GB2122811A

GB2122811A - A multi-way switch

Info

Publication number: GB2122811A
Application number: GB08212909A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Wen-Horng
Original assignee: WEN HORNG LEE
Current assignee: WEN HORNG LEE
Priority date: 1982-05-05
Filing date: 1982-05-05
Publication date: 1984-01-18

Abstract

A switch has a central rotor 2 formed from a conductive part 15 and an insulating part 16. The conductive part 15 makes permanent contact with a spring contact member 3 and includes a rotor arm 18 which can make contact with one of three other similar spring contacts 4, 5 or 6 depending on the position of rotation of the rotor. A feature of the invention is that a rotor like that illustrated can be replaced by a different rotor capable of making more complex connections between the various contact members. The ends of the spring contacts remote from the rotor are arranged to be pushed aside by the ends of respective lead wires 7-10 when the wires are pushed into respective sockets 11-14 in the switch body 1 so that the pressure exerted by the contacts retains the wires in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A multi-way switch This invention relates to a multi-way switch which is defined for the purpose of this specification as a switch having at least three contacts and means for connecting different selections of these contacts together.

The invention arose in the design of a multiway switch of the type having at least one socket designed to retain a wire by means of a spring contact member. One of the design considerations was that such switches are commonly required to make different types of connection: for example, one switch may be required to connect a first contact either to a second or to a third contact: whilst another switch may be required to connect a first contact either to a second contact alone or to a second and third contact simultaneously.

The invention provides a multi-way switch having a plurality of contacts at least one of which is a spring contact including a conductive element having two spring arms; one of the arms being arranged to be pushed aside by a wire when inserted into a socket of the switch and to press against the wire by means of its spring action thereby making electrical contact with the wire and retaining it in the socket; the other spring arm bearing against a rotor; and the rotor serving to connect the said spring contact to one or more of the other contacts selected according to the position of rotation of the rotor.

By suitably designing the rotor the switch can serve to connect any desired selections of contacts together and it is therefore necessary only to manufacture different types of rotor in order to provide a whole range of different switches. It can readily be appreciated that this constitutes a valuable saving in the cost of, for example, moulds needed in the manufacturing process. It is believed that the invention is also conducive to the production of a fireproof and heat resistant switch structure.

One way in which the invention may be performed will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with the invention but with its lid removed; Fig. 2 is an isometric exploded view of the switch of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates how a rotor of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 co-operates with four contacts of the switch; Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 but shows the rotor at a different position; and Figs. 5 and 6 are similar to Figs. 3 and 4 respectively but illustrate a different rotor used in an embodiment having three contacts only.

Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the illustrated switch comprises a moulded insulating body 1 defining a central recess which contains a rotor 2 surrounded by four contact recesses containing respective spring contacts 3, 4, 5 and 6. Each of these contacts consists of a conductive element bent into the form of a letter S or Z so as to have a central portion joining an inner spring arm which bears against the rotor and an outer spring arm which serves to retain a wire 7, 8, 9 or 10 in its respective socket 11, 12, 13 or 14. Each wire is secured in position by pushing it into its socket thereby resiliently deflecting the appropriate spring contact arm. The elasticity of this spring contact arm then retains the wire in position which cannot easily become loose or be pulled out.

The rotor 2 is formed from a conductive copper casting 1 5 and an insulating seat 1 6 of synthetic plastics material. At a lower part of the axis of the rotor, the copper casting defines a circular conductor 17 and this bears against the spring contact 3 for all positions of rotation of the rotor.

At an upper part of the axis of the rotor the copper casting defines a rotor arm 1 8 which extends only around part of the circumference of the rotor. The arm 18 fits into a recess of corresponding shape irs a generally circular flange 19 of the insulating seat 1 6. The spring contacts 4, 5, and 6 bear against this circular flange 19 except for particular rotational positions of the rotor when one of them bears against the arm 1 8 thereby connecting the contact 4, 5 or 6 electrically to the contact 3.

Figure 3 shows the switch in an "off" condition where the position of the rotor is such that the contact 3, which is assumed to be live, is not connected to any other contact 4, 5 or 6. Figure 4 shows the switch in one of its three possible "on" conditions where the contact 3 is connected to contact 4.

Figure 5 shows part of an alternative embodiment of the invention which is identical to that already described except that the contact 4 is omitted and that the rotor 2 is replaced by a rotor 2A having a conductive part 1 5A and an insulating seat 1 6A. The rotor arm 1 8A extends through a greater arc than the rotor arm 18 and is able, according to the position of the rotor to make contact either with contact 5 or 6 or with both contacts 5 and 6. Figure 5 shows the rotor arm touching contacts 5 and 6 and Figure 6 shows it touching just contact 6. A switch like that shown in Figures 5 and 6 could be used to control a combined electric fan and lamp in such a way that, according to the position of adjustment of the switch, it operates just the lamp, just the fan, or operates both simultaneously.

