Improvements in Electric Switches.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug.,
189?
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Switches.
I ALGERNON BURTON of 1 Bearwood Road Smethwick in the County of
Stafford, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the production of an electric switch with a
porcelain or equivalent insulator in combination with safe and absolute metallic
contacts.
I use my switch for making and breaking electric currents; through the switch
passes a metal tube for the purpose of carrying the conducting wires, such wires
being passed through holes pierced in the shell of metal tube such tube being
screwed at both ends, the lower end for attaching to an electric lamp holder or
other electric appliance, the upper end for the purpose hereinafter set forth.
I next provide an insulating cover and base the base is provided with a
central hole of suitable size to receive the short piece of tube one face of this
base would be recessed to receive metallic back terminal plates and the other side
would be recessed to receive two metallic front plates.
I provide a pair of back terminal plates each of which is pierced with two
screw holes.
I next provide two beveled metallic front plates and also four screws and then
after placing the back terminal plates and the front metallic plates in the recesses
provided to receive them pass the screws through the two back terminal plates
thence through the web of insulator base and thence through the two front plates,
the tightening up of the four screws would draw the front and back plates into the
recesses provided to receive them, the front and back plates would thus be secured
immovably to the insulator base.
I next provide an insulator cover, the diameter of which would correspond with
the insulator base, this cover would be provided with a central hole corresponding
with the central hole of insulator base, the cover would also be cupped or recessed
a suitable depth to receive the switch plate.
I next provide a switch plate or contact plate which consists of a metallic
plate or a plate made of other springing substance, such plate being formed with
two tapering arms I also provide two screws and washers the cover being recessed
at the back to receive the screw heads and washers, the two screws are then passed
through the back plate (or equivalent washers) thence through the web of
insulator cover and thence through the metallic contact plate, thus securing the
contact plate to the insulator cover.
I next place the cover over the base and then place a suitable washer over the
projecting screwed end of tube: I next take a suitable terminal nut and screw it
over the projecting screwed end of tube thus connecting the insulator cover and
base together.
My improved switch is operated in the following manner: by rotating the
insulator cover the two points of switch plate arms would come in contact with the
metallic front plates attached to the base.
When the cover is rotated so that the two points of switch plate are in contact
with the two metallic front plates, electric contact is made, and when the two points
of switch plate are turned to rest on one metallic front plate (only) the current is
cut off.
I thus secure a switch having comparatively large contacts and having also a
quick make and break, the making and breaking of the circuit being in lependent

page_text: of the speed of rotation and from the gliding of the contacts upon one another in
one direction only they tend to keep clean and smooth.
I prefer to flute the outer periphery of cover so that the same can be readily
revolved between the fingers and thumb of operator with this nut is combined a
cord grip for attaching to flexible conducting wire if necessary.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1891.
ALGERNON BURTON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Switches.
I ALGERNON BURTON of 1 Bearwood Road Smethwick in the County of
Stafford, 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 has for its object the production of an electric switch with a
porcelain or equivalent insulator such switch affording a quick make and break in
combination with absolute metallic contacts.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is constructed and used, similar letters refer to
similar parts throughout the several views.
Figure 1. represents an outside elevation of complete switch.
Figure 2. represents a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3. represents a transverse section of Figure 5 on the line A B.
Figure 4. represents a section of upper and lower discs, and contact plates,
without the conducting tube.
Figure 5. represents a sectional elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 6. represents a plan of bottom disc carrying the springing contact
plates.
Figure 7. represents a plan of underside of top disc carrying the contact plates.
Figure 8. represents a section of porcelain top disc shewing sinkings and screw
holes.
Figure 9. represents a plan of top side of Figure 8.
Figure 10. represents a plan of under side of Figure 8.
Figure 11. represents elevation of connecting tube through which is passed the
linch pin.
Figure 12. represents a plan of Figure 11.
Figure 13. represents half elevation and half section of cord grip.
Figure 14. represents a plan of Figure 13.
Figure 15. represents elevation and sectional elevation of a commercial lamp
holder.
Figure 16. represents plan of top side of Figure 15.
Figure 17. represents plan of bottom side of Figure 15.
Figure 18. represents elevation of cord grip.
Figure 19. represents plan of Figure 18.
Figure 20. represents elevation of tube washer.
Figure 21. represents plan of Figure 20.
Figure 22. represents elevation of milled washer.
Figure 23. represents plan of Figure 22.
Figure 24. represents section of bottom porcelain disc.
Figure 25. represents plan of top side of Figure 24.
Figure 26. represents plan of bottom side of Figure 24.
Figure 27. represents elevation of lamp holder detail.
Figure 28. represents plan of lamp holder detail.
Figure 29. represents transverse section of non-conducting internal lamp holder
detail.

