Automatic Electric Switch Page: 3 of 4
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801,784L
foot 31, secured to a binding-post 32, passed
through the end wall 33 of the casing 2 and
equipped with a nut 34 and a binding-screw
35. The screw 35 is utilized to retain the end
5 of a line-wire a, which is thus placed in elec-
trical connection with the contact-spring 29.
The foot 31 and the nut 34 are preferably in-
sulated from the casing by the interposition
of mica strips 36 and 37.
[0 The switch-levers 26 are retracted by springs
38, secured to the levers adjacent to their ful-
crums and to the bar 39, fixed to the motor-
frame. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the switch-
levers are so mounted in the frame of the
15 motor that one of the corner-posts 6 thereof
acts as a stop, engaging the contact ends of
the levers to limit the retractile movements
thereof.
While I have illustrated three switch-levers
20 for the purpose of this disclosure, it is evi-
dent that any number of levers may be em-
ployed, line-wires a connected therewith be-
ing led to the translating devices-as, for in-
stance, the lamps of a changeable display-
25 sign-all connected to a common return-wire
b, attached to a binding-post 40, similar to the
post 32, and connected by a wire c with one
of the corner-posts 6 of the motor-frame.
The operation of the device is as follows:
30 The shaft or arbor 13 is rotated by the motor,
and the projections on each disk are presented
successively to the end of a switch-lever,
swinging the latter into contact with one of
the springs 29 and urging the latter back
35 from the supporting-strip 30, as shown at the
left-hand side of Fig. 2. The circuit is thus
closed by way of the line-wire a, binding-
post 32, strip 30, spring 29, switch-lever 26,
disk 23, arbor 13, frame 34, corner - post 6,
40 wire c, and binding-post 40, to the common
return-wire b, and thence through any trans-
lating device or devices controlled by this par-
ticular switch. As soon as the projection on
the disk passes the end of the lever the latter
45 is retracted, and at this point is observable
one of the most important features of the
present invention.
It will be noted that when a switch-lever is
operated it not only contacts with a spring
so 29, but urges the latter back away from the
spring-supporting strip 30. Therefore when
a switch-lever is retracted the lever and spring
move together for a short distance, after which
the spring is suddenly arrested by its contact
55 with the support 30, and as the rapid move-
ment of the lever continues a quick break is
secured without sacrificing the advantages
which accrue from the employment of a yield-
ing contact.
6o In Fig. 5 is shown a simple variation of the
mounting of a contact-spring 29. This modi-
fied structure comprehends the mounting of
the spring on the contact-lever instead of onthe arm, it being clear that this arrangement
will possess the advantages of the preferred 65
form shown in Fig. 2, inasmuch as the lever
will strike the spring at the proper time and
cause its sudden withdrawal from the contact-
arm. It should also be understood that while
I deem it preferable to employ a motor of the 70
character described a motor of any other
form, whether electrical or mechanical, may
be utilized to operate the levers so far as cer-
tain aspects of the invention are concerned.
It is thought that the foregoing description 75
of my switching apparatus is ample for the
purpose of this disclosure; but I desire it to
be understood in conclusion that I reserve
the right to effect such changes, modifications,
and variations of the illustrated structure as 8o
may come fairly within the scope of the pro-
tection prayed.
What I claim is-
1. In an apparatus of the character described,
the combination with a motor including a 85
frame, a plurality of arbors, intermeshing
gears carried by the arbors, and a motor-
spring, of a series of conductive disks carried
by one of the motor-arbors and provided with
peripheral projections, a plurality of bell- 90
crank switch-levers mounted in the motor-
frame and cooperatively related with the
disks, contact-springs arranged to be engaged
by the bell-crank switch-levers, and an elec-
trical connection between the disk-carrying 95
arbor and the several contact-springs whereby
the necessity of wiring the levers is avoided.
2. In an apparatus of the character described,
the combination with a switch-lever and an op-
erating-motor therefor, of a rigid spring-sup- ioo
porting strip and a spring normally imposed
against the strip and rigidly secured thereto
at one end, said spring being disposed to be
moved back from the strip by the lever and
to be suddenly arrested by the strip as the 105
lever is retracted.
3. In an apparatus of the character described,
the combination with a spring-motor includ-
ing a frame, a series of arbors, intermeshing
gears carried by the arbors, and a motor- 11o
spring, of a series of disks mounted on one
of the arbors and having peripheral projec-
tions, a series of bell-crank switch-levers ful-
crumed in the motor-frame and having their
adjacent ends opposed to the disks, a series 115
of contact-springs disposed to be engaged by
the opposite ends of the levers, spring-sup-
porting strips carrying the springs and ar-
ranged to suddenly arrest the latter as the
levers are retracted, and electrical connec- 12C
tions between the spring - supporting strips
and the frame of the motor.
4. In an apparatus of the character described,
the combination with a switch including as
elements thereof a switch-lever and a rigid 125
strip, of a spring rigidly secured at one end0
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Guthrie, William S. Automatic Electric Switch, patent, October 10, 1905; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth513528/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.