US1645393A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11, 1927. 93'

- A. H. NERO ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 15. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 29 in: i

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2 Sheets-Shed 2 I BY v nn-\ I A. H. NERO ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 15 1925 Oct. 11, 1927.

Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

ARVID H. NERO, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROW ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC swrrcn.

I Application filed November 15, 1923. Serial Noi 674,923.

My invention relates to electric switches,

I and particularly to switches of the push through type. The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efiiclent switch mechanism of this character, having an improved snap action, together with an appropriate insulating body on which the mechanism and associated contacts are mounted.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a-lamp socket in which my invention is embodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a through;

F ig; 3 is a similar view of the insulating base of the socket showing the switch mechanism in a diiierent position; i

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a broken plan view of the socket;

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the upper button of the socket body showing portion of the switch mechanism in position thereon;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the other button of the socket body showing the switch spring seated therein;

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the switch frame and associated elements;

Fig. 9 is a broken side elevation of a lamp socket in which my invention is embodied in modified form;

Fig. 10 is an inverted plan view thereof;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 1111, Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the switch mechanism in different position;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13- 13, Fig. 12';

' Fi s. 14 and 15 are perspective views of tails; and Fig. 16 is a perspective frame.

broken vertical section thereof the switch While I have'illustrated my invention in" an electric lamp-socket, it will be understood that the switchmechanism is applicable to fittings of various other types. -It will further be recognizedthat the details of construction are subject to many variations other than those shown in the modifications illustrated, and that what I claim as my invention is not restricted totheJmrt-icular embodiments shown and describe In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, the invention is applied to an electric lamp socket comprising an insulating base formed by two buttons 20 and 21 of any suitable insulating material, such as porcelain, one or both suitably recessed on their meeting faces to form a switch chamber, and one or both buttons transversely channelled to afford a passageway for the operating push bar 22 and its associated finger pieces 23 and 24. Mounted on the button 21 is a screw shell 25 for the reception of a lamp base,'or the like, the base flange 26 of the screw shell being engaged by the yoke 27 integral with the ofiset terminal lug 28 which projects through the base flange 26 of the screw shell into a wiring channel 29 in which is housed the binding screw 30. The center contact 31 of the socket is secured by screw 32 or the to form a fixed switch contact 33 which enters, and lies against one wall of, the paslike, to the button 21, and its base is offset sage 34 formed in the button 21 to accommometal, from the web of which" are offset in one direction parallel arms 38 and-39 and an intermediate arm 40 offset in opposite direction, the several arms engaging in appropriate channels in'the buttons 21 and 20 which thus accurately locate the frame and hold thesame in position with respect to the base. The arm 39 is extended out of the switch chamber and is provided with an 011'- set wire terTn'inal end 41 extending into channel 42 in which the binding screw 43 is housed.

Underlying the arms 38 and 39 of the switch frame is'the base 44 of the flat metal switch spring, the spring arm 45 of which is bent up from the base and'terminates in a gabled head having opposite inclines 46' and 47 which in the adjusted position' of the parts underlie the cam end 48 of the rocker '35. The cam end 48 of rocker 35 rides the gable inclines 46 and 47 of the spring and the rocker-is ,thrown thereby with a snap action.

The operation of'the switch will be readily understood from Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2 the rocker is shown incircuit-clcsing position, in which one side :2: of the cam end 48 of the disc 57 .;-an

16 inclusive, the essential features 0 thereof bears a ainst the incline 47 of the switch spring, t e eifort of which maintains the opposite end of the rocker in engagement with the contact 33. Electrical connection between the wire terminal end 41 of the frame and the center contact 31 of the socket is thus established through the frame, push bar and rocker. When the push bar 22 is shifted to the left by pressure on the finger piece 24, the rocker 35 is bodily moved therewith. Its angular position with respect to the ush bar is changed, however, by reason of t e engagement of one end of the rocker with the contact 33, while the push bar is shifted. The cam nose 48 of the rocker therefore rides up the incline 47 of the spring arm 45, increasing the stress of the latter by reason of its depression. As the cam nose of the rocker passes thg crest 49 of the spring arm, the incline 46 of the latter exerts its effort against the opposite side y of the cam nose 48 and throws the rocker with snap action away from the contact 33, thus inter.- rupting the electrical connection therewith. When it is desired to again complete the connection between the rocker and the contact 33, the push bar 22 is shifted to the right by pressure on the finger piece 23. The rocker 35 is again shifted bodily with the bar 22, but its contact end is now engaged with the arm 39 of the frame. Consequently, as the bar .22 is shifted to the right, the rocker 35 changes its angular position, the contact end thereof sliding upward toward the contact 33. This movement causes the nose of the cam end thereof to ride up the incline 46 of the spring arm, again stressing the latter by depression, and crossing the crest 49 as the contact end of the rocker approaches the contact 33. As the cam nose passes the crest, the rocker is swung with snap action by the rise of the spring, its incline 47 now engaging the opposite side of the cam nose of the rocker. In the construction shown in Figs. 9 to opera"- tion are retained, the details of construction bein somewhat modified. In this form the twoutton insulating base is replaced by a single porcelain button 50 deeply channelled. at 51'forthe receptioni-of the switch mecha-' nism and push bar 52. The screw shell 53 is supported upon the base by means of'a yoke 54 which overlies the base flange 55 and carries thewire terminal strap 56. Overlyin the yoke 54 is a disc of insulating fiber, or t e like, 57, towhich is riveted the base 58 of the center contact 59-. Extending from. the base 58 is a combined'switch contactand spring 60, which passes around one marginchamber 51. The centercontact and screw shall are mounted upon the button 50 by the sclews 61 which pass through and button 50 on opposite sides of the channel '51 and take" projects; into the switch effected by an inte pivoted at 69 to the push bar 52 and is provided with a cam nose 70 which, in the adjusted position of the parts, bears against the spring arm and rides the inclines 71 and 72 thereof at opposite sides of the crest 7 3 in a manner analogous to that described in the foregoing construction.

