Improvements in Electric Circuits for Lighting and other Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Circuits for Lighting and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MASSEY, of Twyford, in the County of Berks, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is often desirable to be able to open or close an electric circuit by any one
of a number of switches.
. By my invention I effect this object with only two wires between the switches
however large may be the number of switches.
The two end switches are such that they can connect the line wire to one or
other of two branch wires leading to the next switch and each of the intermediate
switches are such that they can connect the ends of the two branch wires from
the preceding switch each with one or other of the ends of the two branch
wires leading to the next switch.
A convenient form is an ordinary commutator or two way switch consisting
of two conducting strips separated by a non-conducting strip so that if A and A
be the terminals of the two wires leading from the preceding switch and B and B¹
the terminals of the two wires leading to the next switch, with the switch in
oue position the terminals A and B are connected together by being in contact
with one conducting strip and A and B are also connected together by being
in contact with the other strip whilst if a quarter turn be given to the switch A
and B are connected together by being brought into contact with one strip and
A and B by being brought into contact with the other. Each end switch need
only have one conducting strip always in contact with the terminal of the line
wire and with one or other of the terminals of the two branch wires and is
similarly shifted from one to the other by giving it a quarter turn.
It will thus be seen that whatever may be the positions of the various switches
when the circuit is closed the circuit can always be broken by moving any one
of them into a new position and the circuit can also always be closed again by
moving any one of them into a new position.
Pegs or any other form of switch which will make connections as above
described may be employed.
One switch may also be made to control all or part of the others so as to
render it impossible for them to break the circuit however they may be moved.
For thus controlling all the switches on one side of it the switch is made to
connect both branch lines on this side simultaneously with one or other of the
branch lines on the other side and for controlling all the switches on both
sides it is made to connect together all four of the branch lines leading to it.
Dated this 21st day of September 1891.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Circuits for Lighting and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MASSEY, of Twyford, in the County of Berks, 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
statement:-
It is often desirable to be able to open or close an electric circuit by any one of
a number of switches.

page_text: By my invention I effect this object with only two wires between the switches
however large may be the number of switches.
The two end switches are such that they can connect the line wire to one or
other of two branch wires leading to the next switch and each of the intermediate
switches are such that they can connect the ends of the two branch wires from the
preceding switch each with one or other of the ends of the two branch wires
leading to the next switch.
A convenient form is an ordinary commutator or two way switch consisting of
two conducting strips separated by a non-conducting strip so that if A and A¹ be
the terminals of the two wires leading from the preceding switch and B and B¹
the terminals of the two wires leading to the next switch, with the switch in one
position the terminals A and B are connected together by being in contact with one
conducting strip and A¹ and B₁ are also connected together by being in contact
with the other strip whilst if a quarter turn be given to the switch A and B' are
connected together by being brought into contact with one strip and A' and B by
being brought into contact with the other. Diagrams 1 and 2 illustrate these
positions the shaded portions in these and the other diagrams representing the
conducting strips and the blank space between them insulating material. Each end
switch need only bave one conducting strip always in contact with the terminal of
the line wire and with one or other of the terminals of the two branch wires and is
similarly shifted from one to the other by giving it a quarter turn.
It will thus be seen that whatever may be the positions of the various switches
when the circuit is closed the circuit can always be broken by moving any one of
them into a new position, and the circuit can also always be closed again by moving
any one of them into a new position..
For example suppose there are 4 switches and let their initial positions be as in
diagram 3 the current passing by the connections shown in full lines those shown
in dotted lines being for the moment inoperative. Now suppose the circuit to be
broken by giving switch 2 a quarter turn as shown in diagram 4 it is evident that
the circuit can be closed again by replacing switch 2 and diagrams 5, 6 and 7 show
how it can be closed by turning switches 1, 3 and 4 respectively.
Pegs or any other form of switch which will make connections as above
described may be employed.
One switch may also be made to control all or part of the others so as to
render, it impossible for them to break the circuit however they may be moved.
For thus controlling all the switches on one side of it the switch is made to connect
both branch lines on this side simultaneously with one or other of the branch
lines on the other side. An intermediate switch of this sort is indicated in
diagrams 8 and 9, diagram 8 showing it in ordinary use and diagram 9 showing it
controlling all the switches on its right. Diagram 10 shows a similar end switch.
For controlling all the switches on both sides it is made to connect together all
four of the branch lines leading to it.
This may be done by providing means for connecting the two metal strips
together by means of a moveable piece controlled by a master key as shown in
diagram 11.
In some cases it is desired to have only one of two lamps at any place lighted
at the same time by this invention the change from one lamp to the other can be
effected by any one of a number of switches as shown at diagram 12.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it
understood that I am aware it is a common practice to make and break a circuit
by either one of two switches corresponding to the end switches of diagrams 3 to 7
the intermediate switches being omitted and that I make no claim to this arrange-
ment what I claim is :-
1. In electric circuits the combination of an end switch which can connect the
line wire to one or other of two branch wires with one
or more intermediate.

page_text: switches each of which can connect the ends of the two branch wires from the
preceding switch each to one or other of the ends of the two branch wires leading
to the next switch or to branch circuits.
2. In combination with the arrangement referred to in Claim 1 one or more
switches which can connect three of the wires as illustrated in diagrams 8, 9
and 10.
3. In combination with the arrangement referred to in Claim 1 one or more
switches which can connect all four wires as illustrated in diagram 11.
4. Electric circuits for lighting and other purposes substantially as described and
shown in the diagrams.
11
T
1000