US906361A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

B. W. ALLEN;

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION rum) APR. 8. 1908.

906,361 Patented Dec. 8, 1908 cmm w 15 y/ W/{M W new .and useful constructions ta'en on line 3-3, Fig; 1; looking up.

,the pipes or branches BOYD W. ALLEN, Q3 BOSTON, BMSMQHUSE'ETE.

ELECTRIC SWZECH.

no. eoaecr.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908,

Application fled April; 6, 1908 I Serial No. 425,302.

To all whom. may concern:

Be it known that I, Born W. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, in the county of Sufi'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to that class of electric light switches in which a plurality of lamps-such as, for instance, are supported by the arms of an electric light chandelier or electroliermay be manipulated in series, and in which one, two, or more of said lamps may be placed in circuit, or all extinguished, by the rotation of a barrel which is operated by the manipulation of a knob or handle outside the chandelier.

The present invention comprises certain and arrangements of parts whereby the switch is shielded and guarded from loose wires in the chandelier, whereby the barrel is stopped in its rotation at fixed points and short-circuiting prevented, and whereby the mechanism is attached to the fixture.

The nature of the invention is fully described in detail below, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l,is a vertical section taken through the central shellor metallic globe of an electrolier, with my improved switch-mechanisin illustrated in position in elevation, and

with the switch open Fig. 2 is aplan view of the under side olthe switch-mechanism re oved. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section Fi 4. 1s a front elevation of the porcelain shiel d Tor guard removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same, looking toward the left. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the barrel removed.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Reference numerals l0 and 11 represent the two halves which constitute the central globe or case of the electrolier.

12 is the conduit containing the negative wire 13 and the positive wire 14 (the former leading to the switch) which connect with the source of electricit and 15, 16 and 17 .(the last illustrated in otted lines) represent which lead to the lamps. These tubular branches are, of course, each provided with a pair of wires, and of the wires which connect them with the switch, 18, 19' and 20 are no 'ative wires connecting thehwitchwith the amps supported the circular and comparatively by the tubular branches 15, 16 and 1? respectively.

Theswitch comprises a vertically disposed barrel, a porcelain guard provided with horizontal extensions at its lower and upper ends, a connection securing theupper end of the guard to the fixture, means connecting the lower end of the barrel to a rota-tive knob on the outside of the lower portion of the globe, and means for stopping. the barrel and locking it at certain points.

The barrel 21 is metallic and comprises thick upper portion 22, the lower portion 23, smaller in diameter and provided with a horizontal hole 24, a sleeve 25 pinned at 26 to the portion 23 and provided with the flange 27 formed with four teeth 28 and concaved on its periphery etween said teeth, the circular ilange 29, and three contact teeth 30, 31, and 32 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6') below described, the whole barrel being made in one integral piece. The barrel is mounted in a semicylindrical porcelain shield or guard, made in one integral piece, and which comprises the curved upright wall 33, the circular upper end or top B hprovided with a horizontal overhang or flange 35, and the preferably substantially rectangular lower end or base 36 so disposed with relation to the upright portion as to provide horizontal flanges or extensions 37 and 38-. The upper end or top 34 is bored to receive and constitute a bearing for the portion 22 of the barrel, and the base or lower end 36 is bored to receive and constitute a bearing for the portion 23 of the barrel between the flange 29 and the toothed portion 27, 28, said flange 29 resting on the upper surface of the base, and the toothed portion 27, 28 being next and under the base.

Mounted on the upper end of the porcelain guard and properly insulated from the upper end of the barrel by a sheet or sheets of mica 39, is a metallic connection or holder which comprises an internally screw threaded tube or pipe 40 (shown in Fig. l as partly rotation of the broken out) which is supported by a screw I 41 which extends down from of the fixture from which the pipes'15, 16, 17 radiate, the substantially flat circular portion 43 integral with the upwardly extending pipe 40 and dis nosed next and above the mica disk 39, a consisting of the downwardly extending wardly extending and a downward the portion 42 portion 44 and the inportion 45 (Figs. 1. and 3), extension 46 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is screwed to the' rear portion of the upright wall 33 of the porcelain guard by a screw 47. These parts 40, 43,44, and 46 constitute one, integral piece or holder, and sustain the guard by, means of the screw 47 and the inturned portion 45 of the lip which extends under the flange 35, and thus the switch-mechanism connected with the guard is sustained vertically in position at its upper end. The lower end 23 of the barrel extends into a tubular connection 48 which is made ,of insulating material and provided with a pin 49 which extends through the hole 24, and the said connection 48 extends down through'a suitable hole in the lower portion of the part 11 of the globe and is connected by a pin 50 with a handleor ball 51 which is adapted to be rotated by the hand, thus enabling the entire barrel to bev rotated, for the purpose below described.

