US276263A

US276263A - Electrical switch-board

Info

Publication number: US276263A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1883-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 1900-04-24

Description

Patented Apr. 24, 1888.

G. W. MGLEAN.

BLEGTRIGAL SWITCH BOARD.

1.7V VEJV' TOR CZm- W. JMc uZ ean,

Attorney lillilulliililiillillul (No Model.)

NY PETERS. rmmLmc -a mr. wmm m. n (L W TJV'ESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER \V. MOLEAN, OF NEWV BEItNE, NOR-TH CAROLINA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,263, dated April 24;, 1883.

Application filed October 18, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Onnrsrornnn W. Mo- LEAN, a citizen of the United State, residing at New Berne, in the county of Graven and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switch-Boards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to switch-boards for electric telegraphs; and the object is to prevent the destruction of what is termed the base-board, which forms part of the switchboard, and to which the terminal strips or bars of the electric line-wires are secured. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the destruction of the base-boards of the switchboards at the terminal ends of the electric wires causes great inconvenience and annoyance by the delay in repairing, as also a pecuniary loss, as well as danger to the operators at electric-telegraph stations, occasioned by burning or charring of the base-board. Said burning or charring is caused by extraordinary currents of electricity being expended at the terminal strips, caused by lightning during thunder-storms, or by the currents from the battery being too great to be taken up and delivered by the wires.

My invention consists in making the baseboard, which forms part of the switch-board, and to which the terminal strips or bars of the electric line-wires are secured, of glass or other vitreous material, such as porcelain, earthenware, &c. This baseboard, thus made of glass or other vitreous material, may be made in sections and secured in a suitable frame, which may be made of wood, rubber, or similar material, or glass. When made of glass the frame is to be made in sections and mitered or otherwise secured together at the corners. If desired, however, the frame and sections may be made in one piece, with narrow slits or openings at certain intervals, so as to form the sections. These base-boards have been made of wood, rubber, or similar material. The holes for the studs are to be drilled or cast in, as desired, although I prefer to have them drilled in, as a better fit can be made for the studs, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings and theletters of reference marked thereon.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch-board embracing my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of one of the sections of the switch-board base.

In the drawings, A represents the baseboard of a switch-board, which is made of a series of sections, B, fitted into a frame made of wood, rubber, or other material, or of glass. If desired, however, the frame as well as the sections may be made of glass in one piece. The frame may also be made in sections or separate pieces and mitered or otherwise suitably fitted and secured together. The sections are made of glass according to my process, by which it is made very malleable, so that the holes for the reception of the studs can be readily drilled 0r reamed out. The terminal strips or bars 0, which are made of brass or composition in the ordinary manner and shape, are secured to the base A by means of screws 1), or in other suitable manner. Between these strips (3 the ordinary studs, I), made of brass or composition, are inserted in suitable holes drilled or cast into the sections B, and when cast in they may be reamed out, so that the studs D will fit snugly into their places. Into the sides of the adjoining terminal strips and studs suitable holes, (I, are drilled, and extend partly into the strips 0 and partly into the studs I), as is usually the case with those now in use. Into the holes (1 the usual pins or pegs are inserted by which the metallic connections or circuits are completed between the wires and the battery. The sprin g-jaclss used in some forms of switches, are

' usually connected with the switch-boards, may

be secured thereto; or they can be attached to a separate piece, and then secured to the base board.

I do not confine myself to any particular form, style, or size of switch-board, as it will be understood that it can be made according to the requirements of the telegraph-office or place where it is intended to use the same. The switch-boards can of course be made and used for telephonic and other'electric purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by patent, is

1. Aswitch-board for electric telegraphs,hav-

ing its base-board made of glass or other vit- In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my sigregns material, silgbstantiail i as specified. nature in presence of two witnesses. In a switchoard for e ectric tele m hs the base-board made of glass or other v itr ous (JHBISTOPHER MCLEAN' 5 material in sections, secured in a frame of Witnesses:

glass, wood, or other material, substantially as CHAS. A. FRENCH, set forth. A. H. BETZ.