Improvements in Electric Switches.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Electric Switches.
1
We, JESSE LORENZO HINDS, and HUNTINGTON BEARD CROUSE, both of Number
500, E. Water Street, in the City of Syracuse, County of Onondaga, and State of
New York, United States of America, Manufacturers, 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:-
This invention relates to electric switches, particularly applicable for use upon
a wall or switch-board, and has for its object the production of a device which is
simple in construction, economical in manufacture, pleasing in appearance, and
durable and effective in use; and to this end, it consists, essentially, in the com-
bination, construction and arrangement of દી movable back or support,
a terminal or blade carried by the back or support, and means for
securing the back or support to a base and holding the same in its adjusted
position. In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying
drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corre-
sponding parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a top plan of this switch.
Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal vertical and horizontal sections taken, respec-
tively, on lines 2-2, Figure 1, and 3-3, Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5, are, respectively, an isometric view of one of the movable
terminals or blades, and an elevation of a collar for engaging said terminal or
blade.
Figures 6 and 7 are longitudinal vertical sections of slightly modified forms
of the means for securing the terminals or blades to the movable backs or supports.
A is the switch-base, which is of any desirable form, size and construction,
and is preferably composed of insulating material. BB are separated backs or
supports arranged substantially parallel with the base A and having correspond-
ing ends secured to a suitable cross-bar C and their opposite ends pivoted to pillars
or posts DD. EE are movable terminals or blades detachably secured to the
backs or supports B in any desirable manner, and FG are terminals fixed to the
base A for making contact with the terminals or blades E. The wires leading
to and from the switch may obviously be connected thereto in any desired manner,
but in the preferable construction of this invention, the outgoing wires h are
secured to sockets mounted on the shanks f of the terminals F; the shanks g
of the terminals G are electrically connected by plates gl to terminals 2; and the
incoming wires are secured to sockets mounted on the stems of terminals g³
which are connected by fuses or fusible cut-outs g to the terminals g².
The backs or supports B preferably consist of slotted tubes formed with longi-
tudinal internal chambers 6 and having their sides nearest the base A provided
with longitudinal slots 1 opening into the chambers b. Corresponding edges of
the terminals or blades E are inserted through the slots into the chambers 6 and

page_text: are secured to the backs or supports B by engaging means preferably arranged
within the chambers b. This engaging means usually consists of opposite
heads 2, 3 adjustable lengthwise within the chambers band having their adjacent
end-faces provided with cylindrical centrally arranged shoulders 6 adapted to
enter notches e in the opposite end-edges of the terminals or blades E, and engage
the shoulders formed by said notches.
B, B are detachable extremities for the backs or supports B, having their outer
ends pivoted at 12 to the pillars or posts D and their opposite ends formed with
sockets for receiving the adjacent ends of the main portions of the backs or
supports B. These extremities B₁ are secured in position by threaded stems 66
provided upon the adjacent end-faces of the heads 63, 63. The opposite or free
ends of the backs or supports B are encircled by collars 67 and are suitably secured
to the cross-bar C which is arranged at an angle to the backs or supports B and is
provided with a suitable hand-piece C. The backs or supports B and the cross-
bar C are preferably secured together by threaded stems 68 which are provided upon
the heads 3, are passed through the collars b and the adjacent ends of the bar C
and are engaged with nuts arranged in recesses in the outer face of the bar C.
In order to prevent revoluble movement of the collars 6 upon the backs or
supports B, their end-faces adjacent to the terminals or blades E are provided with
shoulders 10 for engaging said terminals or blades, and their opposite end-faces
are formed with shoulders for engaging corresponding shoulders c provided
upon the cross-bar C.
The pillars or posts D, previously mentioned, are preferably formed with
internal longitudinal chambers d and lengthwise slots extending from their
outer ends to said chambers. Arranged within the outer ends of the chambers d,
are plungers ¹ having corresponding ends provided with shoulders which are
formed of less diameter than the plungers 1)¹ and are engaged by cams 13 and
stop-shoulders B+ formed upon the attaching extremities of the backs or supports B.
The cams B engage the end-faces of the shoulders and the stop-shoulders B
engage the upright faces or peripheries of said shoulders d². The plungers D
are preferably forced towards the pivots 132 of the backs or supports B by springs D²
interposed between the plungers 1) and securing pieces 13 and having their
opposite ends arranged in sockets in the adjacent faces of said plungers and
securing pieces. Corresponding extremities of the securing pieces 13 are adjust-
able longitudinally within the chambers of the pillars or posts D, and their
opposite extremities are suitably secured to the base A being preferably provided
with shoulders engaged with the rear face of said base.
It is obvious that the movable backs or supports of this switch may be provided
with terminals or blades and securing means therefor, different in construction
from those seen in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and in Figures 6 and 7 are shown
modified forms of the securing means for the terminals or blades of this switch.
In Figures 6 and 7, the backs or supports B10 1320 are provided with securing
heads 2021, 3031, having their adjacent end-faces formed with inwardly extend-
ing sockets for receiving shoulders provided upon the terminals or blades E10 E20.
The heads 2021 are threaded for effecting their longitudinal adjustment within
the back or support B, and the heads 630 631 are adjusted towards each other by a
bolt 32.
The operation of this switch will now be readily understood upon reference to
the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing, and it will be particularly
noted that the movable backs or supports and the terminals or blades may be
economically formed by screw-machinery and stamping-dies, and that these parts
are readily assembled and afford contacting faces of considerable area.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In an electric switch, the combination of a base provided with a terminal,

