Improved Switch for Electrical Tram Cars.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Switch for Electrical Tram Cars.
I, MORITZ IMMISCH, of 119 Torriano Avenue, Camden Town, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient self-locking
switch for use in electrical tram cars, and which may be employed either for enabling
the motor to be reversed, or two sets of accumulators which supply the current to the
motor to be placed in series or in parallel at will. The switch ensures the locking of
the parts for effecting the necessary changes in any position to which they have been
shifted, that is to say, on one side or other of a central position, or in the central
position, when the circuit is broken.
The handle for operating the switch is introduced through an opening in the switch
box, such opening and also the handle being so shaped that the latter can only be
withdrawn when the circuit is broken, and as only one handle is provided to operate
the two switches situated at opposite ends of the tram car, the switch not in use is
bound to be in the position it occupies when the circuit is broken.
The axis to receive the operating handle is supported so that it can turn in suitable
bearings in the switch box, and to it is secured the make and break lever, which can
turn in an arc of a circle of 180°. On either side of the central position of the make
and break lever, and in its line of travel, are arranged a series of terminals of
resistances, so that when the lever is moved from such central position into contact
with the first terminal in either direction the circuit will be completed, and as the
lever continues its movement the resistances connected with the respective terminals
will be successively cut out. As the lever moved back to the central position the
resistances will be successively introduced, until the circuit is broken.
Mounted so that it can turn freely upon the axis of the make and break lever is a
disc carrying two separate pairs of contact pieces, which act in conjunction with four
terminals arranged in the other half of the switch box to that in which the make and
break lever turns, and these terminals are connected either so as to enable the two sets
of accumulators of the car to be placed in series or in parallel as desired, or so as to
reverse the motor, when the disc is shifted so as to bring its contact pieces into contact
with the proper terminals.
The contact pieces of the disc are so arranged in relation to the terminals that when
the make and break lever is in its middle or central position, they are out of contact
with such terminals, in conjunction with which they operate.
On the vertical axis of the disc when in this position and near its periphery is
pivotted an anchor piece, the upper surface of which is recessed in the centre, while
its lower surface has at each end a downwardly projecting tooth.
Upon the make and break lever is a part or projection which fits the recess in the
upper surface of the anchor when the lever and the disc are in their central position,
while the anchor is prevented from turning on its pivot by the teeth on its lower
surface resting upon the periphery of a fixed disc within which the axis of the make
and break lever can turn, so that at this point the anchor and consequently the disc
upon which it is pivotted are locked to the nake and break lever. In this position, as
above stated, the circuit is broken, and the contact pieces of the disc are out of contact
with their terminals. Upon the make and break lever being turned either to the right
or to the left the anchor and its disc are carried with it, thus bringing the contact
pieces of the latter into contact with the proper terminals for effecting the required
change, but still leaving the circuit broken, as at this position the make and break
lever has not yet come into contact with the first terminal in its path. In this position

page_text: also one end of the anchor piece comes into contact with a projection formed on the
fixed disc before referred to, so that it can no longer move with the make and break
lever, and the contact disc to which the anchor is pivotted is therefore also prevented
from turning further round the central axis in this direction.
movement of the anchor is arrested the fixed disc has a recess formed in its periphery
At the point where the
opposite the position then occupied by the end tooth (in the direction of its previous
movement) of the anchor, and the continued movement of the central axis to which
the make and break lever is secured causes the projection on such lever to bear upon
one side of the recess into which it fits in the upper surface of the anchor, and thus
compels the latter to turn on its pivot, and its tooth to enter the recess in the periphery
of the fixed disc. By thus turning upon its pivot one end of the anchor is lowered
until the projection on the make and break lever clears the recess in the upper surface
thereof, and can consequently continue its movement with the central axis inde-
pendently of the anchor and its contact disc, and thus be brought successively into
contact with the resistance terminals, the resistances connected with which are con-
sequently cut out in succession after the first contact is made, and as the lever completes
its movement.
