Improvements in Electric Switches.
Year: 1893

page_text: "
⚫COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Switches.
I, JAMES FINNEY MCELROY of No. 936 Broadway, City and County of
Albany, State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in mechanism for directing the current of
electricity; and the object of my invention is to provide an electric switch
particularly adapted for use in mechanism for heating with electricity cars propelled
by electricity.
I accomplish this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section.
Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the connections between the disks of the cylinder.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the knob H.
Fig. 7'detail views of the disks of the cylinder, and
Fig. 8 is a view of the wiring'in the car..
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
I construct a cylinder composed of a series of disks A, B, C, D, E and F made
of any suitable non-conducting substance of any suitable nature. These disks are
separated from each other by means of narrow partitions a extending slightly above
the disks, also composed of a suitable insulating material. The cylinder is suitably
mounted upon a spindle b, which is journalled within the box G and which has at
one end keyed to it, the knob H. At one end of the cylinder and secured thereto, I
arrange the notched wheel W.
Within the box 'G, I mount the locking shaft J carrying a spiral spring ;, and
having pivoted to it, the bell-crank lever K. One end of the lever K is provided
with a handle k, the opposite end carries the metallic disk K'. One side of the arm
of the lever which carries the disk K', is provided with a stud / constructed to
engage with the openings L in. the wheel W when the disk K' is between the
posts M and N. The disk K' is constructed to fit snugly between the metallic
posts M N; the posts M and N are insulated from the box and cylinder, as is
also the disk K' from the lever K. The post N is connected by wire to one pole of
the battery, or where it is nsed upon an electric car, to the trolley. The post M
is connected by wire to a metallic spring F1; the spring F¹ being attached to an
insulated bolt in the fiame of the box at one end, its other end being in contact
with the disk F of the cylinder.
In a similar way, the springs E', D¹, C', B¹ and A' are arranged in contact with
the corresponding disks of the cylinder.
Each of the disks of the cylinder are provided with one or more metallic plugs p,
as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7. A metallic rod R is used when it is desired to unite
these metallic plugs in various series, as shown in Fig. 4.
Thus in disk A, there are three plugs; the disk B contains three mugs; the
disk C two; the disk D three; the disk E one; the disk F five. By referring to
Fig. 5, the letters at the bottom of the figure refer to the disks and show by the
number of squares in the upright column, in full lines, the number of metallic plugs
in each disk. The figures at the right of Fig. 5 refer to the various series of
metallic plugs in the disks and show how they are connected.

page_text: I have indicated on Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7, the positions of the various plugs and
numbered them according to which series they belong. Thus in Fig. 1, at the top
of the cylinder, is seen series 1, lower down is series 2, while the springs are in
contact with series 3.
Fig. 4 shows the connection of the plugs of the third series, in which the plug in
the disk A is connected with the plug in the disk D by means of the rod R; and
the plug in the disk E is connected in the same manner with the plug in the disk F.
Thus the current passing from the trolley to the post N passes through the disk K¹
to the post M and is carried to the spring F', see Fig. 1, thence to the plug in the
disk F; from thence it is conducted by the connecting rod R to the disk E; thence
through the spring E' to the heater in the car-Fig. 8, carried by wires of the
heater and returns to spring D' and plug in disk D and is conducted to plug in the
disk A, from whence it passes to the ground.
By the operation of the bell-crank lever K, the circuit is made or broken.
When the circuit is complete, the disk K₁ being in position between the posts M
and N, the cylinder is locked, the lug within the wheel W preventing the
oscillation of the cylinder, and in order to change the position of the cylinder
and thereby operate the switch, it is necessary to first break the circuit by operating
the lever.
The numbers on the knob H, shown in Fig. 6, indicate the position of the
cylinder, and after the lever is drawn back, the cylinder may be revolved by means
of the knob to the position indicated by the figures, and then the circuit may be
made and the switch will be in operation.
By this construction of the switch, I prevent sparking at the spring contact with
the cylinder, which would take place if the circuit were made when the cylinder was
revolved and I make and break the circuit at a point above the cylinder, which is
controlled by the lever.
It will be noticed that the lever performs a double function, first that of breaking
the circuit, and second that of locking the rotary cylinder in a position so that it
cannot be turned until after the circuit is broken. It moreover makes it impossible
to close the circuit through the switch when the cylinder is not in its proper
position.
By referring to Fig. 8, the location of the heaters in the car are so arranged that
they are symmetrical with regard to their location to each other and to their
position in reference to the heating surface of the car.
I describe one adaptation of my switch, that connected with heating by electricity,
and which is more particularly described and claimed in an application for a Patent
filed simultaneously herewith.
The heaters in the car are numbered 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
and 22, all connected together and placed two at each end and two in the center of
each side of the car; the spring A' being connected with heater 11; B' with
heaters 22 and 21; C¹ with heaters 16 and 17; D₁ with heater 12; E' with
heaters 19 and 20.
By this arrangement of the heaters and their connections when the springs D
and F are in contact. with the plugs in disks D and F, as shown in series 1, the
current passes first to heater 12, then to heaters 15, 18, 21, 22, 20, 19, 17, 16, 14,
13 and 11 and through the ground wire at A¹ out, having twelve heaters in the
series. When the second series is in connection, the current passes from spring B
to heaters 22, 20, 19, 17, 16, 14, 13 and 11, having eight heaters in series.
When the third series is in connection, the current passes from spring El to
heaters 19, 17, 16, 14, 13 and 11 and heaters 20, 22, 21, 18, 15, and 12, making
two series of six heaters each. When the fourth series is in connection, the
current passes from spring C' to heaters 16, 14, 13 and 11 and heaters 17, 19
20 and 22, making two series of four heaters each. When the fifth series is in
connection, the current passes from spring D¹ to heaters 12, 15, 18 and 21 and
from spring C¹ to heaters 16, 14, 13 and 11 and 17, 19, 20 and 22, making
three series of four heaters each.

