A NEW OR IMPROVED ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL LAMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George William Bayley of the Firm of Bayley Brothers
of Walsall in the County of Stafford Metal Workers for an Invention of
" A NEW OR IMPROVED ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL LAMPS AND
OTHER PURPOSES
13
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George William Bayley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd December 1882.
GEORGE WILLIAM BAYLEY of the firm of Bayley Brothers of Walsall in the
'County of Stafford Metal Workers "A NEW OR IMPROVED ELECTRICAL SWITCH
FOR ELECTRICAL LAMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES
บ
Electrical switches of the ordinary kinds possess the disadvantage technically
called "arc-ing" that is when by the action of the switch the electric circuit is
broken a spark or series of sparks passes between the two separated metallic
portions of the switch the said sparks constituting a small electric are similar to
that between carbon points. This "arc-ing" results in the oxidation and destruction
of the metallic parts between which it takes place and after a time the switch fails
to close the circuit.
My invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of an electrical
switch in the following manner whereby the "arc-ing" described is prevented or
so far diminished as not to affect the action of the switch.
On a base of insulating material are fixed a short distance apart two metallic
bars parallel to the base and to each other. Each of these bars is divided through
the greater part of its length so as to make it into an elastic fork having a figure
somewhat resembling that of a tuning fork. The free ends of the forks are
broader than the other parts and are inclined inwards that is the inclinations are
concave.
On the base of the instrument is a sliding metallic bolt having two arms which
are in a line respectively with the two elastic forks.
The ends of these arms are inclined convexly so that when the bolt is pressed
towards the forks the convex inclined ends of the said arms bear against the concave
inclined ends of the elastic forks the ends of the said arms and forks having a
Price B1

page_text: large contact surface. Owing to the elasticity of the forks the pressure of the arms
against their ends expands the said forks and causes the metallic contact to be
very effectual as well as extending over a large surface. The two forks are included
in the electrical circuit and when the bolt is pressed home the circuit is completed
by the arms of the said bolt connecting the said forks and when the said bolt is
withdrawn the circuit is interrupted without the usual "arc-ing."
The advance motion of the bolt is effected by a lever working on the base. The
long arm of this lever has a handle for working it and the short arm which has an
anti-friction roller which works against the cross bar which connects the two arms
of the bolt together. When the lever is turned so as to close circuit its short arm is
As soon
beyond the dead.centre and there is no tendency, in the bolt to retire.
as the lever is moved so that its short arm has in its return motion passed the
dead centre the return motion is completed by a spring acting on the rear of
the bolt
The forks may have springs preferably of vulcanised india rubber pressing on
their outer sides by which additional elasticity is given to them
.
The switch has the usual fusible metal wire to prevent the use of too strong a
current of electricity.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filled
by the said George William Bayley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th May 1883.
GEORGE WILLIAM BAYLEY of the firm of Bayley Brothers of Walsall in the
County of Stafford, Metal Workers "A NEW OR IMPROVED ELECTRICAL SWITCH
FOR ELECTRICAL LAMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
Electrical switches of the ordinary kinds possess the disadvantage technically
called "arc-ing" that is, when by the action of the switch the electric circuit is
broken a spark or series of sparks passes between the two separated metallio
portions of the switch, the said sparks constituting a small electric are similar to
that between carbon points. This "arc-ing" results in the oxidation and destruction
of the metallic parts between which it takes place and after a time the switch fails
to close the circuit.
My invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of an electrical
switch in the following manner, whereby the "arc-ing" described is prevented or
so far diminished as not to affect the action of the switch.
On a base of insulating material are fixed a short distance apart, two metallio
bars parallel to the base and to each other. Each of these bars is divided through
the greater part of its length so as to make it into an elastic fork having a figure
somewhat resembling that of a tuning fork. The free ends of the forks are broader
than the other parts and are inclined inwards, that is, the inclinations are
concave.