The projection on the make and break lever rides over the anchor piece and still
engages the end of same when it has completed its movement, so that the tooth of the
anchor piece cannot leave the recess it has engaged in the fixed disc, and consequently
the contact disc to which such anchor piece is pivotted is locked in the position to
which it has been moved to make the desired connection.
When desired to change the connections or to break the circuit, the reverse
operations occur, the movement of the make and break lever in the opposite direction
first introducing a gradually increasing resistance as it passes in succession over the
resistance terminals, until it leaves the last terminal and breaks the circuit, when the
projection on such lever will engage the upper end of the recess in the anchor piece
and cause the latter to turn on its pivot, thus disengaging its tooth from the recess in the
fixed disc and causing the anchor to again lock with the make and break lever. The make
and break lever will then carry the anchor, and the contact disc to which it is pivotted,
with it during the rest of its movement to the central position, when the key can be
withdrawn from the switch box if desired.
To change the connections the make and break lever will be moved to the opposite
side. of its central position, when exactly the same actions as described in the previous
movement will occur.
Dated this 4th day of September 1889
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Switch for Electrical Tram Cars.
I, MORITZ IMMISCH, of 119 Torriano Avenue, Camden Town, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, 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 the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient self-locking
switch for use in electrical tram cars, and which may be employed either for
enabling the motor to be reversed, or two sets of accumulators which supply the
current to the motor to be placed in series or in parallel at will. The switch ensures
the locking of the parts for effecting the necessary changes in any position to which
they have been shifted, that is to say, on one side or other of a central position, or
in the central position, when the circuit is broken.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the switch box, showing the switch in elevation.
therein.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the centre of the switch.
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the locking device, showing the parts in different
positions.
Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views of the connections of a switch for placing
two sets of accumulators in series or parallel as desired. Fig. 5 showing the switch
in the position it occupies when the accumulators are connected in series, and Fig. 6
the position of such switch when the accumulators are connected in parallel.
Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views of the connections of a switch for reversing
an electro-motor, such views showing respectively the two positions of the switch when
the motor runs in opposite directions.
The handle for operating the switch is introduced through an opening a in the
switch box A, such opening and also the handle being so shaped that the latter can
only be withdrawn when the circuit is broken, and as only one handle is provided to
operate the two switches situated at opposite ends of the tram car, the switch not: in
use is bound to be in the position it occupies when the circuit is broken.
The axis B to receive the operating handle is supported so that it can turn in
suitable bearings in the switch box A, and to it is secured the make and break
lever C, which can turn in an arc of a circle of 180°. On either side of the central
position of the make and break lever C, and in its line of travel, are arranged a
series of terminals of resistances 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, the terminals on opposite sides being
connected together in pairs by the bars or rods D, so that when the lever C is moved
from such central position into contact with the first terminal 5 in either direction
the circuit will be completed, and as the lever C continues its movement the resistances
connected with the respective terminals will be successively cut out. As the lever C
is moved back to the central position the resistances will be successively introduced,
until the circuit is broken.
So as to ensure the contact pieces of the terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, not being damaged
by sparking as the contact is made and the resistances are successively cut out, the
following arrangement is employed :-Upon the front of the make and break lever C
is pivotted a holder E carrying a steel rod F, such holder being acted upon by a
spring so as to hold the rod in its normal position. In advance of each of the
terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, in the direction in which the make and break lever C moves
in completing the circuit and cutting out the resistances, each of such terminals is
provided with a holder H carrying a rod I, situated in the same plane as the rod F
on lever C will pass through when it is moved with such lever. When lever C is
moved in either direction from the central position, the rod F it carries will first
come in contact with rod I carried by terminal 5, and the continued movement of
lever C will cause the holder E of such rod F to turn on its pivot e against the
action of spring G, before the contact piece c of lever C can come into contact with
terminal 5. The rods F and I will thus first complete the circuit and so receive the
spark. As lever C is again moved towards the next terminal 4, holder E of rod F
will turn still further on its pivot e against the action of spring G, until rod F can
clear the inner end of rod I, when the tension of such spring will cause the holder
to suddenly resume its normal position in relation to lever C, which by this time is
in such a position that rod F is thereby brought suddenly into contact with the next
rod I of terminal 4, thus cutting out the resistance between terminals 4 and 5 before
contact piece c of lever C comes in contact with terminal 4. The same action takes
place as each of the resistances is cut out, so that any sparking which may occur
will be between the rods F and I, and the contacts themselves will remain undamaged,
while when damaged the rods F and I can be readily removed from their holders
and replaced by new ones.
