US1669274A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

'May 8 i925. 1,669,274

C. E.. ANDERSON ELECTRIC swTCH Original Filed Oct. 2l, 1921,

' ATTORNEYS Patented May V8,l 1928.

UNITED STATES hPATENT OFFICE.

`CARL ERIC ANDERSON, OF STRATFORD, CONNEC'IILIC'WI,` ASSIGNOB TO THE BRYANT.

ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BBIDGEPORT,

NECTICUT.

ELECTRIC 'Application med October 21, 1921, Serial My invention relates to electric switches, and particularly tothe construction of the. switch mechanism, the object of vmy invention being to provide `a mechanism of the tumbler type having certain improved features of construction and operation hereinafter pointed out or illustrated in the accompanying drawin s', in which` Fig. 1 is a vertica section through a Hush switchin which my invention isrembodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the switch bar rocker; Fig. 4 is a lever;,and

Fig.'5 is a perspective of the switch frame. The invention is here shown embodied in a flush. switch comprising a cup-shaped -insulatin body 6, the open face of which is Spanne by the supporting -frame .7. The latter [is centrally interrupted, but .its opv posite ends lare joined by the side members 8 and 9,which are here shown integral with the supportin ends. Wire terminals 10 are arranged on epressed ledges 11 at the fourcorners of the switch chamber and have' switch-contact lugs'12 and 13 for cooperation zwith the'two switch blades .14 and 15 the switch in the form here shown being of the double-pole type.

The switch mechanism is'of the toggle type andcomprises a switch bar yoke "16 rpcking on the open bearings 17 and carrying the switch' bars 14 and 15. A tongue 18 -is formed inthe yoke bridge for attachment to one end.19V of the actuating pull spring 20. The other end f the spring is engaged at 21 to theoperating lever 22 by which it is swung from one side to the other of the axis of oscillation of the switch yoke 16. As already indicated in Fig. 2, the switch bar yoke 16 straddles the frame members. 8 and 9, while the operating lever '22 lies between the latter. v

This .operating lever is a fiat sheet metal bar provlded lat its outer end with asuitable finger piece or handle 30, preferably 'of insulation'. This lever is pivoted near its intner end to the frame members 8, 9, and at that en d is slotted in the 'direction of its length to 4form an open forked-end in whichl can work the pull spring 20, this sprin beperspective ofthe operating ing connected to the lever at 21 at, the cad CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION o1' 00N- SWITCH.

m, 509,242. Renewed 'octliber 12, 192e 16 overlap eachother, and since both these devices have their pivots near their outer ends, a relatively lon spring 20 canbe employed with good'e ect, and 'with a long movementof the switch contacts. I In order that the lever 22v may be introduced to4 operating position, the frame' members 8 and 9 are slotted at 23 to one side of hook bearings 24, inwhich the shoul- `ders 25 of the lever 22 pivot. At the head of the slots 23, lugs 26 are outwardly offset to form bearing studs against which the -notch bearings 17 of the switch yoke are pressed by the tension ot the spring 20 when the parts are assembled. The arms of the yoke 1.6 are apertured at 27 to receive, with lost motion, t e lugs 28 on the switch lever, and byl which a positive movement is imparted to the yoke to initiate the throw of the switchbars. Y

The mechanism iseasily assembled with the vframe. After the` lever 22 has been .placed between the arms of the switch yokev 16 with the'lugs 28 entering the recesses 27, and with the spring 19 engaged at 18 and 21,

the mechanism is lmounted on the frame by assing the lever 22 up between the side rame members 8 and 9 until the arms of the switch yoke, which straddle the frame, engage the bearing studs 26 in the notches 17. f the lever 2 2 is now' pulled against the tension of the spring 20, the bearing shoulders 25 of the 'lever Vmay be lifted and swung over the ends of the hooks which form the bearings 24 against which the shoulders 25 are then automatically cle-- pressed by the pull o1`-the spring. The spring 20 now maintains the notches 17 of lthe switch yoke against the bearing studs 26 and the shoulders 25 'of the lever 22 in the bearing notches24. The yoke 27, with the i 'switch mechanism assembled thereon, is now ready for assembly on the switch body 6.

The operation oi the switch is readily un.-

lTil() derstood. In Fig.` l the switch is shown in circuit-closing positionA with the switch bars 14 and 15 in engagement with the switch contacts 12 and 13. To shift the switch to open-circuit position the lever 22 which passes through the open area 29 in the switch frame, is swung onthe bearings 24 by means 13. As the switch lever completes its are of travel, the pull of the spring 20 causes the switch yoke 16 to swing with snap action to open-circuit position, that is to say, from its stop position against the legs 31 of the switch frame to the stop position against the legs To again close the circuit the switch lever is swung in opposite direction, thus repeating the movement, bu-t in reverse direction, and again shifting the switch barsto circuit-closing position with snap action. The slot 33 in the switch lever accommo dates the switch spring as it swings from one side to the other thereofon the operation of the switch.

