US1518888A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES 7 1,518,888 PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK O. WINKLEHAUS, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB. TO METROPOLITAN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEXV JERSEY.

SWITCH.

Application filed July 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK O. l/VINKLE- HAUS, acitizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the borough of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to electric snap switches and has for an object to provide an improved switch in which the parts may be produced largely by stamping the same from sheet metal and forming the same into the desired shapes by suitable dies; in which the parts may be expeditiously assembled; in

which the number of parts is a. minimum; and which is simple, durable, compact and inexpensive. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through a switch constructed in accordance with this invention Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a section through the same take substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1; a

Fig. at is a sectional elevation through the same taken substantially along the line l l of Figure 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevation similar to Figure 4:, but showing the parts in another position; and g Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rocker member.

V In the illustrated embodiment of the in tion, the switch device is supported within a receptacle 1 of porcelain or other insulating material. The open faceof the receptacle is attached to one face of the plate 2 by means of which the switch and receptacle are supported flush in a wall. A chan nel or U-shaped bracket member 3 is secured by its cross bottom wall to the bottom wall of the receptacle 1 in a suit-able manner, such as by screws t which pass upwardly through the bottom wall of the receptacle and have threaded engagement with the bracket member, the heads of the screws l being counter sunk for a short distance into the bottom wall of the receptacle. The countersunk recess above each screw 4 is filled with a suit- 1922. Serial No. 573,389.

able pitch or other insulating material, as well known in the art.

The bracket member is cut away in the bottom wall thereof, the cut extending into the side walls, for the purpose of providing an elongated recess or notch 5' for a purpose to be explained. The bracket member is conveniently formed of stamped sheet metal in which an aperture will be stamped at the time of stamping the same from stock material, so that when folded into the form of a U or channel member the aperture will form the notch 5 in the lower part thereof and intermediate its ends. The side arms of the bracket member are provided adjacent their upper ends with aligned apertures 6 which serve as bearings for integral lug extensions 7 provided upon the arms of a U-shaped crank member 8 and extending into the apertures. This crank member embraces transversely the lower part of the channel bracket member with the cross arms of the crank member extending across the notch 5.

The crank member is preferably formed by stamping the same from sheet material such as brass, the lugs 7 being formed as integral extensions of the crank member duringlthe stamping operation. The ends of the notch or recess 5 in the lower wall ofthe bracket member serve to limit the rotary movement of the crank member upon the lugs 7 as bearings.

A rocker member 9 is provided, generally of U-shape, with each arm of the U broadened at its free end and having at the limits of the broadened part apertures 10 for the attachment of operating means. The rocker member is inverted and in telescopic relation with the arms of the bracket member 3 and the lower or end edge of each arm of the rocker member is provided with a notch or slot 11 which is adapted tofit over and have bearing upon lugs 12 of the channel bracket member. The lugs 12 are preferably formed by striking the same inwardly toward one another from the side arms of the bracket member and are preferably struck out during the stamping operation of the channel member. fore, rocks upon the lugs 12 as bearings within the channel member, and the crank mem her 8 oscillates in the apertures 6 of the channel member but extends exteriorly of the bracket member.

A hook 1. is provided upon the cross arm The rocker member, there-- 14 connecting the side arms of the rocker member, and a helical spring 15 is connected at its ends and under tension to the hook 13 of the rocker member and to the cross arm of the crank member 8. As the rocker member is shifted upon the lugs 12 as bearings,

the spring 15 will be shifted through the plane of the crank member in either direction and will snap the crank member alternately to the limits of movement permitted by the slot. The spring 13 also serves to yieldingly hold the rocker member upon the lugs 12.

The crank member is provided upon one edge with lugs 16 which extend in the plane thereof. A suitable switch blade 17 some what V-shaped, is riveted upon the lugs 16 so as to be oscillated with the crank member. Contact posts or members 18 and 19 are secured to the receptacle 1, upon opposite ends thereof, in a suitable manner, such as by screws 20 and 21, respectively, which pass upwardly through the receptacle and have threaded engagement with the contact posts or members 18 and 19. These contact posts or members are formed of strips of 2 sheet metal, such as brass, which are stamped in the desired shape and size, and twisted so as to place the contact ends at right angles to the other ends and parallel with and in the plane of the cooperating ends of the switch blade, whereby when the posts are attached to the receptacle by the screws 20 and 21, the contact ends will extend into the path of movement of the ends of the switch blade so as to be engaged and bridged by the blade. Screws 22 and 23 are threaded through the anchored ends of the contact posts and extend loosely into recesses 2 1 and 25 of the receptacle. The screws 22 and 23 serve as binding posts for the connection of circuit wires 26 and 27 to the contact posts 18 and 19.

