US1369140A - And fred a - Google Patents

Description

J. C. STEARNS AND F. A. CULVER.

COMBINED IGNITION AND LIGHTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I6, I919.

1,369, 1 40.- Patented Feb. 22, 192 1.

Inven iova 15 (7615071 csieavnd UNITED sures PA 'I ENT OFFICE.

JASON C. STEABNS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND FRED A. CULVEB, OF

DETROIT. MICHIGAN.

COMBINED IGNITION AND LIGHTING SWITCH.

Application filed July 16, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JASON C. STEARNS and FRED A. CULVER, citizens of the United States, said STEARNS residing at the city and county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, said CULVER residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Combined Ignition and Lighting Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the ordinary type of switch adapted for connecting several circuits, for example, the ignition and lighting circuits on automobiles and the like.

The principal objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the spring contacts both on the ignition and lighting circuits, and so arrange and construct them as to make a positive contact, a smooth working switch and make a completed switch of minimum depth, to provide improved means for lockin the ignition circuit; to provide flexibility in changing the arrangement of the circuit; to provide improved appearance and visibilit of the markings of the face plate; to provide improved means for arranging a multiplicity of contact points on the switch without exposing any terminals on the back except the wire terminals.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyin drawings, in which Figure 1 1s a front elevation of a switch to which this invention is to be applied;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the second plate with the connections thereon;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the same plate showing the connections;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of two oscillating plates and their electrical connections which constitute a part of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a similar elevation of the part of the switch that is left, when the larger plate shown in Fig. 5 is removed, and

Fig. 7 is a central sectional view through the axis of the switch.

Figs. 1, 3 and 4 show merely a switch having connections that are common in this art, and to which this invention is applied. The are shown here simply for the purpose of illustrating how the invention can be used. It is to be understood that the switch is rovided ordinarily for controlling two series of circuits, one series being for the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Serial No. 811,258.

ignition, the other for lighting. One of these is controlled by a key, the other by a handle.

The switch is mounted in a metallic casing 10 and is provided with a back plate 11 and second plate 12 parallel to it. These two plates are of hard rubber or other insulating material. They are fastened to a surrounding flange 9 on the casing 10 and are provided with a series of terminals as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These terminals are made by metallic studs extending throu h the plate 12 which are connected by meta ic strips between the two plates in certain ways as indicated in Fig. 3. Some of the studs are swaged to plate 12 only, as shown in F i 3, while other studs are swaged through bot plates 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 2. It is to be observed that there are two circular series of these plugs and they are located one inside and the other outside, as is common in this industry. It is to be understood that these plates 11 and 12 are stationary, and are connected up with the circuit in a certain well known manner and the thing to be accomplished is to provide means by which the circuits can be connected and disconnected as usual.

On the front is a handle 13 which controls the lighting circuit. This is oscillated by hand in ordinary practice and is connected with a circuit member 14 which has two projections 16 extending through arcuate slots 19 in the flat end of the casing 10. By means of screws these rojections are connected with an oscillating insulating plate 15 mounted inside the casing. This plate is operated directly by the turning of the handle 13 as will be understood readil This plate 15 as shown more fully in F ig. 5 is provided with two spring connecting members 17 which have cup-shaped convex terminals 18. These springs are held down to the plate at their centers and the terminals 18 spring outwardly so as to engage the front surface of the plate 12 or any contacts of the outer series located in proper position to be engaged by them. The two spring connecting members 17 may control separate circuits or combine several circuits in one by connecting with a metal strip on the reverse side of the oscillating plate or lightin rotor 15.

n stationary position with respect to the casing 10 is a metallic bushing 20. Inside this is a cylinder having a key hole 22 for receiving the key of the tumbler lock. This key is designed to turn cylinder 28 inside metallic bushing 20. To this member is secured by means of screws or dowels an internal oscillating plate 24. The manner of its oscillation will be obvious. This plate 24 is provided with two slots or notches 25 for the reception of two projections 26 on a spring 27. This spring is held on the plate 24 by this means and it projects up at both sides from a position of contact with the plate at the center so that its ends 38 engage the front side of the plate 12 and' engage the inner series of contacts thereon in accordance with the position to which the plate 24 is turned by the key.

