US1518701A

US1518701A - Quick-acting-switch mechanism

Info

Publication number: US1518701A
Application number: US679668A
Authority: US
Inventors: Penn Ralph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-12-10
Filing date: 1923-12-10
Publication date: 1924-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1941-12-09

Description

Dec: 9, 1924.

R. PENN QUICK ACTING SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH PENN, or DES memes, IOWA.

QUICK-ACTING-SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed. December 10, 1923. Serial No. 679,668.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH PENN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Quick-Acting-Switch Mechanism, of which the following. is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a quick acting switch mechanism wherein an electric circuitmay be quickly broken for preventing arcing of the contact points of the switch.

Still a further object is to provide a structure for operating a switch in such a manner that the moving parts of the structure will never become centered, but will be carried from the closed position to the open position very quickly and so as to insure the switch 7 elements to be quickly opened for reducing arcing to a minimum where there will be no damage.

Still a further object is to provide a loose connection between parts of the device and a spring for moving some of the parts independently of and relative to the other. parts of the device.

'Still a further object is to provide a switch structure wherein the actuating mechanism for moving the switch elements is moved by three distinct moving factors, so that the actuating mechanism is initially moved against the tension of a spring towards dead center position, then means is provided for moving it over dead center and then the actuating mechanism is moved by the tension spring to one limit ofits movement.

Still a further-object is to provide guide and stop pins on the switch elements.

With these and other objects in view, my

' invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 1s a side elevation of my quick acting. switch mechanism shown in a casing with the cover thereof removed Figure 2 is a'sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a 'diagrammatic vjew of the quick acting mechanism showing the .parts in position where the contact elements are in engagement.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the position of the quick acting mechanism just before the contacts are opened, the dotted line position showing the movement of the parts caused by the loose connection and spring which insures against the parts remalning in a dead center position.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a casing which may be fixed to a bracket or support 11 so thatit can be secured upon any suitable support orbracket. The casing 10 is provided with a boss 12 in which is mounted a pin 13.

' Pivotally mounted upon the pin 13 is a lever 14. The lever 14 is formed of a single piece of material which is bent upon itself so that there is formed two parallel parts. One of the parallel parts of the lever 14 projects beyond the casing 10, through an opening 15 formed in one of the walls thereof. The other end of the lever 14 may be provided witha loop 16 so that it may be connected to a float structure of the ordinary type. r v

The lever 14 is free to move up and down within the opening 15. The lever 14 is shownin its down position'in Figure 1 of Contact members 19 are secured to the block 18 by means of the screws 20. There are two sets of contact members 19 on each side of the block 18 and wires 21 lead from the source of current supply to one set of contact points 19.

Wires 22 lead from the other set of contact points '19 to'a motor (not shown) or the like.- 9

In order to complete the circuit, it is necessary to connect the two sets of contact points 19 together and in order to do so, I.

provide resilientplate contacts 23.

Each set of contact plates 23 are mounted upon a block 24 of insglating material. vAfpairTfcoTnbified guide and stop pins '25 are mounted upon the blocks 24 and are designed to project into openings 26 formed plates 23.

in the block 18. The combined guide and stop pins are formed with a shoulder 27, which strikes against the block 18 and limits the upward movement of the contact A stop the casing 10 and is designed to be enga by the lower ends of the block 24 for 11miting the down movement thereof.

Actuating mechanism.

The lower ends'of the block 24 have a yoke member 29 extended therebetween. The yoke member 29 is secured to the blocks 24 by means of a pivot 30. The two ends of the yoke member 29 are each provided with registering openings for permitting a pin31 to extend therethrough, which is formed on a boss 32. The boss 32 is formed on one wall of the casing 10.

The end of the yoke member 129 which is received between the two blocks 24, is spaced apart somewhat so as to receive the arm 33 therebetween. 'The arm 33 is pivotally supported between the parts of the arm 29 near the pivot 30.- The arm 33 has its end notched so as to abut against the pin 30 secured to the arm 29.

The yoke member 34 is also pivoted upon the pin 31, and is received between the spaced parts of the yoke member 29.

The arm 33 has extended around it a coil compression spring 44 which rests against a washer 33 placed on the arm 33 and against a saddle member 45 positioned over theend of the arm 33. r

The saddle member 45 is provided with an opening through which one end of the arm 33 extends. The yoke member 34 has each of its ends provided with V-shaped notches 46 to receive the trunnions 47 formed on the saddle member 45, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

From the construction of the parts just described it will be seen that the arm 33 and yoke 34 are pivotally and slidably connected together.

The coil spring 44 holds the trunnions properly positioned within the notches 46, and it is this spring that becomes tensioned as the actuating mechanism is initially oper-. ated. The spring 44 causes the actuating mechanism to be moved to one limit of its Means for imparting to the actuating mechanz'sm movement for carrying the same ooerqleadmenter position.

A link 35 is' pivotally connected to-the yoke member 34 near the connected end pin 28 is formed on one wall of ments will make a contact.

thereof by means of a pin 36. The link 35 is provided withas1ot'37 through which is extended a pin 38 to the parallel parts of the lever 14. v

The lever 14 is provided with a downwardly extending'part 39 so as to receive a pin 40. A tension spring41 is connected to the pin 40 at 'one end and to the link' 35.

at its other end.

The spring 41 tends to normally draw the link 35 downwardly. The slot or loose connection between the link 35 and the lever 14 as well as the spring 41 are the means for moving the actuating mechanism over dead center position.

Practical operation. I

The lever 14 which actuates the switch elements may/be operated by any suitable float structure or diaphragm structure or by hand. i Y

When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the switch ele- As the lever 14 moves in the direction indicated by-the arrow 49, it will cause the link 35 to move in the same direction.

