bridge pieces H and H are mounted respectively which bridge
pieces are held in position by the spiral springs the other ends of which
bear against the discs E and E¹ also mounted on the ends d. These discs E
and E are each provided on their outer faces with two or more friction rollers e²
or their equivalents preferably four and these friction rollers bear against the
cam surface plates F F fixed to or formed on the supports J J either formed
out of or fixed to the base B. The extreme ends of the drum D are formed
round and pass through holes formed in the plates F F which are reduced and
this drum is supported by the spindle K mounted in the brackets or supports J J
so as to allow it to revolve freely in the slot the particular formation of the
surface of the plates E F around which the rollers travel giving the drum
after it has made a certain portion of a revolution an impetus through the
medium of the springs by which means the contacts make and break the
circuits instantly.
The modus operandi is as follows:
_
If the electric current is on and the light burning. By pulling the flexible
wires W W which support the lamp the plunger P is lowered in the guides b
and and as the plunger lowers the detent or catch 73 engages with one of the
ridges or points on the centre of the drum 1 causing it to revolve
a certain distance and consequently move the discs E and E bringing the
rollers onto to projecting or elevated portions of the cam plates F F thereby
causing a sudden movement of the drum as it completes the quarter revolution
by the action of the springs & pressing upon the discs E E which forces the
rollers down the inclines into the hollow portions of the cam plates and as
the bridge pieces H H are rigidly mounted upon the ends of the drum they are
moved also say from a horizontal position as shewn at Figures 1 and 2 and 5
to a vertical position as shewn at Figures 3 and 4 thus breaking the contacts
and extinguishing the light the plunger P being then in the position as sliewn
in dotted lines Figure 4. Immediately the flexible wires W W are released
the spring S draws the plunger up to its normal position ready for the next
pull and as the plunger ascends the detent p³ does not act upon but merely slides
over the then presenting edge of the centre portion of the drum D consequently
the drum remains stationary. When the flexible flexible wires W W are
pulled again the drum D is caused to rotate another quarter revolution in the

page_text: same manner and the bridge pieces H H are moved from the vertical to the
horizontal position thus making contact again and lighting the lamp. If desired
the detent or catch may be rigidly fixed to the plunger and a rack or a disc
provided with teeth or pegs may be mounted upon the spindle of the cylinder
or drum in such a manner that when operated in one direction by the detent
it turns with the cylinder or drum but revolves or turns freely upon the axis
of the drum when turned in the reverse direction.
The whole of the parts may be enclosed in a cover attached to the base B
in the usual manner the opening in this cover through which the plunger P
passes serving the purpose as an extra guile.
It will be evident that by slight alterations our double pole switch may be
used for wall switches in which case an extended position would preferably be
the normal position of the plunger so that the making and breaking of the
circuits would be accomplished by pushing the plunger inwards instead of
drawing it outwards.
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: :--
:
CLAIMS.
First Switches for electric lighting purposes consisting of a plunger or
sliding block conveniently mounted in guides and provided with a catch or
detent acting upon a drum or cylinder or rack or their equivalents and fitted
with contact pieces substantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
Second: The combined switch and ceiling rose consisting essentially of the
plunger such as P mounted in guides and having a detent or catch
operating upon a drum such as 1) passing through a slot formed in the plunger
and fitted with contact bridge pieces held in position by spiral springs bearing
against discs such as E E¹ working upon cam surface plates such as F F¹ fixed
to standards or supports in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
herein set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dotadi, 9541, love of A 1000
SAMUEL JEVONS.
WILLIAM HENRY LLOYD.
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agents for Applicants, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.