US1145764A - Electric switch-lock. - Google Patents

Description

E. M. FULLER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-3,1914.

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E. M. FULLER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK- APPLICATION FILED JAN-3.1914.

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Patented July 6 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COuWASHINGTDN. 0.1..

ERNEST IVL FULLER, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed. January 3, 1914. Serial No. 810,237.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ennnsr M. FULLER, citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric SwitchLocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for either 1 making or breaking electrical circuits, and

has reference particularly to devices whereby electrical circuits may be broken, and means whereby the devices may be securely locked to prevent unauthorized persons from restoring the circuits; the circuit breaker being particularly adapted for use in connection with motor vehicles of that type wherein an electric circuit is necessaryto the operation of the propelling power mechanism of the vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical switch lock of such novel and peculiar construction as to afford in every instance a broad and perfect contact, and which is at all times positively protected and locked from unauthorized interference.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the switch casing may be locked against unauthorized removal, the locking means being operable by one and the same key as that employed for operating the switch lock, thus affording a distinctly individual and novel device.

A still further object of the invention is to afford a construction of such simple, compact and durable nature as to require no attention whatever on the part of the user other than to turn the key and by the use of which short-circuiting and imperfect contact are impossible.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application. V

In describing my invention in detail ref erence will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure-1 is a front elevation of the casing within which the device comprising the pres ent invention is inclosed; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device comprising the present invention, the casing, and several other elements being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. i is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the relative disposition of the contact plates and the circuit closing device; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the key casing, the key being shown in elevation.

Broadly, the invention consists of a key operated switch lock, having means associated therewith whereby the casing within which the switch lock is inclosed may be locked and unlocked relative to its support by the manipulation of one and the same key, the operation of each being determinable by the position of the key relative to the casing within which it is operated.

Referring now to the drawings by numeral, 1 designates, as an entirety, the casing within which the mechanism comprising the present invention is arranged. The said casing, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a removable base plate 2 adapted to be detach-ably secured, by means of screws 3, to the dash board of a motor vehicle, or to any other suitable supporting structure convenient to the operator of the machine.

Detachably secured to the base plate 1 by means of screws 4; is the casing proper 5, one edge of which is provided with looking tongues 6 adapted for disposition beneath suitable keepers 7 formed integrally with the base plate 2. Upon the opposite edge of the casing proper 5 from that upon which the tongues 6 are formed I provide a single locking tongue 8, over which a sliding bolt 9, operable withinthe casing, is arranged, the mechanism for sliding the said bolt being hereinafter fully described.

Pivoted as at 10 to a lug 11 carried by the base plate 2 of the casing, I provide an operating lever 12 of the bell-crank type, to one end of which is secured as at 13 a suitable helical spring 14, the opposite end of the said spring being secured as at 15 to a lug l6 projecting into the interior of the casing from the base plate 2 in spaced relation to and beneath the said lever 12, the said lug serving, as is illustrated to advantage in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings,

as. a keeper or guide for the sliding bolt 9. To the opposite end of the lever 12, a rod 17 is secured, the said rod terminating at its free end in an enlargement 18 projecting exteriorly of the casing 5 through an opening 19 formed therein, the walls of the said opening serving as a bearing for the e11- larged portion of the said rod. The tension of the spring 14 is suflicient to normally maintain the enlargement or knob 18 extended with respect to the said casing.

Within the casing, and atone side of the lever 12, I provide a locking bolt or rod 20 mounted for sliding movement within a suitable bearing 21 provided therefor, the latter being supported by the base plate 2. Collars 22 and 23 are adjustable upon the rod 20, the former serving as an abutment for one end of a spring 24 arranged to embrace the said rod and to normally exert an inward pressure thereupon. The opposite end of the spring 24 engages a lever 25, oscillatable on a pivot 26 within the casing. The said lever 25 intermediate its ends is provided with an elongated slot through which the said rod 20 extends. Disposed upon the opposite side of the lever from that upon which the collar 22 is disposed, is the collar 23, to provide, during the oscillatory movement of the said lever, for the sliding movement of the said rod 20, suchmovement being against the tension of the spring 24.

The free or inner end of the rod 20 is engageable with the lever 12, it being normally seated within a recess 27 formed within the said lever 12 to prevent, when thus seated, movement of the said lever. As a support for the rod 20, a bearing 28 is provided and disposed adjacent the free end thereof.

Secured to the lever 12 at a point adjacent the point 13 is an operating rod 30, the opposite end of which is secured as at 31 to an arm 32 oscillatable from a point 33 within the casing. Depending from the arm 32, and disposed in uniform spaced relation, 1 provide one or a plurality of extensions 33 over which springs 34 are arranged, the said springs abutting respectively the arm or beam 32 and contacts 35, the latter being provided, with a recess 36, within which an enlarged head portion 37 of the extension 33 is seated. Directly beneath the contacts 35, and disposed normally in spaced relation thereto, I provide contacts 38 and 39 respectively, the former being supported in the desiredposition through the medium of insulating lugs 40 and the latter through the medium of insulating lugs 41. Openings 42 are formed within the base 2 of the casing, the wires (not shown) connected to the said plates, extending therethrough.