On the base of the instrument is a sliding metallic bolt having two arms which
are in a line respectively with the two elastic forks. The ends of these arms are
inclined convexly so that when the bolt is pressed towards the forks the convex
inclined ends of the said arms bear against the concave inclined ends of the elastic
forks, the ends of the said arms and forks having a large contact surface. Owing
to the elasticity of the forks the pressure of the arms against their ends expands
the said forks and causes the metallic contact to be very effectual as well as
extending over a large surface. The two forks are included in the electrical circuit
and when the bolt is pressed home the circuit is completed by the arms of the said
bolt connecting the said forks and when the said bolt is withdrawn the circuit is
interrupted without the usual "arc-ing."
The advance motion of the bolt is effected by a lever working on the base. The
long arm of this lever has a handle for working it and the short arm which has an
anti friction roller works against the cross bar which connects the two arms of the
bolt together. When the lever is turned so as to close circuit, its short arm is
beyond the dead centre and there is no tendency in the bolt to retire.
As soon as
the lever is moved so that its short arm has in its return motion passed the
dead centre the return motion is completed by a spring acting on the rear of
the bolt.
The forks may have springs preferably of vulcanised india rubber pressing on
their outer sides by which additional elasticity is given to them. Or instead of
making the forks elastic they may be made inelastic and the arms of the bolt may
be made elastic.
The switch has the usual fusible metal wire to prevent the use of too strong a
current of electricity
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in perspective, with the outer case removed, an electrical
switch for electrical lamps and other purposes constructed according to my
invention. The bolt of the switch is represented in its withdrawn position in
Figure 1 and the circuit consequently open or broken and the bolt is represented
in its shot or advanced position in Figure 2 and the circuit consequently closed.
In Figure 1 the gripping part or handle of the operating lever is removed.

page_text: Figure 3 represents in vertical section and plan of underside the gripping part
or handle of the said lever detached; Figure 4 represents the switch in longitudinal
vertical section; Figure 5 represents in plan of underside and side elevation the
sliding bolt of the switch; Figure 6 represents in plan and side elevation one of the
terminals of the switch and Figure 7 represents în plan the sliding bolt and part
of the operating lever.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
and 7.
a is the base of the switch made of wood or other insulating material; bb are
two metallic bars of gun metal constituting the terminals of the switch. The
said bars b, b are fixed to the base a and are included in the electrical circuit.
The said bars or terminals b, 6 have a forked form, that is, their inner or contact
faces have the hollow V figure represented and are inelastic but they may be made
elastic as in the arrangement hereinafter described.
To the outer ends of the bars or terminals b, b binding screws c, d are screwed.
To the screw d one of the conducting wires e is connected. The other conducting
wire e is fixed to the binding screw which is carried by a metallic plate which
plate has a second binding screw g, the connection of one of the terminals b with
the conducting wire e² being effected through the usual safety fusible wire h fixed
to the binding screw cof the said terminal; i, i is the sliding metallic bolt working
under the guide bridge k. This bolt is furnished with arms which are in a line
respectively with the two fixed forks or terminals b, b. The arms of the said bolt i
are made elastic and their contact ends have a convex V shape to accurately fit in
the hollow shaped contact ends of the terminals b, b. The terminals b, b and the
arms of the sliding bolt i, i have thus large contact surfaces. The arms of the
sliding bolt are split or divided to make them elastic and the elasticity of the
forked arms of the bolt are increased or aided by steel springs 7, 7 situated between
the branches of the forks, the said springs tending to separate the said branches
(see Figures 5 and 7).
