GB536696A - Improvements in or relating to electric switches, with provision against mechanical shock - Google Patents

Abstract

536,696. Electromagnetic switches. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., Ltd., and CROFT, E. H. Dec. 7, 1939, No. 31723. [Class 38 (v)] A switch substantially unaffected by shock or vibration has two sets of contacts arranged in parallel and balanced in such a manner that any shock either produces no change in the switch or if the switch is open, further separates the contacts and, if the switch is closed, increases the pressure at one break while the pressure is decreased at the other break. In the form shown an electromagnet 5 attracts two tontact-carrying, armatures 15, 16 which move simultaneously in opposite directions. The armatures are pivoted at 13, 14 and connected by a link 31 which also prevents movement by shock. The armatures have counterweights 29, 30. In a modification Fig. 2 (not shown) a single counterweighted armature operates through connected rods a lever carrying two movable contacts. One of these contacts is pivoted on the lever and spring-biassed and engages an immovable fixed contact. The other movable contact is fixed relative to the lever and engages a " fixed " contact that is spring biassed. A shock which would tend to move one of the spring-biassed contacts away from its complementary contact would tend to move the other spring-biassed contact towards its co-operating contact.