Improvements in Switches for Electrical Propulsion Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Switches for Electrical Propulsion Purposes.
I, MORITZ IMMISCH, of 119 Torriano Avenue, Camden Town, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved switch to be
used with electro motors, whereby any changes requisite to be made in their connections
can only be so made after the circuit has been first broken, and it consists in the
employment of a make and break lever, which is so combined with the switches requisite
to make such changes, that they can only be shifted after the make and break lever
has been first moved so as to break the circuit.
'
As applied to a storage system, the accumulators are arranged in two sets, and
connected to a switch which enables them to be placed either in series or in parallel
as desired. Each of the motors is provided with a reversing switch.
A make and break lever is placed in the circuit and this is arranged in the same
box as the switches of the accumulators and of the motors.
The make and break lever is arranged so that the handle for actuating same is
applied thereto at one end of such box, while the switch levers project up through the
top of the box.
The make and break lever can move through an arc of a circle and preferably acts
in conjunction with a series of contact pieces between which suitable resistances are
inserted so that the circuit will be broken through a gradually increasing resistance,
and reestablished through a gradually decreasing resistance.
The spindle of the make and break lever carries a grooved cam in the groove of
which a pin engages, such pin forming part of a bar or rod capable of sliding
longitudinally in guides in the top of the switch box. This bar or rod has as many
arms as there are switch levers in the box, and each of these arms is provided with a
pin which serves to lock such switch levers.
The switch levers are each pivotted to turn on a centre below the sliding bar, in a
plane at right angles to such bar.
When the make and break lever has been turned so as to break the circuit, the sliding
bar has been moved (by means of the cam described) so that the pins on the arms of such
bar have been removed from out of the path of the switch levers, which are then able
to be shifted as required. In their middle position the switch levers of the accumulators
of the motors (as the case may be) would be cut out, and in such position the return
movement of the make and break lever to reestablish the circuit, will by moving back
the sliding bar cause each of the locking pins to pass through a hole formed in each
of such levers. The moving of the accumulator switch lever to one side of the central
position will place the two sets of accumulators in series, and its movement to the
opposite side will place same in parallel. The moving of either of the motor switch
levers will cause the motor to which it belongs to run one way when such lever is
moved to one side of the central position, and will reverse such motor when the lever
is moved to the opposite side.
When the switch levers have been shifted to either side of the central position, the
movement of the make and break lever to close the circuit brings the locking pins
against the upper side of such levers, and so prevents them being shifted again from
such position until the circuit has been again broken.
The resistances in connection with which the make and break lever acts, will in
themselves enable the speed of the motors to be varied by cutting out or introducing
more or less of such resistances, from or into the circuit, and the facility of placing
the two sets of accumulators either in series or in parallel gives further scope for the

page_text: same purpose. If desired the resistances which the make and break is made to put in
or take out may consist of coils of the fields of the motors.
The separate reversing switches for each motor enable any of the motors to be cut
out if desired, or some to be run in one direction and some in another, which will find
its special application in the case of the electrical propulsion of boats or vessels.
The arrangement described may also be applied to a direct system, but in such
system the accumulator switch would of course not exist.
It will be readily understood that any number of switches (both for accumulators
and motors) may be combined with one make and break lever.
The whole of the movable parts of the switches and also the locking bar are preferably
secured to the lid of the switch box so that they can be removed with the lid.
The switch levers each work through a slot in a segmental piece secured to the top of
the lid, and the upper surface of which is struck from the centre on which the lever
turns. Above such segmental piece the lever carries a cap or cover the underside of
which is in contact with the top of the segmental piece over which it can slide, the cap
being of such size that it still covers the slot through which the lever works when the
lever is in its extreme position on either side. By these means wet and dirt are
prevented from gaining entrance to the box and so damaging the contacts of the switches.
The contact pieces carried by the switch levers and also by the make and break lever
are preferably of U form forming springs, and they fit between two cheeks of the
terminal contact pieces of the switches with a slight spring action so as to ensure
perfect contact.
The different sets of terminal contact pieces are each preferably secured to a
separate slab of slate which is made to slide into grooves in the switch box, so that
when the lid has been removed (and with it the movable parts of the switches) such
slabs can be readily removed and examined or replaced if requisite.
Each terminal is preferably formed at the end of a screwed stem which passes
through the slab, and a circular nut then screwed thereon. A circular washer is then
placed over the stem, and the hole for the insertion of the lead is made through the
abutting surfaces of the circular nut and the washer, a little less than one half of the
section of the lead in each. A square or hexagonal nut is then screwed on the stem
of the terminal and by tightening same the whole is firmly secured.
