US1675468A - Inclosed electric switch and method of assembling the same - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1928.

J. SACHS INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME Original Filed Jan. 28, 1922 INVENTOR. Jasgu/y Sachs BY A TTORN E Y.

p 30 along the line 2-2 of Fi 1.

Pasta July' 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SACIETS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.-

INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME.

Original application filed January 28, 1922, Serial No. 532,450. Divided and this application filed.

August 23, 1926.

The invention relates particularly to a switch mechanism wherein the switch proper is inclosed in a protecting casing, ordinarily of sheet metal, and wherein there is provided a cranked operating spindle for the switch vrotatably mounted in bearing apertures in the side walls of the casing.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved means and an 1mproved method whereby the operating sp1n dle may be readily put into its proper operative position in the casing and then conveniently and effectively held in such position.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown two embodiments of the mechanical.

features of the invention and one way in which my improved method may be prac- "ticed. It will be understood, however, that the drawing is intended ,for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims'forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing: I Fig. 1 is a front view of an inclosed switch embodying the mechanical features of the invention.-

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken Fig. 3 is a right side e evation. Fig. 4 is an isometric perspective view on areduced scale showing the initial formation of the casing as shown in its final condition in Figs. 1,2 and. 3. In this view'the operating spindle is shown in an intermedlate position which it may assume durlng the assembling operation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Fig. 3 but showing a different embodiment of the mechanical features of the invention.

I do not limit myself to any one type of switch mechanism, but for purposes of clearly illustrating the; invention I have shown one form of switch mechanism which may be used.

The mechanism as shown comprises a base 1 on which are mounted stationary switch contacts 2, 2 and 3, 3. Pivoted to the respective .contacts 2, 2 are movable switch members 4, 4 which are adapted to engage the contacts 3, 3 when moved into pos tions parallel with the base as shown in Fig. 2.

Serial No. 131,042.

Also mounted on the base are fuse clips 5, 5 and 6, 6 the clips 5, 5 being connected respectively with theswitch contacts 2, 2. The sa d contacts are adapted to receive cartridge fuses 7 7 which are thus connected in series with the switches.

For inclosing the entire switch and fuse mechanism there is provided a casing 8 hav- 1ng a back wall 9 and side walls 10 and 11. As illustrated, the base 1 is secured directly to the back wall 9 of the casing, but as to this, there may be variation. The casing is provided with a cover 12, preferably hinged to the casing at the bottom. The cover is. provided with inward extending flanges 13 which, when the cover is closed, overlap the slde and end walls'of the casing.

For operating the switch members 4, 4 there is provided an operating spindle 14 comprising two aligned pivot sections 15 and 16 with a crank section 17 between the1n,the said crank section including crank arms 17' and 17 The length of the crank sections 1 17 is such that the two side walls 10 and 11 of the casing are closely adjacent the ends of the said crank section. The spindle also comprises a handle 18 at the end of one of the pivot sections such as the section 16. The two side walls 10 and 11 of the casing are provided respectively with bearing apertures 19 and 20 for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections 15 and 16 of the operating spindle. WVhen the spindle is in place with its pivot sections fitting the said bearing apertures, the handle-18 is on the exterior of the casing as already shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In order that the switch members 4, 4 may be moved by the crank section 17 of the spindle, the said members are provided respectively with plates 21, 21 of insulating material, each plate being provided with a slot or aperture as shown at 22 for receiving the said crank section 17. From the foregoingdescription it will be obvious that when the handle 18 is turned the switch members 4, 4 are correspondingly moved to be engaged with or disengaged from the stationary switch contacts 3, 3.

In accordance with the present invention I provide. a novel and improved means and a novel and improved method whereby the operating spindle may be ut in place and held in place as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

dle is moved endwise and in substantial par- The slot is shown as being parallel with the back wall. of the casing, but it will be understood that this position is not essentlal.

The width of the slot is at least equal to the diameter of the spindle and it will also be understood that the length of the slot must be at least equal to the amount of offset of the crank section '17 of the spindle so as to permit the spindle to beinserted endwise through the slot. During insertion the spinallelism with itself into its final operative position with the pivot sections 16 and 17 respectively fitting the bearing apertures 19 and 20 and with the handle 18 on the exterior ofFthe casing adjacent the slotted side wall 11.

In accordance with the invention I PTO? vide a closure associated with the casin for closing said slot 23 after the spindle is in place, this closure also serving to hold the corresponding pivot section 16 in place in the bearing aperture 20. A further and very 0 important function of the closure is to serve in cooperation with the casing side walls to prevent or limit endwise movement of the spindle. Such movement is prevented by reason of the engagement of the said crank section at its ends with the said closure and with the side walls 10 and 11.

