US1645055A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Octfi 11, 192?. H. HUBER ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 22, 1922 Inventor. Herman J. H.HubeY b9 7 f is Abbe Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

'UNITED STATES} PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN J. H. HUBER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL EL EC- TRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application flled"November 22, 1922. Serial No. 602,629.

My invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to an improved form of switch contact member.

In the construction of electric switches it is customary to provide main and auxiliary contact members arranged to be connected in shunt relation with each other when the switch is closed, the main contact members bein designed tocarry the greater part of the load current and the auxiliary contact members being used to take the are when the circuit is made and broken. 7,

The main contact members are usually constructed of resilient material for the urpose of insuring good contact between t em and the members with which they cooperate.

In operation, the main contacts are subject to rapid deterioration for the reason that they are usually in the form of laminated brushes made of strips of copper, or an alloy of copper, which has a low elastic limit and which loses its elasticity on account of the heating and rough usage incident to the operation of the switch. As the elasticity of the brushes decreases it becomes increasingly diflicult to maintain good contact, and the o eration of the switch is adversely affected It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide means independent of the elasticit of the brush for insuring good contact etween the switch brushes and their cooperating contact members and to provide an arrangement of parts well adapted to stand rough usage wlthout deterioration of the main contact.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as my invention is consldered in detail.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, there is shown in the single figure thereof an operating rod 1 arran ed to move the bridging contact member 2 into and out of engagement with the primary contact brushes 3 and the secondary contact t-lps 4 to close and open the circuit.

The primary contact brushes 3 are secured to stationary contact heads 5 Wh10l1 are supported from the frame of theswltch (not shown but which ma for example, be similar to that shown 1n Letters Patent No. 1,349,873, to C. Christensen, dated Aug. 17, 1920) by insulated bushings 6. A spiral spring 7 is interposed between an extension 8 0. the contact head 5 and the primary brush 3 to provide efl'ective contacting engagement between the brush 3 and the movable bridging contact member 2. This spring The spring assists the laminated contact in taking the closing shock of the switch and before the laminated contact is deflected to an extent great enou h permanently to injure it the movement is stopped. The extension 8 is preferably so located with respect to the brush 3 and bridging member 2 that is caseof excessively severe shocks the movement of the bridging member is limited by the rigid extension 8. The secondary contact tips 4 are pivotally connected to the brackets 9 which are in turn fastened to contact heads 5 and are forced into contact relation with the movable bridging contact member by the action of the spring 10. Electrical contact between the secondary contact tips 4 and the contact head 5 is maintained by the flexible conductor 11. A sto 12 on the secondary contact tip 4 is adapted to engage an end wall 13 of the bracket 9 to limit the downward movement of the secondary contact tips 4.

When it is desired to open the circuit the operating rod 1 and bridging member 2 are lowered, being followed within their respective ranges of travel by the primary contact brushes 3 and the secondary contact tips 4. The above ranges of travel are'fixed so that that of the primary contact brush is less than that of the secondary contact ti 7 4. In consequence thereof the circuit will be transferred to the latter member as the bridging member 2 descends and the circuit finally broken at the secondary contact tips. While I have disclosed my invention as embodied in a single arrangement of parts it must not be considered as limited thereto. Similar structures will readily occur to those skilled in the art and it is my intention to cover by'the appended claims all such embodiments as come within the spirit and of my invention.

by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1- 1. In a switch, a laminated contact brush, a contact member adapted to be raised into engagement therewith, resilient means for maintaining ood contact between said brush and sai member, and a support for said brush and said means constructed and arranged to maintain said means in operative relation with said brush and to limit the deflection of said brush by said contact member.

2. In a switch, a flexible contact brush, a movable bridging member designed to cooperate therewith, resilient means for maintaining good contact between said brush and said bridging member, and a fixed support for said brush constructed and arranged to maintain said means in operative relation with said brush, a portion of said support being spaced from said brush and adapted to limit the deflection thereof when engaged by said bridging member.

3. In a switch, a flexible contact brush, a movable contact member designed to cooperate therewith, a spring for maintaining good contact between sald brush and said contact member, a fixed support for said brush, and a projection upon said support spaced from said brush, said projection being arranged to limit the movement of said contact member and being recessed to afford a seat ,for said sprin In witness whereo I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of November, 1922.

HERMAN J. H. HUBER;

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