Mounted so that it can turn freely upon the axis B of the make and break lever C
is a disc J carrying two separate pairs of contact pieces L, L', which (in the case of
an accumulator switch) act in conjunction with four terminals 6, 7, 8, 9, arranged
in the other half of the switch box A to that in which the make and break lever C
turns, and these terminals 6, 7, 8, 9, are connected so as to enable two sets of

page_text: accumulators ✗, X¹, (see Figs. 5 and 6) of the car to be placed in series _or_in
parallel as desired, when the disc J is shifted so as to bring its contact pieces L, L',
into contact with the proper terminals.
In the case of a switch for reversing the motor, five terminals 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
(see Figs. 7 and 8) will be necessary, and these will also have to be suitably con-
nected as hereinafter described.-
The contact pieces L, L¹, of the disc J are so arranged in relation to the
terminals 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, (as the case may be), that when the make
and break lever C is in its middle or central position, they are out of contact with
such terminals, in conjunction with which they operate, as will be seen in Figs. 1
and 3.
On the vertical axis of the disc J when in this position and near its periphery is
pivotted an anchor piece M, the outer surface of which is recessed in the centre
at m, while at each end is an inwardly projecting tooth m¹.
Upon the make and break lever C is a part or projection c¹ which fits the recess m
in the outer surface of the anchor M when the lever and the disc J are in their
central position, while the anchor M is prevented from turning on its pivot m³ by the
teeth m¹ on its inner surface resting upon the periphery of a fixed disc N within
which the axis B of the make and break lever C can turn, so that at this point the
anchor M and consequently the disc J upon which it is pivotted are locked to the
make and break lever C. In this position, as above stated, the circuit is broken, and
the contact pieces L, L', of the disc J are out of contact with their terminals. Upon
the make and break lever C being turned either to the right or to the left the anchor M
and its disc J are carried with it, thus bringing the contact pieces L, L', of the latter
into contact with the proper terminals for effecting the required change, but still
leaving the circuit broken, as at this position the make and break lever has not yet
come into contact with the first terminal 5 in its path. In this position also one end
of the anchor piece M comes into contact with a projection n' formed on the fixed
disc N above referred to, so that it can no longer move with the make and break
lever C, and the contact disc J to which the anchor M is pivotted is therefore also
prevented from turning further round the central axis B in this direction. At the
point where the movement of the anchor M is arrested the fixed disc N has a recess n³
formed in its periphery opposite the position then occupied by the end tooth m¹ (in
the direction of its previous movement) of the anchor M, and the continued move-
ment of the central axis B to which the make and break lever C is secured causes the
projection con such lever to bear upon one side of the recess m into which it fits in
the outer surface of the anchor M, and thus compels the latter to turn on its pivot m³,
and its tooth m² to enter the recess n³ in the periphery of the fixed disc N. By thus
turning upon its pivot m³ one end of the anchor M is lowered until the projection c¹
on the make and break lever clears the recess m in the outer surface thereof, and
can consequently continue its movement with the central axis B independently of the
anchor M and its contact disc J, and thus be brought successively into contact with
the resistance terminals 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, the resistances connected with which are
consequently cut out in succession after the first contact is made, and as the lever (
completes its movement.
The projection c¹ on the make and break lever C rides over the anchor piece M and
still engages the end of same when it has completed its movement (as shown in
Fig. 4), so that the tooth m¹ of the anchor piece M cannot leave the recess n³ it has
engaged in the fixed disc N, and consequently the contact disc J to which such anchor
piece M is pivotted is locked in the position to which it has been moved to make the
desired connection.
