Improvements in Electric Switches.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1395-4ccepted, 3rd Apr.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SEMIFIN
Improvements in Electric Switches.
I, THOMAS JOSEPH RORKE, of 17 Great George Street, Westminster,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to electric switches and has for its object to provide an
improved switching device whereby a number of electric circuits are combined or
connected in various different ways as the handle of the device is operated.
For example I can by means of a switch constructed according to my invention
connect a number of lamps to electric light mains in various ways. That is to say,
if twelve lamps are being used I can, by merely moving the switch handle connect
the said lamps to the mains in series, or alter the connections so that instead of the
lamps being all in series they will be grouped "six in series and two in parallel
or "four in series and three in parallel," or "three in series and four in
parallel."
"
According to my invention I provide two series of contact bars between which
series each circuit is connected. Each series of bars consists of a suitable number
of separate pieces with insulation between. I provide two sets of movable bridging
pieces one set of said bridging pieces being adapted to connect together various
bars of one series, the other set being used for the second series. The bridging
pieces of both sets are firmly secured to an insulating block. The gaps or spaces
between the various contact bars of each series and the number and width of the
bridging pieces are so arranged that in one position of the bridging pieces relatively
to the contact bars the circuits are all in series while in another position of the
bridging pieces the circuits are connected some in series and some in parallel.
The number of changes which can be made in the arrangement of the circuits will
depend on the number of circuits. For example with six circuits the number of
arrangements will be four namely, first all circuits in series, second "two in parallel
and three in series," third, "three in parallel and two in series," fourth all six
circuits in parallel.
In order that the nature of my invention may be more clearly understood I
will proceed to describe one or two methods of carrying it into practice.
I preferably provide two concentric circular rings of brass or other suitable
metal secured to an insulating block. The said rings are divided at various points
so that each ring forms a series of separated insulated bars.
The two sets of
bridging pieces are secured to an insulation ring which is concentric with the two
series of bars and is furnished with a suitable bandle for turning it in one plane
round the said series of bars. The bridging pieces are so arranged and are of such
width as to connect certain bars of each series together by bridging across the gaps.
When the handle is operated both sets of bridging pieces are moved so as to open
some of the gaps and bridge over others thereby connecting the circuits in various
ways. The circuits are made between the two series of bars that is to say the
circuits connect the bars of one series to the bars of the other series.
Instead of arranging the two series of bars in concentric circles I may construct
them in the form of straight parallel pieces or otherwise.
As an alternative I may arrange that the two series of contact bars shall form
the movable portion of the switch instead of the bridging pieces.

page_text: In order to avoid the production of sparks at the gaps which would occur when
the switch was operated I preferably provide a main circuit switch which is connected
with the handle of the circuit-changing switch in such a manner that as said handle
is moved the main circuit is brcken, so that the connections of the circuits are
not altered while any current is flowing through. To effect. this I may provide
suitable cam pieces or projections which, as the handle is moved cause the main
circuit switch to operate and automatically break the circuit. Hence one movement
of the handle not only changes the circuit connections but breaks the main circuit
before the said change is effected and makes the main circuit after the operation
is finished. I thereby prevent the circuits being changed while current is flowing
through them. I may however dispense with the main circuit switch by arranging
that the various connections shall be broken quickly by means of a spring break,
in the ordinary manner.
My improved circuit-changing switch is especially adapted for use with incan-
descent lamps as the brilliance of the light can be changed without using a resistance
to diminish the current thus avoiding waste of current. It may also be advantageously
employed with electric motors.
Dated thin and dow of A: 1004
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
provements in ectric SWITCHES.
I, THOMAS JOSEPH RORKE, of 17ª Great George Street, Westminster,
Electrical 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 stateinent :--
My invention relates to electric switches and has for its object to provide an
improved switch whereby a number of electric circuits having lamps or motors
therein may be combined or connected in various different ways either in parallel
or series or both parallel and series by moving the handle of the switch.
According to my invention I provide two series of contact bars each consisting
of a number of pieces separated by insulating material. The circuits are connected
to the aforesaid bars and form bridges from one series to the other. I provide two
sets of movable bridging pieces one set being adapted to connect together various
bars of one series, and the other set being similarly used for the second series. The
bridging pieces of both sets are firmly secured to an insulating block. The gaps
or spaces between the various contact bars of each series and the number and
width of the bridging pieces are so arranged that in one position of the bridging
pieces relatively to the contact bars the circuits are all in series while in other
positions of the bridging pieces the circuits are connected some in series and some
in parallel or all in parallel. The number of changes that can be made in the
arrangement of the circuits will depend on the number of circuits. For example
with six circuits the number of arrangements will be four namely, first all circuits
in series, second "two in parallel and three in series," third "three in parallel and
two in series," fourth all six circuits in parallel.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings and diagrams, in which,
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved switch, showing the parts in that position in
which all the circuits are connected in series with one another.
Figura 2 is a similar view showing the contact plates and some other parta
removed for greater clearness.

