AU685663B2

AU685663B2 - Switch actuating dolly

Info

Publication number: AU685663B2
Application number: AU31707/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Simon
Original assignee: HPM Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HPM Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-09-29
Filing date: 1995-09-15
Publication date: 1998-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-15
Also published as: AU3170795A

Description

-1- P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: SWITCH ACTUATING DOLLY r o r r r Io r The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: GH&CO REF: P04210-SV/RW:SD r r 2 SWITCH ACTUATING DOLLY This invention relates to a switch actuator of the type which conventionally is referred to as a switch actuating dolly and which forms a part of a fingeroperated low or medium voltage switch.

Such a switch actuating dolly normally comprises a one-piece plastics material moulding which is pivotably mounted to the body moulding of a switch. The actuating dolly acts on a pivotable moving contact element and, whilst it might be spring loaded for mono-stable operation, such that it would need be held manually in one of two possible positions, the actuating dolly normally is loaded for bi-stable pivotable actuation by an overcentre toggle spring. Pivotable movement which is imparted to the actuati-,- dolly by finger operation causes the dolly to move the moving contact element between on-off or bipolar positions, depending upon the circuit into which the switch is wired.

Various approaches have been taken toward adapting prior art actuating dollies and switches to meet specific needs. For example, actuating dollies have been colour coded or engraved with indicia to identify the functions or circuit locations of switches. Also, various devices have been developed for the purpose of rendering switches 25 tamperproof and/or to prevent them from being operated Be..

without prior thought of the consequences of so doing.

The present invention has been developed with the o••o i intention of creating an actuating dolly that may be adapted from time-to-time to meet various requirements and which provides for standardisation of a basic switch device. The intention is that adaptation may be effected by the manufacturer, at a point of sale, by a contractor or by the end user of a switch.

Expressed in broad terms, the present invention provides a combination of a switch actuating dolly and an adapting element which is removably fitted to the I I 3 actuating dolly and which functions to modify the shape and/or appearance of the actuating dolly. The actuating dolly is moulded from a plastics material, is arranged to be pivotably mounted to a switch body moulding and has a front face which normally is exposed for finger actuation. The adapting element is arranged to locate within or to overlie the front face of the actuating dolly and is permanently exposed to view regardless of the pivotal position of the actuating dolly. The front face of the actuating dolly is formed with an integrally moulded groove-like recess which is arranged to receive a mating portion of the adapting element in sliding engagement, and the recess and the adapting element are formed to provide for interfering engagement of the mating portion of the adapting element in 15 the recess whereby the mating portion of the adapting element is held captive in the recess.

The adapting element may comprise a moulded element which is shaped simply to occupy the recess and, in such rase, the moulded element may be provided in a contrasting colour to the remainder of the actuating dolly.

Alternatively or additionally, the moulded element may be moulded with alpha and/or numeric indicia. Still further, the moulded element may be formed from a clear plastics material and form a window behind which printed material may be located. In this latter case the moulded element may be shaped such that it will act to magnify the printed "material.

The adapting element may alternatively comprise a moulded element which is shaped when fitted to the actuating dolly to change the general configuration of the actuating dolly. For example, the moulded element may be formed as a projection which enlarges the actuating dolly, for convenience of switch operation, or as a latching device which may be fitted in a manner to prevent actuation of the dolly from one pivotal position to the other.

04210sv/15. 10.97

I

4 deVe.'-4-1p--ape Gr s em ct IjAA.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of a switch actuating dolly of a type that normally forms a part of a single-phase light or power switch that is fitted as a unit to a wall mounting plate. The description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front elevation view of the actuating dolly, Figure 2 shows a rear elevation view of the actuating dolly, Figure 3 shows an end view of the actuating dolly, as seen in the direction of arrow 3 in Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a side view of the actuating dolly as seen in the direction of arrow 4 in Figure 1, Figure 5 shows on an enlarged scale a perspective view of a moulded element which is intended to locate within a recess within the front face of the actuating dolly of Figures 1 to 4, Figure 6 shows a side elevation view of a moulded element in the form of a latching device which is intended to locate within the recess within the front face of the actuating dolly, .oooUi Figure 7 shows a front elevation view of the latching device of Figure 6, as seen in the direction of arrow 7 in Figure 6, Figure 8 shows a rear elevation view of the latching device of Figure 6, as seen in the direction of arrow 8 30 in Figure 6, and Figure 9 shows a side elevation view of a portion of a switch unit which incorporates the actuating dolly of Figures 1 to 4 and which is fitted to a mounting plate, with the latching device of Figures 6 to 8 mounted to the actuating dolly.

