GB974182A - Electric switches - Google Patents

Abstract

974,182. Mechanical switches without quick action; retractive switches. JOSEPH LUCAS (INDUSTRIES) Ltd. March 14, 1963 [March 23, 1962], No. 11169/62. Heading H2B. In an electric switch, an insulating plate 12 and contact plate 21 are rotated by a shaft 5, the contact plate 21 having two contacts 23, which are urged by springs 22 towards fixed contacts A, B, C, D and E mounted in a base 1. The plate 12 has a resilient tongue 16 carrying a projection 17 which is urged by a spring 18 into notches 8 in an extended portion 7 of the base, to locate the position of the shaft. End portions 11 of a spring 10, surrounding the shaft 5, bear against shoulders 9, 9a of the portion 7. Fixed contacts D and E are connected to a source of electric supply, contact C is connected by a link 23a to contact A which is connected to the lamps of a vehicle providing the main driving beam, and contact C is connected to the lamps providing the dipped beam. When the switch is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, contacts B, E are bridged by the contact plate 21, i.e. dipped beam, but when the shaft 5 is rotated so that projection 17 moves into the second notch 8, contacts A, E are bridged, i.e. main beam. When the shaft is rotated anticlockwise from the position shown in Figs. 2, 5, a peg 19 moves the end 11 of the return spring 10 and two blade contacts 24, extending through an aperture 25 in the base, are moved into engagement, connecting contacts C, D, i.e. main beam.