US1562183A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Nm W, NQHTN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 2 1923 2 Sheets-Sham 2 INVENTOR. C//fforo/ /Vor/on Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT carica.

CLIFFORD NORTON, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T0 GRAHAM INOR-` TON COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. i

ELECTRIC SWITC Application led February 2, 1923. Serial No. 616,485.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD NoR'roN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Oran e, in the county of Essex and State of New ersey, have inventedl certain new and useful Improvements in lElectric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention lrelates to electric switches andlmore particularly to switches designed for use as interlock switches in connection with elevator door operating mechanisms and known in the art as Delectric 'interlock switchesacting to revent operation of the elevator when the oor is open by opening 'a control circuit and maintaining said circuit in open position until the door is closed.

The switch is however alike applicable in other situations or conditions where it is desired t o control the operation of the mechanism by controlling the condition of an electric circuit to either cut olf the power circuit orto govern the condition of a mechanical lock for the mechanism.

One of the objects of my invention 1s to provide a simple and cheap construction affording a complete houslng of insulating material for the contacting members of the switch aswell as to secure in general, ease of assembly and dis-assembly, ltogether with accessibility of the parts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and cheap construction of switch insuring the rupture of any arc following the opening of the circuit at the switch contacts.

Another object of the invention is to produce a simple and cheap construction of the mechanical elements of the switch whereby the circuit may be opened or closed by the action of a suitable operating'member or plunger.

A further ob'ect of the invention is to avoid the difficulty incident to the operation of some forms of switch where one contact element makes rubbing contact with thel other element and in moving off said element is liable to transfer an abraded conducting material on to a non-conducting or insulating surface, thereby tending to impair the insulation of the two poles or members from one another when the circuit is opened.

Other objects and advantages of my inv -bers are mounted respectively vention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the' drawings and following description.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a general side elevation' and partial section ofa switch embodying my invention and applied to an elevator or otherdoor, the 0peration of which is to be controlled.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the device. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view `of the two sections of the mock of insulating material which carries the contacting members and, by its construction, affords a complete housing of insulating material therefor.

1 indicates a base plate on which the parts of the switch are mounted, said base plate, when the switch is employed in connection with an elevator door, bein properly secured to brackets or arms 2 astened to the door opening or frame 3 in an obvious and well-known manner.

4 4 indicate a pair of substantially parallel circuit closing members adapted to be moved into and out of contact with one another for the purpose of making and breaking the circuit. These circuit closing memin and completely housed by a block of insulating ma,- terial suitably fastened in position upon the base 1. Said block is a bipartite or sectional block the two members or elements of which, indicated respectively at 5 5', are shown in perspective, separated from one another, in

ig. 6, the switch contacts or circuit closing members and other parts being, in this figure, removed therefrom.

The meeting line of the sections, when the parts are assembled complete, is indicated at 6 in the various figures, being shown as a double line merely for the purpose of indicating a line of separation, although in practice the two elements or sections would be firmly engaged with one another on the line of division when assembled. nach section of the block consists preferably of some tough insulating material like bakelite or some variation of the same constructed for di-electric strength. Any material, however, which can be readily machined or molded into the shape shown might be used.

The meeting faces of the blocks are provided with recess s for the two contact elements 4 4 and are also so formed in their meeting faces as to afford a space for the operation of a reciprocating member or plunger 7 which works in guideways formed in the meeting faces of the blocks all as will be presently described. vWhen forced into the space between the contacting surfaces of said switch elements, the plunger acts to separate them and cause a rupture of the circuit and maintain the circuit in open condition by forming a barrier of insulating material between them. Said plunger in the open position of the switch would be, in practice, raised or operated to substantially the position indicated iny dotted lines Fig. 1. Inthis position it forms an eii'ectual arcrupturing or preventing shield for the circuit closing members 4 4', thus insuring the rupture of any are that might follow the opening of the circuit. In order to act effectively in this way, the element 7 is so formed as to extend laterally to a considerable distance beyond the edges of the members 4 4. as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The end thereof located above the contacting ends of the elements 4, when the switch is opened, also aids in this operation.

