US1222214A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

C. j. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION men mAvze, 1911.

l gfime Patented Apr. 10,1917" 2 SHEETS-SHEET lc. 1. KLE IN. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 19H- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w Lanai/9 1F 59 Patented Apr 10, 191?,

CHLES J. KLEIN, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 THE CUTLEHAMMJEHJ MFG. 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCCNSIIQ'.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1W, 123W.

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 followingis a full, clear, concise, vand exact description, reference-being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My 'nvention relates to electric switches.

In one of its adaptations it more particu-- choosing this adaptation of my invention as a means of illustrating its principle, which may be incorporated in various other .forms and used in-various other relations.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide an improved switch. A further object of my invention is .to provide an improved switch of an exceedingly compact type which may be readily placed in position in a door frame or in any other suitable housing. A still further object of my invention is to provide improved means for supporting and inclosing a switch mechanism. Other objects and advantages of my improved construction will hereinafter a'pear. p In the views of the drawings illustrating the forms of my invention chosen for purposes of illustration Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an assembled switch inclosed in its casing. I

Fig. 2 shows a transverse sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a detail'view of a portion of I the casing.

Fig. 4 shows a pers ective view of the switch base when assem led.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of my improved switch mechanism mounted in a modified form of casing.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the modified form of the casing shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows the blank from which the casing shown in Fig. 5 is made.

Fig. 8 shows the face plate arranged to be used with this form of easing.

In these drawings I have illustrated a switch mechanism of the push button type inclosed in a two part'insulating base which latter is-housed in an inclosing casing arranged to be fitted into a suitable chamber formed in the door or other support so that the operating member of the switch mechanism extends through a suitable face plate.

In a preferred form the switch mechanism is of the same type as that described in my prior Patent No. 985,241, patented February 28, 1911. However in the construction shown in these drawings the patented structure has been considerably modified. As shown in Fig. lthe switch mechanism includes a reciprocable cam member 1 of the conformation of a double frustum positioned base to base which is arranged to reciprocate on .a shaft 2 extending through the cam member and beyond the ends of the same. In a preferred form the cam 1 which is preferably constructed of conducting material has a central bore of a greater diameter than the shaft 2 and is insulated. therefrom by insulating washers 1 set in its opposite ends.

A reciprocable contactor 3 is arranged to move in a chamber 4 formed between the two parts 5 and 6 of a double base to make or break an electric circuit at terminal members 7 arranged against one of the walls of the chamber 4. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the cam member 1 is arranged to reciprocate through the recess 8 communicating with the chamber 4 and to move upon the shaft 2 to compress a spiral spring 9 housed in a correspondingly shaped chamber 10 in the base member 6 and communicating with the chamber 4:. This spring is seated upon a cover plate 11 clamped over the mouth of the chamber 10 and preferably secured to the base 6 by the screw 12 which passes transversely through the base members and holds the parts of the same in assembled relation. The lower end of the spring 9 encircles the lower end of the shaft 2 which-may be suitably secured in any manner to the plate 11, whilethe upper end which is of reduced diameter asshown in Fig. 1,'engages' against a rounded flange 13 fixed to the lower end of the cam member 1 but insulated from the same by a washer 14. The upper end of the an extension 16 having a flange 17 on its of the shaft 2 and the end of the extension 16 and to be fixed to the same by suitably indenting the lower edge of the casing as shown at 20 so that the indentations enter the groove formed between the flange 17 on the extension 16 and the upper surface of the flange 15 on the cam member 1.

The contactor 3 is preferably of the type described in my co-pending application Serial No. 628,782 filed May 22, 1911, Patent No. 1162865, dated December 7 1915,

and carries within the same a garter spring 21 as illustrated in Fig. 1. This contactor is arranged to reciprocate upon the.

cam member in one direction when-the cam member is forced in the opposite direction by the spring 9 or upon pressure being applied to the push button 19 in order to make or break a circuit at terminals 7 carried as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on opposite sides of the bottom of chamber 4. These terminals 2 are 'preferably provided with a fiat portion which rests upon the bottom of the chamber 4 and are preferably of a greater length than the chamber, having one of their ends seated in vertically extending grooves 23 at the sides of the chamber as shown in Fig. 2, while their outer ends are bent upward as shown in Fig. l and then preferably bent into a plane substantially parallel with the plane of their body portions. The bent portions of the terminals extend through grooves 24 on opposite sides of a septum 25 through which the screw 12 is passed, and their upper ends are secured in recesses 26 by screws 27. The screws 27 extend vertically upward through the base member 5 as shown in Fig. 1 to recesses 22 located on opposite sides of the upper.

