US1158060A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

C. I. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. I914.

1,158,060. I Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

CHARLES J. KLEIN", OF MILWAUKEE,

MFG. CO., OF MILWAUKEE,

WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 13, 1914. Serial No. 818,452.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, 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 being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to electric switches.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved snap switch of sturdy construction which comprises few parts cheaply manufactured and easily assembled.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In order to more clearly disclose my invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing two of the various possible embodiments thereof.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side view,

partially in section, of a switch mechanism; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same-incorporated in a surface switchdevice. Fig. 3 is a plan view of'the device shown in Fig. 2 with the cover plate removed; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line -l4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view, partially in section, of a modified form of switch mechanism; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the same incorporated in a candelabra switch device; and, Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 6, showing, in addition, a lamp support carried by the switch base. The switch mechanism illustrated com prises, in general, an operating member 1, a contact member 2 pivoted thereto, and energy storing means 3 associated with the contact and arranged to move the same with a snap-action after a predetermined movement of the operating member.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a reciprocating operating member 1 having push-button extremities 4 and bracket arms 5 intermediate its ends with open bearings 6. The contact member 2 is substantially inverted U-shaped and provided at the ends ofits parallel blades with studs 7 which are journaled in the bracket bearings 6. The operating member '1 is mounted to reciprocate through, and to be limited in its movementby, a stationary frame 8. The energy storing means for the switch comprises a coil spring 3 longitudinally disposed between the contact blades and having its upper end attached to the contact, spring extends downwardly through a longitudinal slot 10 in the operating plate 1 and is attached to the frame 8 through an opening 11 in the latter. The spring 3 is under a slight constant tension and acts to retain the contact member in pivotal connection with the operating member and to normally bias both members to extreme postions. The limit of oscillation of the contact member is established by any suitable means, such as extensions 12 of the station ary frame 2 (Fig. l) or walls 13 of the switch base (Fig. 6). Reciprocation of the operating member in either direction shifts the pivotal axis of the contact 2 and tensions the spring 3 until the axis of the contact crosses the dead center of the sprin tension, whereupon the contact is oscillated to reverse position with a snap movement.

Referring to Figs. '2, 3 and 4, the switch mechanism is shown as mounted upon a rectangular insulating base 14 having suitable recesses in its upper face to receive the stationary frame 8 and having openings in opposite walls to receive the push-buttons 4. A pair of resilient stationary contacts 15 are secured'to the base at one end of the same by means of screws 16 and are ro- THE CUTLER-HAMMER Patented Oct. 26,1915. I

as at 9. The other end of the vided with resilient contact surfaces 1 at one end to be bridged by the free extremity of the contact member 2 in one extreme position. At the opposite ends of the contacts 15 are binding posts 18 for connection to line wires through adjacent apertures 19 in the switch base. 20, having an insulating lining 21, rests upon the switch base and completes theinclosure of the switch mechanism.

Assuming the switch to be in the off position, shown in Fig. 2, pressure on the right push-button 4 effects the following operation: The operating member 1 is moved to the left and carries the pivotal axis of the contact member 2 therewith. As the upper end of the latter bears against the extension 12 of the frame, the contact tends to assume a perpendicular with respect to the operating member and accordingly the free extremity of the contact is raised. The spring 3 is accordingly stretched until the A suitable metallic cover pivotal am's of the contact moves across thee plane of the spring tension, whereupon the. action of the spring is reversed and the con-- tact is oscillated to the right with a snap movement and closes circuit between the sta tionary contacts 15. It is'to be observed that the contact 2 is not oscillated until the movement of the operating member is practically completed so that the full energy of the spring 3-is thus expended in throwmg the contact member. Furthermore, by pivotally connecting the contact and o eratmg members, as described, a relative y short movement of the latter effects a relatively longbreak at the points of contact, since the inclination of the contact member at extreme positions may be relatively great. Fi 5 shows a modified embodiment of the switch mechanism wherein a spindle 22 and compression spring 23 are substituted for the expansion spring 3 of the form above described. In this form, the spindle 22 is swiveled at its upper end 24 to the free end of the contact and extends downwardly through slot 10 in the operating member and a coincident opening 25 in the frame 8. On the lower projecting end of the spindle 22 is v a loose washer 26 pressed against the lower surface of the frame by the coil spring 23, which, in turn, is retained on the-spindle by a fixed washer 27 Figs. -6 and 7 illustrate the modified form of switch mechanism as applied to a candelabra switch device comprlsing a divided cylindrical base 28 having a central chamber 29 housing the switch mechanism. Stationary contacts 30 are secured to opposite side walls of the chamber'29 and provided with extensions 31 terminatin above the insulating base and carrying binding screws 32. A spindle 33 is supported by the base and carries a lamp support 34 at its upper extremity. The operation of the switch mechreciprocable operating member having an open bearing, an oscillating contact member having a portion journaled in said bearing,

anism remams similar to the operation of the form shown in Fig. 1. In this instance, however, movement of the operating member tensions the spring 33 by compression instead of .expansion. Furthermore, the oscillation contact member 2is limited'by the end walls 13of the chamber 29.

