US1136472A - Knife-blade switch. - Google Patents

Description

G. E. LINTON.

KNIFE BLADE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED.SEPT-30, 19H.-

Patented Apr.20;1915.

@Q Z k UNITE) SATS PATENT @FFIQE GEORGE E. LINTON, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 FRANK C. MONTGOMERY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNIFE-IBLADE swrrcn.

inserts.

Application filed September 30, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. LINTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in KnifeBlade Switches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts. I

The present invention relates to a knife blade switch, and is embodied in a novel construction and arrangement of the switch contact plates and supporting bases therefor, which constitute the switch terminals, adapted to be connected or disconnected by the hinged knife-blade members. The switch contact-blades and their supports, together with the knife blade supports, are made entirely of conducting metal, and are arranged to be secured upon a common supporting base of insulating material; in this respect following the usual construction employed in knife blade switches. V

In accordance with the invention, however, the manufacture of the terminals is greatly facilitated, and the cost thereof reduced, owing to the means employed for connecting the plates with the metallic base portions, upon which the plates are immediately supported.

In accordance with the invention, the metallic base portions are provided with open sockets in which the'contact plates are inserted endwise, the said plates being shown as shouldered so as to bear endwise on the metallic base portions beyond the walls of the sockets. The plates thus inserted are held in position by means of a separating portion which is adapted to be wedged into the socket between the blades. The said separating portion may be made in any suitable way, either as a separate piece, or as integral with the plates themselves. In accordance with this construction, it is practicable to prepare the metallic base portions for the insertion of the plates by a punch ing operation, it being practicable to punch at the same time an opening for a screw or similar fastening device by which the me tallic base portion can be secured to the main support of insulating material.

It is to be understood that the term socket is used throughout the description and claim as implying an opening Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2Q, 1915.

Serial No. 652,098.

which is completely surrounded by lateral walls, as distinguished from a slot of the kind commonly formed by cutting in from the edge.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in sectlon, of a knife blade switch embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through one of the switch terminals; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 90 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing separately the several parts of the terminal; and Fig. 5 is a perspective View, partly in section, showing a modification.

The complete switch is assembled in the usual way, the switch terminals being mounted on a main support A of insulating ma terial. Each of the said switch terminals consists of a metallic base plate a adapted to be secured as by a screw a to the main support A, and the terminal plates 2) which are secured in the said metallic base plate.

In describing the construction, one of the opening and closing terminals will be referred to, the plates Z) in these members differing from the plates Z) in the knife blade supporting members merely by being flared outward at the ends, as indicated at 6 to facilitate the entrance of the switch blades 0, which are shown as hinged between the plates 6 of the knife blade supports. It is obvious, however, that this flaring of the plates 6 is not essential, although the contact plates are usually shaped this way, so that they will be close enough together to make a firm contact with the knife blade 0, and at the same time will afford a tapering opening or mouth, so that the knife-blade is guided into the space between the plates.

In accordance with the invention, the metallic base a is provided with an open socket a and usually with an opening a to re ceive the fastening screw o The plates or contact springs Z) are of such size as to fit the socket laterally, but not to fill the socket completely, the two plates, when in position, being separated by a space,in order to receive the blades 0. The plates 6, after the terminal has been assembled, are firmly held in the sockets by means of separating portions d which are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and r as metallic keys which are adapted to be wedged firmly into the sockets between the plates 6. The said plates, as best shown in Figs. 1 and I, are preferably made wider than the socket, and cut away to afford tongues b which fit the socket, and shoulders b which lie on the surface of the base a beyond the socket. The separating key (Z is adapted to have a tight fit between the blades I), so as to hold the same firmly in place, it being usual, however, to add to the strength of the construction by applying solder when the parts are assembled.

The specific construction of the separating part is immaterial, so far as relates to the present invention, it being practicable, for

example, as shown in Fig. 5, to substitute for the separate key (Z the upturned portions 6 of the plates Z) themselves.

The construction embodying the invention is not only substantial, but also inexpensive, for the reason that the sockets a can be rapidly made my a punching process; and if the opening a is employed for the purpose of fastening the base to the insulating sup port, this opening can be punched at the same operation, thereby effecting an additional saving of time.

What I claim is: 7

A switch member comprising a metallic base, provided with a rectangular laterally inclosed opening extending wholly through said base; flat contact plates, the main portion of each plate being wider than one dimension of the opening and the lower portion thereof being equal in width to the said dimension of the opening, the length of said lower portion being equal to the depth of said opening so that said lower portions extend into and through said opening to the bottom of the base, the sides of the lower portion of said contact plates when the switch is assembled lying in contact with opposite vertical walls of the said opening; and a rectangular metallic block inserted in the opening between the contact plates and closely fitting the space inclosed by the exposed sides of said plates and the opposite vertical walls of the opening, the said block constituting the sole means for securing said plates to said base, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. LINTON.

Witnesses:

A. ELIZABETH CARLSSON, SAMUEL E. NASH.

(Topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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