US1376701A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

L. KELLNER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH'. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1'917. i 1,376,701 Patented May 3,1921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET- l.

V JN ff lIn 47 MW T 42 l f f/I v |NVENTOR 59 7 -Z y A ATTORNEY L. KEILNER. ELECTRIC swlTcH.

. A`PPL|CATION FlLED DiEC. 3, 19Hr 3 a SHEETS-SHEET a.

l INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES LOUIS KELLNER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed December 3, 1917. Serial No. 205,140.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Louis KELLNER, a citizen of the United States, and resident oi the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in manually operable electric switches of the snap-action type.

One of the principal objects of the inventiQn is'to provide a switch having reciprocable terminal-bridging means adapted to beprojected in opposite directions to make and break the circuit with a snap action, said means being operable by swinging a pivoted switch lever or handle in opposite directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the terminal-bridging means can only be shifted by a considerable throw of the lever, preferably through an arc of substantially 1800, thus preventing careless or accidental making or breaking of the circuit.

A 'further important object of the invention is to provide simple means for reciprocating the terminal-bridging means, cmbodying a rack and pinion and a motor spring, and means controlled by a swinging switch lever for storing power in said spring to rotate the pinion in either direction and to hold said pinion against rotation until the lever has completed its power-storing movement. 'Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch having a reciprocable contact and fuse plug support operable with a snap action at either limit of the throw of a swinging switch handle or lever. l

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the switch in off position, taken on the line I-I of r ig. 2;

Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line II-H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a vertical section showing the switch mechanism in on position;

Fig. 4 a vertical transverse section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 a fragmentary horizontal section on the line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 a fragmentary vertical section showing the rack and pinion for reciprocating the terminal-bridging means;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 fragmentary vertical sections showing parts of the operating mechamsm in off position, an intermediate position, and on position, respectively;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 detail views of a part of the operating mechanism;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 detail views of another part of the operating mechanism; and

Fig. 16 a detail view of the switch lever.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, the switch is mounted on a suitable base 1, which may be formed of porcelain or other suitable material, and the entire switch mechanism is inclosed within a boX- like outer casing, preferably formed of sheet metal and held to the base 1 in any suitable manner. The casing is formed with side walls 2, end walls 3, and a cover 4 hinged to one of the end walls at 5.

Two vertically extending frame members or plates 6 and 7 are held at their lower ends substantially centrally of the base 1, said members being preferably connected by an integral base plate 8 fastened upon the upper face of the base 1 by suitable screws 9. rIhe frame plates 6 and 7 are connected adjacent their upper ends by a rod 10 on which is rotatably mounted a sleeve 11 having reduced angular end portions 12 and 13. The sleeve 11 is adapted to be'oscillated by a swinging switch handle or lever 14 having an angular opening or socket through which the reduced end portion 12 of the sleeve extends. A disk 15 is mounted on the reduced angular end Aportion 13 of sleeve 11, said disk being formed with a central angular opening 16 through which'said end portion 13 extends to adapt the disk to rotate with said sleeve. The disk 15 is formed with a groove 17 in one face thereof, eX- tending through an arc of slightly more than 180O and formed with inclined or cam portions 18 and 19 at its ends. -A rotatable disk 20 is loosely mounted on the rod 10 alongside the releasing cam disk 15 and is formed with two diametrically opposed recesses 21 and 22 in the face thereof adjacent disk 15, said recesses being disposed opposite groove 17 in disk 15 and corresponding in diameter to the width of said groove. The recesses 21 and 22 are connected by apertures 23 and 24 with the ends of a groove 25 formed in the opposite face of disk 2O and extending through an are of substantially 1800. A mutilated pinion or segment 26 is held to the outer face of disk 2O by means of suitable pins or rivets 27 to rotate with said disk. The pinion 26 meshes with the teeth of a rack 28 formed at one side of an elongated opening 29 formed in a bracket or plate 30 held at its lower end to v 33 are of such length as to be flush with the bottom of groove in disk 20 when the heads of the pins are forced into recesses 21 and 22, as more fully hereinafter de scribed. A spring-pressed pin or plunger 34 extends through an aperture in frame plate 7 and through groove 25 in disk 20, and is normally pressed inwardly by a fiat sprng35 held to frame plate 7 to engage in openings 23 and 24 alternately to lock disk 20againstV rotation. A motor spring 36 is coiled aboutthe sleeve 11 and the opposite ends 37 and 38 of said spring extend outwardly in different planes at one side of said sleeve. The switch handle 14 is provided with a pin or projection 39 extending between the ends 37 and 38 of spring 36, and disk 20 is provided with an oppositely extending pin or projection 40 extending betweenthe ends of said spring 36.

