US1661352A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

-March 6, 1928.

W. G. YOUNG ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Abril 50, I925 Patented Mar. 6, 1928. I

UNITED STATES 1,661,352 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS G. YOUNG, OE DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, OF DAYTON,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed April 30, 1925. Serial No. 26,954.

This invention relates to electrical switches, particularly of the plunger type, by which one to-and-fro motion of the plunger causes a switch to be closed and the subsequent motion of the plunger causes the switch to be opened.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switch which is more simple in construction than switches heretofore manufactured and which can be made at relatively low cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switch embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 33 and 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are wiring diagrams illustrating a use of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the switch comprises a mounting bracket 20, to which is attached a member 21 providing the switch bottom and side walls, said member 21 being substantially U-shaped in longitudinal section. The slde margins of member 21 are provided with grooves 22 for receiving sideplates 23 and 24. The plates 23 and 24 are each provided with tongues' 25 which are received by suitable openings provided in the bracket 20, which provides the top wall of the switch case. The member 21 is also provided with tongues 26 which are received by and attached to the bracket 20 in a manner similar to the tongues 25. It is apparent, therefore, that the parts 20, 21, 23 and 24 constitute the switch case. The bracket part 20 is provided with holes 27 for receiving screws or bolts for attaching the switch to the underside of a suitable support or platform 28 such as the floor board of the automotive vehicle. The bracket 20 supports a tube 30 which has its upper end telescopically engaged by a switch button 31 providing a cover for the tube. The button 31 is attached to the upper end of a switch plunger 32 having its lower end provided with a finger 33 for engaging a ratchet wheel 34, which is supported by a rod 35 having a reduced end 36 mounted in a non-conducting bushing 37 attached to the side plate 23. The rod 35 is provided with a reduced threaded end 38 extending through the side plate 24 and cooperating with a nut 39 which secures the rod in position and also clamps between the rod and the side plate 24, a non-conducting switch contact-support member 40, carrying a stationary contact 41 and 42 connected with terminal screws 43 and 44, respectively, which are insulatingly supported by the switch case 21. The hole in the plate 24 which receives the threaded extension 38 of the rod 35, is larger than said extension, and a non-conducting Washer 45 is located between a washer 46 and is clamped by the nut 39 against the plate 24.

In this manner the rod 35 is insulatingly supported by the switch case. The rod 35 supports a switch spider hub 47 which is insulatingly connected with the ratchet 34 and is driven thereby. The spider hub 47 is attached to switch spider having four equidistant arms 48 each provided with a cupped end 49. The spider arms 48 cooperate with depressions 50 provided in the switch contact plate 40 and in the contacts 41 and 42. These depressions are equidistant so that they may cooperate with the switch spider arms 48 in order to index the arms in different positions.

The plunger rod 32 is maintained in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by a spring 51 interposed between the button 31 and a washer 52, having one edge 52" resting against the bracket member 20 and the opposite side thereof bearing against a roller or ball 53 which maintains the washer 52 in a tilted position, the ball 53 being retained between the under surface of the washer and a downwardly-inclined flange 54 which is adjacent the opening in the bracket 20 the headlamp circuits of an automobile, it.

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- then without the dimmer .nected respectively with a bright bulb or filament 62, and the dim bulb or filament 63 of the headlamp. One downward movement of the plunger 32 will cause one of the switch arms 48 to engage the contact 42 as shown in Fig. 5, thereby causing the lamp to burn dimly. The next downward movement will cause the switch arm to engage the contact 41, thereby connecting the bright bulb or filament with the battery. Therefore, successive downward movements of the plunger causes the battery to be connected alternately with the bright or dim bulbs or filaments.

If the headlamp has but one bulb or fila-' ment and a dimmer resistance is used, the resistance designated 64 in Fig. 6, is connected between the contacts 42 and 41. Therefore, it is apparent that successive downward movements of the plunger will connect the battery with the headlamp alternately through the dimmer resistance and resistance, so that the headlamp will burn alternately dimly and brightly.

While the form of embodimentof the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a rotatable contact, a ratchet wheel connected therewith, a ratchet pawl mounted for straight line and swinging movement, a

spring for returning the pawl with a' straight-line movement to initial position, and means engaged by and cooperating with the spring and tending to urge the pawl with a swinging movement toward the ratchet wheel.

Q. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a rotatable contact, a ratchet wheel connected therewith, a plunger mounted for straight line and swinging movement, and

acetate having a manually operable member at one end thereof and a ratchet pawl at the other end thereof, a spring urging the plunger in one directionv of its straight line movement, and a camming device cooperating with the spring and bearing against the plunger and tending to urge the pawl end thereof toward a camming device including a washer surrounding the plunger and engaged by the spring, one side of the washer rests on the switch housing, the other side engages a roller interposed between said washer and housing thus causing the spring to urge the plunger toward the side of the switch in a swinging movement so that the pawl of the plunger is held in constant engagement with said ratchet wheel.

4. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a housing having an apertured cover, a portion of the edge of said aperture being inclined so as to extend into the lions ing, a ratchet wheel in the housing, a contact adapted to be operated by the rotation of the ratchet wheel, a plunger carried by the housing and adapted to operate with straight-line and swinging movement, said plunger extending through the aperture in the switch housing and having a pawl portion within said housing adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, a spring adapted to urge the plunger in one direction of its straightline movement, a washer surrounding the plunger and engaged by one end of the spring, the one side of the washer resting upon the cover of the switch, and a roller interposed between the inclined edge of the cover aperture and the washer, said roller exerting a side pressure upon the plunger, due to the action of the spring, whereby the plunger is held in position in which the pawl portion thereof engages the ratchet wheel.

lln testimony whereof ll hereto affix my signature.

WILLIS G}. YQUNG.

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