page_text: a back or support consisting of a slotted tube, and a movable terminal for engaging
the former terminal, said movable terminal being removably secured to the back
or support, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In an electric switch, the combination of a base provided with a terminal, a
movable terminal for engaging the former terminal, said movable terminal being
formed with an engaging shoulder, and a back or support consisting of a slotted
tube provided with means for engaging said shoulder of the movable terminal
and holding the movable terminal in position, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3. In an electric switch, the combination of a base provided with a terminal and
a pillar or post, a movable terminal for engaging the former terminal, said
movable terminal being formed with an engaging shoulder, and a back or support
consisting of a slotted tube pivotally secured to the pillar or post and provided
with means for engaging said shoulder of the movable terminal and holding the
movable terminal in position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a switch, the combination of a back or support provided with an internal
chamber and a longitudinal groove opening therein, a terminal carried by the
back or support and having one edge inserted through the groove into the internal
chamber, a head movable within the internal chamber for detachably engaging
the terminal and securing the same to said back or support, a base for the back
or support, and a second terminal for contacting with the former terminal, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In a switch, the combination of a back or support provided with an internal
chamber and a longitudinal groove opening therein, a terminal carried by the
back or support and having one edge inserted through the groove into the internal
chamber, said terminal having its opposite ends formed with inwardly extending
notches, oppositely arranged heads movable longitudinally within the internal
chamber and having their adjacent end-faces provided with centrally arranged
shoulders for entering the notches and securing the terminals to the back or
support, a base for the hack or support, and a second terminal for contacting with
the former terminal, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a switch, the combination of a base provided with a terminal, a movable
back or support consisting of a slotted tube, a bar arranged at an angle with the
back or support, said bar being secured to the back or support and provided with
an engaging shoulder, a movable terminal for engaging the former
terminal, said movable terminal being inserted into the slot of the back
or support, movable means within the back or support for engaging the movable
terminal and securing the same to the back or support, and a collar encircling
the back or support and having one end provided with a shoulder for engaging
the shoulder of the bar and its opposite end provided with a second shoulder
for engaging the movable terminal, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
7. In a switch, the combination of a base, a pillar or post engaged with the
front face of the base and having an internal chamber, a plunger movable within
one end of the chamber and provided with a lengthwise socket in its end adjacent
to the base, a securing piece passed through the base and having one extremity
provided with a shoulder engaged with the rear face of the base and its other
extremity arranged in the opposite end of the chamber and provided with a length-
wise socket, a spring having its opposite ends arranged in said sockets, and a
terminal-carrying back or support pivoted to the pillar or post and engaged with
the plunger, substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. In a switch, the combination of a pillar or post having an internal chamber,
a plunger movable within one end of the chamber and having one extremity
provided with a projecting shoulder formed of less diameter than the plunger,
a securing piece having one extremity adjustable lengthwise in the opposite end
of the chamber, a spring interposed between the plunger and the securing piece,
and a terminal-carrying back or support pivoted to the pillar or post and having

page_text: a cam and a stop shoulder for engaging the end and peripheral faces of the shoulder
of the plunger, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 17th day of December 1897.
JESSE LORENZO HINDS.
HUNTINGTON BEARD CROUSE.
D. Young & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.