US1251772A - Spindle construction for electric switches. - Google Patents

Description

M. GUETT.

SPINDLE cousmucnow FOB ELECTBPC SWITCHES.

. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25. 1916.

1,251,772. Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

[H van for QAVtion for electric switches.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HONROE GUETT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NOR TO THE HART & HEGEMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters rate lit.

Patented Jan. 1,1918.

Application filed October 25, 1916. Serial No. 127,537.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MONROE Gnn'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county .of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have'invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Spindle Construction for Electric Switches, of which the following is aspecification.

Thisi'vention relates to spindle construc- I use the title spindle construction for the reason that the invention includes a spindle and a washer associated therewith. These elements can, however, be employed separately in any given organization, although they cooperate in a highly advantageous way when associated together. One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a spindle which can be inexpensively manufactured. The washer to which I have alluded is simple in construction, can be readily applied and removed, and when in position acts eficiently as a stop, which is one of its several purposes.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one convenient form or embodiment of the invention which will be set forth fully in the following description. I do not restrict myself to this disclosure; I

may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a snap switch including spindle construction involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the spindle with several of the washers connected therewith, the washers being in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the notched portion of the spindle and the washer, the dotted lines and arrow showing a way of connecting the washer.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line H of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. A,

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, of a modified form of spindle.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a different form of washer.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views which are on difierent scales.

As will be understood the spindle mechanism can be incorporated in switches of various kinds. As a matter of fact the spindle and washer can be used in other connections. In Fig. l I have shown an electric snap switch which generally speaking is along the lines of that set forth in my copending application, Serial No. 119,7 35, filed September 12, 1916. The invention as already observed resides in the spindle and washeror washers connected therewith. In said Fig. 1 the switch therein shown comprises a body such as that denoted by 2 and which may be made of any suitable insulating material such as porcelain or composition. This body or base 2 is equipped with the usual contacts and wire connections as common in the art and which therefore, require no illustration or description. As shown the base or body 2 has a' central perforation or hole 3 to receive the spindle 4. In switches, and other appliances it is the custom to make this spindle circular or round. It will be noted that the spindle 4 is flat. Such character of spindle possesses the requisite strength, and rigidity and facility of operation, but the important point is the fact that it can be made in a very inexpensive manner, which is certainly a matter of consideration. This spindle can by the aid of suitable dies or otherwise be readily stamped from sheet metal, and when so stamped, it is ready or practically ready for incorporation in a switch or susceptible of other use. The spindle 4 is rotary and it is held in assembled relation with the base or body 2 by the superposed washers 5 and 6, the washer 5 being disposed in a counterbore or cavity 7 in the under side of the base, while the Washer 6 is situated in a practically similar counterbore 8 in the upper surface of the base or body. These washers 5 and 6, as will hereinafter appear, involve one of the features of the invention.' They are in fixed relation with the spindle. Between the washer 5 and the body 2 may be interposed a washer 9 of ordinary type, which engages the upper surface of the counterbore or chamber 7. The upper washer 6 as shown is contiguous to the bottom of the counterbore or charm her 8. These two washers 5 and 6 with the cooperating washer 9 position the spindle 4 and affect in no wise its free turning. This turning may be either back and forth about an axis, or it may be continuously rotative. To operate the spindle 4 it may be equipped with a button as 10, the upper reduced end 11 of the spindle being threaded as at 12 to receive the button. For further security the button or handle 10 of insulating material as usual, may be held to the spindle by a pin as 13. The threads 12 can be formed on the spindle 4 at any suitable time, for instance after it is blanked out.