:
When desired to change the connections or to break the circuit, the reverse
operations occur, the movement of the make and break lever in the opposite
direction first introducing a gradually increasing resistance as it passes in succession
over the resistance terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, until it leaves the last terminal 5 and
breaks the circuit, when the projection c on such lever C will engage the forward

page_text: end of the recess m in the anchor piece M, and cause the latter to turn on its pivot m³,
thus disengaging its tooth m¹ from the recess n³ in the fixed dise N, and causing the
anchor M to again lock with the make and break lever C. The make and break
lever will then carry the anchor M and the contact disc J to which it is pivotted,
with it during the rest of its movement to the central position, when the key can be
withdrawn from the switch box if desired.
To change the connections the make and break lever will be moved to the
opposite side of its central position, when exactly the same actions as described in the
previous movement will occur.
-
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen that in the case of an accumulator
switch, the switch terminal 6 is connected to the terminal of one set of accu-
mulators X; terminal 7 to the terminal of the other set of accumulators X';
terminal 8 to the + terminal of the set of accumulators X ; and terminal 9 to one
terminal of the motor Z, which is also connected to the + terminal of the set of
accumulators X', while the other terminal of such motor is connected to the first
resistance terminal 1. The pair of contact pieces L of the switch is connected to the
switch lever C and when this pair rests on the terminal 6 only, while the pair L' rests
on terminals 7 and 8, as shown in Fig. 5, the two sets of accumulators X, X', will be
connected in series, while when the pair of contact pieces L rests on terminals 6 and 7
and the pair L' rests on terminals 8 and 9, such accumulators will be connected in
parallel, as shown in Fig. 6.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that in the case of a switch for reversing
the motor Z the switch terminal 10 is connected to terminal 14, and the latter to one
terminal of the field of the motor Z; terminal 11 is connected to the switch lever ();
terminal 12 is connected to the other terminal of the field of the motor Z; terminal 13
is connected to one terminal of the armature of motor Z, and the other terminal of
such armature is connected to the + terminal of the accumulators ✗, while the
terminal of such accumulators is connected to resistance terminal 1.
When the pair of contact pieces L rests on terminals 10 and 11 and the pair L¹ ou
the terminals 12 and 13, as shown in Fig. 7, the motor Z will run in one direction,
while when (as shown in Fig. 8) the pair of contact pieces L rests on terminals 11
and 12 and the pair L' on terminals 13 and 14, as will be seen by the arrows the
direction of current through the field of the motor Z will be reversed, and the motor
will therefore run in the opposite direction.
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. The combination with the make and break lever of a switch, of a projection
carried thereby, and which when the circuit is broken engages an anchor piece
pivotted to a disc mounted on the same centre as such lever and carrying contact.
pieces working in conjunction with terminal contacts for making the desired changes,
the said anchor piece working over a fixed disc provided with projections, which when
the anchor piece and its disc have been moved by the make and break lever to the
position requisite for making any change required, will cause such anchor piece to
turn on its pivot and one end thereof to enter a recess in such fixed disc, thus
enabling the projection on the make and break lever to become disengaged from the
anchor piece and allowing the make and break lever to continue its movement to
complete the circuit alone, while upon the reverse movement of such make and break
lever, after the circuit has been broken, the projection it carries will act
upon the
anchor piece and disengage its end from the recess in the fixed disc by causing it to
turn on its pivot, so that such lever will become again locked with the anchor piece,
and carry the latter and the disc on which it is mounted back with it to its original
position, all substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a switch constructed as described in the preceding claim
of a rod carried by a holder pivotted to the switch or make and break lever and acted

page_text: upon by a spring, and of a similar rod secured to each of the resistance terininals in
advance thereof and in the same plane as the path of the rod carried by the make and
break lever when the latter is moved in the direction to complete the circuit and cut
out the resistances in succession, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1890.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.