Proceeding now with the description of the mechanism for oscillating the lever 25 to withdraw the rod 20 from its seat 27 within the lever 12, the numeral 43 designates as an entirety, the key casing, the same comprising a plurality of sections, preferably three, designated respectively 44, 45 and 46, the former being seated within an opening 47 formed in the casing proper 5. Insulating material is interposed between the key case and the lock case 5. Annular flanges or extensions 48 are formed upon the inner extremities of the sections 44 and 46 to overlap flanges 49 formed upon the extremities of the intermediate section 45, this arrangement providing for the support of the said intermediate section by the said two sections 44 and 46, at the same time permitting the said intermediate section to be turned or rotated independently of'the said supporting sections 44 and 46. A key way 50, of the same configuration in each casingsection is provided, within which a removable operating key 51 is insertible for turning the said sections of which the casing is composed according to the turning of the said key. As a support for the inner section 46, a bearing 52 is provided, the said bearing being insulated from the key case and extending upwardly from the casing 5 as is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Upon the inner extremity of the section 46 of the casing, and projecting inwardly therefrom, I provide a pin 53 extending through a slot 54 formed within the lever 25 for imparting movement thereto according to the turning of the casing section carrying the said pin. The lever 25 being pivoted as at 26, it is apparent that an oscillatory movement is imparted thereto by the rotation of the pin-carrying section of the casing.

Pivoted as at 55 to the intermediate section 45 of the casing is a rod 56 the same being bent intermediate its ends to provide a right angled extension 57 the free end of which works within an elongated opening 58 formed within one end of a bell crank 59 pivoted as at 60, its opposite end being secured to an extension 61 of the sliding bolt 9. The construction of the device having been fully described, it now remains to set forth a little more in detail the operation thereof. Then it is desired that the contacts 35 be moved into engagement with the plates 38 and 39, such movement is effected by a turning of the key 51 within the casing 43 provided therefor. The key 51 is first inserted within the key-way 50 its entire length, thus, by a turning of the key, imparting a like movement to the inner casing section 46, at the same time permitting the intermediate section 45 to remain idle or stationary, this being made possible by the peculiar formation of the key. The key, as shown to advantage in Fig. 6, is made sectional, the

terminal sections being substantially flat, and the intermediate or connecting section being of such size and shape as to rotate freely within the key case Without causing the section of which the key case is composed to rotate with it, this construction permitting, when the key is inserted, full length, into the lock, a rotation of sections 46 and 44 of the lock case without a corresponding rotation of section 45, the latter section being of a size whereby to entirely embrace the connecting portion of the key, the said connecting portion being rotatable within the intermediate section 45 without imparting motion thereto. To operate the intermediate section 45, the key 51 is inserted only part way within the key case, that is, only to such an extent as to cause the end key section to engage the said intermediate key case section without engaging the key case section 46, this arrangement, when the key 51 is rotated, permitting sections 45 and 44 of the key case to be rotated, the section 46 remaining stationary or idle. A turning of the inner casing section 46 will impart a like movement to the pin 53 and as the latter operates within the slot 54, it is apparent that the lever 25 is actuated and forced, by a continued rotation of the key, into engagement with the collar 23. The said collar being rigid with respect to the shaft 20, a sliding movement is imparted to the latter against the tension of the spring 24 thereby unseating said rod from the recess 27 of the operating lever 12. The rod 20 having been disengaged from the lever 12, the tension of the spring 14 will rock the said lever, cause the rod 17 and the knob 18 to move forwardly, at the same time exerting a pull upon the rod 30 connected to the beam or arm 32. The said beam 32 being pivoted as at 33, and the contacts 35 being carried thereby, it is further apparent that the said contacts, the springs 34 providing a yieldable support therefor, will be moved into engagement with the plates 38 and 39 thus closing or making the electric circuit necessary to the operation of the invention. When it is desired that the circuit be broken, the knob 18 is forced inwardly until the recess 27 of the lever 12 is alined with the rod 20, whereupon the spring 24, by reason of its engagement with the collar 22 will seat the said rod within said recess and lock the said lever 12 in its normal position, the beam 32 being ralsed or moved in the position illustrated in Flg. 2 of the drawings so as to disengage the contacts with the plates 38 and 39. To unlock the casing proper 5 from the base 2 thereof, the key 51 is inserted part way within the key way 50 or only a suflicient distance to engage the intermediate casing section 45, in which event a turning of the said key will impart a like movement to the said intermediate section, and as this section has secured thereto as at 55, the rod 56, it is apparent that the bell crank 59 is actuated and the bolt 9 removed from engagement with the locking tongue 8, which j removal, will permit, the screws 4 having first been removed,

the entire removal of the casing proper 5.

From the above, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that the adjustment of the collars 22 and 23 will provide, first, for the regulation of the tension of the spring 24, and second, for varying the length of the stroke of the rod 20; that the operation of both the switch device and the casing locking device are controlled solely by the manipulation of a single key; and that by varying the formation of the key way 50, keys of various izyples may be provided for each individual In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, a lock case, switch lock mechanism within the case, mechanism operable to lock and unlock the case relatively to its support, and a single key operable to either simultaneously operate the two mechanisms or to operate one mechanism independently of the other.

2. In an electrical switch locking device, a lover, a second lever, means operable by movement of said first mentioned lever to lock and unlock said last mentioned lever, a pivoted arm, means connecting the said last mentioned lever with said arm, and means carried by said arm to make and break the electric circuit, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electrical switch lock, an operating lever, means for automatically actuating said lever, means engageable with said lever to render the same inoperative, means engageable with said last mentioned means for actuating the same, means for actuating the said last mentioned means, and means operable by movement of said lever to make and break the electric circuit, as and for the purpose set forth. I

4. In an electrical switch look, a fulcrumed operating lever, a spring actuated slidable rod adapted for engagement with said lever to normally maintain said lever inoperative, a second lever adapted for engagement with said rod, means for actuating said second lever to remove said rod from engagement With said operating lever, .In testimony whereof I aflix my signature spring means havingconnect on W1th said n'presence of two Witnesses. operating lever to actuate the same after the removal o f said. rod, and means 0p- ERNEST FULLER erable by movement of said lever to make Witnesses;

and breakthe electric circuit, as and for the CORNELIUS DE BOER,

.purposeset forth. G. KRINZENGER.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G.

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