The teeth 30, 31, 32 are formed on thebarrelQl by recessing the barrel between the portion 22- and'the flange 29, and constitute ,.'cont'actpoints' for a series of spring-switches rotation of the contact-tooth- 32.

or individual switches 52,53 and 54. As

' thebarrel is rotated by the handle 51 the s ring-switch 52 is in the path of rotation of t e contact-tooth 30', the spring-switch 53 is in the ath of rotation of the contact-tooth 31, an the spring-switch 54 is inthe path of These switches 52, 53 and 54 are respectively in Inthe drawing, the switc 5 turn toward the electrical connection with the negative wires 20, 1s and 19. tion 22of the A spring 55 bears on the porbarrel,- and is electrically con nected with .the negative wire 13. These springs .are all secured to the porcelain guard which are formed in'order'to produce the "contact- teeth 30,31 and 32. Thes ring 55'- is'incOntactwit-h the barrel during t ie entire rotation thereof. To light one'lamp'ofthe eleotrolier, the barrelis rotated one quarter switch '52, and lighting the lamp in the branch I 17. To light the lamps in two branches'of in addition tothat "in: tlieb ranch 17 To .liglit allthe lamps in the .electrolie'r, another; quarter barrel thus bringing .the' tooth 3-2 under and the switch 5.4 anglligh ting. in ad'di'tiontothe others the lamp in the branch '16. Another quarter turn --to the into contact with the 'ele'ctrolier, the barrel is' given another quart-er turn tr'iward'the right; thus bringing a the tooth 31'under and into -contactwithth'e switch 53, lighting the lamp in-thebr'anch 15 turn toward theright is givento the right brings the'recesse'd portion opposite all right, thus bringing the: tooth '30'u-nder and into contact with the the three switches, as in Figs. -1 and 3, extinguishin all the lamps. By rotating the barrel tot e left the lamps are all lighted at once, and further rotation one at a time. It will be seen that although the approaching edges of these three teeth are on diiierent radii of the circle which corresponds to the circumference of the portion 32, their rear edges are in a longitudinal line, thus causing the tooth 30 to remain in con-- tact with the switch 52 while the tooth 31 is in contact with the switch 53, and both teeth 30 and 31 to remain in contact with their respective switches while the tooth 32 is contact with the switch 54. it is not sary that the spaces between the different teeth 30, 31 and 32 should be of the same width, that is, that theyshould each be one quarter of the circumference oi the barrel, it i being only necessary that the switches 5'2, and 54 shouid be brought successively into contact with the teeth 30, 31 and 32 at some portion of the first quarter rotation, second quarter rotation, and third quarter rotation in Fi 1, so that the switch 52 would broug t'into contact with the barrel. during the first quarter rotation thereof, the switch 53 during the second quarter rotation, and the switch 54 during the third quarter rctation, whereby first one light is lighted, then th e second in addition to the firshthen the third in addition to the first and second. Theoreticaliy the spaces between the dii'ferent. teeth would be equal, but practically it is .visable that the second tooth 31 should be reached'a little later than the beginning of the next quarter turn, and the third tooth 32 a little later than the second quarter turn in order to prevent sparking, and hence practice, as well as in the drawings, lib-a s aces between the teeth are not equal. ach tooth however is brought into contact ter turn, but before it is thus'brought into contact thereis a short s ace between the Trront edge of the tooth an the switch which corresponds with it; If the spaces between the ,teeth'were exactly one quarter the cirthe Qteethwould successively be very nearly in contact with their switches before the cor responding quarter turns of the barrel, and sparking would result. It should be understood. however that it is not claimed that the lighting of the different-lamps of an electro der, is new in itself considered.

v Appl'ed to the under side of the base 36 of the guard, is a spring which is secured there. tobyisuitable screws 58, 59. consists of 'the portion 60 whose and 15 secured to the screw 58vand which'extends around the screw 59 and is bent to form the portion 61 which; extends' to. the toothed of the barrelfrom its position as illustrated with its switch atsome time during the quarcumference of the barrel it is evident that lier in rotation, or one, two and three in or- 1 I l This spring,-

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flange 27, 28 and is then bent at its opposite end into the portion 62 which bears against the flange' The teeth 28 on this flange are .four in number and the spaces between them the barrel is held firmly, whereby there is no danger of looseness or partial rotation which might produce short-circuiting.

The portion 33 of the shield or guard of porcelain or other non-conductive material extends for between half and three-fourths the distance around the barrel, besides overhanging it at the top portion 35 and extending outward. from the base at 37, 38, and thus it not only insulates the barrel to the ordinary degree or extent, but it effectually guards it and protects it from loose wires in the electrolier.

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

1. In an electric switch of the character described, a rotative barrel provided with a plurality of teeth at different points of its circumference, a guard or shield of non-conductive materiel disposed around the rear and side portions of the barrel and above and below the operative portions of the switch, a series of switches mounted on the guard and extending into the paths of rotation of said teeth, a forward horizontal extension integral with the upper end of the guard, a plate mounted on said upperend and provided with an upwardly extending internal y screwthreaded pipe, a downward extension rigid with said plate and adapted to be secured to the rear wall of the guard, and a lip extending downward from the front edge of the plate and inward under the forward extension which is integral with the guard, for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric switch of the character described, a rotative'barrel provided with a plurality of teeth at diilerent points of its circumference, a guard or shield of non-conductive material disposed around the rear and side portions of the barrel and above and below the operative portions of the switch, a series of switches mounted on the guard and extending into the paths'of-rotation of said teeth, a flange rigid on the barrel below the guard and provided with teeth the spaces between which correspond in position with the individual switches in the series, and a spring Whose free end bears against said flange and thereby locks the barrel yieldingly at the points in its rotation where one or more of the switches are closed or all are open, for the purpose-set forth. I

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

BOYD WJALLEN. W'itnesses HENRY W. WILLrAMs, M. A. Arwoon.

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