US1157310A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

-C. I. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLwATIoN FILED APR.8.1912.

1,157,310. Patelwrd 001119,1915.'

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CHARLES J'. KLEIN, 0F MLWUKEE, lsCNsN, SSEG'NOR TG THE CUTLERJ-IAMMER MFG. CU., F MELWAUKEE, W1SCONSIN, CORPORTON 0F WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITGHL Lia'aeio.

Application led April 8, 1912.

-To all whom t may concern.

.5 State of Wisconsin, have invented new and will be l particularly useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, c oncise, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

, My invention relates to electric switches. It has among its objects' to provide an improved snap switch of a simple, durable and ellicient character. l

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch of this character which adapted to llusn switches.

Other objects and advantages of my improved construction will hereinafter appear.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to an electric flush switch. lt is not however limited to use with this type of switch or to the precise construction herein shown.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation .of the switch in open circuit position. shows a side elevation of the switch in closed circuit position. Fig. 3 shows a bottom plan view of the switch. Fig. l shows a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. F ig. 5 shows a detail View of a part of the operating mechanism.

The switch'mechanism includes a plurality of push button operated racks 1, a pinion 2 actuated thereby, movable contacts 3 adapted to engage stationary contacts 4- and operative connections between the pinion and the movable contacts including a cam and resilient means for insuring a snap action.

The racks 1 reciprocate in a frame 5 and are provided with stops 6 to limit their downward movement in the same. As one push-button is lowered the other is raised through the meshing of the teeth of the racks with the pinion. This pinion is mounted on a sleeve 7 which turns on a transverse shaft 8 journaled in depending arms 9 carried by the frame. t a point beyond its periphery this pinion carries a ball holder 1G seated in the free ends of parallel members 11. rlhis ball holder is preferab'ly cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 5, and houses a coiled spring l2 which normally Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. e

Patented 9ct. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 689,290.

tends to throw balls 13 in the ends of the ball holder to their out position.

Cams 14 lare fixed to the shaft 8 on 0pposite 'sides of the pinion 2 in such a position that their active surfaces are engaged by the balls 13. 1n a preferred form the cams are dislcshaped and identical, being provided with inturned anges providing cam surfaces of the same conformation, and of substantially equal length and slope on the opposite sides of peaks 15. In order that the ball holder when turned by the movement of the pinion and push buttons may Vfreely pass the peaks of the cams the ball holder is preferably slotted on each end as at 15. T he limits of travel of the ball holder and racks are established by projections 17 at the bottom of the slopes of the cams and the stops 6 on the racks. The limit of travel of the cams is established by providing each of the diskshaped cams with a cutaway portion 18, and slightly thickening the walls of the cams as at 19 at points adjacent these cutaway portions so that when the cam is oscillated ,this thickened portion will abut against the edge of the depending frame 9 within which the shaft 8 is journaled.

The movable contacts 3 are liXed to the shaft 8 and insulated therefrom as by suitable insulation 20. rlhese movable contacts move with the cams 1-1 with a quick snap action to make. or break the circuit connections at the stationary contacts el.. ln a preferred forni the movable contacts 3 are arcshaped, kas shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the stationary contacts are-'resilient and arc-A shaped so that a `wiping action is produced which tends to keep the contacts clean. The stationary contacts l are preferably mounted on suitable supports 21 depending from the frame and are provided with suitable terminal connections 22 in the form of binding posts; the contacts being insulated from the supports 21 by suitable inF sulation 23.

Assuming the switch to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 wherein the -circuit is open and the left-hand push button is depressed, the operation of the switch is as follows: When the rightdiand push-,button is de. pressed the pinion 2 is 'turned toward the right. The ball holder 10 is carried with the pinion and the balls 13 engage the active surfaces ofthe cams 14:, traveling up these compress the spring 12 until they reach the peaks ofthe cams. Until this point is reached no movement. of the cams takes place. However, atthe moment the balls pass the crests of the cams the spring 12 is released, forcing the balls outward and throwing the cams 14 to the right in an Opposite direct-ion tothe direction of movement of the ball holder. It is thus seen that the balls move rapidly down the opposite slope of the cam and the cams are impelled in an opposite direction tothe direction of movement of the balls with a quick snap action. Since the movable .con-

tacts 3 move with the cams 14 the circuit is therefore made at the contacts -1- with a quick snap action, the parts occupying the position shown in Fig. 2. Obviously, when it is desired to break the circuit connections the left-hand push-button is depressed and the cycle of operation just described is reversed. Due t'o the provision of the spaced or double cams the parts are balanced thus eliminating the strain upon the 4same. Further, the means for limiting the movement of the racks, the ball. holder and the cams eliminates undue strain upon the parts. By provision of the rack and pinion mechanism the depression of one push button always acts positively to raise the other push butt'on, so thatthe switch mechanism is always in a position to be operated.

1While 'I have illustrated and described one specific form which my invention may assume inpractice, it is to -be understood that certain features thereof are susceptible to modification without departing from the i,spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

'What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is tact associated with said cams.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, an operating rack, a pinion meshing therewith, a cam mounted co-vaxially with said pinion, a resilient device carried by said' pinion and bearing against said cam to iinpart an accelerated. movement to the latter upon operation of said pinion, and a contact member movable with said cam.

3. In an electric switch, in combination,

a pivoted member having a cam surface dis.

lspring-pressed device carried thereby and biased aga-inst said cam, and contacts movable with said member.

4. In an electric switch, in combination,

two relatively movable and co-aXially pivoted' members having engaging parts, one part being yieldable and resiliently bearing against the other to alternately impede and impel movement of one member in one direction during movement of the other member in the other direction, operating means for said last mentioned member, and a movable contact associated with the other member. 5. In an electric flush switch, in combination, a pair of rectilinearly movable racks having push button extremities, a pinion meshing with said racks and interlocking the same to move in opposite directions, a pair of cto-axially pivotcd members disposed on opposite sides of said pinion and having convex cams projecting toward the same, and resilient means carried by said pinion and confined between said cams to receive and store energy during initial movement of said pinion and to thereafter expend such energy in imparting accelerated movement to said pivoted members in avdirection opposite to the movement of said pinion.

6. In an electric switch, a pinion, a plu- 7. In an electric switch, a contact operating mechanism comprising a spindle, a plurality of spaced cam members fixed to said spindle and having peaked active surfaces, a Contact member movable with said cam members, a pinion loosely mounted on said spindle between said cam members, and resilient operative connections between said pinion and said'cam members for giving the latter a quick snap action upon movement of said pinion.

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

CHARLES il. KLEIN.

Witnesses FRANK II. HUBBARD', H. L. LOCKNEL.

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