The contact end of the rocker 68 plays in a recess 74 in the button 50. Against one wall of the recess lies the contact 75 formed by the oifset end of the binding screw strap 7 6 which is secured by the screw 77 to one end of the base. A washer 78 of insulating material, such as fiber, is forced into a seat .79 surrounding the passage 74 and serves to exclude dirt and dust from the region of the cooperating contacts.

The operation of this mechanism is subst'antially like that first described. In Fig. 11 the switch is shown in circuit-closing position, the connection between the wire terminal contact 7 5 and the center contact spring 60 being I established through the rocker 68. To break the connection between these parts, the push bar 52 is shifted to the left, moving the rocker 68 therewith, and causing its cam nose to pass over the crest 73 of the spring 60, which thereupon swings the rocker with a snap action to the opencircuit position. indicated in Fig. 4, in which the contact end of the rocker rests a ainst thestop face v80 of the recess 74. en it is desired to establish the circuit a ain, the push bar is shifted in the opposite irection, thus causing the contact end of the rocker to slide on the surface 80 until the cam nose 70 thereof passes the crest 73 of the spring 60, whereupon the incline 72 of the .spring arm bearing on the opposite side of the cam nose throws the rocker against the fixed contact andhmaintains the same in engagement therewit v In the construction just described, the

rocker affords a direct connection between through the switch frame and push bar. In

the latter case, however, the engagement between the moving parts and the frame is sufliciently maintained b the pressure of the springdo insure good electrical connec- It will be noted that in both constructions the support of the rocker on the ash bar is a1 boss struc from the push bar andtakmg .into a bearing apernausea ture in the rocker. 'The rocker is held on the boss by its confinement between the push bar and the web of the frame. To receive the movement of the switch bar to open-circuit position, and the constant spring engagement with the rocker insures its maintenance in both on and of! positions. A wide break is attained, sufiicient to properly handle a commercial lighting circuit of the usual voltage.

With the understanding that various modifications may be made in the construction which do not depart from what I claim as my invention, I claim- 1. In an electric switch, a ush bar having a rectilinear movement, an inflexible rocker pivoted on said push bar and bodily movale therewith, together with a s ring havin a sliding engagement with sai rocker an operative to oscillate the latter with a snap action after a predetermined bodily movement of the rocker by the push bar.

2. In an electric switch, a push bar having a rectilinear movement, an inflexible rocker pivoted intermediate its ends'on said push ar, one end of said rocker having a cam nose, and a gabled spring engaging said cam nose of the rocker and serving to throw the latter with a snap action on the movement of the rocker nose across the crest of the gable by the rectilinear displacement of the push bar.

3. In an electric switch, a push bar havin a rectilinear. movement, a rocker ivote thereon and bodily movable therewit fixed means enga ed by said rocker at opposite ends of its throw and serving to change the angularposition of the rocker with respect to the push bar on displacement of the lat ter, together with spring means having a sliding engagement with the rocker and serv ing to com lete with a snap action the throw of the roc er initiated by the displacement of the push bar. v

4. In an electric switch, a push bar havin a rectilinear movement, a rocker ivote thereon and bodily movable therewit fixed means engaged by said rocker at o posite ends of its throw and causing one en of the rocker to move in a general direction opposed to that of the push bar on displacement of the latter, together with s ring a means having a sliding engagement wit the rocker and serving to complete with a snap action the throw of the rocker initiated by i the displacement of the push bar.

'5. In'an electric switch, a pushbar having a a rectilinear movement, a frame havin spaced supports in which said bar slides, an a web parallel to the push bar, together with a rocker pivoted on-said push bar and ar- I'BILgOd between the latter and the frame. we

6. In an electric switch, a push bar having a rectilinear movement, a frame havin spaced supports in which said bar slides, an a web parallel to the push bar, together with a rocker pivoted on said push bar and arranged between the latter and the frame web, said web serving to retain the rocker in pivotedengagement with the push bar.

In testimony whereof .I have signed my name to this specification.

' ARVID H. NERO.

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