Improvements in Multiple Electric Switches.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Multiple Electric Switches.
I, OWEN DAVID LUCAS, Electrical Engineer, of 39, Victoria Street, West-
minster, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of multiple switches in which a series of
two or more switch levers are mounted on the same axle, so that they can be
operated simultaneously by turning the said axle, and the object of my improve-
ment is to connect the individual switch levers with the axle in such a manner
that each of them can be opened or closed independently of the others.
I prefer to construct each individual switch of the series as a quick-break
chopper switch in which the handle is placed at an angle for the switch lever, and
has a bifurcated hub enclosing the hub of the switch lever, the handle being
connected with the switch lever by means of a spring, which allows a short
angular motion between the two. The hub of the handle has a larger diameter
than that of the switch arm and extends over the edges of the same, its diametrical
section having the shape of a double T, in which the base and top represent the
flanges of the hub of the handle.
According to the present invention I mount the hub of the handle loosely on
its axle, and extend its flanges (the flanges of the double T) sideways beyond
the hub of the switch arm and form in each flange a pair of segmental recesses
diametrically opposite each other, to make room for a pair of pins or flat keys
passing diametrically through the axle.
If all switches of the series are closed, and it is desired to open one of them, .
without disturbing the others, the handle belonging to the said switch is turned
until its switch arm gets clear of the fixed contact, and as this motion corresponds
to the length of the segmental recesses mentioned above, the flanges of the hub
will not act on the diametrical keys.
On the other hand if it is desired to open the whole series of switches at the
same time, the common switch axle is turned by means of a main handle mounted
on the same, and for closing the switches simultaneously the main handle is
turned in the opposite direction.
The range of motion of the main switch handle is approximately twice that of
the single switch levers, one part of the motion of the main handle corresponding
to the motion of the switch levers and the other part corresponding to the length
of the segmental recess.
Dated this 12th day of October 1898
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, OWEN DAVID LUCAS, Electrical Engineer, of 39, Victoria Street, West-
minster, in the County of London, 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 that class of multiple switches in which a series of
two or more switch levers are mounted on the same axle, so that they can be
operated simultaneously by turning the said axle, and the object of my improve-
ments is to connect the individual switch levers with the axle in such a manner,
that each of them can be opened or closed-independently of the others.
I prefer to construct each individual switch of the series as a quick-break
chopper switch, in which the handle is placed at an angle to the switch lever, and
has a bifurcated hub enclosing the hub of the switch lever, the handle. not
being rigidly connected with the switch lever, but adapted to turn the same by
means of a spring, which allows a short angular motion between the two. A
switch of this type is described, for instance, in the Specification of English.
Patent No. 24381, dated 2nd November 1896.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 a longitudinal elevation
of a double switch embodying my invention, Fig. 3 is an end view and Fig. 4 a
perspective view of the same. Figs. 5 to 8 represent details of construction.
In the example represented by the drawing, the hub a¹ of the handle a has
a larger diameter than the hub 61 of the switch arm band extends over the edges of
the same, its diametrical section having the shape of a double T.
According to the present invention I mount the hub a¹ of the handle a loosely
on its axle, and extend its flanges (the flanges of the double T) sideways beyond
the hub b of the switch arm 6 and form in each flange a pair of segmental
recesses a diametrically opposite each other, to make room for a pair of pins
or flat keys c¹ passing diametrically through the axle o.
If both switches are closed, and it is desired to open one of them, without
disturbing the other, the handle belonging to the said switch is turned, until the
contact springs of its switch arm b get clear of the fixed contact d belonging to
the same, and as this motion corresponds to the length of the segmental recesses
mentioned above, the flanges of the hub will not act on the diametrical keys.
On the other hand, if it is desired to open the two switches at the same time,
the common switch axle c is turned by means of a main handle mounted on the
same, and for closing the switches simultaneously, the main handle ca is turned in
the opposite direction.
"
If the operating shaft is turned, while one switch is in the "
on and the
other in the off" position, as represented by the perspective view Fig. 4, only
one of the switches will move with the shaft, while the other remains stationary,
because the recess in its hub allows the necessary motion of the pin.
The range of motion of the main switch handle is approximately twice that
of the single switch levers, one part of the motion of the main handle corre-
sponding to the motion of the switch levers and the other part corresponding to
the length of the segmental recesses.
In the drawings e represents the base plate, f a spring between the switch
arm b and a friction roller a³ mounted in the hub of the handle a, g a stop pin
for limiting the motion of the switch arm b, h are the terminals for the leading-in
wires, the terminals for the leading-out wires, 1, 7 are india-rubber studs fixed-
in the projecting tooth or tail-piece of the hub a² and adapted to bear against the
spring m commonly used in quick-break switches,

page_text: Instead of coupling the switch levers by means of pins passing diametrically
through the operating shaft, coupling discs provided with suitable teeth or
pins projecting into the segmental recesses or slots may be fixed on the axle c,
as shown at the right hand end of the axle c, and also in Fig. 5, and the special
arrangement described and shown may be reversed by forming recesses or slots
on the said coupling discs, while the hubs of the switch levers have teeth or
pins projecting into the said recesses or slots.
Instead of turning the operating shaft by means of a main handle, a hand-
wheel, tooth wheel, or equivalent driving gear may be employed for turning the
said shaft by hand or by mechanism.
In Fig. 4 the fixed contacts d have been omitted for the sake of clearness.
Fig. 5 shows a pair of coupling discs provided with radial teeth adapted to
move in the segmental recesses as of the hub a².
Fig. 6 is a side view of the handle a and hub a¹.
Figs. 7 and 8 show one of the coupling discs c³ separately.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are perspective views of the switch lever a with hub a¹, and
of the coupling discs c³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A multiple switch comprising in its construction an operating shaft mounted
in axle-bearings and provided with a main handle or analogous driving gear, and
a series of switch levers mounted loosely on the said shaft and adapted to turn
independently of each other, each switch lever being coupled with the operating
shaft by means of a pin tooth or projection, and a segmental recess or slot, so
arranged that the switch can be turned a given angle independently of the shaft,
and vice-versa, substantially as described.
2. A multiple switch comprising in its construction an operating shaft mounted
on a base plate, and a series of quick-break switches mounted loosely on the said
shaft and adapted to turn independently of each other, each switch being coupled
with the said operating shaft by means of a pin or projection on the one hand, and
a recess or slot on the other hand, so that the switch can be turned a given angle
independently of the shaft, and that in certain positions the shaft can be turned
a given angle independently of the switch, substantially as described.
3. A multiple switch constructed and adapted to operate substantially as
described with reference to the drawings.
Dated thin 10th
T11000
FAIREAX & WETTER,
Agents, 37 and 39, Essex Street, Strand, London.