GB540529A - Improvements in or relating to multiple pole switches - Google Patents

Abstract

540,529. Time switches. LANDIS & GYR SOC. ANON. April 18, 1940, No. 7002. Convention date, Feb. 15. [Class 38 (v)] A multi-pole time switch in which the paths of the movable contacts or pole parts thereof lie in a common plane intersecting the switch axis perpendicularly, all of the movable contacts or pole parts being controlled by a single cam, is characterised in that an insulating carrier member for the switch parts is subdivided into chambers, each of which contains the co-acting contacts or pole parts of a contact member. As shown, the switch disc 1 is provided with switching pins 2 which act on a star wheel 3 co-acting with the nose pieces of a release device comprising a disc carrying the nose pieces and firmly fixed on a spindle carrying an insulating cam 8 and a housing for a spring in working connection on the one hand with the disc and on the other hand through gearing 9 with the axis of the switch disc 1. The cam 8 has three arms, corresponding with the number of poles and located in a recess of a member 10 of insulating material. Three chambers are formed in the latter by the external walls 11 and the interior walls 12, into each of which project two current-carrying strips 13, 14 bent upwardly at their inner ends. Each strip 13 carries at its bent end a contact 15 forming the fixed contact. The movable contact 16 is carried at the free end of a curved leaf spring 17. fixed to the bent-up end of the strip 14. Thin copper strips 18 are provided to ensure good contact. In operation, the spring is tensioned through the gearing 9, and if a pin 2 contacts with an arm of the star wheel 3 the latter is rotated, the release device is operated, and the arm 8 is freed for a partial rotation and raises the outer ends of the strips 19 to open the switches. When the next pin 2 engages the star wheel 3 the cam 8 moves clear of the ends of the strips 19 and the switches close. In a modification, the movable contacts are arranged on levers lying adjacent each other in a plane perpendicular to the switch axis, each being raised by one step of the common cam.