page_text: Figure 32. represents plan of under side of Figure 31.
Figure 33. represents elevation of spring contact plate.
Figure 34. represents plan of Figure 33.
Figure 35. represents edge view of first contact plate.
Figure 36. represents plan of Figure 35.
Figure 37. represents section of Figure 35 on the line C D.
I use my switch for making and breaking electric currents.
I first take a metallic tube Figure 11 for the purpose of carrying the conducting
wires a and b such wires passing through holes c pierced in the connecting tube
and such connecting tube being screwed at both ends the lower end d for
attaching to an electric lamp holder or other electric appliance, the upper end e-
for a cord grip.
I next provide two insulator discs an upper disc fand a lower disc 9 the upper
disc shewn at Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, is provided with a central hole h of suitable
size to receive the conducting tube, the upper face of the upper disc would be
recessed at to receive screw heads and also recessed at k to receive split pin and
the lower side of upper disc would be recessed to receive two metallic plates such
metallic plates being secured to the upper disc by means of screws the heads of
which pass into the recesses j provided on the upper side of disc f to receive them
the screwed shanks pass through the disc f and are then screwed through the
metallic plates projecting therefrom forming terminals to receive the conducting
wires, the conducting wires being secured to the metallic plate and to the projecting
screw shanks by means of terminal nuts m.
g
I next take the lower insulator disc g as shewn at Figures 2, 6, 24, 25, and 26,
the diameter of which would correspond with the upper insulator disc f, the disc
would be provided with a central hole corresponding with the central hole h of
upper disc the lower disc g would also be cupped or recessed a suitable depth to.
receive the springing contact (fingered) plate n.
I next provide the springing contact finger plate n which consists of a metallic
plate, or plate made of other springing conducting substance formed with a flat
surface o to bear against the lower insulator disc and from the flat surface rise two
tapering arms pq each tapered arm terminating in a rounded surface forming finger
points rs.
I next provide a screw and pass it through the web of springing contact plate,
thence through the web of lower insulator disc, securing the contact plate to the
lower insulator disc by means of a suitable nut u.
I next place the upper disc f over the lower disc g and then place a suitable
washer a a over each projecting screwed end of tube; I next take suitable
nuts bb and screw them over each end of tube thus connecting the insulator discs
together.
On the upper projecting end of tube an ordinary cord grip cc is attached,
the lower end remaining free ready to be screwed to a lamp holder or similar
attachment.
My improved switch is operated in the following manner :-
By rotating one insulator disc on or around the other insulator disc against the
direction of the arms p g of springing contact plate the two finger points rs of such
plate would press on the metallic contact plates attached to the upper disc and
shewn in detail at Figures 7, 35, 36, and 37, and when the lower disc g is so rotated
as to bring either of the finger points r or a of springing contact plate to rest on
one half of the fixed contact plate ff with the other finger of springing contact
plate resting on the other half g g of fixed contact plate electric circuit would
be made.
To break the circuit the lower disc would be rotated so as to move both finger
points rands of springing contact plate to rest on only one half of the fixed contact

page_text: plate the shape of such half of fixed contact plate being shewn in detail at
Figures 36 and 37.
I thus secure a switch having comparatively large contacts together with a quick
make and break the making and breaking of the circuit being independent of the
speed of rotation and such making and breaking being effected by the action of the
finger points and travelling over the horizontal surface of two half contact
plates similar to Figure 36, the two half fixed contact plates forming a complete
circle each half being insulated from the other half, the easy travelling of the
points r and s on and off the separate halves being effected by means of the
inclined planes dd and ee as shewn in plan at Figure 7 and from the gliding of
the moving contact points and s over the fixed contact plate in one direction only
the metallic surfaces are by such gliding action kept clean and smooth producing
perfect contact.
The Figures 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32, represents details
of an ordinary commercial lamp-holder such lamp-holder I disclaim as it forms no
part of my invention, my improvements being adaptable to the lamp-holder shewn
or to wall attachments and to other electric fittings.
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 :
1st. The electric switch as illustrated and described, for the purpose described,
and operated in the manner described.
Duted co15 14 ay vi euay
Witness:
ALFRED WM. TURNER, Patent Agent,
ALGERNON BURTON.
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham.

