US1637038A - Rotary switch - Google Patents

Description

Jul 26, 1927. 1,637,038

C. DE REAMER ROTARY SWITCH Filed Nov. 350, 1925 Inventor": Frank (1.139 Reamer:

His Attorney Patented July 26, 1927.

it r 1,637,038

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. DE REAMEB, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR [YO-GENERAL ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, A CORFORA'IION OF NEW YORK.

ROTARY SWITCH.

Application filed November The present invention relates to electric current control and more especially to rotary snap switches.

The object of my invention is the provision o'lf' an improved rotary snap switch composed of few parts, which may be 1nanu factured at low cost and which may be readily mounted in electric fixtures and similar devices.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l. is an axial section of a complete switch; Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the upper end of the base and terminal connections of the line wires Fig. is a-perspec'tive view of the central diaphragm; Fig. 4 is a similar View of the inovable pole piece; Fig. 5 is a similar view of a combined stationary contact and line terminal; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the switch with the parts shown in perspective, and Fig. 7 a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 1 showing lower end of the base and movable pole piece.

The base 1 is oil insulating material and in the form of a cylindrical ring with two shallow quadrant recesses 2 in its periphery, while the walls of the central chamber have four ratchet-shaped notches or recesses 3 extending from the lower end to a radial shoulder 4t located about midway of its length, and extending from the upper end are two arcuate notches 5 which extend at one end across the end wall of thebase for the entrance of the line wires, as indicateifl in Figs. 1 and The line wires have their terminals soldered to bent over ends 6 of T-shaped sheet metal contacts 7, as shown in Fig. 5, curved to fit in opposite ratchet recesses 3 and are detachably retained in place therein solely by a disk or diaphragm 8 of sheet insula tion, as shown in Fig. 1, with its periphery shaped, as shown in Fig. 8, to correspond with the tour ratchet recesses 3 in the base and dimensioned to press the contacts 7 radially outward into firm engagement with the walls of their respective ratchet notches.

The movable pole piece, as shown in Fig. 4, consists of a rectangular block 9 of insulation with two spring contacts 10 oil C or involute-shaped strips of phosphor bronze secured to opposite sides of the block 9 near its upper end by a rivet 11. The width of 30, 1925. Serial No. 72,123.

the contacts 10 corresponds with the depth of the base below the diaphragm 8. Two washers 12 and 13 of sheet insulation corres ponding to'the exterior diameter of the base at the recesses 2 are placed over its respective ends and bound in place by an enclosing metal shelllat. The washers serve both to insulatively enclose and retain in place the terminal contacts 7 and the movable pole piece, while the latter serves to retain the diaphragm 8 in place.

, The metal shell 1s consists of a central washer 15 with two cylindrical quadrants 16 extending upwardly from the periphery and adapted to fit in the quadrant recesses 2 of the base and at their upper ends are pairs of lugs 17 adapted to be clinched over the upper, insulating washer 12, as shown in Fig. l. The shell 1% has attached at its center a depending metal hub 18 provided with an external thread 19 and internally with a bore 20 countersunk at its upper portion. The portions of the base between the quadrants 2 are left exposed between the cylindrical quadrants of the cover in order that the line wires may come into contact with insulation only as they pass to the detachable contacts 7.

A key or actuating shaft 21 is journaled.

in the bore 20 of the hub 18 and has an enarged head 22 corresponding to the bore countersink and provided with a transverse slot to receive loosely the lower end of the pole piece block 9 whereby the two parts are coupled together rotarily. The lower end 2 1 of the shaft 21 reduced in diameter and threaded tor the reception of a thumb piece The switch is adapted for installation in a fixture canopy, as indicated in dotted lines 26 Fig. 1, by passing the threaded hub 18 outwardly through a suitable hole in the canopy and turning home a nut 27 on the shank to firmly clamp the wall of the canopy between it and the central portion 15 of the shell 14.

On account of the freedom of the movable pole piece to float from side to side between the diaphragm 8 and the lower washer 13, its contact arms 10 bear uniformly upon the stationary contacts 7 and thereby insure good electrical contact throughout the life thereof. It is also to be observed that the several parts of the switch are adapted to be llsSGl1lperiphery Q I p r 1,637,038

bled and secured in operative relation practically without the employment of tools or 1 's. lVhile I have shown and described the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An electric switch comprising an insulating base with a central chamber having ratchet notches in the inner wall thereof,

contacts to bind them against the walls of stationary contacts detachably seated in alternate notches, a movable pole piece adapted toengage said stationary contacts, and an insulating disk disposed in said chamber transversely thereof and pressing radially outward at its periphery against the said stationary contacts to bind them in place against the walls of their respective notches. 2. An electric switch comprising an insulating base with a central chamber extending therethrough and provided with ratchet notches in the inner wall thereof adjacent one end, combined line terminals and stationary contacts detachably seated in certain of said'notches, a rotary pole piece adapted to engage said contacts, and an insulating disk disposed in said chamber transversely thereof and engaging at its periphery with said combined line terminals and stationary said notches. r

3. An electric switch comprising an insulating base having a chamber extending therethrough with ratchet notches in its inner wall adjacent one end of the base and with line wire grooves adjacent the other end, combined line terminals and'stationar'y contacts detachably located in certain of said ratchet notches and extended into said grooves, a rotary pole piece adapted to engage said stationary contacts, and an insulating disk located transversely of said chamber and serving as the sole meansto retain said'contacts in said notches and to divide the chamber into line terminal and contact compartments. I

4. An electric switch comprising a ringshaped base with two quadrant recesses in the periphery thereof, line terminals, stationary contacts and a rotary pole piece mounted within said base, insulating disks enclosing opposite ends of said base, and a metal shell comprising a central washer adapted to rest againstone of said disks with two cylindrical quadrants extending from opposite peripheral edges thereof through the peripheral recesses of said base and having their free ends bent over the other of said insulating disks.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of November, 1925.

FRANK C. DE REAMER.

Images