US1391955A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

E. Vl HARTFORD.

ELECTRIC SWIVICH.

APPucmon mio ocr. al. 191s.

1,391,955. V Patentedsepn 27,1921.

UNITED ,srATESJ PATENT. OFFICE.

EIWARD VASSALLO HARTFORD, OF DEAL, NEW JERSEY.

LELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters latcnt. Pittlited Sept. 27, 1921 original eppiie'atiea inea August 27, 1914, serial Ne. 858,959. Renewed october 19,1918, serieu No; 258,909. Divided and this application led October 31, 1918. Serial No. 260,456.

To all w tem t may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD VAssALLo HARTFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deal, county of Monmouth, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a full, clear, and concise description.

This invention relates to an electric switch which is more particularly designed so that a minimum amount of sparking results when the switch is manipulated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch in which the path of the moving contacts in closing the switch is different from their path when the switch is opened. This results in maintaining` the contacts smooth and clean.

Another object is to provide a double throw switch in which the switch is normally maintained open.

This application is a division of my copending application for electrically open ated brakes, Serial No. 858,958, filed August 27, 1914, renewed October 19, 1918, Serial No. 258,909.

In the Vdrawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my improved switch, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 2, is a detailed side elevation of the switch partly in section showing it fully closed; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the switch partly opened.

The insulating' base 4 supports at one end a plurality of pairs 5 of fixed contacts. Each pair is adapted to receive and hold a movable switch contact 6. On the other end of the base 4 is similarly mounted a plurality of pairs of fixed contacts 7, each adapted to similarly receive and hold a movable contact 8. The insulating base 4 also supports, intermediate the contacts 5 and the contacts 7, suitable uprights 9 and 10. Between the uprights 9 and 10, the crossbar 11 is pivotally mounted at 12. The cross-bar 11 carries rigidly therewith and in electrical contact with the uprights, rigid conducting elements 13 and 14.` These conducting elements extend on each side of the pivotal mounting as shown. The movable switch contacts 6 and 8 which coperate with the fixed contacts 5 and 7 respectively, are each pivotally mounted as at 15 and 16 on the conducting elements 13 or 14. A suitable leaf spring 18 is mounted on each of the conducting elements 13 and 14. Each of the knife blades 6 and 8 are provided with a short pin 19 to coperate with a leaf spring in the manner shown. Intermediate the uprights 9 and 19underneath the crossebar 11, a suitable block 20 is supported by the insulating base 4. The block 2O carries a spring 21. Suitable cross connecting leads 22 and 23 are provided so that the switch may be operated for reversing the current flow. A handle 24is connected to the crossbar 11.

The switch as above described is adapted for opening and closing the circuit with the minimum sparking. This is accomplished by the quick break brought about by the flexed springs 18 which quickly snap the contacts 6 or 8 away from the xed contacts 5 or 7, respectively. The spring 21 is so arranged that it urges the switch-toward open position and is powerful enough to force the switch open when external force is removed from the operating handle 24.

kswitch element moves through a different path on account of the fact that it is held between the spring contacts 5 or 7 while the handle 24 is moved a considerable distance. The contact is drawn lengthwise toward the pivotal mounting 12 a short distance during this movement of handle 24. A further and nal movement is brought about by the tension in the spring 18 and this movement is about the pivotal mounting 15 or 16 which is different from they pivotal mounting 12. In this way the switch blades travel through a dierent path in making the circuit than they do in breaking the circuit, and thereby the contacts are kept smooth and clean.

I desire it to be understood that the showing inthe drawings and the description in the specification are to be considered as illustrating my invention rather than remedying the same.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein anddesire to se ure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric switch comprising an insulating base, uprights mounted centrally thereon, an insulating block pivotally mounted in the upright, Contact carriers vhereby a having lateral extensions from each side of the block, each carrier being in electrical Contact with an upright, a Contact pivotecl to each of Said extensions, a spring conneeting each Contact with its extension and fixed contacts on the base to frictionally cooperate with the rst mentioned contacts quick break may be obtained when the sprlng is tensioned.

2. A switch, as defined in claim l characterized by resilient means to maintain all of the first mentioned contacts away from the fixed contacts when no external force is applied to the pivoted structure.

EDWARD VASSALLO HARTFORD.

Images