US456493A - Thomas ii - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

T. H. LOVELL.

DOUBLE GONTAGT SWITCH. No. 456,493. Patented July Z1, 1891.

W l l Z-Zowney UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THOMAS Il. LOVELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO. A

DOUBLE-CONTACT SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,493, dated July 21, 1891.

Application tiled December 2, 1890. Serial No. 373,374. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS II. LovELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of.

Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double-Contact Switches, of which I hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in donble-contact switches; and its objects are to separate the electrodes of the broken line at the switch-point sufficiently to prevent the danger of the current crossing from one to the other when the circuit is open and to interpose the resistance of a double are to the current.

My object is also to provide a simple and inexpensive form of device Which will be adapted to all varieties of current, but especially to currents of high tension and high electro-motive force.

My invention consists in a movable integral portion of the circuit, with means for withdrawing the same and securing it so as to open or close the circuit, and in the arrangement and combination of parts and construction of details, as hereinafter de` scribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and more speciiically pointed out in the claim.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a plan of the complete switch. Fig. 2 is a plan of the interior with the cover and index removed, the

positions being shown in solid and dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line Z Z, Fig. l; and Fig. it isa detail ot' spindle carrying the switch-plate.

A in all the figures represents a spindle of non-conducting material, such as fiber or vulcanite, which is vertically movable in fixed bearings o. c at either end. This spindle is provided with a groove o', into which the plate B is compressed in such a manner as to project at either side, as at Z), the extremities of the plate being rounded for the purpose of easily passing the contact-points c, as will be explained hereinafter. A

C and C are Contact springs or electrodes fixed rigidly at one end upon bearings D and arranged on either side of the spindle A and extremities ot the plate B, so as to come into contact. A pin A passes out through the cover ll, and is provided with a knob or enlargement A2, adapted to be grasped by the lingers in moving the plate B into or ont of contact with the terminals C, a slot 7L being made in the cover for that purpose. To this pin A is attached the pointer a', whichindicates, alternately, the points on7 or om according as the contact is made or broken. In order to retain the plate in contact with the spring-electrodes C and C', depressions c and c are made in the springs to receive the rounded ends of the plate, before mentioned, and sustain the plate and spindle.

It will be observed that as soon as the plate B is pressed down out of the depressions c and c in the springs its weight, with that of the accompanying spindle A, will be sufficient to drop it out of contact and to such a distance from the electrodes that the current cannot pass, while it can again easily be elevated by the knob A2, if desired. The shoulder a2 0n the spindle acts as a stop to limit the downward movement. i

The cover H is preferably made of noncon ducting material, as fiber or vulcanite; but it' metal is used a thin film of mica, liber, or vulcanite can be interposed between the electrodes and the cover, as shown in the section, Fig. 3, at X.

A light spring, as a3, may be employed to assist the action of gravity in separating the plate B from the electrodes, or if the switch be used in a horizontal position a heavier spring may be employed to accomplish this purpose.

The advantages of this device are obvious in its adaptation to high-tension current, since the distance between the electrodes is great and two are resistances would have to be overcome before a current could cross from one electrode to the other by way of the contactplate.

All the working parts are preferably included within a portable box, as O, openings, as y Iy, being left in the box for the passage ot' the line-wires.

An additional plate of mica or insulating material may be placed under the working parts. p

Having thus described my invention, what IOS) I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters provided with recesses c c', adapted to receive Patent, isand secure the rounded extremities b b of the 1o In a double-contact'switch, a, xed plate B, plate B, substantially as described.

mounted upon a movable insulated spindle A,

having longitudinal movementin bearings d THOMAS H. LOVELL. ct at either end, and an operating-pin A', in Vtnesses:

combination with spring-electrodes C C', WVM. M. MONROE, mounted on either side of the spindle A and F. H. MOORE.

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