GB940278A - Electric switches - Google Patents

Abstract

940,278. Snap-action switches. MIDLAND ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO. Ltd. Sept. 27, 1961 [Nov. 11, 1960], No. 38764/60. Heading H2B. In a slow-break switch an L-shaped contact member 12 carries a contact 15 on one arm 13, movable between fixed contacts 17, and the other arm 14 projects into a recess 11 formed in a pivotable switch actuating member, e.g. a rocker member 10, whereby pivotal movement of member 10 pivots the contact member 12 on a support 16 and the free end of arm 14 is urged by some resilient means to one side or the other of the pivotal axis of the raker. As shown, this resilient means is provided by the support 16 which is a cantilevered spring arm, connected at one end to a terminal of the switch and formed at its free end into a fork with hooked limbs engaging shoulders of the contact member 12, the shoulders being provided by the wider arm 14 where it joins the narrower arm 13. In an alternative construction the support 16 is a rigid cantilevered arm, and the wider arm of the contact member projects into a coil spring mounted in a recess of the rocker member, pivotal movement of the rocker moving the member 12 and stressing this spring to cause positive movement of the contact member into one or other of its two limiting positions (Figs. 3, 4, not shown). This latter arrangement may be applied to a multipole switch, the contact members operating independently of one another.