page_text: Figure 33. represents elevation of spring contact plate.
Figure 34. represents plan of Figure 33.
Figure 35. represents edge view of first contact plate.
Figure 36. represents plan of Figure 35.
Figure 37. represents section of Figure 35 on the line C D.
I use my switch for making and breaking electric currents.
I first take a metallic tube Figure 11 for the purpose of carrying the conducting
wires a and b such wires passing through holes c pierced in the connecting tube
and such connecting tube being screwed at both ends the lower end d for
attaching to an electric lamp holder or other electric appliance, the upper end e
for a cord grip.
I next provide two insulator discs an upper disc f and a lower disc g the upper
dise shewn at Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, is provided with a central hole h of suitable
size to receive the conducting tube, the upper face of the upper disc would be
recessed at to receive screw heads and also recessed at k to receive split pin and
the lower side of upper disc would be recessed to receive two metallic plates such
metallic plates being secured to the upper disc by means of screws the heads of
which pass into the recesses ; provided on the upper side of disc f to receive them
the screwed shanks pass through the disc f and are then screwed through the
metallic plates projecting therefrom forming terminals to receive the conducting
wires, the conducting wires being secured to the metallic plate and to the projecting
screw shanks by means of terminal nuts m.
I next take the lower insulator disc g as shewn at Figures 2, 6, 24, 25, and 26,.
the diameter of which would correspond with the upper insulator disc f, the disc g
would be provided with a central hole corresponding with the central hole h of
upper disc the lower disc g would also be cupped or recessed a suitable depth to
receive the springing contact (fingered) plate n.
I next provide the springing contact finger plate n which consists of a metallic
plate, or plate made of other springing conducting substance formed with a flat
surface o to bear against the lower insulator disc and from the flat surface rise two
tapering arms pg each tapered arm terminating in a rounded surface forming finger
points rs.
I next provide a screw and pass it through the web of springing contact plate,
thence through the web of lower insulator disc, securing the contact plate to the
lower insulator disc by means of a suitable nut u.
I next place the upper disc f over the lower disc g and then place a suitable
washer a a
over each projecting screwed end of tube; I next take suitable
nuts bb and screw them over each end of tube thus connecting the insulator discs
together.
On the upper projecting end of tube an ordinary cord grip cc is attached,
the lower end remaining free ready to be screwed to a lamp holder or similar
attachment.
My improved switch is operated in the following manner :-
By rotating one insulator disc on or around the other insulator disc against the
direction of the arms p q of springing contact plate the two finger points rs of such
plate would press on the metallic contact plates attached to the upper disc and
shewn in detail at Figures 7, 35, 36, and 37, and when the lower disc is so rotated
as to bring either of the finger points rors of springing contact plate to rest on
one half of the fixed contact plate ff with the other finger of springing contact
plate resting on the other half g of fixed contact plate electric circuit would
be made.
To break the circuit the lower disc would be rotated so as to move both finger
points rands of springing contact plate to rest on only one half of the fixed contact

page_text: plate the shape of such half of fixed contact plate being shewn in detail at
Figures 36 and 37.
I thus secure a switch having comparatively large contacts together with a quick
make and break the making and breaking of the circuit being independent of the
speed of rotation and such making and breaking being effected by the action of the
finger points and travelling over the horizontal surface of two half contact
plates similar to Figure 36, the two half fixed contact plates forming a complete
circle each half being insulated from the other half, the easy travelling of the
points and on and off the separate halves being effected by means of the
inclined planes dd and ee as shewn in plan at Figure 7 and from the gliding of
the moving contact points and s over the fixed contact plate in one direction only
the metallic surfaces are by such gliding action kept clean and smooth producing
perfect contact.
The Figures 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32, represents details
of an ordinary commercial lamp-holder such lamp-holder I disclaim as it forms no
part of my invention, my improvements being adaptable to the lamp-holder shewn
or to wall attachments and to other electric fittings."
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 1
claim is:
1st. The electric switch as illustrated and described, for the purpose described,
and operated in the manner described.
ALGERNON BURTON.
Witness:
ALFRED WM. TURNER, Patent Agent,
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham.