Improvements in Switches for Use in Electric Light Installations.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Loft 11th Oct 1803 Acented 11th Mor
1800
Improvements in Switches for Use in Electric Light Installations.
We, HARRY TAFFS, of the Firm of H. Taffs & Co., of Atlantic Chambers,
Brazenose Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Electrical Engineers,
and JAMES HILL, Draughtsman, of the same address, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
"
Our said invention relates to improvements in electrical switches and has for
its object to produce a quick break" switch which is specially adapted for use
with lamps of high voltage and which will not be subject to the defect of "spark-
ing."
In a switch constructed in accordance with our invention we provide a suitable
body or casing of porcelain for the reception of the terminals and the contact
piece.
The terminals are formed as hollow cylinders containing plungers sliding within
the hollow cylinders against the action of spiral or other suitable springs. Between
the protruding spring plungers of the terminals is disposed a sliding cylindrical
body of porcelain provided with a metallic contact piece. The end of the cylin-
drical body carrying the contact piece protrudes beyond the switch casing and
can be actuated as a push button to make the contact.
The spring plungers of the terminals are then traversed within the hollow
cylinders, compressing the spiral springs and the plungers of the terminals are
thus held against the contact piece with suitable pressure. A reduced neck is
also formed upon the sliding body carrying the contact piece forming abrupt
inclines commencing at one end of the contact piece.
To break the circuit the opposite protruding end of the sliding cylindrical
contact carrier is pushed thus sliding the spring actuated plungers from the contact
piece down the inclines formed on the non-conducting porcelain carrier.
Immediately the plungers leave the contact piece they are rapidly impelled by
the action of the springs into the inclined neck and the circuit is at once effect-
ually broken.
The contact carrier may if desired be operated by a lever or other suitable
means.
As the gist of our invention consists in the provision of elastic or spring ter-
minals adapted to break circuit by being rapidly slid down inclined ways formed
in non-conducting material we do not confine ourselves to the exact method
described as the same may be varied in detail whilst still preserving the spirit of
our invention.
Dated this 10th day of Januoma 1908

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Switches for Use in Electric Light Installations.
We, HARRY TAFFS, of the Firm of H. Taffs & Co., of Atlantic Chambers,
Brazennose Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Electrical-Engineers,
and JAMES HILL, Draughtsman, of the same address, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and accom-
panying drawing; —
2
Our said invention relates to improvements in electrical switches and has for
its object to produce a "quick brake" switch, which shall be highly insulated,
and which is especially adapted for use with electric lamps on circuits up to
300 volts.
Our invention will be clearly understood from the following description when
read in conjunction with the annexed sheet of drawings in which a sectional view
of a form of switch constructed in accordance with our invention is shown.
In carrying our invention into effect we provide a base or body A of porcelain,
or other suitable insulating material, capable of being fixed or applied in any con-
venient manner.
This base or body A is suitably fashioned for the reception of the terminals
and the contact piece, the terminals preferably being disposed at right angles
to the line of action of the contact piece. These terminals, which occupy holes B
in the body A, are formed as hollow cylinders containing plungers D sliding
within the said hollow cylinders against the action of spiral springs D¹. The
current wires are suitably attached to the said hollow cylinders.
Between the protruding spring plungers, is disposed a sliding cylindrical body E of
porcelain or the like, provided with a metallic contact piece F. The end of the
cylindrical body carrying the contact piece F, extends beyond the switch body
or casing A, and can be readily actuated by a push in the direction of the arrow
shown in the drawing, to make the contact or complete the circuit.
The spring plungers D of the terminals are then traversed within the hollow
cylinders, compressing the spiral springs D¹, so that the plungers of the terminals
are held against the contact piece with suitable pressure. A reduced neck or
circular depression E¹ is also formed upon the sliding body E carrying the contact
piece, so as to form abrupt inclines commencing at one end of the contact piece F,
as clearly shown in the drawing.
To break the circuit the opposite protruding end of the sliding cylindrical con-
tact carrier E is pushed, thus sliding the spring actuated plungers D from the
contact piece F down the inclines formed on the non-conducting porcelain carrier.
Immediately the plungers leave the contact piece, they are rapidly impelled by the
action of the springs into the inclined neck, and the circuit is at once effectually
broken.
The contact carrier E, which need not necessarily be circular in cross section,
may if desired be operated by a lever or other suitable means.
The traverse of the said contact carrier may be limited by stops or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
: ---
1) The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts comprising

page_text: the improved electrical switch for electric lighting installations, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown.
2) The sliding contact carrier E working in conjunction with spring terminals
in the manner and substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
For the Applicants,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester.