US1347308A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

G. B.. THOMAS. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATIONl FILED .].'AN.1.5, I9YI6.

1,347,308. Patented Jmyz, 1920 Y//L/I/l/ i Si m UNrriali 'sraT-l-:S' PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. THOMAS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To THE PERKINSl ELECTRIC :SWITCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTI- ELE'CTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd yJuly 20, 1920.

Application ineav January' 15, 191e. serial No. 72,324.

anisut by which a plurality of circuits may.

Vbe'simultaneously or individually controlled.

29 tion of the switch-operating mechanism;

Jaa-the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a\ broken side eleva ion of a switch in which my invention is mbodied vinone forni;

Fig. 2 is a section on the :line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 -3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 1s a detached :perspectlve of porand Fig r5 lis a diagram of One'wiring system' for the switch.

The present switchV is particularly designed for controlling a plurality' of circuits, such as lighting circuits in residences or the like where it is desired to switch o'n or 'oit any one or more of a plurality of different groups of lamps in a single room or hall.

correlated switclr'mechanisms mounted within a single Vswitch base and of a size' and construction such that it maybe arranged withinA a single gang outlet box of standard construction. j l

In the form here shown, the device 'comprises a cup-shaped insulating body 10, the open top of which is spanned by a yoke piece 11 by means Ot which theswitchvbody may be mounted within an outlet box in 'well understood manner. At its four upper As a' compact and efficient device for this purpose,-I provide a plurality of the lead from the main vis attached. The other contact 24 is connected to the wire terminal 19 by a strap 25 let into the' lower face of the insulating body and extending between the terminal 24 and the base of the wire termina-l 19, being respectively connected to these terminals by the screw bolts 26 and 27 piercing the bottom of the recep- Within this, chamber 20 is also mounted a suitable switch mechanism of the lsingle pole type comprisinga `switch blade 28 adapted to span the switch terminals 23 and 24 and make or break thecircuit be tween the latter. l I

Vithin the other switch chamber 21 are arranged several switch terminals 29,730, 31, and 32, the last two terminals constituting a bow-shaped strap presenting the terminals 31 and 32. at different levels inthe switch chamber. Itis connected to the wire terminal 17 a strap 33 let into the lower face of the' bottomot the receptacle and extending between the switch terminal and the wire terminal'17 to which it is respectively connected by the screw bolts 34 and 35. The switch terminal 30 comprises the Offset 4lower end of the strap which forms the base for the wire terminal 18. Terminal 29 is integralwith the base of the terminal l24- and thus leads 'the current from switch chamber 20 to switch chamber 21 when the switchblade 28, in the chamber 20, spans the switch terminals 23 and 24.

Within the switch chamber 21 is arranged a switch having a 'pluralityfof switch blades 36 and 37 lying respectively at the levels of the terminals 31 and 32, but electrically connected together. It is obvious thatvwhen the switch blade 28 is on, current is led through the terminal 24 to the wire terminal 19, thus closing the circuit through lamp group connected to the latter. It it is desired to bring into circuit the second lamp group connected tothe terminal 18, the switch in chamber 21 is moved to the position which follows that shown in Fig. 2, so that the terminals 29 and 30 are spannedbythe switch blade 37. In this position the switch I v` in which it overlies the terminal 30 and is out of contact therewith, while the circuit is established between lthe lower contact 32, on the one hand, and the switch terminal 29, on the other hand', by the switch blade 37. The succeeding position ot the switch is that shown in Fig. 2 in which the current is entirely cut oil from thc switch now by reason of the fact that the blade 36 overlies the terminal 29 and is out oiicontact therewith, thus leaving in circuit only the group of lights connected through the terminal 19. Obviously by various other arrangements ci' switch terminals in chamber 21, and corresponding alterations in the shape and arrangement of the switch blades in this chamber, various other combinations ot lights may be made to suit the needsov the particular installation. f I

' While any suitable switch mechanism may be employed to accomplish the result obtained,- I have shown in the present application ot my invention a novel arrangement A whichiis both compact and efficient. The switch mechanisms of both chambers are .alike and it suilices to describe the construction swith'relation to only one. In its gen--V eral form the switch is of the push button typewith spiral drive. The connection between the ratchet sleeve 38 and the switch spindle 39, however, in the present construction, comprises certain features of novelty." The ratchet sleeve, which as usual is provided with spiral grooves 40, engaged by the threads .41 in the reciprocating push button 42, carries at its lower end a ratchet 43 which may be formed in one therewith' by 4cutting the ratchet teeth from a periph; eral flange at the end of the sleeve. Fast on the spindle 39 is mounted a disk 44 havin at one side a raised marginal flange 45. djacent the oppositemargin of the rdisk is pivoted' at 46 a dog 47, the' nose of which engages the ratchet teeth 43 of 'the sleeve 38. The dog is held in engagement with the ratchet 43 Iby means of a leaf spring 48 bearing against one end of the dog and lying at its other end against the raised flange 45 on the disk 44. A tongue 49, adiacent one end of the spring, passes through a hole 5() in the disk and is turned over beneath the latter, thus anchoring the spring in position on the disk. A group 4of downwardly/projecting tongues 51 are'struck from the body of the disk and afford means for engaging the upper end 52 of the switch spring53 which extends between the'disk and 'the plate 54 which carries the switch blades. The usual. cam 55 on the spindle shifts the detent56 out of engagement with the stop plate 57 in well understood manner. The stop plate 57,. for each switch, is secured to a common base plate 58 arranged in the bottom of the receptacle and secured l pierce the bottom of the receptacle and take against displacement under the action of the several switch blades. A similar construction is employed for the combined switch terminals 32 and 31 in the opposite wall Qt the receptacle, a seating recess 63 being provided for this purpose.

Various modification of construction will readily, occur tothose skilled in the art without departing from what I claim is my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. An electric switch device, comprising a cup-shaped insulating receptacle, a yoke piece extending across the top thereof, a pair of switches mounted in series within the receptacle, independent push buttons for actuating the switches and guide pins extendingat right angles to the yoke piece and arrangedv lengthwise thereof on opposite sides of each f push button.

2. An electric switch device, comprising a cup-shaped insulating receptacle adapted to be. mounted within a standard single switch box, a pair of `switches mounted within the' receptacle inA series,- a main line switch terminal for vone of said switches, a plurality of branch line terminals for the other of said switches, together with a switch terminal common to the blades of both switches and serving to connect the same electrically in series, substantially as described.

3, An' electric switch device, comprising a cupshaped insulating receptacle adapted to be mounted within a standardsingle switch box, a pair of switches arranged in said receptacle, means for operating the ysame independently of each other and conductors serving to connect the same in series, one of said switches having a terminal for a main line connection and being a single pole switch, the other switch having switch terminals for a series of lamp circuits and comprising switch mechanism adapted to make various connections with said'terminals in successive positions of' the switch, for the purpose described.

4. 'An electric switch device comprising a cup-shaped insulating receptacle adapted to be mounted within a standard 'single switch box, a pair of independentlyk .operated switches arranged at opposite ends of said receptacle, a main line switch terminal 'for one of said switches, a series of branch 'line terminals for the other of said switches, the latterihaving means for makingjr various connections with said branch line terminals for the purpose specified, together with a switch terminal common to both switches for connecting the same in series, substantially as described.

5. An velectric switch comprising a cup-l shaped insulating:r receptacle adapted to be mounted within a standard single switch box a pair of independently operated main and distributing switches arranged 'at opposite ends of the receptacle, wire terminals mounted at more than two of the corners of the receptacle, a switch contact electrically connected to 011e of said wire terminals and (l. W. (oonninon',

H. M. WICHERT.

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