surface of the same wherein they are fixed to terminals 28- carrying binding screws 29 and ears arranged to facilitate the connection of the conductors to the binding screws.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bases 5 and 6 arranged to house the switch mechanism are preferably of a substantially U-shaped cross section and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 these bases are arranged to be held in assembled relation by the screw 12. In a preferred form these bases are of an insulating material such as molded stone or porcelain for example, and the parts of the casing may, if desired be sealed together by inserting a certain amount of sealing material in an orifice 30 between the halves of the same.

In a preferred form I preferably mount this switch mechanism and its inclosing members in a casing which has a substantially oval cross section as shown :in Fig. 2 and is adapted to receive the rounded ends of the base members. In a preferred form this casing is constructed of stamped "metal having two side portions 31 and 32 rounded at their ends as illustrated in Fig. 2 and arranged to be secured together as shown in that figure by providing tongues 33 on opposite sides of the member 32 arranged to pass inside of the ends of the member 31 and pass outwardly through a perforation or slot 34 in the Wall of thesame and be bent over against the outer wall as shown in Fig. 2. In a preferred form ears 35 are also bent inward on the sides of the member 32 as shown in Fig. 1' which serve to posiw tion the parts of the base within the casing and the ears and shank are so bent that the outer surface of the casing member 32 lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the casing member 31 at the joint. In a preferred form, in order to permit a snug fit for the base members, longitudinally extending grooves 36 may be formed on the opposite sides of the flat end of the same as shown in Fig. 2, to receive the inner ends of the lugs 35. A bottom 37 having a perforation 38 at one of its ends and a slot 39 preferably at its opposite end is crimped into position between the Walls of the casing member 32 as shown at 40 in Fig. 1. In a preferred form this bottom 37 is provided with oppositely extending projections 41 at its ends which are adapted to extend through grooves 42 in the bottom of the grooved sides of the casing members 31 and 32. 1

In order to permit a cable or conductor to be clamped in or secured to the same a cable clamp 43 is provided swiveled on the enlarged end of a clamping member 44. This clamping member 44 is provided with a. hook shaped end 45 arranged to pass throu h the slot 39 in the bottom 37 and preferably to be housed in a recess 46 in the base member 6. A clamping member, 44 is threaded intermediate its ends to receive a clamping screw 47 which extends through an opening' 48 in the bottom of the casing. The

head of the screw 47 is accessible for operation from withinthe opening 38 in the bottom of the casing. Thus it is seen that the box may have a cable securely locked within the same'and that the means for drawing the end of the cable into the box is accessible from the inside of the box. In a referred measure I may be provided I preferably provide these extensions with threaded perforations as at 54 which are adapted to receive screws 55 passing through perforations arranged to house the heads of the screws in a face plate 56. This face plate is preferably provided at each end with bored out portions or recesses 57 arranged to receive the extensions 51 and 52. At a point above the cam member the face plate is provided with a suitable perforation adapted to permit the push button 19 to reciprocate through the same to actuate the switch mechanism.

In Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive I have shown a modified form of easing which is adapted to be used in boxes of various forms. As a rule the boxes provided for switches of this'type are too large for the switclr mechanism which is herein described since this switch mechanism may be made up in very compact form to occupy a space decidedly less than that required by the switch mechanisms of this type heretofore known. In order to permit my improved switch mechanism to be used with the boxes heretofore known I have provided a modified form of casing which is arranged to fit into any of these boxes and support the switch mechanism in its proper position. As shown in Fig. 5 this casing preferably consists of a single piece of sheet metal bent into the substantially U shape shown in that figure and stamped out as shown in Fig. 6 to form oppositely located perforated lugs 59, inwardly extending cars 60, a perforation 61 and outwardly extending shoulders 62 bent at right angles to the sides of the casing. In a preferred form the lug 59 is provided with a threaded perforation 63 and the parts of the casing are all made integral as shown in Fig. 5. In a preferred form the inwardly extending ears 60 are provided on the casing beneath the extensions 59 and are arranged to fit into vertically disposed grooves 64 on opposite sides of the bases inclosing' the switch mechanism so that the switch bases are accurately positioned in the easin as shown in Fig. 4. As illustrated in th1s figure the switch mechanism in its inclosin bases lies substantially flush with the top 0 the shoulders 62, and a face plate 65 is arranged to be placed over the switch mechanism and secured by screws 66seated in the same to the threaded extensions 59. The face plate used in this form of construction is preferably provided with perforations 67 at its opposite ends arranged to receive suitable screws to be secured to the large retaining box, and is also provided with a perforation 68 through which the reciprocable push button of the switch mechanism extends. Further perforations 69 located at the sides of the perforation 68 are arranged to receive the screws 66 to secure the inner box to the face plate. Thus when it is desired to use my improved switch device with a box of the old construction which is very much too large for the same the switch device is placed in position in the casing as illustrated in Fig. 4 and the casing is then fixed to the face plate and the face plate suitably secured to the larger inclosing box. Thus it is seen that my improved switch mechanism may be used with inclosing boxes of various types which are not of the improved compact construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

By my improved construction of switch mechanism l[ have provided a switch which is positive in its action and which is capable of being used to open a circuit when pressure is applied to the cap or to close a circuit by only changing the location of the contacts in the switch chamber. Further the switch mechanism is of a very rugged construction which is adapted to withstand the shocks and jars to which such a mechanism is ordinarily subjected in service and it is of such a construction that the contactor may not readily be jarred to change the circuit connections of the switch. Further the operating member is thrown back to its initial position immediately upon the removal of the pressure upon the same. Furtherby the use of my improved switch mechanism the size of the opening which must be provided to house the same may be materially reduced. and the time and expense required to install the same greatly cut down. Further due to the provision of my improved box for the switch mechanism the mechanism is firmly held in position in a convenient form of box against all movement and in such a manner that its parts are not liable to derangement or breakage upon pressure being applied to the operating member. Again by my improved means of drawing the end of a cable into the box and locking the same the danger of the cable becoming disconnected from the box is removed and the means for drawing the end of this cable into the box and locking the same are entirely accessible from the inside of the box. Further, the switch mechanism may be entirely removed from the box when desired by simply removing the face plate and the parts of the switch mechanism between its insulating bases are readily accessible by simply removing the screw holding these parts together. Further each and every one of the parts of the switch mechanism may be readily removed when desired. Various other advantages of my improved construction will readily appear to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application described in detail specific forms which my invention may assume in practice, I do not wish to be limited to these specific constructions since I have only chosen these constructions as a means of illustrating the principle of my invention which itself is capable of assuming various other forms than that herein shown and of being adapted to various other uses.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows 1. In an electric switch, a movable cam having the conformation of a double frustum positioned base to base, a fixed shaft upon which said cam is arranged to be reciprocated, means for insulating said cam from said shaft and a relatively movable contactor operated upon movement of said cam.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a fixed spindle, a cam member reciproeable thereon, means for operating said cam,-

- contactor and a single means for holding the parts of said base together and positioning said cam member.-

4:. In" an electric switch device, a two part base, a push button snap switch mechanism inclosed therein including a spindle, a reciprocating cam member and a movable contactor, and means for holding the parts of said base together and said spindle in position in the same.

5. An electric switch including a fixed spindle, a cam memberarranged to reciprocate thereon, a flanged member between one 7 two-part base, a spindle extending therethrough, a snap switch mechanism mounted on said spindle between the parts of said base and common means for securing the parts of said base together and positioning said spindle therein.

8. In combination, an insulating base, a switch mechanism carried thereby having terminals, a casing to receive said base snugly within one end thereof, said casing having a conductor space at its opposite end, said switch terminals being located at the end of said base adjacent said conductor space and accessible after assembly of said base within said casing, a clamping arm pivoted outside said casing with its free-end adjacent said conductor space, and a screw operable from within said casing to draw the free end of said arm toward said casing to clamp a cable within said space for connection with said terminals.

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

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Witnesses:

H. L. ROCKWELL, Gno. HAYNES.

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