US1650137A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1927. Y 1,650,137 J. 4A. KOPP ET AL n SWITCH Filed sept. 2a, 1925 attorno/13 Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES Pirriur OFFICE.

. JOI-1N A. KOPP, JOHN G. GUENTHNER, FRANK J. WELLKAMP, AND CHARLES J'. MEYER, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. i

SWITCH.

Appiicatm'n sied septemberwzs, 1925. serial No. 59,076.

This invention relates to electrical circuit` closers or switches, and has for itsobject the provision of a switch adapted to be mounted upon a vehicle steering wheel and operable .5 to control any desired circuit or circuits, the particular function for which the device is designedrbeing to control the `brilliance of the headlights of the vehicle.

An' important object of the invention is to,` provide a switch forl this or an analogous purpose embodying various structural features whereby it will be within convenient reach of i the operator or driver without vnecessitating removal of his hand from the steering wheel` toeffect dimming or brightening, or even extinguishing, of the lights.

A further object is the provision of a switch in Vwhich themechanism is enclosed withv the exception of the` operating handle,

the parts being consequently protected against injury and against the entrance of dirt, grit andthe like which might interfere with the action.

A still further object is to provide a switch embodying contacts of peculiar and advantageous formation inasmuch as over-throwing will be positively prevented, the contacts being, moreover, formed integrally with the terminal elements soas toavoid likelihood of derangement, the contacts serving as stops for limiting movement of the switch arm in either direction.

An additional object is vto provide a switch which will. be very inexpensive to manufacture, easy and simple to install or apply and operate, efficient,- and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention tion and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter' more. fully described andclaimed, and illustrated in the laccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a steering'wheel having the switch in applied position thereon.

lFigure 2 is a sectional view through the switch taken along substantially the line 2-2 of Figure 1, a portion of the steering wheel being illustrated.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the inner member of the switch with the cover or casing and'handle removed.

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4--4 rradiate spokes B carrying the rim @,the inpreferably consists inthe details of construcof Figure 3, looking `in thevdirection of the v arrows, and showing a side elevation of the inner member.

F igure' is a horizontal section taken on the 'line 5-5 of Figure 2 and looking upwardly, and

Figure 6 is a detail section taken on the .line 6 6 of Figure -3 and illustrating the Contact construction.

t Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates, generally, a steering wheely upon which it is intended that the switch 'be mounted, the wheel including the usual hub portion from which tentionbeing to mount the switch upon one of the spokes as indicated in' Figure 1. In carrying out the invention we provide a base member 10 of suitable insulating material and of any desired size andl shape, which base member has one side cut away, as indicated at 11 so as to define an opening or space 12 beneath a disk 13, likewise of insulating material mounted upon the base member 10 and secured thereto as by means ofa bolt or screw 14 which, in the present instance, is represented as projecting beyond the bot-tom of the base and screwed into a suitably tapped hole 15 in one spoke of the wheel. It is also desirable to use a similar screw or bolt 16 passing through another' part of the base and likewise screwed into v a tapped hole 17 in the wheel spoke. It will be observed that the screw 14 performs the additional function of preventing rotation of the disk 13 with respect to the base 10.

Located at the center of the disk 18 is the rotatable switch arm structure indicated n generally by the numeral 18, which arm is necessarily constructed of metal and formed with a hub portion 19 carrying an outwardly extending arm 20, which has its edges preferably beveled off oppositely as clearly indicated in Figure 6, for a reason to be explained. The hub portion' 19 is formed 10o 21. Above the central hub portion 19 is a cylindrical extension 211 terminating in la reduced angular extension 25. 4 Carried by the disk 13 and located at spaced points are contacts 26 which are sim- 110 ilar in construction. Each contact is formed as a metallic body 217 having a substantially U-shaped head 28 adapted to receive the switch arm 20, the inner corners oi the ends of the. arms ot theLUi being preferably rounded ott' as indicated at 29 to provide a flaring entrance to the space within the U-shaped head, lor :facilitating passage oi the switch arm into the space, as clearly indicated in Figure 6i The metallic body 2T is further formed with a reduced threaded extension or shank 30. i 'l'lie tivo contact members 26 are arranged with the heads 28 in opposite ref lation, as shown in Figure 3, so that the switch arm 20 may enter them at the ends of its n'ioven'icnt. The shanks 2l() ot course pass through suitable holes in the disk l?) and. carry securing nuts 3l. These shanks constitute terminals with which are connected terminal lugs V32 outlie ends ot conductors which are preferably formed into a loom 34'. VThe loom further includes a conductor '35 equipped with a tern'iinal lug 3G engaged' and heldby the screw 22 provided tor 'holding the switch arm assembly in place. rllhe space l2 within the base deiined by cuttingl it away is tor the accommodation or' the conductors 33 and as well as the binding nuts employed in connection therewith.