Surrounding the spindle 4 in the cavity or chamber .8 is what in my prior application I- term an actuator 14, this actuator being situated between the washer .6 and washer 15 which also involves the invention, the two washers 6 and 15 properly confining the said actuator. This actuator is cooperative with a switching -member as 16 against which one end of the coiled spring 17 bears, this spring at its other end engaging against a washer 18 also including the invention. As a matter of fact the washers 5, 6, 15 and 18 are all of similar construction. They vary somewhat in size, but this is merely a matter of proportion. The washer 18 acts as a stop for the spring 17 which is coiled about the spindle 4. In some cases the upper washer 18 need not be provided. As a matter of fact it is not necessary that the spindle be furnished with any of these washers, for equivalent stop or analogous means might be substituted for the washers. In Fig. 5 I show a spindle 19. This spindle 19 is stamped from flat stock. Its upper reduced end is threaded at 20 to receive a but ton as 10 as already described, and its side edges are shown furnished with mating or complemental notches 21 to receive washers as 5, 6 and 15 as will hereinafter more particularly appear. This form of spindle 19, however, has no upper washer as 18 described in connection with the spindle 4. Instead of this said spindle 19 is furnished with the lateral projections 22 which are in alinement transversely of said spindle 19 and which collectively present an abutment for the upper end of a switch member controlling spring as 17.

The spindle 4 has as shown four pairs of notches 23 in its side edges, the notches of the respective pairs being in alinement with each other transversely of said spindle and being adapted to receive the sides of the respective washers. A detailed description of one washer will apply to the others, and in this connection reference may be had to Fig. 3 which is assumed to be illustrative of the washer 5. Said washer is fiat and can also be stamped from sheet metal. It is of loop or practically elliptical form, and is sulficiently resilient to permit the approach and recession relatively of the sides, this being to obtain a snapping effect as will hereinafter appear. On the inner faces of the sides of the said washer are locking or holding spurs or barbs 24 which extend inwardly, these locking or positioning barbs or spurs having fiat faces 25, the distance between the parallel planes, of which is approximately equal to the thickness of the spindle 4. In applying the washer 5, it is slipped over the spindle 4 until it occupies practically the dotted line position in Fig. 3 when the spindle and washer are relatively turned. In the present case I have assumed that the washer 5 is turned from the dotted line to the full line position as indicated by the arrow. On this motion of the washer the sides thereof which are then in the notches 23 in proximity to the respective pointed projections or spurs 24, strike diagonally opposite corners of the walls of said notches so that on the final movement of the washer, the sides thereof are expanded so that when the washer is finally seated in the two notches as shown by full lines in said Fig. 3, the sides will hug the bottom walls of said notches and at the same time the flat surfaces of the projections or spurs 24 will abut against opposite faces of the fiat spindle near the outer sides thereof and just inside the notches as also illustrated in said figure. This provides a very substantial and secure way of holding the washer in position, the diagonally opposite or transversely out of line projections abutting in a firm manner against the opposite faces of the spindle.

The washer hereinbefore described is in the form of a closed loop. In Fig. 6 I show a washer in the form of an open loop. This washer is denoted by 30. It is practically U-shaped, the sides having the interior projections 31 constructed and acting exactly like the projections 24 hereinbefore described. The washer 31 is resilient, and its sides when the washer is set embrace the shank or equivalent part exactly as fully set forth.

What I claim is:

1. A fiat spindle of the class described having stops at different points in its length and in hugging engagement therewith.

2. A fiat spindle of the class described having notches in its side edges in transverse alinement with each other.

3. A washer having an elliptical opening,

the wall of which has diagonally opposite interior projections. 4. A washer having an elliptical opening, the wall of which has interior diagonally opposite projections, the adjacent faces of which are flat.

5. A fiat spindle combined with a resilient washer hugging said spindle and constituting a stop.

1,251,772 r t g 6. A. flat spindle of the class described jections provided with fiat faces fitting fiatcombined with a washer surrounding the wise against opposite faces of the spindle. 1e spindle and in hugging resilient engage- In testimony'whereof I aflix my signature ment therewith. in the presence of two witnesses.

5 7. A fiat spindle of the class described MONROE GUETT. having notches in its side edges, a washer Witnesses: j fitted in the notches, hugging the inner walls E. C. SWAN,

thereof and having diagenally opposite pro- HEATH SUTH RLAND.

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