US1021208A - Rotary snap-switch. - Google Patents

Description

C. D. PLATT.

ROTARY SNAP SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 001.27, 1911.

1,021,208. Patented Mar.26, 1912.

Fly. 7 /20 W/TNESSES: INVENTOI? ITTTORNEY CLARENCE n. rnarrfor nmnsnronr, CONNECTICUT.

many SNAP-SWITCH.

v Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed October 27, 1911. SeriabNo. 657,118.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

ferred construction adapted for this type of To all whom it mag concern:

Be it-known that I, CLARENCE D. PLATT,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have. invented an Improvement in Rotary Snap-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of snap switches illustrated and described in Letters Patent to G. A. Clark, Number 906,386, dated December 8, 1908, and has for its object to simplify, cheapen and to generally improve theconstruction and operation of indicating switches of this type, and especially to provide indicating means of extreme simplicity which may be readily applied or removed thus making of the switch an indicating or a non-indicating switch, as preferred.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indicating dial which is carried by the spindle and moves relatively slowly, that is with the handle, thus avoidin the strains upon the mechanism and the liability to get out of repair that is unavoidable in switches where the indicating dial is permitted to move forward to each indicating position with a snap.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means for connecting the dial with the spindle which shall insure perfect re istration of the dial, projections upon the ial interlocking with a clip or holding plate on the spindle in such a manner that each retains the other in place.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter described and then specifically pointed out inthe claims hereunto appendedu In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel switch as in use; Fig. 2 a view partly in elevation and partly in sec tion;! Fig. 3 an elevation of the upper end of the spindle detached; Fig. 4 a perspective of the clip or holding plate detached; Fig. 5 a plan view of the nut detached; Fig. 6 a plan view of the dial or indicating plate detached; and Fig. 7 is an edge view corresponding with Fig. 6.

10 denotes the base, llthe cap, 12 contact plates, 13 the spindle, 14 the operating spring, 15 the contact bar and 16 the handle,

all of which maybe of any ordinary or preswitches.

As the switch mechanism specifically.

cient for the purposes'of this specification to say that the spindle is rotated by the handle in the usual manner and that the lower end of the operating spring is connected to the contact bar. The upper end of the spindle is threaded for engagement by the handle and below, the threaded portion is provided with slots 17 in opposite sides thereof, which are engaged by an angular clip or holding plate indicated by 18. The clip or holding plate is rovided'with a hook 19 which 1s engaged y the upper end of the operating spring.

20 denotesa dial or indicating plate which issimply a disk of metal provided on its upper side with any suitable indications, as, for example, the words Off and On to indicate whether the current is off or on. The dial is provided with a central hole through which the spindle is passed in assembling and is provided on its under side with projections 21 which are adapted to engage the angular clip or holding plate.

In the present instance the clip or holding,

plate is shown as provided with arallel sides and the projections on the ial are formed by strikingout wings from the metal of the dial leaving them attached at one end. These wings engage the sides of the clip or holding plate, as will be readily understood from the drawing, the projections on the dial preventing the arms of the clip from spreading and the clip from becoming loose on the spindle and the clip acting to hold the dial against any rotary movement except with the spindle. The

s end engaging the hook upon the clip or holding plate. After the tension of the operating spring has been adjusted, the dial or indicating plate is passed over the spindle, the projections on the under side of the dial Ico handle.

engaging the parallel sides of the clip or holding -plate and then the nut is turned to place to secure the parts in their operative position. "When assembled it is impossible for the dial to turn on the spindle or for the clip to become loose thereon owing to its engagement with the projections on the dial.

To convert an indicating switch into a non-indicating switch, it is simply necessary to remove the handle and cap and then remove the dial and replace the cap and A non-indicating switch of this type can be converted into an indicating switch by simply applying the dial and forming an opening in the cap.

As the dial is attached directly to the spindle it moves only as the handle is turned and is not subjected to the blows and sudden strains to which the switch bar is subjected and the objectionable features of connecting a dial with the switch bar, as in most switches of this type now in use, are avoided.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a switch of the character described, the combination with a slotted spindle and a clip engaging said spindle and carried thereby, of a dial having projections engaging the clip and means for holding the parts in engagement.

2. In a switch of the character described, the combination with a spindle and a clip rigidly engaging said spindleand having parallel sides, of a dial restingon the clip and having projections engaging the sides of the clip and means for retaining the parts in engagement, the clip acting to retain the dial against rotation independently of the spindle andthe projections on the dial preventing the clip from spreading.

3. In a switch of the character described, the combination with a spindle threaded at its upper end and having slots on opposite sides and a clip engaging said'slots, of a dial resting on the clip and having projections engaging the sides of the clip and a nut on the spindle whereby the parts are held in interlocked engagement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE D. PLATT.

l Vitnessesz A. M. WOOSTER,

S. W. ATHERTON.

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