Improvements in and connected with Electrical Switches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
Improvements in and connected with Electrical Switches.
I, WILLIAM HENRY LANE, of Perugia, Sydney Road, Staines, in the County
of Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows: -
My invention relates to improvements in electrical controllor switches and has
for its object to provide means whereby various combinations may be effected
in the simplest possible manner and with the fewest number of terminals,
contact pieces and cross-connections.
My improved switch is designed more especially for use in electric traction by
means of accumulators and is arranged to give the four combinations most
usually required for this purpose.
These are obtained by using two independent sets of storage cells or other
source of E.M.F. and coupling them at will either in series on in parallel, in
series with a series wound motor in which the relative directions of the current
in its field and armature circuits can also be varied at will, thus giving two
speeds in one direction and two in the other.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide seven fixed contact pieces suit-
ably insulated from each other, and to which are connected respectively the
positive and negative terminals of the two sets of cells, and the ends of the field
and armature circuits of the motor, but one end of either the field or armature
circuit goes to the same contact as one of the battery terminals.
The contact pieces are arranged relatively to each other so that most of the
connections necessary to obtain the required combinations may be effected by
suitably joining those directly adjacent. For this purpose I employ sets of
metallic bridge pieces mounted on the periphery of a metallic spindle but insu-
lated from it, while to effect the necessary connections between those contacts
which are not adjacent I mount the bridge pieces without insulating them and
utilise the spindle itself to complete the circuit.
The spindle revolves in suitable bearings and the sets of bridge pieces engage
with the fixed contacts one after the other, but they must be a sufficient distance
apart so that one set breaks contact before the next comes into circuit.
If more variations of speed are required I may provide my switch with further
contact and bridge pieces for cutting resistances in and out of circuit as desired.
I may also provide any suitable form of quick break or spark catching device
and any suitable attachment for indicating when the fixed contacts and bridge
pieces are properly engaged together.
Dated this 10th dose of ch
1000

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Electrical Switches.
I, WILLIAM HENRY LANE, Electrical Engineer, of "Perugia," Sydney Road,
Staines, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion 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 improvements in electrical controllor switches and has
for its object to provide means whereby various combinations may be effected
in the simplest possible manner and with the fewest number of terminals,
contact pieces and cross-connections.
My improved switch is designed more especially for use in electric traction by
means of accumulators and is arranged to give the four combinations most
usually required for this purpose.
These are obtained by using two independent sets of storage cells or other
source of E.M.F. and coupling them at will either in series or in parallel, in
genes with a series wound motor in which the relative directions of the current
in its field and armature circuits can also be varied at will, thus giving two
speeds in one direction and two in the other.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide seven fixed contact pieces suit-
ably insulated from each other, and to which are connected respectively the
positive and negative terminals of the two sets of cells, and the ends of the field
and armature circuits of the motor, but one end of either the field or armature
circuit
the
goes to
same contact as one of the battery terminals.
The contact pieces are arranged relatively to each other so that most of the
connections necessary to obtain the required combinations may be effected by
suitably joining those directly adjacent. For this purpose I employ sets of
metallic bridge pieces mounted on the periphery of a metallic spindle but insu-
lated from it, while to effect the necessary connections between those contacts
which are not adjacent 1 mount the bridge pieces without insulating them and
utilise the spindle itself to complete the circuit.
The spindle revolves in suitable bearings and the sets of bridge pieces engage
with the fixed contacts one after the other, but they must be a sufficient distance
apart so that one set breaks contact before the next comes into circuit.
It more variations of speed are required 1 may provide my switch with further
contact and bridge pieces for cutting resistances in and out of circuit as desired.
I may also provide any suitable form of quick bread or spark catching device
and any suitable attachment for indicating when the fixed contacts and bridge
pieces are properly engaged together.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side view of the switch with the spindle in such a position that
the two sets of bridge pieces for putting the cells in series are seen, one set being
engaged with the fixed contacts.
Figs. 2 & 3 are side views of a portion only of the switch shewing respectively
the two sets of bridge pieces for putting the cells in parallel engaged with the
fixed contacts.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the switch with the spindle in the "off" position
intermediate between the two sets of contacts for speeds in one direction and the
two for speeds in the opposite direction.
Fig 5 is a diagrammatic view of the base of the switch showing how the
terminals are connected to the battery and motor.
21s a base piece of suitable insulating material upon which are mounted
two brackets b carrying a revolving spindle c. Round the spindle are mounted

page_text: four sets of contact & bridge pieces G, some in metallic contact with it and some
insulated from it by strips of vulcanised fibre d or other suitable means. Upon
the base of the switch are mounted seven fixed contact pieces to engage with
the sets of contacts on the spindle and connected with the terminals 1. On one
end of the spindle is fixed a notched cam m engaging with a pin attached to a
lever F & held up to the cam by means of the spring H.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
I. An electrical switch having its contacts & connections arranged relatively
to each other substantially as described.
II An electrical switch substantially as described & as illustrated with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of November 1899.
WILLIAM HENRY LANE.