US1056310A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

H. J. WIEGAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1910.

1,056,310. Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETHHBBT l.

H. J. WIEGAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1910.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913 2 SHBETSSHE'ET 2.

ZkgZ/ZJ wwmw IIENRY J. WIEGAND, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented, Mar. 18, 1913.

Application filed March 24. 1910. Serial No. 551,261.

To all 'tU/lofib it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. WmoANo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference be ng had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

electric switches and more particularly to those adapted to operate with a snap action. My invention has various ob ects and ad vantages which will be hereinafter clearly and fully set forth.

In order to fully disclose the nature and characteristic features of my invention. i shall describe the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing which embody certain forms of my invention which I have worked out in practice.

Of course, my. invention is not limited to the particular constructions illustratcdbut is capable of various modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

The several views in the accompanying drawing are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of switch. mechanism; Fig: 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4

and 5 are sectional views showing the progressive stages in the operation of the switch mechanism in one direction; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a pendant switch provided with a modified form of the switch nnchanism shown on Sheet 1; and Fig. 7 :1 sectional view taken on line 7'(, Fig. 6.

In. Figs. 1 to 5 I have merely shown the switch mechanism mounted upon an insulating supporting base 8; but,f course, it should be understood that this switch mechanism may be used in various other relati ns. The several parts of the switch mechanism are supported by a frame 9, secured to the base 8 by suitable means such as a screw 10. The frame 9, as illustrated, merely comprises a metallic plate having its end portions 11 and 12 bent substantially at right angles thereto and having intermediate of its ends and on opposite sides thereof n wardly extending parallel lugs 13 and 14. Extending through the lugs 13 and 14 is a pin 15. This pin is arranged to pivotally support the movable contact member, which, as illustrated is substantially U-shaped, be

ing provided with parallel contact arms 16 and 17 and a cross member 18, said pin passing through the arms at a slight distance above the cross member. The contact arms 16 and 17 are adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with stationary contact clips 18 and 19 respectively suitably secured to the insulating base 8. The contact arms 16 and 17 are provided with longitudinal slots 20. through which extends a pin 21, My invention relates to improvements in having suitable heads 22 thereon for retaining the same in place. The pin 21 has loosely mounted thereon a roller 23, which roller preferably provided with flanged ends for a purpose hereinafter set forth. onneciod to the pin 21 on opposite sides of roller 23 are coil springs 24, having opposite ends connected to the ivot pin 15. The springs 24 tend to yieldingly hold the roller 2 against a sliding cam member 21? s id cam member having oppositely inclined suriaces 26 and 27 which meet to form a peak or crest 28 over which the roller 23 adapted to ride. The cam member is preferably made flat and of such a thickness as to freely fit between the flanged ends of the roller thereby holding the roller against lateral movement. Connected to opposite ends of the cam member are elongated push buttoz' and ljl, the former being arranged to p= through a correspondin ly shaped aperture in the upwardly extending portion 12 of the frame 9, while the latter extends through a correspondingly shaped aperture in the insulating base 8. The portion 12 of the frame 9 and the insulating base 8 thus form sliding bearings for the push buttons 30 and 31, and, consequently, for the cam member 25. Of course, the cam member must be so arranged as to clear the pivot pin 15 and the cross member 18 connecting the contact arms. In practice,

however. I prefer to provide the cam member at opposite ends with downwardly extending lugs 32 and 33 arranged to engage the cross piece of the movable contact memher under the conditions and for the purposes hereinafter set forth. I also prefer to provide the cam member with a projection 24 arranged to work in a slot in the frame 9 to maintain the cam member in a vertical position.

As will be hereinafter more fully set forth, to insure proper operation of the movable contact member, it is essential to p ovide fixed. stops for limiting the movemeat thereof in both directions. I, therefore, prefer to arrange the stops on the supporting frame and integral therewith to prevent the possibility of any variations in the range of movement allowed to said contact member. A convenient way of accomplishing this is to rovide each of the upwardly extending ugs 13 and 14 of the frame 9 with inwardly projecting stops 36 and 37 disposed in the path of the arms of the contact member in such a manner as to precisely limit the movement thereof in both directions. This and other details of construction will be hereinafter more fully disclosed after describing the operation of the switch mechanism.