When the sliding bolt is pressed towards the fixed forks or terminals b, b, the
V shaped convex ends of the arms of the bolt take into and bear against the
V shaped hollow or concave ends of the terminals b, b and the circuit is completed
as represented in Figure 2. As the V shaped ends of the elastic arms of the bolt i
enter the bollow parts of the terminals b, 6 the said ends of the arms are compressed
the elasticity of the said arms combined with the pressure of the springs 1, 7 causing
the said ends of the arms to bear closely against the hollows of the terminals and
the metallic contact between the said parts is very effectual and extends over a
large surface as will be understood by an examination of the Drawing. On with-
drawing the sliding elastic bolt i, i to the position represented in Figures 1 and 4,
the contact ends of the arms of the said bolt are separated from the terminals b, b
and the electrical circuit is broken
The forked elastic bolt i, i is advanced to and withdrawn from the fixed
terminals b, b of the switch in the following manner:-
m is a lever having a socket m³ turning on the fixed pin p on the plate q
screwed to the base a. The said lever m carries an anti friction roller which works
against the inclined or curved end of the bolt i to shoot the said bolt and also
takes into a notch beyond the centre of the bolt. On the lever m is a stud q
which takes into a depression r in a metallic rings at the bottom of the metallic
capt to which the cross handle u is fixed by a screw nut.
The lever m carrying
the stud 9 is insulated from the metallic cap t by the wooden tubular block
interposed between the metallic ring s and the said cap as seen in the section of
Figure 3.
When the handle u is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2,
the anti friction roller of the lever m works against the inclined end is of the bolt i
and forces the said bolt home as represented in Figure 2 and closes the circuit.
When the circuit has been closed, the lever m is beyond the dead centre and the
anti-friction roller takes into the notch in the bolt and there is no tendency in

page_text: the said bolt to retire. The anti friction roller of the lever is shown in the notch of
the bolt in the plan Figure 7 and in the perspective view Figure 2.
When it is required to break circuit, the bolt i is withdrawn from the terminals b, b
by turning the handle u in a direction contrary to that indicated by the arrow in
Figure 2 so as to remove the roller of the lever out of the notch . As soon as the
lever m has passed the dead centre its return motion is completed by the action of
the compressed coiled spring v (see Figure 4) situated in the base a of the switch
acting against the hanging piece i on the rear end of the bolt i. When the bolt i is
withdrawn, the circuit is interrupted without arc-ing or the arc-ing is reduced to
a minimum as the moment the roller passes the centre of the bolt the latter springs
back and thus breaks the circuit.
The contact parts of the switch may be reversed, that is, the arms of the sliding
bolt may be made inelastic and the fixed terminals be forked and made elastic.
This arrangement of my invention is illustrated in Figure 8 where the inelastic
arms of the sliding bolt are marked y, y and the forked and elastic terminals are
marked y', y. The action of this arrangement is essentially the same as that first
described. That is to say, when the bolt y, y is pressed towards the forked and
elastic terminals y³, y2, the convex inclined ends of the arms of the bolt enter and
bear against the concave inclined ends of the said terminals and the circuit is
completed, the pressure of the arms y, y of the bolt expanding the elastic
terminals y, y and ensuring a very efficient metallic contact between the parts.
By means of india rubber (or other) springs y³, y, y³, between and at the outer
sides of the elastic forks or terminals y, y additional elasticity may be given to
them.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim as my invention of
"A new or improved electrical switch for electrical lamps and other purposes."-
First An electrical switch in which the terminal parts of the switch included
in the electrical circuit, consist of two fixed metallic bars or forks either elastic or
inelastic and having their contact ends or faces inade broad and with, by preference,
V shaped hollows or depressions in them and making the circuit opener and closer
of a sliding bolt having two parallel arms, either elastic or inelastic, the contact ends
or faces of the said arms of the bolt having broad and V shaped projections for
taking into and bearing closely against the hollow V shaped contact ends of the
terminals, the several parts of the switch being constructed, arranged and operating
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
Secondly-The construction and combination of parts herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing for shooting and withdrawing the sliding
bolt of the switch for closing and opening the circuit, whereby the said bolt after it
has been pressed home and made to engage with the terminals of the switch has no
tendency to return and when the said bolt is withdrawn the circuit is interrupted
with little or no arc-ing substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said George William Bayley have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twentysecond day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT
37 Temple Street
GEORGE WILLIAM BAYLEY (L.S.)
Birmingham