US530472A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. M. GRONIN. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 530,472. Patented Dec. 4, 1894..

rig-An f5.5- WITNEEIEIE- NVE- mma Wwmf Q/ZW Mfhww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. CRONIN, OF CAMBRIDGE, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES L. WESSON, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,472, dated December 4, 1 894.

Application filed September 22. 1894. Serial No. 523,764. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known than I, JOHN M. CRoNIN, re-4 cally connect the said terminals to complete the circuit, and in another position to dis connect the said terminals and open the circuit.

Electric switches of the class referred to, as now commonly constructed, are designed for the purpose of placing the electric circuit in two conditions, viz: either in a closed condition or in an open condition, and when in its closed condition, the translating devices, which may be arc or incandescent lamps are included in-the circuit, and which in its open condition, interrupts the circuit for the said translating devices.

In many places and especially in buildings employingr a large number of lights, it is oftentimes desirous to maintain the lights burning in one or more sections of the building, as for instance, on different iioors or in different rooms on the same ioor, while at the same time, it may not be desired to use the lights in other sections of the building.

This invention has for its object to provide a switch of the class referred to, capable ot' effecting this result, and in accordance with this invention, the switch is provided with an auxiliary switch or controller co-operating with the movable members of the main switch,

Figure l is a top or plan view of one form of double pole switch embodying this invention, the movable member being shown in its closed position and the auxiliary or shunt controller being shown in its normal or open position; Fig. 2,3, transverse section of the switch shown in Fig. l looking toward the right, the auxiliary or shunt controller being represented by full lines in its open positionv and by dotted lines in its closed position; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1 with the movable member raised into its open position, and Figs. 4c and 5 diagrammatic views to more clearly illustrate the operation of the invention.

The switch herein shown as embodying this invention consists of a base a preferably of insulating material, upon which are mounted two sets a c2, a3 a4. of line terminals, con stituting stationary members of the double pole switch and with which co-operate the movable members shown as metallic strips, knives or blades a5 a6, the movable member 0,5 co-operating with the stationary members a a2, and the movable member asco-operating with the stationary members a3 c4.

In the present construction, the-movable members a5 a are pivotally secured to uprights al as, and are made of sufficient length to pass between separated uprights or jaws b b', b2 b3 on the stationary members a2 a4, the said movable members as herein shown, being bent at their ends to form arms b4 b5, secured as by screws h6 b7 to a tie bar bs preferably of insulating material, which in the present instance, is provided with a handle b9 having its shank extended through the tie bar.

The switch thus far described is and may be of the ordinary construction, the movable members a5 a6 being electrically separated from each other, so as to establish the circuit, in the closed position of the switch, between the stationary members a a2 to complete one side of the line, and between the stationary members as a4 to complete the other side of the line.

As now commonly practiced, the switch thus far described is interposed in the line ICO circuit containing the lamps, or other tran's- Y with the jaws b h', b2 b3 of the stationary members a2 a4, the said circuit is opened.

In order to enable switches of this construction to be employed in circuits containing a plurality of translating devices or lamps arranged in different parts of the circuit, so as to be utilized in different parts of the building, as forinstance, in a manufacturing establishment having a number of floors and different rooms on the said floors, whereby the translating devices in one part of the building may be lighted while the translating devices in the other parts of the building may be cut out of circuit, I have provided an auxiliary switch or controller adapted to remain inactive when it is desired that the circuit on both sides of the switch should remain intact, but which is adapted to be rendered active, so as to maintain the circuit on one side of the switch and open the circuit on the other side of the switch, whereby translating devices or lamps on one side of the switch may be maintained in circuit and, therefore, lighted, while those on the other side of the switch may be cut out of circuit and therefore unlighted, until the main switch is restored to its normal or closed position.

In the present instance, the auxiliary switch or shunt circuit controller comprises a single member herein represented as a metallic bar c mounted upon the shank of the handle b9 and adapted to be turned by said handle into contact with the arms b4 b5 of the movable members a5 c6, so as to electrically connect the movable members c5 a and establish a shunt for that part of the circuit connected with the stationary members 0.2 a4.

In the present embodiment of this invention, the auxiliary shunt controller c normally occupies the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 2, when the main switch is in its closed position and all the lights or translating devices in the circuit are supposed to be in use, but when it is desired to use some of the lights and not others, the auxiliary circuit controller c may be brought into engagement with the arms 54125 of the movable members a5 a, so as to complete an electric circuit from the movable member a5 to the movable member a6.

