GB267674A - Improvements in electric switches - Google Patents

Abstract

267,674. Mason, A. E. Feb. 8, 1926. Retractive switches with compound movement of handle; contacts; handles. - A switch of the type in which the contact-carrying lever may be moved in a predetermined number of different directions to complete any of a number of circuits has, one or more movable contact-members carried by a ball or equivalent member adapted to engage with any one of a number of stationary contact members, the flattened under-surface of the ball being acted upon by a sliding member under spring pressure to centralize the lever after operation. As shown in Fig. 1, the operating lever 15 is secured to a spherical metal member 14 having four radial contact pins 20 and having a flattened base normally resting on a block 9.. The member 14 moves in a cavity 13 in an insulating block 2, Fig. 5, the pins 20 working in slots 12 into which also project spring contact plungers 1. When the handle is rocked in any of four directions a movable contact is brought into engagement with a plunger 1, the contacts 20 being bevelled at 21 so that a sliding movement occurs between fixed and movable contacts. The switch cover 17, Fig. 2, has four slots 18 into which the lever 15 moves on operation and when used in conjunction with the system described in Specification 253,980 each slot bears a suitable indication. The lever 15 is returned to its normal position after operation by a spring plunger 8 acting on the sliding block 9, this plunger also serving to convey current to the movable contact-member. The plungers 1 and 8 are provided with terminals passing through the switch casing 6. In a modified form shown in Fig. 10, the operating lever 42 has a ball 41, with a recess 40 engaging the rounded head 39 of a lever 38 attached to the member 36 carrying the movable contact pins which work in slots 32 of an insulating member 31. The operating lever 15 may as shown in Fig. 6 have a downward projection 24 which is moved on operation into slots 23 of a non-circular sliding metal block 22, Fig. 8, which is pressed upwardly against the member 25 carrying the movable contact pins 20 by a spring plunger 8 assisted by a spring 27. Thecover 28 has a conical opening 29 to permit of the deflection of the lever 15. In cases wherethe radial slots in the insulating block 2 are dispensed with, slots in the cover member being relied upon to guide the lever, the projecting pins on the ball member may be replaced by a continuous metal flange.