The last terminal contact piece of the make and break lever is preferably provided
with a carbon rod in contact with which a steel rod being carried by a lever loosely
mounted on the spindle of the make and break lever, upon which latter a pin is
arranged so that when the lever leaves the last terminal the pin lifts the lever carrying
the steel rod from out of contact with the carbon rod and thus breaks the circuit.
If the size of switch box and of the make and break lever do not permit of a
sufficient range of resistances being introduced and taken out in making and breaking
the circuit, the make and break lever may be combined with a separate resistance lever,
in which case the former will be a simple make and break lever having a single contact
terminal, and the resistance lever will be arranged so that it will lock the make and
break lever and prevent it being shifted to make or break the circuit, except when all
the resistances are in.
A suitable arrangement for this purpose consists in causing the resistance lever to
act upon a rod when it reaches the position where all the resistances are in, and by
depressing same remove from the path of the make and break lever an obstruction
which prevents it from coming into contact with or leaving (as the case may be) its
terminal contact piece.
The accumulator switch has four terminals.
-
No 1 of which is connected to terminal of second set of accumulators and also to
make and break lever.
No. 2 to terminal of first set of accumulators.
-
No. 3 to terminal of second set of accumulators.
No. 4 to terminal of first set of accumulators and to first terminal of each of the
motor armatures.
The anonmulator switch laver has two pairs of contacts one of which nairs rests on

page_text: terminals 1 and 2 and the other on terminals 3 and 4 when the accumulators are in
parallel, while when in series these pairs rest one on terminals 2 and 3, and the other
on terminal 4 only.
Each motor switch has 5 terminals,
No. 1 and 5 being connected together,
No. 2 to the first terminal of make and break lever,
No. 3 to the first terminal of the fields,
No. 5 to second terminal of the fields, and
No. 4 to second terminal of the armatures.
Each motor switch lever has two pairs of contacts which rest-one pair on
terminals 1 and 2 and the other pair on 3 and 4 for running in one direction, while
for the opposite direction such pairs rést, one on 2 and 3 and the other on 4 and 5.
The current through the field is reversed in the two different positions, and the motor
consequently reversed.
1011 1
c A
1000
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Switches for Electrical Propulsion Purposes.
I, MORITZ IMMISCH, of 119 Torriano Avenue, Camden Town, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, 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 principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved switch to
be used with electro motors, whereby any changes requisite to be made in their
connections can only be so made after the circuit has been first broken, and it
consists in the employment of a make and break lever, which is so combined with
the switches requisite to make such changes, that they can only be shifted after the
make and break lever has been first moved so as to break the circuit.
As applied to a storage system, the accumulators are arranged in two sets,
and connected to a switch which enables them to be placed either in series or in
parallel as desired. Each of the motors is provided with a reversing switch.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the switch box.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line a, a, of Fig. 1, showing the accumulator
switch.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line b, b, of Fig. 1, showing the
motor switch.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation on an enlarged scale of the make and break switch, and
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a switch box in which a separate resistance
lever is combined with the make and break switch or lever.
Fig. 7 is an end elevation (partly in section) of Fig. 6, and
Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of a part of Fig. 7, showing the resistance lever
and make and break switch in plan.
The switch box illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive is provided with one
accumulator switch and one motor switch, while that illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8
inclusive is provided with one accumulator switch and two motor switches.
•
Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the connections of a switch box with one
accumulator switch and one motor switch, and
Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the terminals thereof.
Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the connections of a switch box with
one accumulator switch and two motor switches, and
Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the terminals thereof,

page_text: Fig. 13 is a similar view to Fig. 9, and
Fig. 14 is a similar view to Fig. 11, each showing the connections when a separate
resistance lever is used in combination with the make and break switch.
A make and break switch or lever A is placed in the circuit, and this is
arranged in the same box B as the switch or switches C of the accumulators, and
the switches D, D', of the motors.
The make and break switch A is arranged so that the handle a for actuating
same is applied thereto at one end of the box B, while the levers c, d, d¹, of the
accumulator and motor switches C, D, D¹, project up through the top of the box.
The make and break switch or lever A can move through an arc of a circle and
preferably acts in conjunction with a series of contact pieces 1, 2, 3, 4, between which
suitable resistances are inserted (as shown in Figs. 9 and 11), so that the circuit will
be broken through a gradually increasing resistance, and reestablished through a
gradually decreasing resistance.
