New and Improved Switches for Electric Currents.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New and Improved Switches for Electric Currents.
We WILLIAM ROBERT RAWLINGS and JOHN JOSEPHI RAWLINGS both of
82 Gloucester Road South Kensington London Electricians do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto plungers for switches have been used by being mounted on the insu-
lating base of the switch. This invention however relates to a new and improved
switch for electric currents by means of a new and improved telescopic tubular
plunger inserted in a block attached to a lever or operating handle but insulated
from such operating handle. If necessary such block can itself be made of insu-
lating material. The switch can be of the ordinary tumler type or with a sliding
or lever movement to a pear or other shaped switch or with a twisting action and
the same would be useful for a simple circuit or for a combination or selection of
circuits. The switch can be used either for light currents for telephonic or tele-
graphic work or for electric lights or for heavy currents. In the latter case tha
number of the plungers mounted on the said block can be increased or their size
made larger to suit the requirements of the current. The said telescope tubular
plunger is so designed and mounted that instead of having 2 plungers for short
circuiting two contact makers or points one plunger of the type to which this in-
vention relates completes the operation and only one spring inside the same is
required.
1906
W. R. RAWLINGS.
J. J. RAWLINGS.
New and improved switche
We WILLIAM ROBERT RAWLINGS and JOIN JOSEPH RAWLINGS both of
No. 82 Gloucester Road, South Kensington, London Electricians do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be; per
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ments:-
. This invention relates to new and improver Switches for Electric Currents by
means of a new and improved telescopic tubular plunger. Hitherto plungers.
have been used by being mounted on the insulating buse of a switch. This inven-
tion however relates to a new and improved switch for electric currents by means
[Price 8d1

page_text: of a new and improved telescopic tubular plunger inserted in a block attached to
a lever by operating handle but insulated from such operating handle. If neces
sary such block can be itself made of insulating material. The switch can be of
the crdinary tumler type or with a sliding or lever movement to a pear or other
shaped switch, co with a twist action and would be useful for either a simple
switch circuit or for a combination or selection of circuits. The switch can be
used eithar for light currents for telephonic, telegraphic or electatic lights or for
heavy work currents. In the latter case, the number of the plungers mounted
on the said black can be increased, or their size made larger to suit the require-
ments of the currents. Mounted upon a base of non-conducting material are
metal contact makers so arranged at suitable angles together with the base as to
enuse a positive movement of the plungers from one point to another with a handle
or slide carrying the block in which plungers are mounted and operated upon.
The said telescopic dubular plunger is so designed and mounted that instead of
having two plungers short circuited, two plungers of this type complete the opera-
tion and only one spring is required for the same.
Sheet 1 Fig 1 is a section of a switch of the ordinary tumler type so far as the
lever handle and external appearance is concerned. A is the base of the switch
marle on non-conducting material. B is the handle working on a pivot the oppo-
site end of which carries the plunger C. D is the bridge picce to which the lever
handle is pivotted and to which the cover is attached. The dotted lines indicate
the metal contact makers F shown in fig. 2, 3. 4. or 7.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the base of the said switch showing four contact makers F
to which the wires are connected as desired.
Figs. 2. 3. and 4 are designs of bases of three switches with the race in the said
base in which the plungers traverse. The angles are so formed both on the insu-
lating block and the contact makers as to make quick break and a positive move-
mant.
Fig. 3 is a plan of a base designed more particularly for a single way switch
In one position the plunger C (shown in fig. 1) would short circuit the contact
makera F when pressing against the same, and in the other position would rest
upon the insulating portion of the block and thus disconnect the circuit. In the
case of fig. 2 when the said plunger C is pressing against the two contact
makers Fat one end one electric circuit is complete, and when pressing against
the contact makers at the other end another circuit is completed.
arrangement it is evident that the advantage of two single circuit switches is
By this
obtained on one base, and also the advantage of what is known as the two-way
switch is obtained by short circuiting two of the contact makers by means of wire
The angle of the base on which the plungers operate in this and
following cases is such as shown in the figures 2. 3 and 7 that there shall not be 4
a neutral insulating point on which the plungers can rest.
or metal.
Fig. 4 shows a similar arrangement to figure 2 but with the neutral insulating
point which can be used for putting the currents on or off two separate circuits.
Fig. 5 shows the details of the above mentioned tubular telescopic plunger
which is mounted on the lever attached to the handle B fig. 1. The said lever B 4
is c red out in such a way as to carry a non-conducting bush J which is suitably,
fixed by pins or other means to the said lever B. The said bush is constructed
as to suitably hold and insulate the said plungers, but preferably so as to allow
the plunger to, work freely in the same. The plunger C is made of metal tubes,
the one fitting in the other and sealed and rounded at the outer ends so as to 5
make suitable connections with the contact makers. Inside the tubes is a spiral
spring exerting pressure outwardly. In cases where from the construction of the
hase of the switch it is desired to prevent the spring plungers coming out of their
position, a pin on one tube and a slot to receive the same in the other, can he used.
As a variation one tube can be used with a solid plunger or rod with the spital 5
spring either round part of the same or against the end. Where the spring is