In describing the operation, I shall assume that the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig, 3 wherein the arms, of the movable contact. member are in engagement with their respective stat ionary contacts and also in engagement with the stops 37 on the frame 9. Under these conditions, to move the arms 37 out of engagement with the stationary contact, pressure should be exerted upon the push button 30 to move the cam member 25 to the right. This movement of the cam member causes theinclined surface 27 thereof to force the roller 23 upwardly, thereby tensioning the springs 24 until the crest of the cam member passes the axial line of the roller, whereupon the springs contract, causing the quickly travel down the inclined face 36 and move the contact member away from tho stationary contacts with a snap action, until it assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 1. In practice, however, it sometimes occurs that owing to binding of the contact arms on the stationary contacts, the springs 24 are unable to move the contact member in the manner just described. It is for meet ipg this and other emergencies that I provide the lugs 32 and 33 on the cam member. Assuming that the contact member fails to move away from the stationary contacts when, the cam member is moved to the position 1llustrated in Fig. 4, continued movement of said cam member, as illustrated in Fig. 5, will cause the lug to engage the cross piece 18 of said contact member, thus giving the same a positive impulse after which the springs 24 will operate to move said contact member with a snap action as previously described. Furthermore, by so constructing the cam member that the lug 32 will engage the cross piece of the contact member just after the roller 23 passes the crest 28 of said cam member, if the contact member sticks, the force of the springs is transferred from the contact member to the cam member with the result that a quick impulse is given to the latter, which causes the same to impart a hammerlikeblow to the former. This, of course, gives the conroller to tact member a quick impulse which, further assisted by the springs 24, quickly moves said contact member to open position. Also, it sometimes occurs, in ractiec, that he springs break or lose their resilimcy, thus rendering the same ineffective to operate the switch. Again, this contingency ts act b the provision of the lugs 3 5 and iii. will be seen in Figs. 1 and 53, the lug 3i engages the portion 18 of the contact mem her when the same is in full open position. while the lug 33 engages said portion when said member is in full closed posiiimi, which shows that if the springs should utterly fail. said lugs, upon full operation of the cam member, would positively move the contact member to full open or closed p f ition. The operation of the switch fr m coco to closed position is similar to the u. ration previously set forth, and, tlwrelon, quires no further dc -ription.

It will be appreciated that the. uitha nism must be more or less linely ad usted, and that an important feature of the ml justment is the location of the stops for limiting the movement of the contact: no thtl' whereby the roller 23 will be caused rt over,the crest of the cam member upon prearranged. movement of said cam moon ber. Hence, should the contact mem er be stopped short of or permitted to pass beyond the prearranged limit, up operation would be seriously disturbed with the pos sible result that poor contact would made and arcs drawn between the Contact in ber and the stationary contacts. :Bhoohl switch mechanism be placed in a socket, or the like, it would ,obviou dangerous to mount the stops upon an which would be apt to warp, shrinl: or come displaced. Of course, the Si pS might arranged in other ways than I have illustrated. l'lowcvcr, in the construction therein disclosed, I am mablcd to stamp the entire supporting frame from a single piece of metal, and am thus enabled to form the stops integral tlwrcwith and to locate stops thereon with a line degree of accui The cam mcmbcn and moi able contact me; her may also be formed of s ampings. lbw rendering the st ructurc of a simple and inexpensive form.

Another important feature of the structure illustrated is that it is st-lbcontained. That to say, should the mechanisl'n be placed in a lamp socket, or the like. it might be completely adjusted before being placed therein, and, consequently, its operation would in no wise be affected by any inaccuracies in the formation of the base of the lamp socket, or any variations in the dimen sions thereof, due to warp or shrinkage. To more clearly demonstrate this factfl have shown, in Figs. 6 and 7, a slightly modified form of such mechanism applied to a pend.-

ant switclu-L Tlieficasing ofijthe switch is of a conventional type;lbeingcformed: in two sections 39-.' and 140; 'secured s -tio' ether by a suitable 'screwg'4l, As i1'r- ;t he1 evice previously, described, zthe several arts toil-the switch mechanism are} mou'nte upon {a supporting frame--42' ofq substantially t hefsame construct-ion;as7-t-hef-framo5il. formed' of a stamping-1having a fupturned port-ion 43 which 1 is secured sto one ,section of the casing-b a screw 445P-Alsothe frame 42 has upwar ly extendingt ltigs145 similar to the lugs-13-and14, except that the" "have vertically: disposed steps 46- and. .147 Instead of inwardly, rojecting stopsc l The contact member isthe same construction asthe contact member'tpreviously described, yvith the exception that it has lugs :48; formed thereon tocoiiperate with the stops46' and 47. In this structure I use a slightl difiercnt form of a cam member 50. he cam member 50 is in the'nature of a hollow frame so formed that the portions-51 and 52 will perform the same functions as the la 82 and 33 of the cam member previous y described. The cam member may be supported by push buttons 53 and 54 which pass through opposite sides of the casing or by the frame 42. This cam member 1s pro-j vidcd with the same form of guide as previously described. The purpose of making the cam 55 in the form of a hollow frame is to enable me to employ a oke' 56 connected to the pin carryin the ro er 23. This yoke lS substantially -shaped, having its arms arranged on opposite sides of the roller and its cross portion passing through the opening in the cam member. With such an arrangement I am enabled to dispense with one of the springs 24 shown in the a parntus disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, thus simp ifying the mechanism and reducing the overall dimensions thereof. One s ring 24 is connected at one end to the yo 0 56 and at its other end to the pivot in 15.-

With the exception a ove ointed out, the switch mechanism illustrated in Figs. 0 and T is the same as that disclosed in lugs. 1 to 5, and the operation thereof is identical.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent.is:-

1. In an elcctricswitch in combination, a contact member, a rectilinearly movable operating member adapted to directly engage said contact member topositively :move

some, said members having directly engag-- ing parts tending to cause a. uickvmovement of said contact member prior to; said lopcrating member directly engagin zthe same.-

2. In an electric'switch incom ination, a contact member, arectilinearly -movable' op-. erating member therefor having cobperating arts adapted after "a predetermined move-i meat of said 1 operating memberrelgfiVeto said contact member to be broughti'mto en- I rom said operatiin gagement to insure positive operation. of

sai

contact member, said members also having-directly engaging relatively movable parts tending to impart a quick movement vto said contact member prior to engagement of said coiiperating parts.

3; an electric switch, in cmnbination, a

contact member, an operating member and operative connections between the same tending to actuate said contact member with asnap action upon a definite movement of said operating member and actuating said o crating member to impart a hammerlilte b ow to said contact member upon failure of the latter to move under the influence of said connection.

4.1:; an electric switch in combination, a contact member, an operating member therefor, said members having directly engaging relatively movable parts tending to actuate said contact'member with a quick action upon a partial movement of said operating member, said operating member upon continued movement directly en aging said contact member if the same ails to operate, said engaging parts under such conditions causing said contact member to impart a hammer like blow to said contact member.

