| 摘要 |
An automatic by-pass switch placed in the circuit on the secondary side of a transformer, one switch in series with each lamp of a series connected lighting circuit. The by-pass switching unit contains two normally closed, openable contacts and two strips of metal which serve as conductive current flow paths for the normally closed contacts. The two metal strips are placed in close spaced proximity to each other with air space therebetween so that the path of least resistance for the current flow is through the normally closed contacts and through the adjacent functioning lamp. If the functioning lamp burns out, the path of least resistance for the current flow becomes across the air space between the two metal strips. The electricity begins to arc across the metal strips. The heat generated by the arcing causes the metal strips to soften. Positioned on the backside of each metal strip is a compression spring applying pressure to bend the softened strips towards each other. As the metal strips bend toward each other, the two normally closed contacts are opened, and a new non-arcing flow path is created through the contacting of the two metal strips against each other. This new flow path allows the passage of current to the remaining by-pass switching devices and lamps in the circuit.
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