US1198038A

US1198038A - Electric switch.

Info

Publication number: US1198038A
Application number: US82053014A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles J Klein
Original assignee: CUTLER HAMMER M F G CO
Current assignee: CUTLER-HAMMER M'F'G Co; CUTLER HAMMER M F G CO
Priority date: 1914-02-24
Filing date: 1914-02-24
Publication date: 1916-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1933-09-12

Description

C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPucmon mm FEB. 24, i914.

Patented fiept. 12, 1916.

(JIIABLES J. KLEIN, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER IVIFG (30., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at M11- waukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsim 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. This invention relates to electrlc switches.

of the objects of the invention 1s to provide a compact and sturdy snap sw tch mechanism capable of efficient use in various forms of switch devices.

In order to more clearly disclose my invcntion I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood, however, that the mechanism shown is susceptible of modlfication and capable of use in devices other than that represented.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch mechanism; Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. is a top view of the switchfmechanism incorporated in a surface switch devlce, the cover of the latter being removed; and, Fig. i is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The switch mechanism illustrated comprises, in general, a reciprocating operating member, 1, a reciprocating contact 2, and an energy storing connection between the two, including a spring 3, for effecting a snap movement of the contact upon actuation of the operating member.

Referring. more specifically to the drawing, the operating member comprises a stamped plate 4 ha 'ing push button extrem1- ties and slidably mounted on a stationary U-shaped frame 5. The upright ends of this frame are provided with alinedrecesses for receiving and guiding the operating member. The contact memb r also preferably comprises a stamped plate having a bodyportion 2 superposed on the operating plate and held in position thereon. An upright spindle 8 is carried by a lateral extension 9 of the frame and itself carries the coil spring 3, which latter has straightened

radial extremities

10 and 11 projecting across the upper surface of the contact and operating plates. The extremities of the spring are biased apart and restrained against separation by engagement with lugs 12 and 13 on the contact plate 2 and corresponding

lugs

14 and 15 on the operating member.

The relation of the parts thus far described is such that movement of the operating member would tend, through the medium of the coil spring, to move the contact member in the same direction. Locking means is provided to restrain movement of the contact member until after the spring has been tensioned. This means comprises a plate 16 reciprocable in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the operating member and having a shoulder 17 adapted to enter one of two notches 18 in the contact member to lock the latter against movement. The locking plate is guided in movement and held in position by lugs 19 on the stationary frame and is biased inwardly by a short contraction spring 20 secured to the spindle 8. The operating plate 4. is provided with a concave recess on its outer edge affording inclined cam 'faces 21 adapted to engage the plate 16 as the operating member is reciprocated to move the same away from the contact and out of engagement with the sides of the notch therein. The cam faces 21 of the operating plate are so spaced that the ope ating member is free to move substantially throughout its entire range of reciprocation prior to engagement of either cam face with the plate 16.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the switch mechanism is illustrated as applied to a surface switchdevice. substantially rectangular insulating base 22 is provided with a recess 23 having the switch mechanism centrally mounted therein by suitable means, such as a screw extension 24, of the spindle 8. At one end of the base are located a pair of stationary contacts provided with contact surfaces 25 lying in a plane for engagement with the bridging end 6 of the switch contact and having binding In this embodiment a posts 26 for connection with line wires entering the base through adjacent apertures 27. The opposite walls of the base are provided with recesses to accommodate the push-buttons of the switch operating member.

Assuming the switch to be in the off position shown in Fig. 3, pressure on the right push button effects the following operation of the mechanism: The 1112' 15 of the operating member presses against and carries the extremity 11 of the coil spring 3 to ward the left and accordingly tensions the spring since its opposite extremity 10 isheld against movement by engagement with the contact lug 12. The contact in turn is restrained against movement by the shoulder of the locking plate 16 projecting into the notch 18. As movement of the operating member is continued, however, the right cam face 21 of the latter engages, at approximately the extreme movement of the operating plate, with'the locking member 16 and forces the latter to freed position. The tension of the spring is thus suddenly released and the contact member is rapidly thrown to the left by means of the spring arm 10. Circuit between the stationary contacts on the base is thereupon closed with a snap action. In this position the sliding plate 16 is again biased inwardly by the spring 20 and adjusts the parts so that the plate is projected into the other notch 18 of the contact member. Opposite reciprocation of the operating member reverses the co-action between the parts in a manner similar to that described and effects at its limit of reciprocation a snap movement of the contact to off position.

Movement of the operating member is limited in any suitable manner, for example, by means of engagement between the lugs 14: and 15 of the operating member with the end walls of the stationaryframe 5. It is to be noted that reciprocation of the operating member is limited at substantially the moment the contact member is thrown to its opposite position, and that if pressure is removed from the operating member at any time prior to the snap actuation of the contact the spring acts to return the operating member to its former extreme position. Movement of the contact member .is limited I by engagement between its shouldered extremities and the outer ends of the framevuprights.

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

1. In an electric switch, in combination, a supporting frame, a .reciprocable operating member mounted thereon and guided thereby, a reciprocablecontact member, a pair of spaced lugs on each of said members, a spindle mounted on said frame and offset from said members, a coil spring on said spindle having extremities biased apart and restrained between said lugs, a reciprocable member biased to engage and lock said contact member in each extreme position of the latter, and a concave cam carried by said operating member and adapted to engage said locking member for reciprocating the latter out of engagement with said contact member.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a

. connection therebetween comprising a 1 frame, a reciprocable operating member thereon, a reciprocable contact member alined with said operating member, a pair of spaced lugs on each of said members, a coil spring having extremities biased apart and restrained between said lugs, a reciprocable locking member biased to engage said contact member for locking the latter in each extreme position, and a concave cam movable with said operating member and adapted to engage and reciprocate said locking member as said operating member approaches either extreme position.

3. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operating member, a, reciprocable contact member and an energy storing ir of spaced lugs on each of said members, a relatively stationary coil spring having extremities biased apart and restrained between said lugs of said two members, a lock ing member for retaining said cont-act memher in each extreme position and means carried by said operating member and adapted to move said locking member to release said contact member as said operating member approaches either extreme position.

41 In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operating member, a reciprocable contact member and an energy storing connection therebetween comprising a pair of spaced lugs on each of said members, a relatively stationary coil spring having extremities biased apart and restrained between said lugs of said two members, and

means for releasably restraining said con tact member against movement.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocally acting operating member, a reciprocally acting contact member, an energy storing connection therebetween, an integral stamped metal frame for supporting said parts comprising a base and upstanding lugs spaced to support said reciprocally acting members for movement therebetween and constituting stops to limit movement of both said members in either direction.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocally acting operating member, a reciprocally, acting contact member, an energy storing connection therebetween including a reciprocally acting latch, a stamped metal frame for supporting said members comprising a base and integral upstanding lugs spaced to support all of said reciprocally acting members for movement therebetween and certain of said lugs constituting stops to 'limit movement of said operating member lugs, a reciprocable locking member to hold said contact member against movement during a predetermined initial movement of said operating member, a coil spring biasing said locking member toward said contact member, and a concave cam carried. by said operating member and having active faces to engage and reciprocate said locking member Y 0 its releasing position after said first-mennesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. VVitnesses':

S. A. VATSON, TEI-ILA BAST.

James of this @etent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "commissioner of Peten'te,

Washingtoml). C.