In both of the embodiments shown movement of the operating member positively moves the bridging extremity of the contact member 2 rior tosnap actuation of the latter under e influence of the spring. During each complete actuation of the switch, therefor, a wiping engagement in two directions is obtained between the movable and stationary contacts. Furthermore, when the contact 2 is thrown any arcing which might occur falls on a portion of the same removed from that portion thereof which normall bridges the stationary con tacts. It should also be noted that the relation of the switch parts is such that manufacturin'g variation in the structural dimensions thereof is not objectionable to the operation of the parts when assembled.

While the switch mechanisms described have been shown as applied to certain forms of switch devices,-it is to be understood that such illustrations have been chosen as exemplary and that the switch mechanism is well adapted for use in other forms of switch devices wherein a compact and efli cient snap switch is required. Moreover, it is to be noted that the elements of the switch mechanism herein designated as operating member and contact member are in certain aspects interchangeable in function without altering the coaction of the parts.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, in combination, a support, a reciprocating operating member movable across the same and having an open bearing and a longitudinal slot adjacent sald bearing, an oscillating contact member having a pivotal portion at one end journaled in said bearing, and resilient means,

. including a coil spring, extending throughsaid slot and connecting the free end of said contact member to said support for maintaining said contact member in pivotal connection with said operating member and for imparting a snap movement to the former upon reciprocation of the latter.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a rectilinearly movable operating member, an oscillatory contact member having its pivotal bearing on said operating member, said operating member-upon movement thereby shifting said bearing and moving said contact member bodily, and resilient means associated with said contact member to oscillate the same with a snap action after a predeterminedbodily movement thereof.

3'. "In an electric switch, in combination, a

and resilient means acting on said contact tion with said operating member and to impart a snap moveme to said contact member upon reciprocation of said operating member. 1

4. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocating operating member, an oscillating contact member pivotally connected thereto and bodily movable thereby, and resilient means associated with said members to bias the same to extreme positions and to impart a snap movement to said contact member after a predetermined initial movement of said operating member.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocatory. operating member, an oscillatory contact member having its supporting-and pivotal bearing on said operating member to move therewith, said contact member thereby being bodily movable, and resilient means acting directly on said contact member to oscillate the same with a snap action and acting through said contact member to bias said operating member to an extreme position.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary, supporting member, a reciprocating operating member movable across the same, an oscillating contact member pivotally mounted on said operating member, and an energy storing connection, including a spring, between said stationary member and said contact member and extending on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the latter and within the range of reciprocation of said axis.

7. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable member, an oscillating member, one of said members being a contact member and the other an operating member, said oscillating member being pivotally mounted on and bodily movable by said reciprocable member, and means to bias said oscillating member obliquely to said reciprocable member and to impart a snap movement to said contact member after a predetermined initial movement of said operating member.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocating member, an oscillating member, one of said members being a contact member and the other an operating member, said oscillating member having its axis on and movable with said reciprocating member, energy storing means extending across the axis of said oscillating member to normally bias the same obliquely to said reciprocable member and to impart a snap movement to said contact member after a predetermined initial movement of said operating member.

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

' reciprocating operating member, an oscillating contact member pivotally mounted thereon, resilient means to bias said contact mem-' ber obliquely to said operating member and axis of said contact member to normally bias the same obliquely to said operating member and to oscillate the same with a snap movement upon reciprocation of the pivotal axis thereof across the plane of force of said energy storing means.

11. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocating operating member, an oscillating contact member pivotally supported thereon and bodily movable thereby, energy storing means associated with said members exerting force in a plane within the range of reciprocation of the pivotal axis of said contact member to normally bias the same obliquely to said operating member and to oscillate the same with a snap movement upon reciprocation of the pivotal axis thereof across the plane of force of said energy storing means, and means to limit the reciprocation of said operating member at substantially the moment the axis of said contact member crosses the plane of force of said energy storing means.

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

' CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Witnesses: F. A. HUBBARD, L. F. WATSON.

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