The link 35 will cause the yoke member 34 to swing on the pivot 31 and move in the direction indicated by the arrow 50. As the yoke member 34 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 50, it will cause the arm 33 carrying the coil spring 44 and the saddle 45 to be swung on the pivot 30' in the direction indicated by the arrow 51. i

The coil spring will become moreclosely compressed and tensioned between the shoulder formed on the arm 33 and the saddle 45 as the arm 33 andthe yoke 34 are swung towards ,a dead center position or where the same are" in substantial alignment. The pressure of the coil spring 44 w ll hold the switch contact plates 23 and the blocks 24 in raised position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The moving of the lever 14, pulls the link 35 downwardly, and will raise the

arms

33 and 34 to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 4 of the drawings. This particular position may be pro rly described as the position the partsawil assume just before ings, then the spring 41 at the lower end of six the link 35 will operate for jerking the link connection downwardly carrying the parts to position shown in dotted li S in Figure soon as the small spring 41 has carried the parts to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, then the spring 44, which. is under tension, will function for continuing to remove the parts suddenly to the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings where the ,contact plates 23 will be disen-' gaged from the contacts 19.

The movement just referred to is the third distinct movement given to the actuating mechanism. This movement takes place in addition 'to the .two movements caused by the lever 14 and the spring 41 and operates independently thereof.

The small spring 41' and the loose or slot connection between the links 35 and'the lever 14 prevents the arms 33 and the yoke member 34 from becoming centered where the tension for holding the contact plates 23 against the contact points 19 would be practically zero.

The contact plates 23 will be held firmly in engagement until the plates assume the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, at which time the small spring 41 will function, carrying the parts pas? center at which time the spring 44 will complete the movement of the parts to the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The breaking of the circuit quickly reduces to a minimum any possible arcing of the contact points.

When the lever 14 moves upwardly, the

arms

33 and 34 are moved downwardly until they have reached the position shown by the solid lines in Figure 4 at which point the pressure of the spri 44 is strong enough to cause spring 41, attached to link 35, to be extended the amount permitted by slot 37 Contact plates 23 will then be forced upwardly into contact with plates 19, thereby closing the switch and re-establish ing the circuit and bring the parts back to position where "the quick action may again take place in the opening circuit.

It may be mentioned that the parts will never assume and remain in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4,v when moving to open position of the switch, but it is intended to show what movement is caused by the spring and loose connection between the lever 14 .and the link 35 as well as to show the three movements given to the;actuating mechanism for operating the movable contact members.

Some changes may be made in'the construction and arrangement of the various parts of my invention, without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1: In a switch structure, a fixed contact member, a movable contact member, an actuating mechanism for operating said mov able contact member including a spring adapted to be tensioned when the actuating mechanism is operated, an operating member, means for operatively connecting the operating member and said actuating mecha nism, said means including a link fixed'to the actuating mechanism at one end and loosely fixed to the operating member at its other end and a spring for jerking the I link to one limit of its movement when the tension on the spring of the actuating mechanism is about to reach its limit of tension.

e 2. In a switch structure, a fixed contact member, a movable contact member, an actuating mechanism for operating said movable contact member including a spring adapted to be tensioned when the actuating mechanism is operated, an-operating membeer for said actuating mechanism, means for operatively connecting the actuatin mechanism and said operating member, "sai last means including a lost motion connection and a spring for imparting movement to the actuating mechanism independent of the inovement imparted by the operating memer. I

3. In a switch structure, a fixed contact member, a movable contact member, an actuating mechanism for operating said movable contact member, said actuating mechanism including a air of arms pivotally .mounted and'slidab y connected together, a spring on one of said arms adapted to be tensioned when the arms are moved from one position to another, means for moving the arms against the action of the spring,

means for moving the arms independent of the .firstmeans for carrying the arms over center, said spring moving the arms to one limit of their movement after said last means has functioned.

4. In a switch structure, a fixed contact, a movable contact, an actuating mechanism for the movable contact including a pair of arms pivotally supported and having apivota and sliding connection, a spring adapted to be tensionedby the pivotal movement of said arms toward center, a movable element for imparting pivotal movement to said arms, and means for'acceler: ating said movement independently of said I element for moving the arms over center,

said spring serving to move the arms to the limit of their movement after the last means has functioned.

position, means for imparting to the actuating mechanism accelerated movement over dead center position, independently of the movement imparted by said first means and means for imparting to the actuating mechanism an additional movement beyond dead center independently of the two last described movements. k

6. In a switch structure, a fixed contact member, a movable contact member, an actuating mechanism for operating said movable contact member, said actuating mechanism including a pair of arms pivotally mounted and. slidably connected together, a yoke member pivotal y connected at one end to one of said arms and to said movable contact members and pivotally supported at its other end, a guide pin on said movable contact member, means for limiting the movement of the .movable contact member in either direction, a springon .one of said arms adapted to be tensioned when the arms are moved from one position to an other, means for moving the arms against moving the arms to one limit oftheir move ment after said last means has functioned.

7. In a switch structure, a fixed contact member, a movable contact member, an actuating mechanism for operating said movable contact member, said actuating mechanism including a pair of arms pivotally mounted and slidabl connected together, a yoke member pivotall to one of said arms and to said movable contact member and pivotally supported at its other end, a guide and stop pin on said movable contact member and adapted to coact with the fixed contact member, a spring on one of said arms adapted to be tensioned when the arms are movedfrom one position to another, means for moving the arms against the action of the spring, means for moving the arms independent of the first means for carrying the arms over center, said springmoving the arms to one limit of their movement after said last means has functioned.

Des Moines, Iowa, October 18, 1923,

RALPH PENN.

y connected at one end