The spindle E of the make and break switch or lever A carries a grooved cam F,
in the groove of which a pin g engages, such pin forming part of a bar or rod G
capable of sliding longitudinally in guides H in the top of the switch box B. This
bar or rod G has as many arms G' as there are accumulator and motor switches in
the box, and each of these arms is provided with a pin g', which serves to lock the
levers of such switches.
The accumulator and motor switch levers are each pivotted to turn on a centre I
within the box B, in a plane at right angles to the bar G.
When the make and break lever A has been turned so as to break the circuit,
the sliding bar G has been moved (by means of the cam F), so that the pins gi
on the arms G' of such bar have been removed from out of the path of the
levers c, d, d', of the switches C, D, D', which are then able to be shifted as
required. In the middle position of the switch levers the accumulators or motors
(as the case may be) would be cut out, and in such position the return movement of
the make and break lever A. to reestablish the circuit, will by moving back the
sliding bar G cause each of the locking pins g' to pass through a hole formed in
each of such levers. The moving of the accumulator switch lever c to
one side of the central position will place the two sets of accumulators X, X',
(see Figs. 9, 11, 13 and 14) in series, and its movement to the opposite side will
place same in parallel. The moving of either of the motor switch levers d, d',
cause the motor to which it belongs to run one way when such lever is moved to
one side of the central position, and will reverse such motor when the lever is moved
to the opposite side.
will
When the accumulator and motor switches have been shifted to either side of the
central position, the movement of the make and break lever A to close the circuit
brings the locking pins against the upper side of such levers, and prevents them
being shifted again from such position until the circuit has been again broken.
The resistances between the contacts 1, 2, 3, 4 (see Figs. 9 and 11) in connection
with which the make and break switch A. acts, will in themselves enable the speed of
the motors Z, Z, to be varied by cutting out or introducing more or less of such
resistances from or into the circuit, and the facility of placing the two sets of
accumulators X, X¹, either in series or in parallel gives further scope for the same
purpose. If desired the resistances which the make and break switch is made to put
in or take out may consist of coils of the fields of the motors.
The separate reversing switches D, D¹, for each motor enable any of the motors
to be cut out if desired, or some to be run in one direction and some in another,
which will find its special application in the case of the electrical propulsion of
boats or vessels.
The arrangement described may also be applied to a direct system, but in such
system the accumulator switch would of course not exist.
It will be readily understood that any number of switches (both for accumulators
and motors) may be combined with one make and break switch or lever.

page_text: The whole of the movable parts of the switches and also the locking bar G, are
preferably secured to the lid of the switch box B, so that they can be removed with
the lid.
The switch levers c, d, d¹, each work through a slot k in a segmental piece K
secured to the top of the lid, and the upper surface of which is struck from the
centre I on which the lever turns. Above such segmental piece K the lever carries
a cap or cover L, the under side of which is in contact with the top of the
segmental piece over which it can slide, the cap being of such size that it still
covers the slot through which the lever works when the lever is in its extreme
position on each side. By these means wet and dirt are prevented from gaining
entrance to the box and so damaging the contacts of the switches.
The contact pieces M carried by the levers of the switches C, D, D¹, and also by the
make and break lever A, are preferably of U form (as shown in Fig. 1), forming
springs, and they fit between two cheeks n of the terminal contact pieces N
of the switches with a slight spring action, so as to ensure perfect contact.
The different sets of terminal contact pieces N are each preferably secured to a
separate slab of slate O, which is made to slide into grooves b in the switch box B,
so that when the lid has been removed (and with it the movable parts of the
switches) such slabs can be readily removed and examined or replaced if
requisite.
Each terminal is, as shown in Fig. 1, preferably formed at the end of a screwed
stem P, which passes through the slab O, and a circular nut p then screwed thereon.
A circular washer p¹ is then placed over the stem P, and the hole for the insertion of
the lead Qis made through the abutting surfaces of the circular nut p and
the washer p¹, a little less than one half of the section of the lead Q in each.
A square or hexagonal nut p² is then screwed on the stem P of the terminal, and by
tightening same the whole is firmly secured.
