US760132A - Circuit-closer. - Google Patents

Description

No. 760,132. PATENTED MAY 1v, 1904.

: C J. W. LBBCH.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED 0011.10. 1903.

NO MODEL.

@Rhmann l UNITED STATES Patented May 1'?, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WILSON LECH, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,132, dated May 17, 1904.

' Application ilecl October l0I 1903. Serial No. 176,513. (No model tion.

My invention is an improvement in circuitclosers for telegraph-keys, and is designed to be used with the usual form of key now in common use. y

The object oi', my invention is to decrease the chances ofthe key being left by the operator on an open circuit, thereby breaking the circuity between different points on the line. Open Vkeys are the source oi a great annoyance, especially in railroad ottices,where the operator is often also depot agent and uses his table for general clerical work and frequently unknowingly knocks the key open,

4destroying thecircuit, which remains open until the testing office can locate the break and have it closed. A 4

My invention tends to obviate this difficulty and will be hereinafter described.

My invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View oi'va telegraphkey andv stand with my'improvement attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the stand and my attachment, the key being removed. Fig. 3 is an irregular section through the portion of the conductor-plate over which the switch swings. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 i of Fig. 3.

In constructing my device I use a wooden stand A, in which is embedded the circuit-plate B, forming the key-base, and on'wliich are mounted inthe usual way the key-lever C and key C', the lever and key being of ordinary construction. A metal tube D passes up through the stand and carries one of the linewires D', the under side of this stand being recessed at E2, the lower end of the tube D extending into such recess. The upper end oi' the tube carries the contact-point E, from which extends a spring-plate E', which is arvE'. the plate ofthe switchGr from under the plate ranged parallelto the conductor-plate B and is turned slightly upward at its outer end.

The contact-point, spring-plate, and tube D are all insulated from the plate B, as shown at F. AV switch Gr is pivoted tothe conductorplate B on the sides of the trunnions opposite the key C' and is curved so as to swing transversely to the plate B and between the key'- trunnions and at its free end carries the usual insulated handle G'. To close the circuit, this switch G is adapted to be moved along the conductor-plateB untilit rests under the plate As, however, the accidental swinging of E' would cause an open circuit, fl arrange on the plateB a strip oiE insulating' material H,

`which is preferably hard rubber and is pai'- tially embedded in the plate B and projects slightly above it. On the plate H is arranged a small diamond -sha ped metal plate H', having a depending stem extending downwardthrough the base B and insulated fromsame by an extension of the insulating-plate H. A recess .l is formed in the stand below thebasefplateB and parallel with same, the recess extending from the tubey B to and beyond the plate H', and in this recess is arranged a wire J', carried Vina tube oi' insulating material J2 and connected at one end to the depending stem of theplate H' and at the other end carried Aup and bent around the tube D below and in contact with the spring-plate E'.

When itis desired to open a circuit, the lever G is swung out from under the spring-plate E' until it touches the front edge of the slightly-elevated insulating-plate H, which contact the operator will become aware of through the sense of touch and without looking at the stand will know that a slight further movement of the switch will carry it onto the plate H,

when the circuit will be opened. Should, however, the key be struck accidentally,ias by the elbow ot' the operator upon writing at his table or in piling books upon the table,

and the switch be knocked from under the IOC spring-plate, or inits third position; over the plate H', there is a closed circuit, and it is only when the key is lcarefully placed exactly between these two positions that the circuit is open. 1t will be understood that this arrangement of parts for closing the circuit can be used with forms of keys other than the forms shown herein and that any suitable insulating material can be `,used in the construction of the apparatus that is most suitable or desirable, and, further, that such insulating material can be placed wherever required.

It is understood that the base-plate B may be placed on a table or secured to any suitable stand and need not necessarily be u sed with such a stand A as is shown.

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1- claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A device of the kind described compris- -ing a telegraph-key and stand, a base-plate on `the stand, a switch pivoted to the base-plate, .a strip of insulating material on the baseplate intermediate the pivotal point of the switch and the key, a contact-plate arranged on the insulating-strip adjacent the end opposite the key, and means for closing the circuit when the switch is thrown off the insulatingstrip toward the key, or on the strip in contact with said contact-plate.

2. rlhe combination with a telegraph-key and base-plate, of a` switch pivoted on said base-plate, an elongated strip of insulating material arranged on the base-plate between the point of contact of the key and the pivotal point of the switch, a contact-plate arranged on the insulated strip adjacent one end of the strip and adapted to be engaged by the switch when moved away from the key, and an electrical conductor lead ing from the said contact-'plate to a main wire, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a telegraph-key and a base-plate having main line-wires connected thereto, of a switch pivotally connected to the base-plate and having a limited swinging movement, a'strip of insulating material arranged on the base-plate and slightly elevated above said base-plate and adapted to be engaged by the switch and :produce an open circuit, and means whereby a closed circuit is produced when the switch is swung to the extreme limit of its movement in either direction.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a stand, a base-plate and a telegraph-key thereon, said stand being recessed on its upv per surface below the base-plate, insulating material carried by the base-plate, a contactpoint supported 'by and extending downward through said insulating material and projecting into the recess, a wire extending from said contact-point to a point adjacent the key, said wire lying in the recess, la switch pivotally connected to the base-plate, and Ameans whereby aclosed circuit is formed when the switch vrests upon saidy contact-point.

5. The combination with' a telegraph-key, of a stand recessed on its upper side, a baseplate arranged on the stand and covering the recess, a contact-plug extending through and projecting above thestand and base-plate and extending through and transverse to the recess, a main line-wire connected to said plug, a similar wire connected to the base-plate, the plug being insulated from said plate, a springplate connected to the contact-plug and extending over the base-plate, a switch pivotally connected to the base-plate and adapted to be moved under and in contactwith the spring-plate, a strip of insulating material arranged on the base-plate intermediate the pivotal point of the switch andthe springplate, a contact-plate arranged on' said strip of insulating material, said plate having a stem projecting downward into the recess in the stand, and a wire lying in said recess and connected at one end to the stem of the contact-plate and at the opposite end contacting with the spring-plate.

JAMES WILSON LEECH.

Witnesses:

GEO. KEIs'rnR, N. I. TAYLOR.

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