US1010753A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

B. A. HALBLEIB.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.16, 1910.

1,010,753, v Patented Dec.5, 1911 WIIIIIIIHIIIIIIH Hllllllllllllilllll WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIU UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. HALBLEIB, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NORTHEAST ELEC- lTRIO COMPANY, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 5, 1911.

. Application -led December 16, 1910. Serial No. 597,729. y

of the type in which locking means are provided in order that unauthorized tampering with the switch may be prevented.

The object of the invention is .to produce a device of this kind which is compact, simple and reliable, and, more particularly, to produce a switch provided with a plurality of operating devices or plugs, all of which may be simultaneously locked with each plug in either closed or open position, as the case may be, so that the electrical apparatus controlled by the switch may be leftin any required condition. y

To the yabove ends the invention consists i in the electric switch hereinafter described,

The illustrated embodiment of the inven'-, tion isla switch particularly adapted for use in connection with a motor-vehicle,y for controlling the various circuits thereon through which the electric lights, the ignition'devices, the horn &c. are energized. It is illus-v trated .as

provided with four switch-plugs 5, though o viously the number may be 1ncreased or diminished to any required ex-l tent. Each of the switch-plugs 5 consists of a round rod of insulatin material, arranged in vertical position an provided with an enlarged head 6 which may be marked on its upper surface .to indicate the circuit controlled by thec plug. These plugs may be reinforced by central metal rods, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The switch-plugs are arranged to slide vertically through openings in the upper .and lower walls of a casing 7 by which all parts of the switch-mechanism are inclosed, except the upper and/,lower extremities of the switch-plugs. Each plu cooperates with two contact-springs-9 whic engage the" plug on opposite sides. These springs are made of resilient sheet-metal, and are fixed at theirrear ends, by means -of screws 11, to a base-plate 12 of insulating material. Each contact-spring has an inwardly-convex extremity 13 resiliently en gaging theucorresponding switch-plug, and the switch-plug carries a movable contactmember 15 in the form of a ring of metal 'provided with an annular concave surface, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings the switch-plugs are all show'n in depressed, open-circuit position, but when any one o'f the plugs is raised, by pressure against its lower end, the contactring 15 is brought into position between the contact-springs 9, thereby making electric connection lbetween them and thus closing the circuit of which they are a part. The form of the contact devices is such as to ret-ain the switch-plug in elevated position until it is depressed again by pressure onits upper end. To secure a firm engagement of the contact-springs with the plugs, each contact-spring is backed by aspring 14, of the form shown in Fig. 2, which is also secured against the base 12 by means of the screw 11. Each of the contact-springs is downwardly extended at its rear end and rovided wit a binding-screw 16 by which 1t may be connected withthe wiresof the circuit of which y1t forms a part.

The means for locking the switch-plugs comprise a locking-bar 17 which is wide and flat, and is arranged in horizontal position.y

This bar is provided with a series of ,openings 18of an approximately oval or keyhole form, and the switch-plugs pass through these openings. Each ,switch-plug is provided with two annular grooves 19 and 21, respectively, land the shoulders 26 (Fig. 4) which is inserted cupied by the constitute abutthe locking-bar.

formed 'by these grooves ments to coperate with When the locking-bar is moved longitudinally to its right-hand position the plugs slide freelythrough the large left-hand portions of the openings, but when the lockingbar is in its left-hand position, as illustrated, it is adapted to coperate with the abutments just referred to, thereby preventing movement of the switch-plugs. the switch-plugs are in their lower opencircuit position, as illustrated, they are normally retained in this position by the engagement of the contact-springs with annular depressions 20 in the position of the plugs the locking-bar engages the groovesv 19 in the plugs. When any of the plugs is in raised or closed-circuit position it is adapted to be locked in this position by the engagement of the lockingbar with the groove 21.

The locking-bar is sup ported, near its ends, in bearings formed in vertical partitions 22 and 23 near the ends of the casing 7. The bar is free to slide longitudinally in these bearings, but is normally held in its lefthand position by means comprising an upwardly-bent lug 24 atits left-hand end and compression springs 25 engaging this lug and the partition 22. The locking-bar is thus normally The switch is unlocked by means of a key through a keyhole 27 in the casing. The extremity of the shank of the key enters a metal socket 28 embedded in the base-plate 12. This key is provided with wards 29 which are adapted to engage the lug 24, when the key is turned to the right, thereby forcing the locking-bar to the right and into unlocked position. A block 31 provided with irregular upper projections is secured beneath the position ockey, so as to coperate with A plate 32 fixed 3l projects upwardly, so that its upper ed e serves as a stop for the wards 29 when` t e key has been turned to unlocking position. So long as the key is left in the loc in the position described the switch may e freely-used, any one of the switch-plugs being movable into either position. When the key is turned again to the left and withdrawn, however, the locking-bar is-moved to the left by the springs 25 and thus locks all of the plugs simultaneously, each plug being locked in either upper or lower position, as it may happen to have been left by the operator. the locking-bar, between its ends, against any forcible attempt y to. move one of the switch-plugs when locked, a horizontal-partition 33 is arranged-in the casing close to the upper surface of the locking-bar, and

plugs, and in this" retained in locking position.-

.` when t e locking-bar 1s gagement with the plugs.

To support this partition serves also to inclose the contact-devices in a compartment b themselves. The locking-bar is supported om beneath by means of short vertical partitions30 in the casing.

The base-plate 12 is provided with openings 34 through which screws or bolts ma be passed to secure it upon the dash-board of an automobile, or upon any convenient support, and the casing 7 is removably secured in place by means of screws 315 threaded into both the base-plate and the support. The arrangement of the parts is such that upon removing the screws 35 the casing may be removed, together with the locking mechanism and the switch-plugs, while the contact-springs are left undisturbed upon the base-plate.

am aware that electric switches have been proposed heretofore in which means are provi ed for locking the contact-devices against unauthorized operation, but, so far as I am aware, I am the rst to produce a switch of this type in which a plurality of switch-members may be locked simultaneously and particularly 1n which such members may be lpcked in either open-circuit or closed-clrcuit position.

'I claim:

l. An electric switch having, in combination, a longitudinally-movable key-operated locking-bar, switch-plugs arranged transversely to the loclng-bar and movable longitudinally into two positions, the plugs having locking abutments for engagement with the bar in both longitudinal positions of the plugs, and means for retaining the plugs yieldin ly in both longitudinal posltions not in locking enelectric switch having, incombination, a longitudinally-movable key-operated locking-bar, switch-plugs arranged transversely to the lookin -bar and movable longitudinally into two positions, the plugs hav\ lng locking( abutments for engagement with the'bar in both positions of the plugs, and resilient contact-devices engaging the plugs and retaining them yieldingly in both longitudinal positions. x

3. An electric switch having, in combination, a series of independently-movable switch-members, a. key-operated lockingmember coextensive with said series of switch-members and movable into and out of locking engagement with all of said members simultaneously,` each switch-member having locking-abutments for engagement with the locking-member in each position of the switch-member, and means for retaining each switch-member yieldingly in each position when the locking-member is not in operative position.

4. An electric switch having, in combination, a longitudinally-movable key-operated several positions of the plug, and resilient locking-bar having an aperture therein, a contact-devices engaging the plugk and resWitch-plug extending through said apertaining it yieldingly in its several positions.

ture and longitudinally movable there- EDWARD A. HALBLEIB. 5 through, the plug having a plurality of Witnesses:

grooves for locking engagement with the FARNUM F. DoRsEY,

locking-bar, adjacent said opening, in the D. GURNEE.

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