page_text: round the solid plunger, it must at one end exert pressure against a shoulder
formed on the same so as to fit the tube, and the other end of the spring can rest
against the end of the solid rod, and the spring presses outwards. The spiral
spring if desired can be made to operate the telescopic tubes or tube and rod by
enveloping the same by the spring being fixed at one end of the tube and at the
other end operating outwardly on the rod.
Fig. 6. A section of a pear-shaped switch with a direct slide movement. B is
the sliding spindle. A is the non-conducting portion of the switch or base.
F being the contact makers C is the plunger mounted in the insulating block.
The plunger is so mounted under or over the said spindle B as nct to interfere
electrically with the said spindle. The said spindle B passes through the said
insulating block J. The said block is free to run upon a portion of the said
spindle to a stop or shoulder formed on the raid spindle so as to allow an auto-
matic quick break if desired. In the case of a tumler switch the handle would
be arranged with a loose knuckle joint in order to give an antomatic quick break
if desired.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the base of the last mentioned type of switch. F are the
contact makers J is an insulating block B the spindle C the plunger. The plan
shown in this case is the same kind as shown in fig. 2, but it is evident that it
can be constructed as in figures 3 and 4 and in each case for the same purposes.
Sheet 2. Fig 8 is a section of a switch showing how two telescopic plungers
can be used for making connection between a number of differe. t circuits. The
construction of this switch is the same as in figure 1 with the exception that the
blocks containing the insulating bushes and plungers are connected by a bridge
of metal or other suitable material. The various contact inakers F in
figures 2. 4. 7 and 9an be short circuited with wire or metal in order to make
a selection or combination of circuits as desired. It is obvious that by this
arrangement the switch can be used for either connecung or disconnecting a
selection of telephones or telegraphic instruments or for electric lights or power
circuits. The various shapes of the har av deribed can also be multiplied
for a number of plungers as desired by putting them parallel as in figure 9 or in
the case of figure 7 in line so that a number of plungers can be used for a large
number of circuits by mechanically connecting the levers or spindles so as to
operate all as desired.
Sheet 2. Fig. 10. & 11 is a plan and section of a switch for heavy currents. B is
the direct acting spindle on which the insulating block J is mounted and which
is free to run upon a portion of the spindle to a pin nr stop X so as to allow an
automatic quick break. The plungers C made according to the description
hereinbefore appearing are mounted upon the block J which must be made of
insulating material or a portion thereof so as to insulate one set of plungers from
the others and also from the spindle or operating handle, and the said plungers
are in two positions for the positive and negative currents as usually used in
main switches. F are the contact makers to which the cables are connected and
are so shaped together with the portion of the insulating block in order to form
a positive movement as in the case of the above described switches. The number
of the plungers can be varied both in size and number to suit the requirements
of the current to be used. The dotted lines show how a lever handle could be
used for this switch instead of a direct acting spindle.
Sheet 3. Figs 12 and 13 also is a design for a main switch B is a handle
operating on a pivot and attached is an insulating block of the type last men-
tioned and two sets of plungers are also mounted in the same, operating between.
the angles formed in the base and connecting the contact makers F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
(1) A switch for electric currents with telescopic tubular plunger or plungers

page_text: ⚫made as herein before described and mounted on a block in the manner herein-
before substantially described, such block being operated upon by a lever move-
ment or sliding movement or twist movement.
Dated this 15th day of September 1897.
TURNER & CO.
(Solrs. & Agents for applicants) 61 Carey Street Lincoln's Inn W.C.