Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1898
I, CHARLES HORACE Cox, of 4, Hargreaves Road, Liverpool, Commercial
Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to construct a switch board which will be.
practically incapable of causing fire to its surroundings, and is more especially
applicable to switch boards employed in theatrical work and other places where
very. especial care must be taken for the prevention of fire: In constructing
a switch board according to my invention I dispense with the usual slate base
and rear connections and open switches.
A switchboard acording to my invention is built up of tubes, and preferably
of iron tubes. More correctly speaking my improved switchboard is a skeleton
framework composed of tubes. Such skeleton framework is built upon an iron.
frame which may be rectangular or of a shape corresponding with that of the
place in which it is to be located. The general arrangement of my improved.
switch-board will be of the nature which I will now describe. The main leads
from a source of supply will be brought to iron-cased distribution switch and
fuse boxes, from which radiate iron pipes containing leads which supply iron-
cased circuit switch and fuse boxes, and from the latter radiate iron pipes con-
taining the various circuit leads. The switches contained in said iron boxes
will be operated by handles upon spindles which may pass through stuffing.
boxes therein.
It will thus be seen that all the leads, fuses, switches, and other parts of my
improved switch-board are enclosed in iron pipes or boxes, whereby it is im-
possible that any sparking, arc-ing, or short circuiting which may occur, can be
the means of igniting the surroundings of the switch-board, whilst the switch-
board itself is non-inflammable.
I am aware that iron pipes have heretofore been used for conveying electrical
leads to switch-boards, but so far as I am aware it has never been heretofore
proposed to construct switch-boards wholly of iron pipes and boxes, or switch
boards of which iron pipes form an integral part.

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:
1
This invention has for its object to so construct a switchboard that it will
be practically incapable of causing fire to its surroundings; and the invention
is especially applicable to switch. boards employed in theatrical work and in
places where very especial care must be taken for the prevention of fire.
In constructing a switch according to my invention I dispense with the usual.
slate base, with its attendant rear connections and its uncovered switches.
My novel method of building a switchboard consists in forming it of a skeleton
framework of metallic (and preferably iron) tubes and boxes such tubes being
attached to the boxes so as to form a rigid structure. Within such boxes are
placed the various appliances, such as main and circuit switches and fuses, which
go to make up a switchboard, and within the tubes which connect and support
these boxes are the cables, bars, or other electrical leads from one appliance to
another.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, attention is directed
to the drawing hereto annexed, in which Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2
a side view of my improved switchboard. The drawing represents a 6-way
switchboard, having s-p. circuit switches and d-p. fuses, d-p. main fuses, and
d-p. main switches.
A A' are boxes which contain a d-p. main switch. B B¹ are boxes which con-
tain d-p. main fuses. Care boxes which contain s-p. circuit switches. D D¹ are
boxes which contain d-p. circuit fuses. Such boxes are preferably shallow
rectangular metallic cases, having removable lids or covers. E is a tube, case,
or box, which contains an omnibus bar, which feeds the circuit fuses. F F are
the positive and negative main leads, respectively, and G, G₁ are the positive
and negative circuit leads. Connecting the various boxes A, B, C, D, and the
tube E are short lengths of metal tubing a. The tubes a may be attached to
the boxes in any suitable manner, as for instance by inserting the ends of the
tube a through drilled apertures in the side of the boxes and securing them by
nuts a, a rubber or other washer being placed between the nut and the box,
and a ferrule a acts as a distance piece, as shewn in Figure 3. It will however
be apparent that different forms of tubes, and different methods of fixing them
may be used, thus the ends of tubes a may bear right and left hand screw
threads, and be screwed into tapped apertures in the boxes, and be secured by
nuts a¹, as shewn in Figure 4, or any other suitable method of attaching a pipe
to a box may be used. The tubes a perform two functions, namely, they form
conduits for electrical leads between the various appliances of the switchboard,
and they also form an integral part of the switchboard, namely, by connecting
and supporting the cases or boxes of the various appliances of the board they
form part of the fabric of the board.
The fabric of tubes and boxes thus formed may be attached to a metallic
frame H, which latter is secured to a wall or other surface; or the fabric may
be secured directly on such surface.
The switches, fuses, bus-bars, or other appliances of the switchboard may be
according to any suitable pattern. M is an ammeter, and V is a volt-meter."
The operating spindle of each switch passes through an aperture in the cover
of the switch-box, and such aperture is only large enought to admit the spindle.
In some instances the spindle will pass through a stuffing box or gland on the
cover of the switch-box. In most instances the operating spindle aperture will
be the only one-apart from screw holes-made in the lid of the switch box.
The conductors may be insulated from the tubes through which they pass by
clothing the conductor or by coating the inner surface of the tube, with any
suitable material, or both these methods may be employed, or an air space
between the conductor and tube may perform the function.
It will thus be seen that the main object of the present invention, namely, the

page_text: safe-guarding of the switch-board and its surroundings from fire caused by
sparking, arcing, short-circuiting, the blowing of a fuse, or other circumstance is
accomplished by isolating and encasing the various appliances of the board, and
their connecting leads, within metallic cases and tubes. The switch board is
also rendered dust-proof and damp-proof, and is practically indestructible.
I am aware that iron pipes have heretofore been used as conduits for con-
veying electrical leads to and from switch boards, but so far as I am aware it
has never been proposed to construct switchboards wholly of metal pipes and
boxes, or switchboards of which metal pipes form an integral part of the fabric.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
An electrical "switchboard" comprising metallic boxes for containing the
several appliances thereof, and metallic tubes for connecting and supporting
said boxes and containing the electrical conductors between such appliances,
whereby such appliances and their conductors are isolated from one another
and from their surroundings, and the switchboard is rendered fire, damp, and
dust-proof, substantially as described.
Dated this outh day of March 1899.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Chartered Patent Agent, 10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicant.