Improved Electric Switch.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Electric Switch.
Communicated from abroad by THE ACTIEN GESELLSCHLAFT MIX & GENEST,
of Neuenburger Str., Berlin, Germany.
I, CHRISTEN REES BONNE of 41 Eastcheap in the County of London,
Registered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is the construction of an electric switch capable of
making or breaking the circuit instantly, whether the switch handle is moved rapidly
or slowly.
The central axis of the switch is mounted in a circular box or frame and at the
lower end of the axis is a disc, having a projection on its periphery.
Upon the revolution of said disc, the projection comes in contact with the edge
of another dise of larger diameter, or a segment of corresponding diameter in the
same plane as the disc. In the last disc or segment is a concentric slot containing
two spiral springs.
Under the disc or segment, and centred on the axis, is a contact lever, which is
made of semi-circular form, to encompass the space occupied by the spiral springs,
and it has fixed to it at right angles a small pin or projection, which enters a space
between the adjoining ends of the spiral springs. Upon the outer margin of the
contact lever, and overlapping the edge of the same, is a contact piece.
This contact piece is situated underneath the lever, and upon the opposite or
upper side of the lever is a piece of similar shape extending through an opening in
the top surface of the framework.
The base of the switch is composed of insulating material. To the inner surface
of the base is fixed an angle piece, through which passes a conducting screw,
holding upon its outer end two thin flat springs concentric with the periphery
of the switch; these two springs being relatively arranged in the form of a fork.
Another conducting screw is fixed in the framework, and the action is as follows.
Upon turning the handle to the left, the first mentioned disc with projecting piece
thereon is revolved, and with it the contact lever, which latter being mounted upon
an axis or pivot a certain distance away from its centre, has an eccentric movement
imparted to it, in relation to the axis of the adjacent disc. The motion of the
handle being continued the projecting piece on the first mentioned disc strikes
against the edge of the larger disc or segment above the contact lever, and, at the
same time, the pin or projection on the upper surface of the latter, being between
the spiral springs, compresses the spring on one side, by which its forward motion
is obstructed.
Meantime, the contact lever has free movement, the contact piece connected to
its extremity on the underside, is forced between the two flat springs joined to the
conducting screw on the base of the switch, and contact is made with the conducting
screw in the frame thereof.
The interruption of the circuit is effected by the movement of the handle in the
reverse direction.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Electric Switch.
Communicated from abroad by THE ACTIEN GESELLSCHAFT MIX AND GENEST,
of Neuenberger Strasse 144, Berlin, in the German Empire.
I, CHRISTEN REES BONNE of 57 Chancery Lane in the City of London
Registered Patent Agent, 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:-
The object of this invention is to construct an electric switch so that the making
and breaking of contact is effected instantaneously irrespective of an unduly slow
movement being imparted to the handle.
The switch constructed according to this invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5
of the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 section on line a. . Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 plan view with cover removed.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5, detail views illustrating three consecutive positions occupied by
the mechanism when the switch is at rest and in action respectively.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the top of frame G is removed to render the internal parts
clearly visible.
The normal or resting position of the switch is represented by Fig. 3, the turning
of the handle in the direction indicated by the arrow brings the mechanism to the
condition indicated by Fig. 4, while Fig. 5 shows the relative position of the several
parts at the end of the movement.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The axis A projecting through the cover or case of the switch, and surrounded
inside the case by collar R, upon being operated by the handle, gives motion to the
disc K, mounted centrally against the upper part of frame G.
The disc has a projection or tooth N upon its periphery, such projection or
tooth N coming in contact with the sector or plate M in which is a slot concentric
with the axis A.
The slot contains two spiral springs F, F, between which passes a pin S upon
the contact plate or lever C. The contact plate or lever C is of semicircular form
To the lower part
and revolves eccentrically upon axis Z on underside of disc K.
of frame G is affixed by means of screw L the angle piece W, holding bifurcated
flat spring B, which is curved to correspond with the radius of contact plate or
lever C, and is situated directly under the edge of the said contact plate or lever,
but is slightly curved outwards therefrom at its free extremity, to allow the
projecting piece U on underside of contact plate or lever C, to pass inside it at the
end of the turning movement, when contact is made as required between screws L
and D the screw L being connected to the end of the bifurcated flat spring
the screw D being passed through a projection or flap forming part of the frame-
work through which the circuit is completed by projection U in' contact with
spring B.
and
Upon the opposite or upper side of the contact plate or lever C is a projection O,
which in the normal or resting state of the switch (Fig. 3) presses against the
tooth on frame G on one side and against a projection Q (Fig. 2) on the other
side. But when the axis A is turned in the direction indicated by the arrows
(Figs. 3 and 4) the eccentricity of the contact lever or plate C causes the
projection O to be carried over the tooth V and retained upon the opposite side
thereof, in the position indicated by Fig. 5. In this way the contact is maintained
as required until a movement in the reverse direction is effected.
The instantaneous action of the switch is produced by the spiral springs F F
which are normally in equal tension on either side of the pin S fixed to contact
plate or lever C, but upon turning the handle and revolving axis A in the direction
i..
☐ !

page_text: indicated by the arrow (Figs. 3 and 4) the tooth or projection N on disc. K comes
against the edge of slotted sector M, turning it with the springs F F in its slot
until one of the springs F is compressed by pressure against the pin S of contact
lever C as shown in Fig. 4. At this moment also the eccentricity of contact plate
or lever C has brought the projecting piece O fixed upon its upper surface to the
position to fly clear of tooth V, by which it has previously been obstructed. As
soon as is clear of V, the contact plate or lever C is free to complete the move-
inent for making contact and the spring shown in a compressed state in Fig. 4 being
no longer held in that state by the pin S of contact lever C returns to its normal
condition and instantaneously completes the movement. The movement of the
switch in the reverse direction for breaking contact is effected in a precisely similar
manner, the opposite spring F in that case being the means of effecting the
instantaneous action of the switch as herein before set forth.
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) In an electric switch, the transfer of the turning movement to make or break
contact from the axis of the switch by means of springs placed within a slotted
sector upon the said axis substantially as herein before set forth.
(2) In an electric switch the eccentric movement of contact plate or lever by
means of which a projection thereon is lifted clear of an obstructing tooth and
allowed to complete the movement in either direction for making or breaking contact
respectively substantially as herein before set forth and described.
(3) The improved electric switch substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
EXU
21 16+ Immo IXU
BONNE & Co.,
Registered Patent Agents,
57 & 58, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agents.