Importance

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Abstract

A stepping commutator is provided for supplying power to a plurality of electrode plates mounted on a rotating shaft. The commutator comprises a central annular plate which is fixed to the shaft. The plate has a ring of cylindrical stationary contacts mounted therein concentrically about the shaft, so that they rotate with the shaft. Means are provided for connecting the contacts with the electrode plates. A pair of annular second plates bracket the central plate. Said pair of second plates are free to rotate on the shaft. Each such second plate carries a ring of horizontally slidable cylindrical contacts arranged to correspond with the central contacts. Said slidable contacts are connected with a power source. Means are provided for biasing the slidable contacts into or out of engagement with the central contacts, when appropriate. Means are provided to interconnect the two second plates so that, when one second plate rotates through a small angle, the other second plate rotates through an equal and opposite angle. A microswitch assembly controls the assembly to actuate the biasing means to slide one set of movable contacts into engagement with the central contacts and then to slide the second set of movable contacts into such engagement while withdrawing the first set.

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First Claim