The above described parts are enclosed within a casing' A37 which may be oiany suitable material, but which isr here represented as metallic and provided with a lining 38 of insulating material. The casing is fric- Ationally engaged upon the base member 1() andV lits snugly thereon and upon the disk 13. At its center the casing is formed with a hole 39 within which the cylindrical extension 2li; is journaled, the angular eXtension 25' of' course projecting beyond the casing and carrying a handle 40 having a suitable opening therethrough contormingly engaged upon the angular extension 25. A screw el is used for holding the handle in place, this screw being threaded into the extension 25.

Under ordinary circumstances, or when it is so desired, the switch arm 2O may be held in: neutral' position by means of a curved upstanding project-ion 42 iormed, integrally upon the disk 13 at. a point midway between thecontacts 26, the arm 20 being resilient so that when sprung up onto. the projection l2 it will remain in such. position by friction, so that a positive turning movement of the handle 40 must be given to move the switch arm 20 oil from the projection 42 and into engagement with the selected contactQG.

Vhile the uses of' the device are many,l it is particularly well adapted for use in controlling headlights of an automobile, in which event the conductor 35 might be connected. with the source of current koit the car andthe conductors 33 connected with the proper terminals provided for whatever wiring, resistance, etc. is provided; in connection with the headlights. This use is mentioned by way ot illustration, and when the switch is-empl'oyed for such. a. purpose, it is quite obvious that it will be a simple and easy matter to move the handle ll() to bring the switch arm 2() into engagement with either contact 'for supplying current to either of two circuits. An advantage is that the, handle 40 is located in such position as to be within. convenient reach of the operator or driver who may control the switch without any necessity for removingI his hand from the rim of the steering wheel, where it should ybe kept in accordance with the dictates ot safety. Owingto the fact that the heads 28 ofthe contact members 2o are intended to be somewhat resilient, and I 0W- ing to the tapering of thel opposite sides of the switch arm, it is clear that when the switch arm is in.. engagementfwithin either contact 26 it will be frictionally held and' prevented froml accidentally slipping out, this being another safety feat-'ure in that un-l intentionalextingui'shing the lights wouldv not occur. In view of they fact that alll the parts with the exception` ofi the handle are enclosed it will be seen that there isno opportunity for dirt, grit or the like to enter andinterfere with the, action.

While we have shown and describedV thepreferredv embodiment of theV invention, it

should be understoodY that we reserve the right to make such changes in the. form,

construction and' arrangement ot parts as will not depart from the s 'iri't of the invention or the scope of the su joined. claims.

`lVhat is claimed is 1. A switchV of the character described comprising a.` base; of, insulating material', a casing connected therewith, saldbase having. av portion cut. away to.- defineV a. space, a disk secured uponV the base and extending entirely across the interior ofthe casing, a switch arm assembly including a hubv portion rockably mountedI inthe disk and casing, and an elongated arm securedy to the hub portiony above. the disk and within the casinga binding screw locatedin said? space.

beneath the disk and secured to the lower end of said, hub portion, saidf hub portion terminating at its upperend in an extension projecting beyond the casing a handle on said extension, a pair. of' contacts mountedV on said disk in the path of said arm, other binding screws located in said space beneath the disk and connected. respectively with said contacts, said casing having an opening in one side so that conductorsmay passv into said space beneath the disk andA be connected with, the respective binding screws.

ZA, switch of the character described` comprising a base ofinsula material, a. easing connected, therewith, sai Abase having llt) a portion cut away to define a space, a disk secured upon the base and extending entirely across the interior of the casing, a switch arm assembly including a hub portion rockably mounted in the disk and casing, and an elongated arm secured to the hub portion above the disk and within the casing, a binding screw locatedrin said space beneath the disk and secured to the lower end of said hub portion, said hub portion terminating at its upper end in an extension projecting beyond the casing, a handle on said eXtension, a pair of U-shaped contacts arranged in opposed relation in the path of said arm, each of said contacts having a stem integralthe disk and connected with t-he respective binding screws.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our'own, we have hereto affixed our signatures.

JOHN A. KOPP.

JOHN G. GUENTHNER. FRANK J. WELLKAMP. CHARLES J. MEYER. f

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