Year: 1892

page_text: switch bar F, and are so formed as to readily ride over the terminals i. The shaft B
is provided with a key or hand piece b, by which it is turned, and the works of the
switch are, in the present instance, encased in a cover or casing A', confined between
the key b, and the base A.
The operation of the switch is as follows:-
If the switch bar is in the position shown in Fig. 6, and the other parts are as
in Fig. 8, the key is turned, say, one-quarter of a revolution, and this turning of the
key contracts the spring, owing to the fact that one end is secured to the switch
bar, which is locked to the base by the catch disk D, but as the shaft is turned
the eccentric C withdraws the nose d, of the catch disk from the stop, as shown in
Fig. 9; the spring thus released at once forces the switch bar from the position
shown in Fig. 6, to the position shown in Fig. 7, immediately closing the circuits.
The nose d, of the catch disk D, in the meantime engages with the next stop a¹,
as clearly shown in Fig. 10, owing to the fact that it travels faster than the
eccentric, and consequently the eccentric forces the nose of the catch out into
engagement with the said stop.
It will be seen that the catch disk D is free to move laterally, independently of
the switch bar, its pin d', entering the slot e, as described above, but it is connected
to the switch bar, so as to turn with it.
In Fig. 11, I have shown a single pole switch with two terminals which are
preferably opposite each other, the circuit being made in this switch in substantially
the same manner as that shown and described above, the current passing either
through the switch bar, or through an independent wire or band.
In Fig. 12, I have shown a modification of the eccentric, a cam being secured to
the shaft and having a slot into which passes a pin on the catch disk D, so that on
turning the shaft the cam withdraws the catch from engagement with the shoulder
or stop a¹, and the spring forces the disk around to the next shoulder or stop, the
cam slot being so formed as to throw the nose of the catch disk outward laterally
against the next shoulder or stop.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the 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 combination of shoulders or stops with a rotary
switch bar, a shaft, a spring connecting the shaft and switch bar and a catch
connected to the switch bar to rotate therewith but free to have a lateral motion
independently thereof, and a device to move the said catch laterally to cause it
to be disengaged from and engage with said shoulders or stops as the shaft is
rotated, all substantially as described.
2. In an electric switch, the combination of shoulders or stops with a rotary
switch bar, a shaft having an eccentric, a spring connecting the shaft and switch
bar and a catch connected to the switch bar to rotate therewith but free to have
a lateral motion independently thereof, the catch being acted on by the said
eccentric to cause it to engage with and be disengaged from the shoulders or stops,
as the shaft is rotated, all substantially as described.
3. The combination of the base having terminals and shoulders or stops, with a'
disk having a nose engaging with said shoulders or stops, an eccentric acting on
said disk, a shaft carrying said eccentric, a switch bar adapted to turn with the
disk, a spring, one end of which is connected to the shaft, the opposite end being
connected to the switch bar or disk, whereby, on turning the shaft, the switch will
be turned intermittently, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the base having the shoulders or stops a¹, and terminals,
with a vertical shaft B, a key for said vertical shaft, an eccentric C, on the shaft,
a catch disk D, having a nose to engage with the shoulders or stops, said catch disk
being adapted to the eccentric, a disk E, a slot therein, a pin of the catch disk
entering said slot, a switch bar secured to said disk E, and having contacts adapted

page_text: to engage with the terminals on the base, with a spring, one end of which is secured
to the shaft, the opposite end being secured to the switch bar, the whole acting
substantially as and in the manner set forth.
Dated this 10th day of October 1892.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.