As to the exact form of closure there may be considerable variation and the closure may be formed integrally with the casing or otherwise. However, I prefer and have illustrated a closure which is formed interally with the side wall 11 of the casing. is shown, particularly in Fig; 4, the slot 23 is formed by slitting the side wall betweeen the edges thereof and by bending a portion thereof adjacent the slit away from the plane of the said side wall so as to form a projecting lip 24 and so as to leave the said slot. After the spindle has been put in place the lip 24 may be bent backward or returned to the plane of the side wall, the

lip thus forming a closure for the slot as clearly shown in Fig. 3 and serving to hold the pivot-section 16 in place in its bearing aperture as also shown in the same figure. The lip also serves, as already described, to prevent endwise movement of the spindle.

. As already stated I do not limit myself to an integrally formed closure for the slot, but when an integrally formed closure is provided therev may be some variation as concerns thedetails thereof. In Fig. 5 I

have shown a construction somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but instead of providing asingle lip 24 for forming the closure, I have provided four separate lips practice. This application constitutes a division of my copending application for electric switches, Serial Number 532,450, filed January 28, 1922, allowed Oct. 6,v 1925, and Y forfeited April 6, 1926, I do not herein broadly claim a slotted side wall for .the

purpose described nor do I herein broadly claim the method involving the use of a slotted side wall. These subjects matter are set forth and broadly claimed in my copending application for inclosed electric switch and method of assembling the same,

Serial Number.131,041, filed on even date herewith.

. What I claim is:v

1 The combination with a switch comprising stationaity contacts and an associated movable member, of a single piece switch.

operating spindlecomprising two aligned pivot sections with an off-set crank section between them operatively connected with the movable switch member and also comprising a handle at the end of one of the said pivot sections, an inclosing casing for the said switch having its opposite side walls ,closely adjacent the ends of the said crank section of the spindle and having in the respective side walls aligned bearing apertures for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections of the spindle, the said casing also initially having in one of its side walls a narrow slot communicating with the corresponding bearing aperture and closed at both ends, the said slot having a width and a length sufiicient to permit the said spindle to be moved endwise and in substantial parallelism through the slot into its operative position with the ivot sections thereof fittingthe res ective ear mg apertures and with the ban le on the extenor of the casing adjacent the slot-ted side wall, and a closure associatedwith the easmg for closing the said slot and for holding the corresponding pivot section in place in its bearin aperture, the said closure cooperating with the casing side walls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent and.- wise movement of the spindle.

2. The combination with a switch comprising stationary contacts and an amociated slitted between the edges thereof with the metal adjacent the slit bent away from the plane of the side wall to form lip and to leave a slot in the said wall closed at both ends and communicating with the corresponding bearing aperture, the said slot having a width and a length sufiicient to permit the said spindleto be moved endwise and in substantial parallelism through the slot into its operative position with the pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing apertures and with the handle on the extenor of the casing adjacent the slotted side wall, and the said projeeting'lip being adapted to bereturned to the plane of the corresponding side wall after the spindle is in p ace so as 'to close the slot and hold the corresponding pivot section-in place in its beari aperture and so as to also cooperate with t e otherparts'of the said side walls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent endwise movement of the indle,

3. The herein described meth bling an electric switch inclosing casing and a single piece with operating spindle com-' prising two' aligned pivot sections with a crank section between them and also comprisinga handle at the end of one of said ivot. sections, the said method comprisin initially forming the casing with. aligned bearing apertures in its opposite side walls for receiving and approximately fitting the res tive pivot sections of the spindle and wit a slot in one of the side walls closed at both ends and communicatin with the corresponding bearing aperture, t en movin the spindle endwise and in substantial para a projectingof assemlelism throu h the slot into its operative position with te pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing apertures and with the handle on the exterior of the casing adjacent the slotted side wall, and finally when the spindle is in position providing a closure for the slot which closure serves to hold the corresponding pivot section in place in its bearing aperture and also serves in cooperation with the casing side walls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent endwise movement of the spindle. 1

4.'The herein defcribed method of assem bling an electric switch inclosing casing and a single piece switch operating spindle comprising two aligned pivot sections with a crank section between them and also comprisinga handle at the end of one of the said pivot sections, the said method comprisin initially forming the casin with bearing apertures in its opposite side walls for receiving and approximately fitting the res tive ivot sections of the spindle and wit aslot in one of the side walls closed at its ends and communicating with the correspondin bearing aperture and formed by slitting t e side wall between the edges thereof and bending a portion of the metal thereof to form a projecting lip, then moving the spindle endwise and in substantal parallelism through the slot into its operative position with t e pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing apertures and with the handle on the exterior of the casing adjacent the slotted side wall, and finally when the spindle is in position bending the said lip to return it to the plane of the correwalls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent endwise movement of the spindle.

JOSEPH SACHS.

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