The last terminal contact piece 4 of the make and break lever A, is (as shown
in Figs. 4 and 5) preferably provided with a carbon rod R, in contact with which
rests a steel rod S carried by a lever T loosely mounted on the spindle E of the make
and break lever A, upon which latter a pin a' is arranged, so that when the
lever A leaves the last terminal 4, the pin a¹ lifts the lever T carrying the
steel rod S from out of contact with the carbon rod R and thus breaks the circuit.
In order to cause the actual break of the circuit to be as sudden as possible, the
following arrangement is employed :-The switch lever A is mounted loosely upon
its spindle E, and an arm U secured to such spindle carries a pin u, which engages a
segmental slot V in the lever A. A spring W is connected to lever A and also to
spindle E. Supposing lever A to be in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 4,
when it is in contact with terminal 1, and the circuit is therefore complete and all
the resistances cut out, the movement of spindle E in the direction to break the
circuit will first cause the pin u to travel to the bottom of the segmental slot V in
lever A, thus putting the spring W connecting the latter to spindle E in tension.
By the continued movement of spindle E, the lever A will be then carried forward
under the action of pin u, and the contact between it and terminal 1 broken. Before
this occurs, however, lever A. will come in contact with terminal 2, the end of lever A
being made wide enough to ensure this. The lever A will thus be brought in contact
with terminals 2, 3 and 4 in succession by the continued movement of spindle E, and
upon leaving the last terminal 4, the tension of spring W will cause it to be thrown
suddenly forward, and its pin a' coming into contact with the lever T will raise same
and break the contact between the steel rod S it carries and the carbon rod R secured
to terminal 4, thus suddenly breaking the circuit. Lever T is connected to lever A
by a spring Y which is put into tension by the forward movement of lever A, so as
to tend to force the steel rod S toward the carbon rod R, and as soon as the lever A is
actuated so as to begin to move in the direction to reestablish contact, such spring Y
acts upon lever T and brings its rod S in contact with carbon rod R, before lever A
comes in contact with the terminal 4. By then moving the lever A back to :its

page_text: original position the resistances between the terminals 4, 3, 2 and 1, will be
successively cut out.
The spring arm F¹ engages notches cut in the periphery of the cam F, and holds
the switch in the position to which it may have been moved, without, however,
preventing it being shifted to any other desired position, the object being to enable
the operator to feel the different movements made, as the notches correspond to
the different positions the switch occupies in cutting out or introducing the
respective resistances between the terminals, and also in making and breaking the
circuit.
If the size of switch box B and of the make and break lever A do not permit of a
sufficient range of resistances being introduced and taken out in making and breaking
the circuit, the make and break lever A may be combined with a separate resistance
lever, in which case the former will be a simple make and break lever having a single
contact terminal, and the resistance lever will be arranged so that it will lock the
make and break lever and prevent it being shifted to make or break the circuit,
except when all the resistances are in.
A suitable arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and
consists in causing the resistance lever 19 to act upon a rod 20 when it reaches the
position where all the resistances between the terminals 21, 21x are in, and by
depressing such rod remove from the path of the make and break lever A, an
obstruction 22, which prevents it from coming into contact with or leaving (as the
case may be) its terminal contact piece 23.
The resistance lever 19 is mounted upon a spindle 24, in a separate box B¹
connected to the main box B, and to the outer end of such spindle an actuating
lever 25 is applied for the purpose of bringing the resistance lever successively into
contact with the terminals 21, 21x, and so (according to the direction of movement)
introducing or cutting out the resistances between such terminals. When the lever 19
has been moved through all the resistances, and upon leaving the last
terminal 21 breaks the circuit, its further downward movement brings it in contact
with the top of the rod 20, which is capable of being depressed against the action of
spring 27.
The lower end of rod 20 is connected to a crank 28 mounted upon
a spindle 29, which latter carries the piece 22 forming the obstruction for preventing
the make and break lever A from entering into contact with or leaving its terminal 23-
as the case may be.
This piece 22 is situated within the case B, and is in the same plane as an arm 30
mounted upon the spindle E of the make and break lever A. The end of piece 22
is bifurcated, and when rod 20 is depressed by the descent of the resistance lever 19,
it brings the forked end into such a position that the arm 30 on spindle E can enter
or leave such fork, thus permitting the spindle E to be turned and cause lever A to
come into contact with or to leave its terminal 23. When this has been effected,
and the resistance lever begins to move in the direction to reestablish the circuit, the
spring 27 draws rod 20 and piece 22 back to their original positions, when the arm 30
on spindle E can no longer leave the forked end of piece 22, if it has been caused to
enter same, so that the circuit cannot, therefore, be broken; or, if the arm 30 is not
in such fork, it will not be able to enter same, and the circuit cannot therefore be
reestablished. The moving of the piece 22 (under the action of spring 27) back to
its original position, occurs before the resistance lever comes in contact with the
terminal 21*.
