Year: 1896

page_text: I, EDWARD WINGFIELD BOWLES, of 28 Victoris Street in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The chief object of this invention is to prevent the burning of the pins or sockets
of electrical connectors, but the invention has also other objects, which will be more
fully referred to.
The burning of the pins or sockets by the sparking which takes place at the
breaking of the connections, is a well-known difficulty in regard to electric circuits,
and many attempts have been made with a view to overcome it, but hitherto with
only doubtful success.
To this end, the invention consists in the application to the pins or the sockets,
or both, of springs, in such a manner, that the withdrawal of the pins compresses the
springs, and thus stores up power, which is used at the right moment to effect a
quick break, and thus prevent the sparking which is so detrimental.
The invention also consists in the construction of the pins or sockets, whereby the
entrance of the pins is effected more expeditiously than heretofore, and the entrance
of water into the sockets, and the accumulation of dirt therein, is prevented.
In carrying out my invention, I pass the stem of the spring, or split pius,
through boxes in the plug, and provide, on their upper ends, a collar which forms
one abutinent for a coiled spring, mounted on the stem, and enclosed in the box, the
bottom of the box forming the other abutment.
Thus, the pin will be caused to spring quickly back to its normal position, when
let go, after being pulled out.
The sockets consist of a spring, or split tubular portion, having a splayed-out end,
also working in a box, and surrounded by a coiled spring. One abutment for the
spring is the top of the box, and the other is a collar on the tube, which rests on
the bottom of the box. A second collar is secured to the tube, outside the box, to
which the wire is attached. The mouth-piece to the socket is preferably made of
porcelain, and has a raised lip or bead, so that water cannot enter should the socket
be placed on the floor, or other position where washing is found to be sometimes
necessary.
The socket being tubular, any dirt that may enter will pass quite through, and
collect in a recess or receptacle placed below.
The splayed-out part of the tubular portion, under the pressure of the spring,
drawing it down into the box, as it were, causes the split portion to close in, so that
the bore is kept of a uniform size, thereby always ensuring a good contact.
The operation of these parts will be as follows:-The split pin, when pressed into
the split socket, will fit extremely tightly, so that when it is desired to disconnect,
the pin will be first drawn out of its box, and its spring compressed, or the socket
will be drawn up in its box, and its spring compressed.

page_text: When the springs are compressed to the fullest extent, and stops come into action,
the parts can be separated, but directly the friction is overcome, the parts will,
under the influence of the compressed' springs, quickly separate, thus producing a
quick break, which will obviate sparking:
.
Dated this lith day of Databian bari
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Electric Light and Power Circuits:
I EDWARD WINGFIELD BOWLES, of 28 Victoria Street' in the City of Westminster,
Civil 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:-
The chief object of this invention is to prevent the burning of the pins or
sockets of electrical connectors, but the invention has also other objects, which will
be more fully referred to.
The burning of the pins or sockets by the sparking which takes place at the
breaking of the connections,, is a well-known difficulty, in regard to electric circuits,
and many attempts have been made with a view to overcome it, but hitherto with
only doubtful success.
To this end, the invention' consists in the application to the pins or sockets, or
both, of springs, in such a manner that the withdrawal of the pins compresses the
springs, and thus stores up power, which is used. at the right moment to effect a
quick break, and thus prevent the sparking which is so detrimental.
The invention also consists in the construction of the pins and of the sockets,
whereby the entrance of the pins is effected more expeditiously. than heretofore,
and the entrance of water into the sockets, and the accumulation of dirt therein, is
prevented.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a, double-pin connector: plug, with my invention
adapted thereto,, Fig. 2. being an outside view of an ordinary socket suitable to
receive the same.
Fig. 3 is an outside view of an ordinary plug piece, and
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a double-pin connector socket or shoe intended
to receive the same, and with my; invention adapted thereto.
Referring now. to Fig. 1, A is the handle which also forms a box or case to receive
the mechanism.. B. is-a- plate or plug, of insulating, material to fit into the handle,
and carrying a couple of cylinders or boxes C, in which-the- stems of- the. pins: D
work.
The pins. D, the working portions of-which are split, to give elasticity, are formed
with shoulders. D at about the centre of their length,, and. this shoulder is
intended to strike against the bottom of the cylinders or boxes (or, it may, be; a
collar). through which the stems D pass, and so limit their movement' in. one
direction: Above the shoulders D¹, and upon the stems D of the pins D, helical
springs E are mounted. These springs abut at one end: on: the bottom of the
cylinder or box (or it may be the collar, which would of course be firmly secured to
the plug), and at the other end against a collar D', or its equivalent,; on the

