US1562698A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 5, 1923 Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

G-EGRGE HEG-EMAN HART. OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed March 3, 1923.

To all era/mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gaol-ion H. HART, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Test Hartford, county of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to electrio switches of the type having a rotary handle which may constitute a pointer to indicate the indexed positions of a switch unit, the latter having a suitable blade or blades adapted to be thrown with a quick movement into and out of engagement with suitable terminals fixed on a base.

For many reasons itis preferable that the handle be made of porcelain, or of a material of similar characteristics, but here 'tofore the objection to porcelain handles has been that porcelain cannot be molded to close dimensions thus making it necessary to allow a relatively large tolerance in those portions of the handle which engage those members through which the switch unit is thrown when the handle is rotated. This has meant that the handles could not be made with sufficient accuracy to eliminate looseness between the handles and the parts to which they are connected or associated, and the result has been that the handles would wobble and vary in their indicating positions.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement having various features of novelty and advantage, and more particularly to provide certain improvements in switches of this sort whereby looseness between the handle and the parts associated therewith is practically eliminated and the handle will stand in close indicating positions; that is to say, it will point within relatively close limits to the indicia signifying the off, on, etc., positions of the switch unit.

The above and other objects of the invention are obtained in the structure described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the present disclosure is by way of exemplification only and that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and changes which are within the spirit of the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Serial No. 622,559.

In saiddrawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the switch, this switch being shown by way of illustration only, and more or less diagrammatically, as it is obvious that the novel features of the invention may be incorporated in switches differing in construction from that here shown;

Fig. 2 is an exploded View showing, in per- 'spective, the switch handle and certain parts to be connected thereto;v

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view through the handle;

Fig. 4 is a View of the handle in side elevation, the pointer end thereof being in sec tion; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the handle.

In these drawings I have shown so much of a switch of the type illustrated in the patent to Smart and Gates, No. 1,409,146, dated March 7, 1922, as is necessary to make clear one application of the present invention.

10 is a baseof insulating material and of any desired shape, 011 which are fixed terminals 11, suitably spaced apart, say at 90 degrees, as shown. Journaled in the base is a spindle 12 with which is associated a switch unit, having a blade or blades, which is not shown as the same forms no par ticular part of the present invention. Secured to the spindle is a U-shaped spring plate 13 having an upwardly extending projection or tongue 14L adapted to be operatively connected to the handle 15, as here inafter described more in detail. Loose on the spindle and positioned about the spring plate is, what may be termed. forconvenience, an abutment 1'7 which is secured to the switching unit. Coiled about the spindle and having its ends straddling the spring plate and the abutment is a spring 18. In op eration the handle may be turned step by step in either direction to effect the de sired electrical connection between the contacts or terminals. When the handle is thus turned the spring is placed under tension until a certain part of the switching unit is released and then the spring throws the switching unit with a quick movement. The handle 15, which is preferably of porcelain, is provided with a bore or well 20 having longitudinally extending grooves 21 which receive the guides or wings 22 of a connector or sleeve internally threaded so as to re- Cal ceive the upper threaded end of the switch spindle. The handle is normally held against longitudinal movement relative to the sleeve by a spring 2 L abutting against a co llar loosely receiving the sleeve andheld in place by a spring 26 sprung into an annulargroove in the wall o t the bore adjacent its'o'p'en end.

For the purpose of connecting handles ot l t and spaced apart .in accordance with the angular position of the various switches ,on

theirbases, and a plurality of washers for, selectively blanking all but one of the notches are provided, alias isadisclosed and claimed in'the (to-pending a pli'cation for Letters Patent oit Frederic P. Gates, Serial No. 555,997, .tilcdn-ripril 22, 1922. The numeral 31 designates one o t'said washers, this washer blanking notches and 30 and.

having an aperture BZ adapted to re ister with notch 30:. It will-be understood ti on'i the. foregoing that therjeare provided a sec ond washer (not shown) similar to washer Ell but having anapcrture 32? ('as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5) adapted to register'i with notch. 30; anda thlrd Vasher having an aperture 32". registering with ,notcl 1 30". Each washer is provided with a pan of openings 33-throughwvh1ch .therarms 345,011

the collar 35 extend for the purpose ,ofise curlng the washer in place.

As previously stated, handles .ot'poifce lain or like materialihaving'similar charac teristics, cannot be made to, exact dinieuf handles of this sort though formed in. the same mold, will-vary... This 2 means that the well and the notch 30 sions, and

(where one noteh is pi' ovided, or notches, where a plurality are provided.toacconiplisli the objects set forth in the said Fred- -eric P. Gates application) must be made OYGXSIZG, and, therefore, the connector and the projection lt fit more .or less loosely;

' aiid where the engagement between the walls of a notch in the handle andithc projection is relied upon to hold the handle against 1'0.

tation relative to the spindle, there is so much play between the parts that the ham dle will wobble .andwill not take indicating positions with precision. In order to elimi-' nate these objections I provide o'n the bot-. tom of the handle, a plate, and anchorthis plate against relative turning movement to the handle at a point beyond the projection,

.- the plate having a notch or notches, as the case may be, for closely receiving the pro- 43 positioned in the pointer portion of the handle. This plate, in the present illustration, is shown interposed between the handle andthe washer 31, and is provided with apertures stat, li, and 44: corresponding to the notches 80, 30?, and 30".. These apertures are of such size that the projection lit will have a closefit therein. Also, the plate has 'a central aperture which the sleeve or connector has a" relatively close sliding fit. It will be jnoted that since the projection tits closely in that apertnre'in the plate which is not covered 'by'tlie washer, and the plate is anchored.a 'ainstlturning movement relative to the ,liandleat; a m n relat ly e-rea h r i dlsthe handle will have little or no loose plgiyfland will be held steady to closely indicate the indexed positions of the switch instance, when the switchis in oil? position. the pointer end otthe handle will be all ned with the niddle letter It, as shownin" ii'gure l I Vv hat I claim is 1. In an electric switchand in combination, a rotary switch. spindle havingjaproj c ien efisettlieli i lli e an l @bnii c ed to said spindle, and a plate anelhored tdsaid handle at a point beyond sa d projection and havingengagemen wi h Sai p ii eti n for reventing elative te a y m e-m e tweenthe handle and spindle. l'

'2; In an electric switch, andin combination, a rotary switch member ha-ving an offsetv projection, a handle constituting a pointer a plate anchered to said. handle at a greater distance fron saidspinclle than said projection and having an apeigture d pt d o. ce .-Ye lQP l Q lQ i In an, electric switch. and in. combinatiolna rot switch spindle provide [with an oftset projection, a porcelain ndl'e, means for securing said handle iist ,withset pr0jectio n, a handle having a bore, a connector .slidably mounted .in sa d bore and held against rotation relativev tosaid handle and adapted to be threaded onto said spindle, a spring normally urging the handle against longitudinal movement relative to said connector, and a plate on the bottom of said handle having an opening slidably receiving said connector and an aperture adapted to closely receive said projection, said plate having a radially extending arm with an upturned end projecting into said handle.

6. In an electric switch and in c01nbination, a rotary switch spindle having a fixed projection, a handle provided with a plurality of angularly spaced recesses adapted to receive said projection, means for con n-ecting said handle for sliding and rotary movements to said spindle, a plate on the bottom of said handle having apertures registering with said notches, said plate being anchored to said handle at a point beyond said projection, a Washer overlying said plate having a single aperture adapted to register With one of said apertures in said plate, and common means for, securing said Washer and said plate to said handle.

GEORGE HEGEMAN HART.

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