Referring to Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive, it will be seen that the accumulator switch has
four terminals, 5, 6, 7 and 8, of which
Terminal 5 is connected to the + terminal of the set of accumulators X, and to the
first terminal of each of the motor armatures.
Terminal 6 to the + terminal of the set of accumulators X'.
Terminal 7 to the
Terminal 8 to the
lever A..
-
-
- terminal of accumulators ✗, and
terminal of accumulators X¹, and also to the make and break

page_text: The accumulator switch lever has two pairs of contacts M, one of which pairs rests
on terminals 7 and 8 and the other on terminals 5 and 6 (as shown by double lines in
the drawings) when the accumulators are in parallel, while when in series these pairs
rest one on terminals 6 and 7, and the other on terminal 5 only (as shown by the
thick single lines in the drawings).
Each motor switch has five terminals, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, of which
Terminals 9 and 13 are connected together, terminal 9 being also connected to one
terminal of the field of its motor.
Terminal 10 is connected to the second terminal of the armature of its motor.
Terminal 11 to the other terminal of the field of its motor, and
Terminal 12 to the first terminal of the make and break lever, or of the resistance
lever when a separate one is employed.
When a separate resistance lever 19 is employed (see Figs. 13 and 14), the single
terminal 23 of the make and break lever A is connected to the contact pieces of such
resistance lever.
Each motor switch lever has two pairs of contacts M, which rest-one pair on
terminals 12 and 13, and the other pair on terminals 10 and 11 for running in one
direction (as shown by the thick single lines in the drawings), while for running in
the opposite direction such pairs rest, one on terminals 11 and 12 and the other on
terminals 9 and 10 (as shown by the double lines in the drawings).
The current through the field is reversed in the two different positions, and the
motor consequently reversed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved switch consisting in a make and break lever with a cam mounted
on the axis thereof, which before the circuit is completed acts upon a bar or
rod, and brings a pin into position for locking the levers of accumulator or motor
switches, so that they cannot be shifted except when the circuit is broken, substantially
as specified.
2. The combination with a make and break lever and the means described for
locking the accumulator and motor switch levers, of a separate resistance lever,
which, when the resistances are all in and the circuit broken, by its continued move-
ment removes an obstruction from the path of the make and break lever, and replaces
such obstruction in such path of the make and break lever before the resistance lever
in its reverse movement completes the circuit again, whereby the make and break
lever can only be shifted to the position for completing or breaking the circuit, after
the resistance lever has previously broken such circuit through the resistances,
substantially as specified.
3. A make and break switch consisting of a contact lever mounted upon an axis and
carrying a pin which engages a second lever mounted loosely upon the same axis, such
second lever carrying a rod which normally rests upon another rod with which the
make and break contact terminal of the switch is provided, the contact lever pin
lifting the second lever and with it its rod as soon as such contact lever leaves the
make and break contact terminal, substantially as specified.
4. The combination of the contact lever A mounted loosely upon axis E, to which
it is connected by a spring W, and by a pin u carried by such axis and engaging a
segmental slot V in lever A, a second lever T also mounted loosely upon axis E, and
connected to contact lever A by a spring Y, such lever T carrying a rod S normally
resting in contact with a rod R with which the contact terminal 4 is provided, and of
a pin a' carried by the contact lever A, and serving to lift rod S out of contact with
rod R, after the contact lever A leaves the terminal 4, the spring Y serving
to replace the rods S and R in contact, before contact lever A comes into contact
with the terminal 4 again upon its movement in the reverse direction, substantially as
specified.

page_text: 5. The combination with a switch lever working through a slot in a segmental piece
struck from the centre upon which such lever turns, of a cap or cover mounted upon
such lever and working over the slot in said segmental piece, so as to always
keep the slot covered no matter what the position of the lever, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
6. The improved contact terminal consisting of a screwed stem with a contact
piece at one end, a nut screwed on to its opposite end, a loose washer placed on the
stem outside such nut, and a second nut screwed on such stem and bearing against
the washer, the hole to receive the lead being drilled in the abutting surfaces
of the first named nut and of the washer, partly in each of such parts, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 30th day of Max 1800
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.