Improvements in Electrical Switches.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
* Improvements in Electrical Switches.
I, CHARLES AMBROSE McEvoy, of 69, Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
According to this invention I construct an electric switch in such a manner that
the contact pieces which have to be brought together to complete an electrical
circuit are brought together by endway pressure upon a press button and are
released and allowed to move away from one another by giving a partial turn to
this same button.
One contact piece I form as an arm extending from a block secured to the base,
the other as an arm extending from a spindle which is at right angles to the base
and is carried in bearings in such a way that it can be moved endwise as well as
turned in its bearings. The spindle is pressed endwise by a spring in such a way
as to carry the arm which extends from it to a further distance from the base than
the arm which the base carries and so out of contact with this arm. The spindle
is also acted upon either by the same or preferably by a second spring in such a
manner as to tend always to turn the spindle into such a position that the arm
which it carries shall strike against the fixed arm carried by the base whenever the
spindle is pressed endwise.
When the press button is pressed upon and the spindle moved endwise one edge
of the arm on the spindle comes against one edge of the fixed arm and the edges
being inclined the spindle is turned somewhat until the arm on the spindle gets
below the fixed arm-the spindle is then by the spring which acts upon it instantly
turned in the opposite direction so that the arm which it carries is brought below
the fixed arm and the spindle being also acted upon by the spring which presses it
endwise the arms are held into contact with one another by this spring-the surfaces
of the arms which are so brought into contact are made slightly inclined so that
the endway pressure of the spring on the spindle may assist the spring which turns
the spindle to retain and lock the spindle in the position into which it has been
turned.
To break contact a slight turn is given to the press button the arm on the spindle
is so carried away from under the fixed arm and the spindle is then instantly pressed
endwise by the spring and the arm upon it carried away from the fixed arm.
To prevent sparking between the contact surfaces I provide a spring in contact
with the fixed arm. When the press button is pressed inwards the arm on the
spindle comes against this spring before the spindle is turned into its locked position
and it remains in contact until the spindle is again turned by the press button and
the contacts have to some extent separated.
Dated this 21st day of May 1890.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Switches.
1, CHARLES AMBROSE McEvoy, of 69, Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, 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 :-
According to this invention I construct an electric switch in such a manner that

page_text: the contact pieces which have to be brought together to complete an electrical
circuit are brought together by endway pressures upon a press button and are
released and allowed to move away from one another by giving a partial ..turn to
this same button.
One contact piece I form as an arm extending from a block secured to the base,
the other as an arm extending from a spindle which is at right angles to the base
rand is carried in bearings in such a way that it can be. moved endwise as well as
turned in its bearings. The spindle-is pressed endwise by a spring in such a way
as to carry the arm which extends from it to a further distance from the base than
the arm which the base carries and so out of contact with this arm. The spindle is
also acted upon either by the same or by a second spring in such a manner as to
tend always to turn the spindle into such a position that the arm which it carries
shall strike against the fixed arm carried by the base whenever the spindle is
pressed endwise.
When the press button is pressed upon and the spindle moved endwise one edge
of the arm on the spindle comes against one edge of the fixed arm and the edges
being inclined the spindle is turned somewhat until the arm on the spindle gets
below the fixed arm, the spindle is then by the spring which acts upon it instantly
turned in the opposite direction so that the arm which it carries is brought below
the fixed arm and the spindle being also acted upon by the spring which presses it
endwise the arms are held into contact with one another by this spring-the surfaces
of the arms which are so brought into contact are made slightly inclined so that the
endway pressure of the spring on the spindle may assist the spring which turns
the spindle to retain and lock the spindle in the position into which it has been
turned.
To break contact a slight turn is given to the press button the arm on the spindle
is so carried away from under the fixed arm and the spindle is then instantly pressed
endwise by the spring and the arm upon it carried away from the fixed arm.
To prevent sparking between the contact surfaces I provide a spring in contact.
with the fixed arm. When the press button is pressed inwards the arm on the
spindle comes against this spring before the spindle is turned into its locked position
and it remains in contact until the spindle is again turned by the press button and
the contacts have to some extent separated.
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 an end view of an electrical switch con-
structed as above described. Figure 3 is an elevation of the same with the casing
in section and Figure 4 an end view with the casing removed. Figure 5 is an
elevation with the casing removed and Figure 6 an end view of the same. Figure 7
is an elevation similar to Figure 3 but with the contacts closed.
.
A is an ebonite base. Ba metallic block secured to the same by a screw Band
having an arm B2 extending from it. C is another metallic block secured to the
base by the screw C and also having an arm C extending horizontally from it
through which is a vertical hole which forms a bearing for the upper end of a
spindle D: The lower end of the spindle is received in a hole formed through the
base A. E is a coiled spring surrounding a portion of the spindle one end of the
spring is held in a hole in the arm C and the other in a slot fixed on the spindle D
and a nut D screwed on to the spindle bears against this end of the spring so that
the spring not only tends to move the spindle endwise but also to turn it in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 4.
When the parts are in the position shown in Figures 3 & 5 the spring is prevented
from turning the spindle further in the direction of the arrow by a flat surface on a
collar D fixed to the spindle then resting against the upright surface of the
block C.
D' is an arm extending from the collar 1x and which by depressing the spindle
can be brought against the upper face of the arm B. The surfaces so brought
together are inclined as shewn so that when they are pressed together the spindle is
turned until when the one arm has passed below the other the spring turns the
spindle in the opposite direction and brings the parts into the position shewn at

page_text: Figure 7. F is the spring on to which the arm D² descends when the spindle is
pressed down so as to avoid sparking between the contact surfaces of the arms B² D°
as above explained this spring is held between the under side of the block B and
base A. Gis a knob secured to the head of the spindle D and by which the spindle
can be moved end wise and turned. B³ C³ are screws by which conducting wires
can be coupled to the blocks B and C. H is a thin metal casing enclosing the
contact mechanism-it may have a slot cut in it for a pin standing out from the
base to enter.
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 what I
claim is :-
1. An electrical switch constructed as herein before described in such manner that
the contact pieces are brought together simply by applying endway pressure to the
head of a spindle and released and allowed to move away from one another by
giving a partial turn to that spindle.
2. An electrical switch composed of a fixed contact arm a second arm which can
be made to engage therewith carried by a spindle that is at right angles to the
arms and is acted upon by a spring or springs which tend to turn the spindle as
well as move it end wise substantially as described.
3. An electrical switch composed of a fixed contact arm, a second arm carried by
a spindle and which by endway movement of the spindle can be brought against
the fixed arm and inclines on the surfaces of the arms so brought together which
as the endway movement of the spindle is continued cause the spindle to turn until
the one arm has moved past the other and a spring acting on the spindle to then
turn it in the opposite direction and bring the arms one below and against
the other.
4. The construction of electrical switches substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the drawing annexed.
Dated this ond
1 1001