. 5. In an electric switch in combination, a

pivoted contact member, a reciprocable opcrating member therefor adapted after a predetermined de ree of movement to directly engage and positively operate said contact member, a connection between said members including resilient means on one of said members and a cooperating cam on the other of said members tending to cause operation of said contact member with a snap action before said operating member directly engages the same and to cause said 0 crating member to impart a hammer like b ow to said contact member under certain conditions.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, n movable contact member, an operating membor therefor, a resilient connect-ion between the same including a cam for impartin a nick movement to said contact mcm er mcu'ibcr, said operating member being aditptcd, upon continued movement, to engage and positively move said contact member to give the same an initial impulse under certain conditions, and to move said contact member from one positionto another under other conditions, said resilient means being adapted to cause said operatingmember, upon engaging said contact member, to impart a lltllllll'wlllkO blow thereto.-

.7. In an electric switch, in combination, a

pivoted contact member, a sliding operating member therefor and a resilient connection :between the same holding said contact member'against operation during a definite movement of said operating member and ill then -iimpartiiig a} snap movement said contact I-;member, said operatingt ime nber being adapted"; tot-dir ctly; iigagegaiidr posi 8. I nan-electricswitch, incombiiiatioii, a

pivoted -:contact inember, a-slidingloperatin 'z member-1;- f therefor. adapted toengages andpositively opera to said contact member,- and a resilient connection between I said contact men'iberfa'nd said operatingmembcr tending. to impart a quick movement tethe former from the latter, prior to the engagement of said contact member bysaid operating member and tending to cause said-: 0 crating member to impart a hammer like blow to said contactmember under certain conditions.

9. In an electric switch, in combination, a movable contact member, a cam operating member, a member resiliently connected to said contact member and arranged to directly engage the cam surface of said operating mem er to move said contact mem er at an accelerated speed independent of the speed of said operating member upon said operatin member being moved a predetermined istance, said operating member, upon further movement, being adapted to engage and positively operate said contact mem er under certain conditions.

10. In an electric switch, in combination, a movable contact member, a cam operating member therefor, a member resiliently connected to said contact member and arranged to directly engage the cam surface of said operating member to move said contact member at an accelerated speed independent of the speed of said operating member, said operating member having a ortion adapted upon continued movement 0 said operating member to engage said contact member to positively move the same, said cam-and its engaging member causing said"v operating mem er ifthe same engages said: contact member to impart a hammer like blow thereto.

11. In an electric switch, in'combination, a pivoted contact member, a sliding operating member having a cam surface, a member resiliently connected to said contact member and directly engaging the cam-surface ofsaid operating member, to cause said contact member, upon a-predetermined movementof said operatin member, to move at an accelerated speed independent of the speed of and in an opposite direction to the movement of said operatin member, saido crating member, upon con inued 'move'men ,being adapted to directly engage saidcontact member to positively operatethe same under" certain ironditimm- I 12. In an electric switch, in combination, a supporting frame, a contact member pivoted thereon, stops on said frame for limitthe movement of said contact member infiioth'directions, a sliding operating memberjhavi'nga cam surface formed by oppo- "sitely;'inclined faces, a member resiliently connected to said contact member and directly engagingthe cam surface of said operatingmember to move said contact mem- ;berin an opposite direction to the movement ofXsaid operatin member and at an acceleratedspeedindependent of the speed of said 0' eratin member.

13. nian dlectric switch, in combination, a sup orting frame, a contact member pivoted tiereon, stops on said frame for limit.- ing the movement of said switch member in both directions, a sliding operating member havinga cam surface formed by oppositely inclined faces, a resilient member connected to said contact member and directly engaging the cam, said operating member being constructed to directly engage said contact member to positively operate the same under predetermined conditions.

14. In an electric switch, in combination, avpivoted contact member, a sliding OPCI'ZH- iiig member having a cam surface provided with a crest having oppositely inclined faces extending therefrom, a. roller slidably mounted on said contact member, and resilient means for maintaining said roller in en gagement with the cam surface of said operating member to cause said contact member to move atanmccelerated speed and in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating member when said roller has been forced onto the crest of the cam surface ofsaid operating member.

15. In an electric switch, in combination, a-pivoted contact member, a sliding operating member having a cam surface provided with a crest havin oppositely inclined faces extending thercf om, a roller slidabl v mounted on said contact member, and resilient means for maintaining said roller in engagement with the cam surface of said operating member to cause said contact member to move at an accelerated speed and in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating member when said roller has been forced onto the crest of the cam surface thereof, said operating member being adapt- .cd, upon continued movement, to directly engage said contact member to positively operate the same under predetermined conditions.