It will be noted that the point of engagement between the lugs 2'8'on the switch lever and the sides of the apertures 27 in the arms of the yokeA is substantially aligned with the aXes of oscillation 17 and 24-of the switch bar and sw'itclilever respectively, but the shape of the apertures 27 is such that the engagement of the lugs does not occur until the end 21 of the spring 20 reaches or slightly passes the axis 17, thus insuring a positive separation of the contacts and switch bar only when the spring is under tension and in position to accelerate the positive separation of these parts and effect a quick break by the switch bar movement thus initiated.

The construction is extremely simple and economical since vthe frame 7, switch bar yoke 16, and lever 22 may all be struck from sheet metal and bent to shape, while the assembly of the parts is Jreadily accomplished Without the use of independent pivot pins or the like. The angular opening 23 through which the switch lever 22 is introduced into its bearings 24 permits the bearing hooks to be so shaped that there is no danger of the shoulders. 25 jumping out of their bearing notches 24. Moreover, even should'an attempt be made to disarrange the switch by pulling the'lever 22 outward to unseat the shoulders 25 from the bearing notches 24, the effort is not likely to be successful since the several parts must be in exact predetermined position to permit the shoulders 25 to ride over the noses of the bearing hooks.

The bay 34: in the margin of the apertures 27 in the yoke arms accommodates the lugs 28 when the switch yoke 16 and lever 22 are assembled and insures the maintenance of these parts in'proper relation as an assembly unit-under the pull of spring 20, until they are engaged with the frame member 7.

`Various modifications in detail of confor manual operation, cooperating open bearing members for pivoting the rocker and lever respectively on different aXes on the frame, and a pull Yspring operatively connecting said rocker and lever, and connected to the lever at 'a point shiftable across the axis of oscillation of the rocker on the operation of the switch lever.

2. In an electric switch, a switch frame having an apertured side plate, a switch bar pivotally mounted at one side of said plate and being apertured in register with the aperture in the frame plate, a switch operating lever pivoted on an independent axis and/arranged on the opposite side of the frame plate and having a lugl passing through the aperture in the frame plate and engaged with lost motion in the aperture in the switch bar, a switch spring operatively engaged between said switch bar and lever and connected tothe lever at a point shiftable across the aXis'of oscillation of the switch bar on the operationof the switch lever, said lug on the lever and aperture in the switch bar being of such dimensions and so located that the lug engages one or the other side of the aperture approximately simult-aneously with the passage of the end of the spring` attached to the switch lever across the axis of oscillation of the switch bar to impart a positive impulse -to thelatter in the direction of its throw 3. In an electric switch, a switch lever comprising a substantially flat sheet metal bar slotted at one end in the direction of its length to form a forked end, bearing shoulders at the outer margins of the ends of the legs of the fork, a switch-operating spring pivoted to the lever at the head of the fork and working between the legs thereof, in combination with a switch bar rocker to which the opposite end of the spring is secured. l

4. In an electric switch, a switch lever comprising a substantially flat sheet metal bar slotted at one end in the direction of its length to form a forked end, bearings at the 'outer edges of the free. ends of the legs of the fork, outwardly extending lugs spaced 'is secured, said roc from the -ends'of lthe/fork, a .switch oper- .ating spring `pivoted to the lever at the-'head of the fork -and working between the legs thereof, in combination with a switch bar rocker to which the opposite end. of 'the spring er being apertured to accommodate the outwardly extending lugs on the lever, said lugs working freely in the apertures but' adapted to engage the boundaries thereof to initiate the throw. of the rocker inopposite directions.

5. In an electric switch, a' switch lever comprising a substantially fiat sheet metal bar slotted at one end in the direction of its length to form a forked end, bearings at the outer edges of the free ends of the legs of the fork, outwardly extending lugs spaced from the ends of the fork, a switch' operating spring pivoted to the lever at the head of the fork and Working between the legs thereof, in combination with a switch bar rocker to 'which --the opposite end of the spring is secured said'rocker being apertured to accommodate the outwardly extending lugs on the lever, said lugs working freely in the apertures but adapted .to engage the boundaries thereof to initiate the throw of the rocker inA opposite directions, the aperture in the rocker being shaped to afford a bay opening thereto, said sprin being suiiiciently stressed on the assembly ol the switch lever with the rocker to maintain the parts assembled with said unit being adapted for direct self-conltained assembly onthe frame and having bearin elements adapted for engagement withv t e bearings on the switch frame andself-maintenance thereon under the tension of the spring.

7. In an electric switch, a switch frame comprising spaced end supporting lugs, and intermediate connecting members extending at right angles thereto, said side members having open bearing hooks at their free ends and outwardly extending bearing-studs intermediate the bearing hooks and supporting lugs, said side members being notched adja cent the bearing hooks to permit the assembly therewith of a member of an associated p switch mechanism.

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

` CARL ERIC ANDERSON.

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