The plate 24 is provided with a double arcuate contacting spring 27, terminated by two shoulders 29 at its ends. Fixedly mounted on the plate 12, is a stationary stud 30 which may be in the form of a pin or the like. This is located in such position that the shoulders 29 come into contact with it when the plate 24 is turned to either one of its extreme positions. Thus it limits the 0scillating motion of this plate 24.

In addition to these features we have shown the tumbler lock members 31, a square flange 32 outside the casing 10 and fixed to it, as

7 well as a circular border 34 on the outside and a name plate 41 fastened to the face of the switch inside the border 34 with the desired markings etched thereon.

In the operation of the device it will be understood that in its normal position as shown in Fig. 1 the terminals 18 of the lower connecting member 17 press on the two plugs or terminals 36 and that the two terminals 18 of the upper one rest on two terminals 37. Also while in this position the terminals 38 of the member 27 rest respectively on the plugs 39 and 40. Then the parts are in this position no current will flow in either circuit, because of: the connections with which these plugs are provided and which are not described herein in detail. But upon the turning of the handle 13 or the key the corresponding set oi? connectors inside will turn about the center, so that they will connect with different plugs in the instrument. The members 17 and 27 are of such a nature as to greatly simplify the construction and reduce expense for material and the possibility of repairs. The assembling of the parts is materially simplified also.

Although we have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention we are aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein, by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore we do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what we do claim is 1. In a lock switch of the character described, the combination with an insulating plate having terminals therein, of two independent oscillatable insulating plates arranged parallel to the first named plate and having spring members thereon, each spring member having free ends adapted to engage said terminals when turned to certain positions, and tumbler lock connected with the inner of said oscillatable plates.

2. 111 a cou'lbination switch of the character described, the combination with an insulating plate having terminals thereon arranged in two concentric series, of two concentric independently oscillatable insulating plates both mounted in the same plane and arranged parallel to the first named plate and having spring members thereon, each spring member having two free ends adapted to engage certain terminals of one series.

3. In a lock switch of the haracter described, the combination with an insulating plate having terminals thereon, of two independently oscillatable insulating plates arranged parallel to the first named plate and each having a spring member thereon, each spring member having two free ends adapted to engage said terminals when turned to certain positions, a tumbler lock connected with one plate, the spring member on that plate having an arcuate shape on its edge having shoulders at its ends, and a fixed stop in position to be engaged by said shoulders to limit its oscillating motion.

4. In a lock switch, the combination or" a casing, an insulating member inside said casing, oscillatable about the center of the casing, a tumbler look inside said oscillating member, and a plate operated by the lock and having circuit connecting members thereon. V

5. in a lock switch, the combination of a casing having a fiat end provided with arouate slots, an oscillating member outside said end having projections passing through the slots and oscillatable about the center of the casing, an insulating plate inside'the casing secured to said projections and having spring circuit connecting members thereon, a tumbler look inside said oscillating memher and an inner plate operated by the lock and having circuit connecting members thereon independent of the first named connecting members.

6. In a lock switch, the combination of a casing having a fiat end provided with arcuate slots, an oscillating member outside said end having projections passing through the slots and oscillatable about the center of the casing, an insulating plate inside the easing secured to said projections,and spring circuit connecting members thereon.

7. In a switch of the character described,

the combination with an insulating plate having terminals thereon arranged in two concentric series, of two concentric independently oscillatable insulating plates, each having spring members thereon, each spring member having two free ends adapted to engage certain terminals of one series, and a name plate fastened to the face of the switch, with markings etched thereon.

8. In a switch of the character described, the combination with an insulating plate having terminals thereon arranged in two concentric series, of two concentric independently oscillatable insulating plates, each having spring members thereon, each spring member having two free ends adapted to enga e (-ertain terminals of one series, the termlnal block being in two parts fastened together, the inner part containing all the necessary contacting points, and the outer part covering all but, and exposing only, the wire terminals.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our signatures.

JASON C. STEARNS. FRED A. CULVER.

Images