page_text: In the first position all of the heating surface within the car is placed in series.
In the second position 2-3 is placed in series. In the third position, the total
heating surface is divided into two equal parts, and these parts are placed in
multiple with reference to each other. In the fourth position 2-3 of the heating
surface is divided into two equal parts and these parts are placed in multiple with
reference to each other. In the fifth position, the total heating surface is divided
into three equal parts and these parts are placed in multiple with reference to
each other.
In heating up a car, I preferably place the switch in the fifth position, allowing a
large current to flow through the heater, hence I obtain a rapid heating of the car.
As the car becomes warm ready to go on the road, I then turn the switch in one of
the other positions requiring less current; the position of the switch depending
upon the temperature of the outside air. As the flow of current commences, the
heating effect may be varied in this manner. Thus I am enabled to set the switch
so as to give just the heat required to make a car comfortable in any weather.
-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In an electric switch, a cylinder composed of a series of disks constructed.
of a non-conducting substance, a spindle upon which said cylinder is mounted, a
metallic plug placed in one or more of said disks, a means for connecting said
metallic plug or plugs with an electric heater together with means for connecting
said metallic plug or plugs with the poles of a battery, substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In an electric switch, a cylinder composed of a series of disks constructed
of a non-conducting substance, each disk containing one or more metallic plugs,
said metallic plugs arranged in series, metallic connections between said disks of
the cylinder and wires connected with an electric heater, a means for connecting
the current of electricity to said metallic connections, with a ground wire extending
from one of said metallic connections, substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.
3rd. In an electric switch, a cylinder composed of a series of non-conducting
disks, each disk containing one or more metallic plugs, a spindle upon which said
cylinder is mounted, a series of metallic springs in contact with said disks, one of
said springs attached to a wire carrying the current of electricity to the switch, one
of said springs attached to a wire connected with the ground, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
4th. An electric switch composed of a series of non-conducting disks, one or
more metallic plugs placed in each disk, said disks arranged in a cylinder in such a
manner that the metallic plugs are in series, a series of metallic conductors arranged
to come into contact with said metallic plugs in the course of the revolution of the
cylinder, in such a manner that all of the metallic plugs in each series will be in
contact with their corresponding conductors simultaneously, with a means of con-
necting said metallic plugs to each other, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
5th. In an electric switch, the combination of a cylinder composed of a series of
non-conducting disks, one or more, metallic plugs placed in each disk, said disks
arranged in such a manner that the metallic plugs are in series, a series of metallic
conductors arranged to come into contact with said metallic plugs in the course of
the revolution of the cylinder, in such a manner that all of the metallic plugs in
each series will be in contact with their corresponding conductors simultaneously,
with a means of connecting said metallic plugs to each other, a spindle upon which
said cylinder is mounted, said spindle journalled in a suitable frame, with a knob
at the end of said cylinder by means of which the cylinder may be rotated,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
6th. An electric switch consisting of a cylinder composed of a series of non-