page_text: Figures 3 to 5 show somewhat diagrammatical views of the switch the movable
parts thereof being shown in their different positions.
Figures 6 to 10 are diagrams to be hereinafter described.
Figure 11 is a section of the main circuit switch drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters denote corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A, A and B B are the blocks forming the outer and inner concentric rings,
respectively, of the switch and CC, D D are the bridging pieces therefor. The
said blocks of brass or other suitable metal are secured to an insulating block E.
They are separated at the points F F so that each concentric ring is constituted by
a series of separated insulated bars or blocks. The two sets of bridging pieces CC
and DD are secured to rings of insulating material G G which rings are concentric
with the two series of bars A A A and B B B. The bridging pieces are so
arranged and are of such width as to connect certain bars of each series together
by bridging across the gaps F. F. When the switch handle H is operated both
sets of bridging pieces are moved so as to open some of the gaps and bridge over
others thereby combining the circuits which are connected to concentric rings and
which are arranged as hereinafter described in various ways.
In the drawings I show, by way of example, a switch arranged for twelve
circuits each of which may contain a lamp or motor.
The switch is so arranged that in its first position as shown in Figure 1 it connects
the whole twelve circuits in series with one another.
This arrangement of the circuits is diagrammatically shown in Figure 6 in
which A A and B B represent the two concentric rings laid out straight. II are
the lamps or motors in the different circuits and the points F F marked with an
asterisk represent those gaps around the two concentric rings which, in this
position of the parts of the switch are not bridged over by the pieces CC
and D D.
In the second, third and fourth positions of the parts of the switch the circuits
are respectively "six in series two in parallel," "four in series and three in
parallel and finally "three in series and four in parallel."
The circuits in all these cases are plainly represented in the diagrams shown in
Figures 7 to 9 respectively, in a similar manner to the representation of the first
position shown in Figure 6.
In Figure 2 I indicate diagrammatically the connections of the circuits between
the concentric rings A A A and B B B, the bridging pieces being removed. If the
positions of the bridging pieces CCC and D DD in Figures 1 and 3 to 5 be
considered the manner in which the circuits are changed will at once be seen, and
the circuits in the four different positions can be readily traced out.
It will be noticed that some of the gaps in the rings A A A and B B B that
are closed in the first position are opened and then again closed in later positions.
JJ are the terminals of the main circuit and K K K are the terminals of the
various lamp or motor circuits.
The circuits are made between the two series of bars or blocks A A A and B B B,
that is to say the circuits connect the bars of one series to the bars of the other
series.
In Figures 2 to 5 for sake of simplicity in the drawing I have merely indicated
diagrammatically the connections of the circuits with the two series of bars A. A A
and B B B the lamps being indicated as being connected directly to the bars from
one set to the other without the intervention of the terminals K K.
In actual practice the inner and outer series of bars are connected first to the
terminals KK a lamp or motor on each of the various circuits being then connected
across every pair of terminals. Figure 10 is a diagram of one of the lamp or motor
circuits and the manner of connecting the same to the terminals K K.
Instead of arranging the two series of bars in concentric circles I may construct
them in the form of straight parallel pieces or otherwise.
As an alternative I may arrange that the two series of contact bars shall form
the movable portion of the switch instead of the bridging pieces.

page_text: In order to avoid the production of sparks at the gaps when the switch is
operated I provide a main circuit switch L which is controlled by the handle H
of the circuit changing switch in such a manner that before the circuits can be
changed the main circuit is broken, the connections of the circuits are therefore
not altered while any current is flowing through the switch. To effect this
I provide the handle H of the circuit changing switch with a cam piece or pro-
jection M Figure 11 which is arranged to engage with a lever N pivoted to the
arm or bar R of the said switch and having projecting parts N1 and N thereon.
The said parts are adapted to enter corresponding recesses O and P in the fixed
part L of the circuit changing switch. There are four of the recesses ( viz. one
for each position of the switch.
On depressing the handle H the cam M presses the lever N forward and causes
the parts N' and N2 to euter the recesses O and P, in which position the arm R
is locked and the main circuit is made by the contact of the part N2 with the walls
of the recess P.
Before the arm R can be moved to another position it is first necessary to raise
the handle H and thus release the lever N whereupon its spring Q pushies back the
lever and withdraws the part N¹ from the recess Othus unlocking the arm R.
The part N is at the same time withdrawn from the recess P and the main circuit
is thereby broken. Hence the movements of the handle H not only change the
circuit connections but also break the main circuit before the said change is effected
and make the main circuit again after the operation is finished. I thereby prevent
any possibility of the circuits being changed while current is flowing through
them. The operation of breaking, changing and making the circuits can be so
quickly accomplished that if lamps are in the circuits they do not have time to go
out during the operation.
The manner of connecting the main circuit switch L to the other parts of my
improved device is clearly indicated in Figure 1.
may however dispense with the main circuit switch by arranging that the
various connections shall be broken quickly by means of a spring break, in the
ordinary manner.
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 I am aware
of switches having been heretofore provided for changing the circuits and I do not
claim such switches broadly or irrespectively of the improvements bereinbefore
described, but what I claim is :-
A switch constructed substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and operating as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.