Two pairs of contact brushes 41' and 42 i are held to the inner face of block 31 and are electrically connectediby screws or bolts 43 and 44, respectively, with two pairs of fuseholding clips or supports 45 and 46 supported on the outer face of block 31 and detachably holdin@ the oppositeends of a pair offuse plugs 4% of any suitable construction. The block 31 is guided on the frame plates or members 6 and 7 which extend through slots or openings 48 and 49 in said block.V The fuse plugs 47 and clips 45 and 46 are inclosed by a cover or box formed of two sections 50 and 51 hinged respectively to rods 52 and 53 held in the ends of a pair of bars 54 secured to opposite sides of block 31 by screws 55. The hinged sec tions 50 and 51. of the fuse cover or box are preferably provided with interlocking latch means 56, as shown.

With the switch in off position, as

shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7, when it is turn is held against rotation by pin 34 which is engaged in a erture 23 in disk 20, as shown 1n Fig. 4. T e releasmgcam disk 15 rotates with lever 14 and, as said lever vreaches the end of its throw, it will be obsure of end 37 of spring 36 back of pin 40 on said disk 20. The parts then assume the position shown in Figs. 3 and 9, as pinion 26 rotates with disk 20 and forces bracket 30, provided with rack 28, downwardly and shifts block 31 with the pairs of contacts 41 and 42 toward the base 1, causing said contacts to engage two pairs of stationary con-` tacts or terminals 57and 58, respectively, mounted on the base 1. When the parts are in on position the locking pin 34 is forced into aperture 24 in disk20 and forces I pin 33 inwardly until the head thereof is projected into groove 17 in disk 20 in posi tion to be engaged by cam end 18 of groove 17, when the switch lever is swung from left to right to break the circuit. The circuit breaking operation is substantially the reverse of the operation just described and is thought to be obvious.

In order to prevent access to the fuse plugs when the circuit is closed, the switch casing is divided into inner and outer compartments by a partition or dividing plate 59 formed with a rectangular central opening 60 through which the fuse cover or box and the block 31 are adapted to pass when the switch is actuated to make and break the circuit, The apertured plate 59 is so positioned that the fuse cover is projected into the outer compartment of the switch casing when the switch is in off position, and it will be observed that', when the parts are so positioned, the hinged sections 50 and 51 of the fuse box or cover may be readily swung open to permit access to the fuse plugs. lVhen the switch is Vin on ,position the fuse cover is shifted within the inner compartment and the partition 59 is so located that the hinged sections of said cover cannot be swung open, such movement being prevented by the edges of opening 60 in the partition which extend about the sides of the fuse box..

From the foregoing it will be seen that careless or accidental operation of the switch is practically impossible since the cover 4 must be raised and the switch lever 14 must be swung through an are of substantially 180or before the terminal-bridging means is moved; that the terminal-bridging means is shifted toward and from circuit-closing position with a rapid snap action; that the terminal-bridging means is operated with a reciprocatory movement by a swinging switch lever; and that the entire switch mechanism is inclosed within a protecting casing. Y

It will be observed also that the fuse plugs are inclosed b a boX or cover which is shifted with sait plugs into the lower compartment of the switch casing when the circuit is closed, and that the fuse box and casing are so constructed and arranged that access to the fuse plugs is impossible when the circuit is closed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In an electric switch of the snap-action type, the combination of terminals, a support movable toward and from the terminals, terminal-bridging. means mounted on said support, a rack held to said support, a pinion meshing with said rack, a motor spring for rotating said pinion in either direction, a swinging switch handle, means controlled by said handle for placing said spring under tension when said handle is moved in either direction, a cam adapted to be rotated by said handle, means for holding said pinion against rotation during the power-storing movement of said handle, and means actuated by said cam at the conclusion of successive power storing movements of the handle for operating said holding means to release said pinion.y

2. In an electric switch of the snap-action type, the combination of terminals,a support movable toward and from the terminals, terminal-bridging means mounted on said support, a rack held to said support, a pinion meshing with said rack, a motor spring for rotating said pinion in either direction, a switch handle, means controlled by said handle for placing said spring under tension when said handle is turned in either direction, a cam adapted to be rotated by said handle, means for holding said pinion against rotation during the power-storing movement of said handle, and means actuated by said cam after a predetermined movement thereof for operating said holding means to release the pinion.

3. In an electric switch of the snap-action type, the Combination of terminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate said bridging means toward and from the terminals, a pinion meshing with said rack, a spring-pressed latch adapted to lock said pinion against rotation, an operating handle, means controlled by said handle for rotating said pinion, a rotary cam'operable by said handle, and latch releasing means operable by said cam as the handle approaches either limit of its throw.