It will further be seen that the plunger 7 is of sufficient length to separate the switch contact members 4 4 throughout their whole length. To accommodate the circuit closing members 4 4 and afford a space also for the Working of the plunger 7 the opposed or meeting faces of the insulating block sections 5 5 are each provided with a groove or recess of the form indicated. The deeper or countersunk portion of the recess. the bottom of which is indicated at 8, affords a space for the mounting of the contact- elements 4 or 4 while nearer the edges or meeting faces of the blocks the recess is widened out to not only provide a space for the work: ing of the plunger 7 but also to provide guideways for the plunger by the ,ledges 9 and the sides of the widened space or groove. Each element 4 4 may be preferably pivotally mounted near the bottom of its recess upon a pin 10 extending from side to side of the block section through the countersunk portion of the groove or recess and each is given a bias toward the other for the purpose of closing the circuit bv means of a suitable coiled or other spring 11` which is seated in a socket formed or countersunk in the bottom of the recess i'n which the contact members move.

This construction of the pair of insulating blocks and manner of mounting and guiding the parts therein ai'ords great strength, simplicity and ease of manufacture and also provides a ractical complete enclosure of solid insulating material around t-he Working parts ofthe switch members.

On the top of each block section and adjacent the upper end of the groove in the face of the block a suitable binding post 12 is mounted for attachment of flexible connections 13 leading down through the recesses to the back of the circuit closing members and electrically united therewith in any suitable way. Said binding posts 12 also serve, for attachment of the leading-in wires 14 which enter through an opening 15 in the top of the casing. A free space is ai'orded by the casing above the insulating blocks, as shown, for facilitating the making of connections after the switch has been installed. p

The complete encasing of the fswitch is effected by means of a cover `plate 16, the edges of which extend over the sides of the block and engage the back or base plate 1. To complete the insulation of the parts and decrease the fire hazard, a lining 17 of insulating material is also employed, which rests upon a ledge provided around the edge or end of the block sections as shown. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the sections 5y 5 with their recessed faces in meeting relation. The means shown consist of two sets of fastening bolts or screws 18 passing through the insulating blocks and entering the base plate. One pair serves also to hold the cover. Any means. however, may be employed that will fasten the two sections firmly together in the position indicated, in which, as will be seen, the block aifords a complete, solid housing for the operating members of the switch.

In Fig. 1 the switch is shown in circuit closing condition. By raising the plunger or member 7 to the position indicated by the dotted line, the two members 4 4V will be forced apart at their contacting ends and be insulated from one another by the interposed mass of insulation of which the plunger 7 is composed. As will be seen, the plunger rubs against the contacting surfaces and aids in keeping the same clean. The contacts also will have a slight rubbing motion upon one another, thus aiding in this result. This rubbing action is due to the fact that the two contact elements are independently spring-actuated and that they will not move to exactly the same extent in the operation of opening and closing the circuit.

The upper ends of the contact elementsl 4 4 may be inclined inwardly to form inclined planes against which the upper edges of the plunger 7 engage with the etliect of multiplying the movement of the elements in opening circuit, thereby insuring a rapid or quick break.

The plunger' itself may be made of bakesaid contact members.

lite or other suitable insulating material.

When applied to an elevatordoor, the lower end of the plunger may be pivotal'ly connected by a link 20 with the lever 21 of the door operating. mechanism, said lever itself being pivoted to the bracket 22 vextending from the side of the door opening and being also connected with the door itself in the usual way, so that when the door is opened by the operator, the lever 2l, through the link 20, will' raise the open the control circuit o the elevator. The connection between the link 20 and the lever 21 is, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, by means of a pin extending laterally through the lever 22 and adapted to rock therein, while a threaded end of" the link passes through an extension of the pin andis secured to and longitudinally adjustable therein by means of suitable nuts engaging the threaded portion.

In the position of the parts shown, the door is closed and the control circuit being closed, the elevator may be operated in the usual way. The link 20 and the lever 21 may be connected by means, as indicated, which will permit the time of closing or breaking of the circuit to be adjusted for different positions of the door.

It will be seen that in my improved construction-of switch, any arc that mightfollow the rupture of circuit will be a horizontal are and owing-to the fact that all the conducting lprtions of` the switch members are below t will be no tendency of the arc to eat its way downward'into the space between the contacts, the natural action of an arc being to rupture. itself in an upward direction. Furthermore the immediate rupture of the arc is expedited by the interposition of the mass of insulating material composing the block or plunger?? in the space above the point of contact where t e arc 'would naturally form.A Furthermore, the arc is revented from eating its way downwardly y widening of, the space between ythe contact arms as shown below the `point Where they make contact with one another'to' close the circuit. -While, moreover, the plunger itself at all times interpo'ses a. solid massof 4insulating materialI operating` as a shield against arcing through the whole length ofl What I claim as my invention is 1. In an electric switch, a bipartite or sectional contact carrying block of insulating material having recessed to form a s ace completely enclosed by insulating materlal -when the sections are held in meeting relation, `two contacting members.secured directlyI to said blocks re- I.spectively and working in s aid recess, said' members having a.V biasvtending4 to close the circuit and4 a circuit .breaking member conlunger 7 and4 e location of the arc there y working in guideways formed 1n vof I recess nearer `the meetln a face of each section 'terial for said' contactsmembe 7..In an velectric switch, a 'sectional' block of insulating mat'f'il'fial the sisting of a plunger of insulating materialv working in guideways formed in the recessed meeting faces of said blocks and adapted to I .i

mounted in the countersunk porti-ons of said ycombined with circuit closing members f grooves and a circuit breaking member of insulating material working in guides formed by the wider portion of said grooves.

4. In an electric switch, a sectional or bipartiteblock of insulating material having recesses formed in the meeting faces of each section to provide guideways for the operating member of the switch working in said n.

recesses, said faces being also countersunk at the bottom of said recesses'to afford spaces for two switch lcontact members mounted respectively therein and adapted to make contact with one another in the space between the meeting faces. i

5. Inan electric switch, the combination of two complemental blocks of insulating material each provided with a countersunk recess in its opposed or meeting face, means for securing the blocks in meeting relation, pivoted circuit closing members mounted respectively on'pintles extendingtransversely through the countersink, said members being adapted to contactwith one-another to close the circuit .and a circuit breaking member consisting of a body of insulatin the portion face and material adapted to force said circuit c osing members apart.

6. In lan electric switch, a bipartite or -1 sectional contact carrying blocks of insulating material, said blocks having recesses in their opposed facesformed with guideways for the operating member of the switch and countersunk recesses at the bottom of the guidin recesses having mounted in them av pair o pivotal contact members normally engaged, coiled, springs in sockets at the tom of said eountersunk recesses and engag i eldi'ng said blocks meeting relation to provide by their recessed faces vafcomplete housing of insulating anabipartite or sections 'of which areformed respectively blocks near their meeting faces and flexible connections leading from the same through `the countersunk portion of the recesses and attached to said pivoted contact members respectively.

8. In an electric switch, a sectional contact carrying block of insulating material having its sections formed to provide, when the sections are secured together, a recess having guideways for an operating member reciprocating on the meeting line of the sections and a narrower countersunk recess back of the guiding portion in which members of .the switch contacting with one another may be respectively mounted with the operating member interposed between them.

ber into a space for an operating member oi.

the switch, and each providedaround its end with a ledge Afor engagement by a sheet of insulating material extending beyond the block.

10. The combination of a reciprocating plunger of insulating material, a pair of normally closed switch contact members arranged in position to be separated and to open the circuit by the interposition of the plunger, a link pivotally connected to said plunger, anoperatinglevega pin or stud adapted to rock in said lever and having a lateral extension and nuts engaging the threaded end of the link and disposed at opposite sides of said extension.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 1st day of February, A. D. 1923.

CLIFFORD NORTON.

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