page_text: conducting disks, one or more metallic plugs in each of said disks, said disks
arranged in such a manner that the metallic plugs are in series, a series of metallic
conductors arranged to come into contact with said metallic plugs in the course of
the revolution of the cylinder in such a manner that all of the metallic plugs in
each series will be in contact with their corresponding conductors simultaneously,
with a means of connecting said metallic plugs to each other, a spindle upon which
said cylinder is mounted, said spindle jourualled in a suitable frame, with a knob
at the end of said spindle by means of which the cylinder may be rotated, a
rocking shaft mounted in said frame, a bell-crank lever secured to said rocking
shaft, a metallic disk on one arm of said bell-crank lever adapted to make and
break the circuit by entering and leaving the space between the two poles of the
switch, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
7th. In an electric switch, the combination of a cylinder composed of a series of
non-conducting disks, one or more metallic plugs placed in each disk, said disks
arranged in a cylinder in such a manner that the metallic plugs are in series, a
series of metallic conductors arranged to come into contact with said metallic plugs
in the course of the revolution of the cylinder, in such a manner that all of the
metallic plugs in each series will be in contact with their corresponding conductors
simultaneously, with a means of connecting said metallic plugs to each other, one
end of said cylinder provided with a wheel with a notched or corrugated periphery,
a lever mounted upon a shaft, said shaft suitably journalled in the frame of the
switch, one arm of said shaft provided with a lug fitted to engage in the notches
or corrugations in said wheel, by means of which said cylinder may be locked, with
a disk at the end of said lever-arm adapted to fit between the poles of the switch,
with a series of metallic conductors arranged to come into contact with the metallic
plugs in the disks of the cylinder, substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.
8th. In an electric switch, the combination of a suitable frame, a metallic post
insulated from said frame connected with the electricity bearing wire, a similar
metallic post insulated from said frame and separated from first mentioned post a
short distance and connected by wire to a metallic conductor, a rocking shaft
mounted in said frame carrying a pivotally connected lever, a metallic disk secured
to said lever, but insulated therefrom, capable of fitting snugly between said metallic
posts, a cylinder mounted upon a spindle journalled in said frame, a wheel secured
to one end of said cylinder having a notched periphery, a lug protruding from said
lever capable of engaging with the notches in said wheel, said cylinder composed of
a series of disks, each carrying one or more metallic plugs, with a series of metallic
conductors resting upon said disks and coming into contact with said metallic plugs
as the cylinder is revolved, one of said metallic conductors connected by wire to
the ground-or to the negative pole of the battery, substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth.
9th. In an electric switch, the combination of a cylinder composed of six metallic
disks, a metallic conductor in contact with each of said disks, three of said disks
containing each three metallic plugs, one of said disks containing two metallic
plugs, one containing five metallic plugs and one containing one metallic plug
arranged in such a manner that the metallic plugs in the 4th and 6th disks shall
be connected together by a metallic rod and be brought simultaneously in contact
with their respective metallic conductors, and the metallic plugs in the 2nd and 6th
connected by a metallic rod and be brought simultaneously in contact with their
respective metallic conductors, and the metallic plugs in the 1st and 4th will be
connected by a metallic rod and 5th and 6th connected by a metallic rod and be
brought simultaneously in contact with their respective metallic conductors, and
the 1st and 2nd be connected by a metallic rod and 3rd and 6th connected by a
metallic rod and be brought simultaneously in contact with their respective metallic
conductors, the 1st and 2nd connected by a metallic rod, 3rd and 4th connected by
a metallic rod and the 4th and 6th connected by a metallic rod and be brought
simultaneously in contact with their respective metallic conductors, the current

page_text: supply wire connected with one said said metallic conductors, an out wire connected
to another of said metallic conductors, a means for making and breaking the circuit
between the poles of the switch, substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.
10th. In an electric switch, the combination of a rotary cylinder, a wheel keyed
to the shaft upon which said cylinder is mounted, with a lever suitably mounted,
said lever engaging with said wheel in such a manner as to prevent the rotation of
the wheel, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 13th day of June 1893.
JAMES FINNEY MCELROY.
R. Haddan,
Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agent for Applicant.