1. A multi-way switch having a plurality of contacts at least one of which is a spring contact including a conductive element having two spring arms; one of the arms being arranged to be pushed aside by a wire when inserted into a socket of the switch and to press against the wire by means of its spring action thereby making electrical contact with the wire and retaining it in the socket; the other spring arm bearing against a rotor; and the rotor serving to connect the said

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A multi-way switch This invention relates to a multi-way switch which is defined for the purpose of this specification as a switch having at least three contacts and means for connecting different selections of these contacts together. The invention arose in the design of a multiway switch of the type having at least one socket designed to retain a wire by means of a spring contact member. One of the design considerations was that such switches are commonly required to make different types of connection: for example, one switch may be required to connect a first contact either to a second or to a third contact: whilst another switch may be required to connect a first contact either to a second contact alone or to a second and third contact simultaneously. The invention provides a multi-way switch having a plurality of contacts at least one of which is a spring contact including a conductive element having two spring arms; one of the arms being arranged to be pushed aside by a wire when inserted into a socket of the switch and to press against the wire by means of its spring action thereby making electrical contact with the wire and retaining it in the socket; the other spring arm bearing against a rotor; and the rotor serving to connect the said spring contact to one or more of the other contacts selected according to the position of rotation of the rotor. By suitably designing the rotor the switch can serve to connect any desired selections of contacts together and it is therefore necessary only to manufacture different types of rotor in order to provide a whole range of different switches. It can readily be appreciated that this constitutes a valuable saving in the cost of, for example, moulds needed in the manufacturing process. It is believed that the invention is also conducive to the production of a fireproof and heat resistant switch structure. One way in which the invention may be performed will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with the invention but with its lid removed; Fig. 2 is an isometric exploded view of the switch of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates how a rotor of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 co-operates with four contacts of the switch; Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 but shows the rotor at a different position; and Figs. 5 and 6 are similar to Figs. 3 and 4 respectively but illustrate a different rotor used in an embodiment having three contacts only. Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the illustrated switch comprises a moulded insulating body 1 defining a central recess which contains a rotor 2 surrounded by four contact recesses containing respective spring contacts 3, 4, 5 and 6. Each of these contacts consists of a conductive element bent into the form of a letter S or Z so as to have a central portion joining an inner spring arm which bears against the rotor and an outer spring arm which serves to retain a wire 7, 8, 9 or 10 in its respective socket 11, 12, 13 or 14. Each wire is secured in position by pushing it into its socket thereby resiliently deflecting the appropriate spring contact arm. The elasticity of this spring contact arm then retains the wire in position which cannot easily become loose or be pulled out. The rotor 2 is formed from a conductive copper casting 1 5 and an insulating seat 1 6 of synthetic plastics material. At a lower part of the axis of the rotor, the copper casting defines a circular conductor 17 and this bears against the spring contact 3 for all positions of rotation of the rotor. At an upper part of the axis of the rotor the copper casting defines a rotor arm 1 8 which extends only around part of the circumference of the rotor. The arm 18 fits into a recess of corresponding shape irs a generally circular flange 19 of the insulating seat 1 6. The spring contacts 4, 5, and 6 bear against this circular flange 19 except for particular rotational positions of the rotor when one of them bears against the arm 1 8 thereby connecting the contact 4, 5 or 6 electrically to the contact 3. Figure 3 shows the switch in an "off" condition where the position of the rotor is such that the contact 3, which is assumed to be live, is not connected to any other contact 4, 5 or 6. Figure 4 shows the switch in one of its three possible "on" conditions where the contact 3 is connected to contact 4. Figure 5 shows part of an alternative embodiment of the invention which is identical to that already described except that the contact 4 is omitted and that the rotor 2 is replaced by a rotor 2A having a conductive part 1 5A and an insulating seat 1 6A. The rotor arm 1 8A extends through a greater arc than the rotor arm 18 and is able, according to the position of the rotor to make contact either with contact 5 or 6 or with both contacts 5 and 6. Figure 5 shows the rotor arm touching contacts 5 and 6 and Figure 6 shows it touching just contact 6. A switch like that shown in Figures 5 and 6 could be used to control a combined electric fan and lamp in such a way that, according to the position of adjustment of the switch, it operates just the lamp, just the fan, or operates both simultaneously. CLAIMS

1. A multi-way switch having a plurality of contacts at least one of which is a spring contact including a conductive element having two spring arms; one of the arms being arranged to be pushed aside by a wire when inserted into a socket of the switch and to press against the wire by means of its spring action thereby making electrical contact with the wire and retaining it in the socket; the other spring arm bearing against a rotor; and the rotor serving to connect the said spring contact to one or more of the other contacts selected according to the position of rotation of the rotor.

2. A multi-way switch according to claim 1 in which the conductive member is bent into the form of a letter S or Z.

3. A multi-way switch according to claim 1 or 2 in which the rotor has, at one position along its axis of rotation, a circular conductive part which makes electrical contact with the said spring contact for all positions of rotation of the rotor; and, at another position along its axis, a further conductive part extending only partly around the circumference of the rotor, the said further conductive part being connected electrically to the said first conductive part and being arranged to contact the said one or more of said further contacts selected according to the position of rotation.

4. A method of manufacturing switches in accordance with any preceding claim in which rotors of different types are fitted into otherwise similar switches so that the resulting different switches are able to make different connections between corresponding contacts.

5. A multi-way switch according to claim 1 and substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.