An Improved Electric Switch.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electric Switch.
I, CHAIMSONOVITZ PROSPER ELIESON, of No. 75, Edith Road, West
Kensington, in the County of London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to an Improved Electric Switch, and has for object to
prevent sparking by the employment of mercury as hereinafter described.
In carrying out my invention I provide a tube or container of suitable non-
conducting material closed at the ends the lower end working on metal pivots in
suitable bearings, each metallically connected to a terminal or binding screw such
connection extending to the interior of the tube. In order to complete the circuit
I introduce into the tube a quantity of mercury so that when the tube is in a
vertical position the mercury will drop to the bottom of the tube and the circuit
will be completed; and when it is required to break the circuit it is only necessary
to reverse the position of the tube when the mercury will fall to the other end
thereof.
In order to prevent any sparking which might take place while the mercury is
dropping, I introduce into the tube a non-conducting liquid or fluid such, for
example, as glycerine, whereby when the tube is moved to break the circuit the
mercury in falling to the other end of the tube will force up the glycerine.
It will be obvious that I can employ more than one tube, in which case the tubes
are suitably connected.
Dated the 8th day of January 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electric Switch.
I, CHAIMSONOVITZ PROSPER ELIESON, of No. 75, Edith Road, West
Kensington, in the County of London, 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 statement :-
My invention relates to an Improved Electric Switch.
In carrying out my invention I provide a tube or container of suitable non-
conducting material closed at the ends, the lower end working on metal pivots in
suitable bearings, each metallically connected to a terminal or binding-screw, such
pivot extending to the interior of the tube. In order to complete the circuit
introduce into the tube a quantity of mercury so that when the tube is in a
vertical position the mercury will drop to the bottom of the tube and the circuit
will be completed; and when it is required to break the circuit it is only necessary
to reverse the position of the tube when the mercury will fall to the other end
thereof.
In order to prevent as far as possible any injurious sparking which might take
place while the mercury is dropping, I may introduce into the tube a suitable non-
conducting liquid or fluid such, for example, as glycerine, whereby when the tube is

page_text: moved to break the circuit the mercury in falling to the other end of the tube will
force
up.
the glycerine.
It will be obvious that I can employ more than one tube, in which case the tubes
are suitably connected.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same
by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an electric switch constructed according to my
invention, the parts being in their normal positions, that is to say, when the circuit
is open :
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively sections on the lines 2-2 and 3-3, Figure 1:
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 but shewing the parts in the position when
the circuit is closed:
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 1 of a somewhat modified form of switch;
and,
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6, Figure 5:
Figure 7 is a sectional plan of part of the said switch, the section being taken
on the line 7-7, Figure 6:
Figure 8 is a front sectional elevation of a switch having two tubes or
containers:
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts in the
drawings.
a is an ordinary block or rose for carrying the switch mechanism and by which
it is fixed in position in the usual manner; b is my tube or container made of
suitable non-conducting material such as ivory, vulcanite, bone or the like. c, c are
the metal pivots or trunnions arranged in bearings d attached to the body e of the
switch as shewn, the said pivots projecting slightly into the interior of the container b
as clearly shewn at Figure 2. The said pivots are shewn provided with collars c
and the bearings d are arranged to spring so as to bear with pressure on the said
collars in order to maintain a good rubbing contact. f are the terminals or binding-
screws which in this case pass through the bearings d into the body of the switch.
g represents the mercury which I place in the container b.
The operation is as follows :-When the parts of the switch are in the position
shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3, that is to say, with the container b turned down, the
mercury g will be in what is then the lower end of the container and the circuit
will be open by reason of there being no connection between the inner ends of the
pivots c, c. To close the circuit it is simply necessary to move the container b up
into the position shewn in Figure 4. when the mercury covering the inwardly
projecting ends of the pivots, e will form the required connection to close the
circuit. To open the circuit it will be obvious that it is only necessary to move
back the container 6 to the position shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
h is a cap for covering the metal bearings or connections.
The arrangement shewn in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is substantially the same as that
shewn in Figures 1 to 4 except that one end of the container is in the form of a
knob 6 so as to allow it to project through the cap or cover; the operation
being the same as in the arrangement hereinbefore described needs no further
description.
i is a catch on one of the bearings d adapted to take into holes ; on the container
corresponding with its open and closed positions for the purpose of holding the
container in either of such positions.
Figures 8 and 9 shew the arrangement where two containers are employed, the
said containers being advantageously connected by a cross-bar or plate A.
In this arrangement in order that when the containers are turned in the proper
position, as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 9, to close the circuit, the mercury
shall establish connection between the two pivots c, c, I provide a metal rod / which
passes into the interior of the tubes b, b. This rod is advantageously formed in

page_text: two parts connected together by a screwed socket m. The operation will be
understood without further description, it being the same as herein before described.
This arrangement of switch is very suitable for electric currents of high potential.
In order to prevent as far as possible any injurious sparking which might take
place while the mercury is passing from one end of the tube or container to the
other (which sparking might have the effect of oxydizing mercury) I may
introduce into the container a non-conducting liquid, such, for example, as glycerine,
whereby when the container is moved to break the circuit the mercury in falling
will force up the glycerine. Or I may introduce a non-oxydizing fluid such as
carbonic acid gas; or I may let the atmospheric air remain in the tube, and the
oxygen thereof in time becoming used up or combined, if the tube is sealed there
will remain a non-oxydizing gas therein. In practice I find this works perfectly
well.
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 that mercury has been used in various ways for the purpose of making
or breaking electric circuits, but what I claim is :-
1. An electric switch in which the opening or closing of the circuit is effected
by means of the movement of a pivotted container with mercury arranged
substantially as herein before described.
2. An electric switch consisting of a container provided with mercury and
moving on pivots in suitable bearings to which the conductors are connected,
arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the several
figures of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combinations of parts forming the two several improved electric switches
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
respectively in Figures 1 to 4, and in 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved electric switch in which duplex containers are employed sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. In combination with the improved electric switches as hereinbefore claimed
the provision of a non-conducting liquid or fluid substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this 11th day of June 1801
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.