16. In an electric switch, in combination.

asupporting frame, a contact member pivotallymounted thereon, stops on said frame for limiting the movement of said contact meniherinboth directions, a sliding operating member having a double inclined cam surface, a roller slidably mounted on said contact member, and resilient means for maintaining said roller in engagement with the cam surface of said operating member to move said contact member in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating member and at an accelerated speed inde endent of the speed of said operating mem e1- 17. In an electric switch, in combination, a supporting frame having upwardly extending lugs thereon, a pin supported by said lugs, a U-shaped contact member pivoted u on said pin, stops on said lugs for limiting t ie movement of said 'contact member in both directions, a pin adapted to work in slots in said contact member, a roller carried by said in, a sliding operating member arran ed etween the arms of said contact mem er and having a double inclined cam surface, coil sprin s on opposite sides of said 0 crating mem er and each having one end t ereof connected to said pivot pin and its other end connected to the in carr in" said roller for resiliently hol ding said ro ler against the cam surface of said operating member, said sprin and said roller being adapted to co-act wit the cam surface of said operating member to move said contact member in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating member and at an accelerated speed independent of the speed of said operating member.

18. In an electric switch, in combination, a supporting frame having upwardly ex tendin lugs thereon, a pin supported by said ugs, a U-shaped contact member pivoted u on said pin, stops on said lugs for limiting t e movement of said contact member in both directions, a pin adapted to work in slots in said contact member, a roller carried by said in, a sliding operatmg member arranged etween' the arms of said contact member and having a double inclined cam surface, coil springs arranged on op ositc sides of said cam member and each aving one end thereof connected to said pivot pin and its other end connected to the pin carrying said roller for resiliently holdin said roller against the cam surface of sai operating member, said sprin and said roller bein adapted to co-act with the cam surface 0 said operating member to move said contact member in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating member and at an accelerated speed independent of the speed of said operating member, said operating member having portions adapted to engage the cross ortion of said contact member to ositive y actuate the same under predetermined conditions.

19. In an electric switch, in combination, a substantially U-shaped pivoted contact member, a sliding operating member having a double inclined cam surface, said operating member having an enlar ed opening therein through which extends t 10 cross portion and pivot of said contact member, a pin adapted to work in longitudinal slots in the arms of said contact member, a roller carried by said pin, a oke having arms pivotally connected to said pin on opposite sides of said roller, and a cross portion passing through the recess in said operating member, and a coil spring connected to the cross member of said yoke and to the ivot of said contact member for resiliently iolding said roller in engagement with the cam surface of said 0 )erating member, said sprin and said roller being adapted to coact with the cam surface of said operating member to move said contact member in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating member and at an accelerated speed independent of the speed of said operatin member.

20. ii an electric switch, in combination, a supsorting frame having parallel lugs forme thereon, a pivot pin carried by said lugs, a substantially U-shaped contact member pivotally mounted on said pin, stops on said lugs for limiting the movement of said contact member in both directions, a sliding operating member including a hollow frame having a double inclined cam surface, the cross portion of said contact member and its pivot pin being arranged to pass throu h said frame, a pin wor (in in slots in tie arms of said contact mem er, a roller carried by said pin, a yoke having arms pivotally connected to said pin on opposite sides of said roller, the cross ortion of said yoke extending through said oierating frame, and a coil spring connecte at one end to said oke and at its other end to the 01 said contact member for resiliently olding said roller against the cam surface of said 0 crating member, said spring and said roller eing arranged to cooperate with the cam surface of said operating member to move said contact member in an opposite direction to the movement of said operating member and at an accelerated speed indeendent of the speed of said operating memer, said operating member having portions adapted to engage the cross ortion of said contact member to positively operate the same under certain conditions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. WI'EGAND.

ivot

Witnesses:

Atrium HALvicnsoiv, M. R. Famvo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. C."

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