4. In lan electric switch of the snap-action type, the combination of terminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate' said bridging means toward and from the terminals, a pinion meshing with said rack, a spring-pressed latch adapted to lock said pinionfagainst rotation, a rotatable switch handle, a motor spring, means for storing power in said spring to rotate said pinion when the handle is rotated in either direction, a rotatable cam operable by said handle, and latch releasing devices reciprocable alternately by said cam when the handle reaches the' limit of successive powerstoring movements to release said pinion.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging means toward and from bridging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair of apertures therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage in said apertures to lock the disk and pinion against rotation, devices carried by said disk and reciprocable in said apertures for forcing the plunger out of said apertures, a rotatable operating handle, means controlled by said handle and disk for rotating the disk and pinion in either direction, and means controlled by said handle for alternately operating the plunger releasing devices carried by-said disk.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging means toward and from bridging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair of apertures therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage in said apertures to lock the disk and pinion against rotation, devices carried by said disk and reciprocable in said apertures for forcing the plunger out of said apertures, a rotatable operating handle, al motor s ring, means controlled by said handle an disk for storing power in said spring to rotateI the disk in either direction, and means controlled by said handle for alternately operating the plunger releasing devices carried by said disk when the handle reaches the limit of its power-storing movement. v

7. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging means toward and from bric ging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable `disk xed to said pinion and having apertures therethrough, a springpressed plunger adapted to alternately en gage 1n said apertures to lock the disk and pinion against rotation, devices carried by said disk and reciprocable in said apertures for forcing the plunger out of said apertures, a rotatable switch handle, a motor spring, means controlled by said handle and disk for storing power in said spring to rotate the disk in either direction, and a cam operable by said handle and adaptedfto alternately reciprocate the plunger releasing devices carried by said disk.' l

8. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to Vreciprocate said terminal-bridging means toward and from bridging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to vsaid pinion and having a pair of apertures therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage in said apertures tolock the disk and pinion against rotation, devices carried by said'disk and reciprocable in said apertures for forcing the plunger out of said apertures, a rotatable switch handle,^means controlled by said handle and disk fory rotating the disk and pinion in either direction, and a rotatable cam operable by said handle and adapted to alternately reciprocate the plunder releasing devices.

9. 'In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging means toward and from bridging position, a pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair of aperturestherethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted toV alternately engage in said apertures 'to lock the disk against rotation, reciprocable pins mounted in said apertures `to rotate with the disk, a swinging switch handle, means controlled by said handle and disk for rotating the disk in either direction, and a cam operable by said handle adapted to alternately operate said reciprocable pins to force the locking plunger out of said apertures.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of terminal-bridging means, a rack operativelyconnected to reciprocate said terminal-bridging means toward and from bridg-` ing position, a pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair of apertures therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage in said apertures to lockthe disk against rotation, reciprocable pins mounted in said apertures to rotate with the disk, a swingingswitch handle, a motor spring adapted to rotate said disk, means controlled by said disk and handle for storing power in said spring to rotate'the diskV in either direction, and a cam operable'by said handle and adapted to alternately operate said reciprocable pins to force the lock-l ing plunger out ofsaid apertures.`

11. In an electric switch, the combination of circuit-closing means,a rotary ele-` ment operatively connected to shift said circuit-closing means toward and from circuitclosing position, a latch for locking said element against rotation, a motor spring, manually operable means adapted to store power in said spring to rotate said element in op- 12. In an electric switch of the snapv action type, the combination of terminalbridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate said bridging means toward and from circuit-closing position, Va pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to said pinion and having a pair of apertures therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage in said apertures to lock the disk and lpinion against rotation, a pair of devices carried by said disk for forcingV the plunger out of said apertures, a motor spring, manually operable means for storing power in said spring to rotate the pinion and disk in either direction, and a .rotatable ,cam controlled by said manually operable means and adapted to operate said plunger-releasing devices alternately.

13. In an electric switcher' the snap-action type, the combination of terminalbridging means, a rack operatively connected to reciprocate said bridging means toward and from circuit-closing position, a pinion meshing with said rack, a rotatable disk fixed to said pinionand having a pair of apertures therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to alternately engage in said apertures to lock the disk and pinion against rotation, reciprocable pins mounted in said apertures to rotate with said disk, a motor spring, manually operable means for storing power in said spring to rotate the disk and pinion in either direction, and a rotatable cam controlled by said manually operable means and adapted to alternately reciprocate Said pins to force the locking plunger out of said apertures.

14. In an electric switch, the combination of shiftable circuit-closing means, a rotary element operatively connected to shift said circuit closing means toward and from circuit-closing position, a latch for locking said element against rotation to hold the circuit-closing means in both its on and ofl''positions, power mechanism for` rotating said element in opposite-directions, manuallyoperable means adapted to store power in said mechanism to rotate said elecircuit closing means toward and from circuit-closing position, a latch for locking Said element against rotation to hold the circuit-closing means in both its on and off positions, power mechanism for rotating said element in opposite directions, manually operable means adapted to store power in said mechanism to rotate said element in either direction, a pair of latch-releasing devices rotatable in unison with said 10 element, and means controlled by said manually operable means for operating said latch-releasing devices alternately after successive power storing movement of Said manually operable means. 15

In testimony whereof l hereunto aiiiX my signature.

LOUIIS KELLNER.

Images