The position of the auxiliary controller c is represented by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in the diagram Figs. 4 and 5.

The operation of my improved circuit controller or switch may be readily understood by reference to Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 4, d represents a dynamo or other source of supply, and d d2 the usual brushes to which the line wires d3 d4 are connected. In Fig. 4, the circuit is arranged to represent four different branches from the main circuit, which may be supposed to correspond to dierent floors of a building. To better enable this invention to be understood, let it be supposed that the branch marked No. l corresponds to the first floor; No.2 to the second floor;

No. 3 to the third floor, and No. 4 to the fourth floor, the translating devices or lamps being represented by the crosses From an inspection of Fig. 4, it will be seen that all the lamps included in the circuit are in series with each other, and that if the main switch line shown in Fig. l should be interposed in any one of the branches and should be opened, the complete circuit would be broken and all the lights included in the circuit would be put out.

In Fig. 4, I have represented the switch shown in Fig. l by the small circles, which represent the terminals et', a2, a3, ci, and the circuit line representing the movable members a5 a6, while the dotted line connecting the terminals d2 0.4 represents the controller c and the arms b4 b5 with which it co-operates. In the branch marked No. l in Fig. 4, eight lamps d5 are represented as arranged in two groups of four each. For purpose of illustration, one group may be supposed to be located in one or more rooms on the floor No. l, or on one side of the floor, and the other group may be supposed to be located in one or more different rooms on the iioor or on the other side of the tloor. In order to control these two different groups of lam ps, I prefer to interpose in the branch No.1 two of my irnproved switches, so that one group of lamps in the branch may be cut out of circuit and rendered inoperative, while the other group in the same may remain in circuit, and when it is desired to cut out both groups or all the lamps in the branch No. l, the'controller interposed between the lamps andthe source of supply may be operated. In Fig. 4, I have represented the auxiliary or shunt controller c o f both switches as in its active position, but it will be understood that when the controller c of the switch in the branch No. 1 most remote from the dynamo d is in contact with the movable members a5 as, the controller c of the switch nearest the dynamo may be at such time, in its open or full line position, Fig. 2, and, therefore, the circuit will be maintained through the first group of lamps, but the second group will be shunted out of circuit. If now, it is desired to positively open the branch No. l and thereby cut out all the lamps included in it without destroying the continuity of the circuit throughout the remaining portion of the building, the circuit controller c of the switch nearest the dynamo will be brought into its dotted line position, Fig. 2, and the movable members may then be withdrawn from contact with the stationary members d2 a4 and. render the branch No. l absolutely dead, while at the same time, the remaining portion of the circuit is maintained intact. In the branches Nos. 2 and 4, the

switches are shown in their closed position with the shunt controller in its normal position, which is represented by the absence of the dotted line c, while in the branch No. 3, the lights are represented as cut out of circuit.

IOO

In Fig. 5, I have represented the switch in use with the multiple arc arrangement of the lamps, and have represented two branches from the main line d3 d4, which branches may be supposed to be Nos. l and 3 of the diagram Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, the controller c is represented as shunting out the group of lamps beyond it, while the group of lamps between it and the dynamo are in circuit and the group of lamps in the branch No. 3 are represented as out out.

By means of the auxiliary controller co-operating with the movable members of the main line switch, sparking of the switch between the movable members a5 a6 and their co-operating terminals ct2A a4 is prevented, when the said movable members are withdrawn from engagement with the stationary members and also when brought in contact therewith.

In the present instance, I have shown the auxiliary controller co-operating with the movable members of the main switch, as a single bar co-operating with the bent arms b4 b5, and while I may prefer this construction, I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as the auxiliary controller may itself be made in other forms, so as to complete the circuit between the said movable members when thelatter are removedfrom engagement with the terminals a2 d4, and to open the circuit thus formed when the movable members are brought into engagement with the terminals 0,2 d4.

I have herein shown this invention as embodied in a double polesingle throw switch, but I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as it is equally well adapted to be used with a double pole double throw switch.

I claiml. The combination with a double switch provided with movable members a5 a6 insulated from each other, a tie bar connecting said members, a handle carried by said tie bar, and an auxiliary circuit controller cooperating with the members a5 d6 and adapted to be` rendered operative by the said handle to electrically connect the said members, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a double pole switch provided with movable members 0,5 0.6, a tie bar 198 connecting the said members, a handle carried by said tie bar, and an auxiliary controller adapted to be brought in contact with the movable members by operation of the said handle, su bstantialiy as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. CRONIN.

Witnesses:

JAS. H. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY.

Images