Year: 1885

page_text: We BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE Managing Engineer to the Electrical Power
Storage Company Limited and JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM Works Manager to the
said Company both of 4 Great Winchester Street Buildings in the City of London
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
The object of our Invention is to provide an electrical switch easy of adjustment
and with good and reliable contacts.
According to our Invention we employ a ring or a number of rings arranged
concentrically-The said ring or rings is or are cut or divided at one side or
portion and into the aperture or apertures thus made the switch lever or piece is
pressed to make the requisite contact.
"
We may use a bolt or adjusting piece or device which may be situated at right
angles to the axis of the ring or rings for the purpose of tightening the points of
contact when necessary as for example where large currents are conveyed through
the switch.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the said B. M. Drake
and John M. Gorham.

page_text: Improvements in Electrical Switches.
We, BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE, Managing Engineer to the Electrical Power
Storage Company Limited and JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM, Works Manager to the
said Company both of 4 Great Winchester Street Buildings in the City of London,
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 our Invention is to provide an Electrical Switch easy of adjust-
ment and with good and reliable contacts.
We employ a ring or a number of rings arranged concentrically. The said ring
or rings is or are cut or divided at one side or portion and into the aperture
or apertures thus made the switch lever or piece is pressed to make the requisite
contact.
On
We may use a bolt or adjusting piece or device which may be situated at right
angles to the axis of the ring or rings for the purpose of tightening the points of
contact when necessary, as for example where large currents are conveyed through
the switch. We will describe our Invention with reference to the accompanying
drawing. Figure 1 shewing a vertical section and figure 2 a plan of a switch con-
structed according to our Invention with the switch lever in position for completing
the circuit and figures 3 and 4 shewing a side elevation and plan with the switch
lever in the position in which the circuit is interrupted Figure 5 is an underside
view of the switch lever. A is the base on which the apparatus is carried
each side of the central post B are concentric rings or tubes C fixed to the bed plate
and cut or divided at the side presented outwards as shown at c-A bolt D passes
through each set of tubes by means of which the tubes may be pressed to make
better their contact with the turned in ends e of the switch lever E which is
centred so as to be capable of being rotated upon the central post B-The said
turned in ends e are bevilled or made wedge shaped or rounded at their side edges
to facilitate the entry of the said ends sideways into the gaps formed by the cuts
or divisions in the tubes-e are handles for operating the switch lever E-F are
socket pieces in which the ends of the lines or cables or line containing tubes
are inserted. By turning the switch lever E as shewn in Figures 3 & 4 so that
its ends leave the gaps c in the tubes C the circuit is interrupted whilst by turning
it into the position shewn in Figures 1 and 2 the turned in ends e enter the gaps
in the tubes O and the circuit is completed from the portion of the line on one side
of the switch through the socket piece F and tubes C on that side along the lever E
and by the tubes C and socket piece F on the other side to the other portion of
the line.
If desired the lever E can be single ended and tubes be provided at one side
only one portion of the line being in connection with these tubes and the other
portion of the line being connected to the central post B. It will be understood
that there may be only a single or double tube used instead of three as shewn or
that there may be more thau three..

page_text: It will also be evident that the gap or gaps may be made at other convenient
part of the tubes than that shown the portion or portions of the lever which enters
or enter the gap or gaps being correspondingly situated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
First. In an electrical switch a contact piece or contact pieces consisting of a tube.
or tubes with a gap or gaps therein into which the other contact piece can enter
and from which it can be withdrawn substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. In an electrical switch having a contact piece or contact pieces consisting
of a tube or tubes with a gap or gaps as described the combination with the said
tubes of tightening bolts D as described and illustrated.
Third. In Electrical switches the combination of a contact piece or contact pieces
consisting of a tube or tubes with a gap or gaps and a centred lever with a portion
or portions adapted to enter or leave the said gap or gaps when the lever is moved
on its centre substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Fourth. The arrangement and combination of, parts constituting the Electrical
Switch herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Witness to the signatures of 'Bernard Mervyn
Drake and John Marshall Gorham,
T. HUGH HORWOOD,
27, Chancery Lane,
A Commissioner to administer Oaths in
the Supreme Court of Judicature.
BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE.
JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM.