US1675737A - Lock-controlled electric switch - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1928. 1,675,737

E. L. TElcH LOCK CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 27, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fff INVENTOR.

BY E v A TTOREYS.

July 3, 192s. h1,675,737

E. L. TEICH LOCK CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 2.7, 1926 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE S.

Patented July 3, 19.28. i

f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST L. TEICH, OF NEWBRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN HARDWARE CORPORATION, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

LOCK-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

yApplication filed November 27, 1926. Serial No. 151,057.

My invention relates to electric switches and has lor its object to provide a new and improved lock-controlled electric switch. It further has for its object to provide a iush lock-controlled electricswit-ch in which the switch mechanism can he any of the c usual types of iush rotary snap switches and the lockand switch mechanism can be separately manufactured and assembled with the switch mechanism as desired. It l further has for its object to provide. a flush switch -in which the lock mechanism is secured against removal so long as the switch is installed. It further has for its object to provide a Hush lockswitch having an enclosed indicating dial. The following is a description of an emlmdiment of my invention reference being had to the. accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l shows partly in side elevation and partly in section an electric switche1nbodying my invention;

Fig. 2is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. l;

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

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, on a reduced.

scale, of the switch showing it installed with its face plate in position;

Fig.l 5 is a detail showing a front view of the receptacle cover'and parts carried thereby.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the same; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77, Fig. 5. Referring more particularly to the drawings, 2 is the cuplike porcelain base of a flush switch which is mounted within the ordinary wall case 4. This switch may be of any usual flush switch construction, of

which. there are a number on the marketv at the present time, and comprises an actuating shaft 6 within the receptacle and axial therewith and binding posts 8. To the outer end of this shaft 6 I secure a coupling member 10 shown in the form of a plate, having notches -12 with which engagev projections 14 carried by a cooperating platelike coupling member 16 carried by the ad# jacent end of the plug of the lock. This plate -16 as shownis provided with a slot tilting over an oblong projection 18 on the end of the plug 20 of a'pin tumbler lock, being secured to said plug by the screws 22.

Thisvpin tumbler lock is of ordinary pin- 'its cylinder casing 26 is provided with four sets of spring-pressed drivers 28 spaced apart from each other by 9() degrees, as shown in Fig. 2 instez of a single series of drivers. The cylinder 26 being stationary, the plug 20 can be rotated by the usual key- 30, turning the snap switch so that it moves in successive steps QOdegrees for each step in the usual manner, the key 30 being removable and insertable at the completion of each step on account of the four sets ot'. drivers 28 so as to'lock and unlock the plug at any one of said four points.

In order to secure the lock in place, I mount the cylinder 26 rigidly in a metal plate 32 which constitutes a cover for the mouth of the cup-like receptacle 2. This cover is cut away atv 34 so as to lexpose the binding posts 8 of a two-pole switch. The cover 32 is provided with ends having openings 36. These ends are located beneath the usual switch ears 38 and are held in place by screws 40 whose ,heads are at thev rear of the porcelain base 2 so as to be-i11accessible when the switch is installed. These screws pass through portions 42 of the porcelain base and 'through the holes 36 of the cover 32 and make screw-threaded engagement with the usual holes in ear pieces 38, as shown in the lower part of Fig. Al. The screws 40 being inaccessible so long as the switch is installed, the cover 32 cannot be removed so as to remove the lock without removing the receptacle.` lVhen. however, the switch is out of its casing, the cover 32'can easily be removed hy removing the screws 4() so that the lock can be' separated from the switch mechanism. proper. The ears 38 are secured to the wall case 4 in the ordinary manner by screws 44. The,

face of the lock cylinder 28, while the' portions 64 coacting with corresponding surfaces on the plug prevent rthe dial from rotating relatively to the`plug so that as the plug moves step by step, the dial also moves step by step and indicates through the opening 56 the successive positions of the switch mechanism.

While the supplemental cover 52 canbe removed upon removal of the face plate 46 this'does not enable one to remove the lock or actuate the switch, the function of the supplemental cover 52 being simply to provide a finish and an indicating opening.

',The manufacturer of these lock switches can manufacture' only the switch portion lwith the coupling member 10 aiixed to the shaft 6, and obtain thelock portion with its cover 3 2 from alock manufacturer, if desired, and assemble a switch portion and V lock portion together, as shown in Fig. 1,

so that the switch together with the lock can be sold and installed as a'unit, and by reason of the manner in which the lock is heldv to the base by the screws 40, the lock can not j be removed after the switch has been nstalled. y

The lock cylinder 26is preferably s ecuid to the cover 32 by means of screws 68 which ,pass `through lugs 70 upon the cover 32 which lugs enter recesses'formed on the rear face of the cylinder as indicated in Fig. 3 between adjacent groups of drivers 28. These screws are of course inaccessible so long as the cover A32 is secured to the switch base,y and hold the lock against removal so long as the ,switch to ether with` the lock applied thereto isinsta led.

As will be evident to thoseskilled'in the art, my invention permits various modifications without departing fromthe spirit thereofor thescope of vWhat I claim is:

1. In an electric switch the combination of a cup-like base, a switch mechanism conthe appended claims.

tained within said base and having an axial one of four rotatable actuating shaft, a cover for the mouth of said cup-like base, a lock carried by said `cover and having a rotatable key? controlled plug adapted to be locked in any key, separab e coacting coupling ymembers secured to adjacent ends of said plug and shaft, respectively, and screws passing through said cup-like base from 4 rear .to

1positions upon removal f the n front and securing, said cover thereto, the' casing of said lock projecting on both sides of said cover, and having on its rear side reentrant portions, said cover having projections extending into said `reentr'ant portions, and screws having rearwardly'facing heads securing said projections to' said portions. j

2. In an `-clectricswitch the combination of a cup-like base, a switch mechanism contained within said base and having an axial rotatable actuating shaft, a cover for the mouth ot' said cup-like base, a lock carried by said cover and having a rotatable key-controlled plug adapted to be locked in any onev of four positions upon removal of the key,

lseparable eoacting coupling members secured to adjacent ends of said plug and shaft, respectively, screws passing through said cuplike base from rear to front land securing said cover thereto, an auxiliarycover for said lock secured to the outer face of said iii-st cover, said' auxiliary cover having a Window, and a dial secured to said plugso as to rotate therewith and having indicating symbols visible' through said window.

3. In an electric switch the combination ofa cup-like base, a switchmechanism contained within said base having an axial rotatable actuating shaft, a cover for the mouth ofsaid cup-like base, a lock carried by said cover and having a rotatable key-controlled plug adapted to be locked in any one of four positions upon removal of the key, separable coacting coupling members secured to adjacent ends of said plugand shaft, respectively, ears for securing said base in po sition when installed, said ears overlying the ends of said cover and screws passing through said base from rear to front andengaging said ears so as to hold said ears and cover 1n position. t

4. In an electric switch the combination of a cup-like base, a'switch mechanism contained within said base and having an axial rotatable actuating shaft, a cover for the mouth of said cup-like base,y a lock carried by said cover and having a rotatable keycontrolled plug adapted to be locked in any one of four positions upon removal of the key, separable coacting coupling members secured to adjacent ends of said plug and shaft, respectively, screws passing throughU said cup-like bas from rear to vfront and securing said cover thereto, an auxiliary cover for said lock secured to safid first cover, and a face plate having an opening through which said auxiliary cover protrudes also secured to said first cover.

In testimony whereof,v I have si ed my name to this specification this23r day of November, 1926.

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