page_text: stem D. At the end of each stem is a terminal D', the two terminals- being"
connected to wires, as shewn,
As the split or olastic portions of the pins D will fit tightly in their sockets, it
will be obvious that when the effort is made to withdraw them from their sockets,
the friction will be sufficient to first compress the springs E; and then, as the
withdrawing is continued, and as soon as the friction of the pins in the sockets is
appreciably lessened, the springs E will act, and will quickly withdraw the pins.
from the sockets, or break contact; and' thus sparking will be avoided!
Referring now to Figure 4, G is a base, G¹ a cylindrical case, and Ga top or
cover, all of insulating material.
Hare cylinders or boxes to receive the sockets, which consist of short pieces of
tube J. These tubes J, which extend through the bottoms of the boxes, are split
some distance down, to render them more or less elastic, and are splayed out, or
bell-shaped, at top. J J are collars fitted on the tubes, the collar being inside
the cylinder, and J outside, at a certain distance apart, so as to limit the movement
of the tube J in either direction. K are helical springs which abut at one end
against the collar J¹, and at the other end against the end or top of the cylinder or
box, or, it may be, a collar, fitted to the box, or to the cover G. L are terminals
which are electrically connected to the collars J by wires in the usual way, and
these terminals are also connected to the line wires or conductors.
The bell-shaped end of J projects into a bell-shaped opening G in the insulated
cover or top G, and these bell-shaped parts serve to readily guide the pins into the
sockets.
Around the openings Gare the beads G', which project slightly above the surface
of the floor (if the socket or shoe be placed in the floor), and form an obstruction
to the entrance of water into the tubes J, when the floor is being washed. The
tubes J being also open at bottom, will allow any dirt or other extraneous matter
to fall through, so that there will be no collection of dirt in the sockets.
The splayed-out part of the tubular portions J will, under the pressure of the
springs K drawing them down into their respective boxes, or through the collars,
cause the split or elastic portion of J to close in, so that the socket is kept of a
uniform size, thereby always ensuring a good contact.
The operation of the sockets will be practically the same as that of the pins, and
will be readily understood from the description of the pins.
These spring connector plugs and sockets or shoes may be used with ordinary
sockets or shoes and plugs, as shown, or may be used together and will be found
most useful for many purposes, especially for stage purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. As means for effecting a quick break in electric circuits, the use of spring-
controlled pins and sockets, either together or in combination with ordinary pin
connector sockets or shoes and plugs, as set forth.
2. A pin connector plug constructed as herein shown and described with
reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.
3. A pin connector socket or shoe constructed as herein shewn and described with
reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings.
4. In a pin connector socket or shoe for electric circuits, the use of a bell-mouthed
elastic tubular portion to receive the plug pin, in combination with bell-mouthed
openings in an insulating top plate, for the purpose set forth.
5. In a connector socket or shoe for electric circuits, a bell-mouthed elastic
tubular portion provided with a collar, a fixed collar through which the tube passes,
and a spring between the two collars, for maintaining the uniform size of the tubular
portion, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a connector socket or shoe for electric circuits, providing the bell-mouthed

page_text: openings in the top plate with a raised lip or bead, to present an obstruction to the
entrance of water into the socket, as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of May 1897.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.