The actuating dolly 10 which is shown in Figures 1 to 4 would normally be mounted to a switch 13 as shown in FAI'A Figure 9 and, for the purposes of this description, the 1 OSV actuating dolly is arranged to be fitted with an adapting element of the type shown in Figure 5 or Figures 6 to 8.

The actuating dolly 10 is moulded from a plastics material and is formed as a shell having a generally concave interior 11 as seen from the rear side and as viewed in Figure 2. The actuating dolly is arranged to be pivotably mounted to the body moulding 12 of the switch 13 as shown in Figure 9 and, for this purpose, the actuating dolly is formed integrally with laterally projecting trunnions 14.

When the actuating dolly is mounted to the switch 13, the front face 15 of the actuating dolly is exposed for finger actuation. A groove-like recess 16 is formed in the front face of the dolly and extends between opposite side walls of the moulding. The groove 16 has a dovetail-shaped cross-section and, thus, forms a slideway into which correspondingly sectioned elements may be slid. A small projection 17 is located in the centre of the groove 16.

The groove 16 is arranged to receive a mating portion of an adapting element which, when fitted, functions to modify the shape and/or the appearance of the actuating dolly.

ooo• The adapting element may be moulded in various S• 25 forms, including that shown in Figure 5. The element which is shown in Figure 5 comprises a generally rectangular moulding 18 which is shaped with angular side walls 19 to occupy the groove 16 and the moulding is sized to be a sliding press-fit within the groove. The 30 element 18 may be moulded from transparent plastics material and be used as a window behind which a small printed card (nc't shown) may be located. Alternatively, element 18 may be moulded from opaque plastics material and carry indicia that is relevant to the intended operating function of the switch 13.

As a further alternative to the moulding 18, the adapting element may comprise a latching device 20 as shown in Figures 6 to 8 and which also is moulded from a S:04210SV I IL ~611 6 plastics material. The latching device 20 has a body portion 21 which is shaped and arranged to overlay the front face 15 of the actuating dolly, a downwardly prujecting leg portion 22 and, moulded integrally with the underside of the body portion 21, a key 23 which is shaped and sized to locate in tight sliding relationship in the groove 16 of the actuating dolly.

As shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, the switch moulding 12, to which the actuating dolly is pivotably mounted, is fitted to a moulded mounting plate 23, and the actuating dolly 10 projects through an aperture 24 within the mounting plate. Under normal circumstances, the actuating dolly is pivotable between two positions, to turn the switch on and off, but the actuating dolly may be latched into one or other of its positions by fitting the latching device 20 to the actuating dolly in the manner indicated in Figure 9. Thus, when so fitted, the leg portion 22 of the latching device prevents pivotal movement of the actuating dolly from the position in which it is located to its alternative pivotal position.

oo o S:04210SV

Claims

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adapting element comprises a moulded element which is shaped :o occupy the whole of the recess.
3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the adapting element is moulded with alpha and/or numeric 25 indicia which is exposed when the adapting element is positioned within the recess. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the adapting element is formed from a clear plastics material to provide a window behind which printed material may be located. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein the adapting element is shaped in a manner such that it functions to magnify printed material that is located behind the adapting element.
6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adapting element comprises a moulded element which is shaped when fitted to the actuating dolly to change the configuration of the actuating dolly. 04210sv/15.10.97 8
7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 when pivotably mounted to a switch and wherein the adapting element is formed as a latching device which, when fitted to the actuating dolly, functions to prevent actuation of the dolly from one pivotable position to the other.
8. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the recess has a dovetail-shaped cross- section.
9. The actuating dolly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the recess is formed with a projection which is engageable with a mating depression in the adapting element to effect the interfering engagement of the mating portion of the adapting element in the recess.
10. The combination as hereinbefore described of an actuating dolly as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings and an adapting element substantially as shown in Figure 5 or Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 13th day of May 1997 o"*o H.P.M. INDUSTRIES PTY LIMITED By its Patent Attorney GRIFFITH HACK *'0 x k .li I- SWITCH ACTUATING DOLLY ABSTRACT An actuating dolly 10 for a low or medium voltage switch 13. The actuating dolly is moulded from a plastics material, is pivotably mounted to a body moulding 12 of the switch and has a front face 15 which normally is exposed for finger actuation. The front face of the actuating dolly is formed with an integrally moulded dovetail-shaped groove 16 which is arranged to receive and hold captive a mating portion 19 or 23 of an adapting element 18 or 20. The adapting element may take various forms, including a moulded element which carries indicia and occupies the recess 16. As an alternative, the adapting element may take the form of a moulded 15 latching device 20 and be fitted to the actuating dolly in a manner to prevent actuation of the dolly from one pivotable position to the other. 0**0*e S:04210SV I