The apertures 10 in the corresponding ends of the rocker member are aligned and Y are provided with narrow slots 28 which, with the apertures 10, form key hole slots for the attachment thereto of the operating push buttons 29. The push buttons 29 are provided with sheet metal extensions 30 which, at their inner ends, have integral, flat transversely extending ears 31 which may be passed flatwise through the narrow slots 28 into the apertures 10 and then rotated into the positions shown in Figures 1, t and 5, in which positions, the width of the ears prevents removal of the push button extensions 30 from the apertures 10. The push buttons 29 pass through apertures 32 in the plate 2 by means of which they are guided in their reciprocating movements in shifting the rocker member.

In the operation of the switch, the button 29 which projects furthest from the anchormg plate 2, is pushed inwardly, which 6 36 a rocking movement of the rocker member 9 so as to carry the helical spring 15 through the plane of the crank member 8, whereupon the spring snaps the crank member to the other limit of its movement in the slot or notch 5. This movement carries the switch blade through a given arcuate movement, so as to move into or out of bridging relation with the contact members 18 and 19. In the position of the parts shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 4:, the switch is in closed position, that is, the switch blade bridges the contact members 18 and 19 and thus electrically connects the circuit wires 26 and 27. If now the push button 29 at the right is depressed, the rocker member will shift the helical spring 15 through the plane of the crank member, whereupon the spring will snap the crank member to the opposite end of the notch 5, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and in full lines in Figure 5 and shift the contact blade out of contact with the contact members 18 and 19 which opens the circuit between wires 26 and 27.

It will be obvious that all of the parts of the switch, with the exception of the receptacle, manually engaged ends of the push buttons 29, and the helical spring 15 may be formed from sheet metal, such as brass, and by stamping machinery at a very low cost, and that the parts are quickly and easily assembled by relatively unskilled help.

It will be obvious that various changes in the details and arrangement of parts herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a snap switch, an integral U-shaped bracket member of sheet metal, the arms of the member having lugs struck out therefrom and extending from the inner faces toward one another in alignment, and also having aligned apertures, a rocker member having depending arms disposed between the arms of the U-shaped member, the dependings arms having notches therein which pass over the lugs and fulcrum thereon, a flat, stamped metal crank member embracing the bracket with aligned integral tongues extending into said apertures to fulcrum therein for a limited movement, a switch blade operable by the crank member, and a spring connected under tension at its ends to the rocker member and the crank member. whereby when the rocker member is shifted to carry the spring through the plane of the crank member in either direc tion, the spring will snapthe crank member to the other limit of its movement.

2. In a snap switch, an integral U-shaped bracket member of sheet metal having in its side arms aligned apertures, a. flat crank member formedof stamped sheet metal with the arms thereof embracing and extending along the side arms of the bracket member, said arms of the crank member having integral lugs from its edges which enter the aligned apertures and serve as bearings, a switch blade operable by the crank member, and means for alternately stressing the crank member in opposite directions to cause operations of the crank member.

3. In a snap switch, a U-shaped bracket member of sheet metal having a notch in the bottom and extending into the side walls, and having in its arms aligned apertures, a flat crank member formed by stamped sheet metal embracing the lower part of the bracket member with the cross arm of the crank member extending across the notch from side to side of the bracket member, the edges of the side arms of the crank member having integral lugs extending into said apertures and having bearings therein, the ends of the notch limiting rotary movement of the crank member to a given are, and means including a spring for stressing the crank member alternately to the limits of its movement.

4. In a snap switch, a U-shaped bracket member of sheet metal having a notch in the bottom and extending into the side walls,

and having in its arms aligned apertures, a flat crank member formed of stamped sheet metal embracing the lower part of the bracket member with the cross arm of the crank member extending across the notch from side to side of the bracket member, the edges of the side arms of the crank member having integral lugs extending into said apertures and having bearings therein, the ends of the notch limiting rotary movement of the crank member to a given arc, a U- shaped rocker member of sheet metal inverted and disposed between the sides of the bracket member, the side arms of the bracket member having integral lugs struck out therefrom and extending toward one another in alignment from the inner faces, the depending arms of the rocker member having notches in their lower edges, which fit over and have bearing on said lugs, a spring connected between the rocker member and the crank member whereby movement of the rocker member will carry the spring through the plane of the crank member and cause a snapping operation thereof, and a switch blade operable by said crank member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

FREDERICK O. VVINKLEHAUS.

Images