US396880A - Electric switch or cut-out - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. R. KNOWLES.

ELEOTRIG SWITCH 0R GUT-OUT.

No. 396,880. Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

UNITED STATES l rricn.

PATENT ELECTRIC SWITCH OR CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,880, dated January 29, 1889. Application filed Septemb er 14, 1888. Serial No. 285,389. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. KNOWLES, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful ln'i nrovements in Electric Switches or Cut-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has reference to electric switches or cutouts of that particular class in which the make and break of the circuitis accomplished by a quick movement to prevent injurious sparking. This general form of switch being well known in the art, I do not claim it broadly, but confine myself to my specific construction and its substantial equivalents,

Referring to the drawings, li igures 1 and represent views in elevation of single and double pole-switches, respectively. Fig. 3 rep resents a side view of the double pole-switch, and Fig. t represents 2" section through the center post.

An important .t'eature olT this invention. is that it provides a switch of small comparative cost, and to explain this the details of the manner of forming and putt ing the parts together will be explained.

To the base A is seeured,by screws or otherwise, a nut, (I, having an annular shoulder, a. A central pin or post, h,havingtwo shoulders, 1) if, at its upper end, and a threaded shank passes down tlufongh the nut and the base until the limiting-shoulder i) rests upon the extended portion of the nut. Theoperating-lever d is located between the flange U and the nut, while the circuit-controlling arm e is placed between the in ierating-lever and the nut. The opcratingdever thus swings upon the post I), while the (ircuit-controlling arm turns upon the extended port ion of the nut. Both parts, therefore, may move independenily of each other, while the construct ion is such thatbiinling .is impossible. The post is held in position by a clampin g-nut, c, which also binds the line-wire. By this construction I am also enabled to tighten up the bearing to compensate for wear. The knob with hole is for the purpose of inserting a pin with which to turn the screw.

The operating-leveris represented by (7. It is loosely mounted upon the shaft, and has ff and f f.

formed upon it two lateral and downwardlyextending arms, (1 d, which radiate from the center upon each side of the arm.

6 represents the circuit-controlling arm. It is also loose upon its bearing, but connected with the operating-arm (Z by a spring, 6. The spring is connected with the upper end of the lever (Z and at any suitable point between the extremities of the arm 6.

The terminal contacts are represented by I prefer to make each of the contacts in the form of springs bearing toward each other and the circuit-eontrolling arm, similar to a knife-blade.

The means which I have provided for lockin g the eircuit-controlling arm in. either of its positions is a spring, g, of circular for-n1, secured to the base concentrically with the pivot of the operating-lever. One side of the spring is bent upward, as shown, and at the center of its highest portion a lug or catch, g, is attached. The circuit-con trollin g arm, when in either of its normal positions, is on one side or the other of this catch, and it s position cannot be changed until the spring is pressed downward. to remove the catch from the path of the arm. This is accomplished by the lateral extensions on the operating-lever, which ride upon the spring and press the raised portion downward, thus carryin the catch below the plane of the circuit-controlling arm.

The circuits are simple and easily followed on reference to the drawings.

The opera-tioi'l of the switch is obvious. Sup posing the circuiteontrolling arm to be locked upon either side of the catch g, to reverse the switch the lever is moved in the proper direction. to expand the spring e. At the same time one of the lateral extensions (1 approaches the elevated portion olspring g. The motions are regulated sothat the circuit-controlling arm will be released when the proper tension. has been put upon spring e. The arm then snaps over and changes the circuit.

It will thus be seen that I have provided. a switch that is emnomieally manufactured, inasmuch as its principal parts maybe stamped out and bent into shape. The switch is also very efficient.

Having now deseribml my invention, I claim 1. Thema1inally operated lover and the circuit-controlling bar pivoted loosely, a circular spring-plate placed concentrically with the pivot 01 the operating-lever, a pair of lugs attached to the operating-lever, arranged to ride 5 upon said spring-plate, and a latch secured to the spring-plate for the circuit-controlling bar.

2. The manually-operated lever and the cireuit-controlling bar pivoted loosely and connected by a Spring, a circular spring-plate re placed concentrically with the pivot of the operated lever, a pair of lugs attached to the 1 operating-lever, arranged to ride upon said spring-plate, and a latch secured to the springplate for the circuit-controlling' bar.

ETHVARD R. KNOXVLES.

\Vitnesses:

WM. A ROSENBAUM, FRANK C. GRUER.

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