US1680418A

US1680418A - Inclosed-switch mechanism

Info

Publication number: US1680418A
Application number: US201313A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oliver S Jennings; Hoorn Fred G Von
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority date: 1927-06-25
Filing date: 1927-06-25
Publication date: 1928-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1945-08-14

Description

Patented Aug. 14, 1,928.

.UNITED STATI-:s

vPlvrlralv'r OFFICE.

OLIVR S. JENNING-S AND FRED G. VON HOORN, OF MAN SFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO v v WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AN'D MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

Application led June 25,

Our invention relates to' inclosed switch mechanism and particularly to inclosed switches for controlling lighting circuits and small motors.

`An object of our invention is to provide an inclosed switch wherein the switch and fuse are mounted upon a sheet-metal carrier to constitute a removable unit that is detachably mounted in a sheet-metal housing or box. o

Another object of our invention is to provide an inclosed switch having the abovenoted characteristics that may be connected to the conductors before the switch mechanism is placed within the housing, and

wherein a minimum lnumber of parts are required.

A further object of our invention 1s to provide an inclosed switch that is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects that will bemade a parent throughout the further description ci) vour invention are attained by means of the switch apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawin wherein igure 1 is a plan view of an inclosed switch apparatus embodying features of our` invention, the cover being partially cut away for the purpose of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch box disclosed in Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is atop plan view of a switch base carrier constituting a part of our invention; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are end'elevational views,

res ectively, of the carrier shown'in Fig. 3. eferring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a sheet-metal housing having a bottom wall 6, side walls 7 and 8, and end. walls v9 and 11. A fsheet-metal cover l2 is hinged to lugs 13 on the housing by means of hin e rivets 14. l

' e switch unit includes a sheet-metal carrier 15 ccnsisting of a bottom section 16 and flanges 17 and 18 that tit snugly within the housing between the side walls 7 and 8. The carrier is adapted to be secured within the 60 housin and 1s, therefore, provided with a pair o keyhole slots 1,9 disposed on offset portions 21 .in the bottoml section;116.k The oset' portions 21 en age` inward projections 22 in the bottom wav 6 of the housing. The

lwith slotsl 41 of L-shape, the short legs 42 IN CLOSED-SWITCH MECHANISM.

1927. Serial No. 201,313.

projections are provided with threaded openings in which attachin screws 23 'are threaded. The threaded en s of the screws lie within the recess 24 formed by the projections 22 and, therefore, do not project beyond the outer face of the bottom wall of the housing.

The carrier is secured within the housing by Iirst being inserted so that the enlarged portions of the keyhole slots 19 fit over the eads of the screws 23 which have first been backed away from the inner face of the projections 22. The carrier is then moved downward or longitudinally of the housing so that the heads of the screws extend over the narrow -portions of the keyhole slots. The screws are then tightened. Lugs 25 are struck up from the edges of the slots and serve to prevent longitudinal ,displacement of the carrier with respect to the housing in case the screws become slightly loosened.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the switch apparatus includes an insulating base 26 upon which a hinge contact jaw 27 and a switch contact jaw 28 are mounted. A switch blade 29 is pivot-ally mounted in the hinge jaw 27 and is movable into and out of engagement with the contact jaw 28 by means of an operating handle or bail 3l that is journalled in bearing openings 32 in the flanges 17 and 18 of the carrier. The 85 bail 31 1s connected to the switch blade by means of an insulating clip 33 that is secured to the switch blade by means of rivets 34, thebail fitting in a slot 35, as indicated in Fig. 2.

A fuse receptacle 36 for receiving a. standard screw-plug fuse (not shown) is mounted I on the insulating base 26 in such position that the offset portion 37 of the bail lies above the receptacle, when the switch is in/95 the closed position and prevents removal of the fusewithout first opening the switch.

The fuse receptacle and switch are prov vided with terminals 38 and 39, respectively, to which the line conductors are attached in such manner that the fuseand switch are connected in series.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the side walls 7y and 8 of the housing are -provided HNI of the slots extending in a direction parallel to the bottom wall of the housing:` The slots are provided to permit the bail 31 to move into them when the carrier 15 is being assembled with respect to the housing.. The journal portions 43 and 44 of the bail slide into the portion 42 of the slot 41 when the carrier is moved downward longitudinally with respect to -the housing to bring the slots 19 into the locking position with respect to the screws 23. It will be seen that the bail servesto prevent outward detach ing movement of the carrier and assist the screws 23 in retaining the carrier in assembled position. The bail will serve to retain the carrier in operative position even though the screws 23 should become loosened.

The limit stop 45 for limiting the closing movement of the operating handle 31 is struck from the side wall 8, and the hole 46 resulting from the striking of the stop 45 from the side wall, is closed by the iange 18 provided with a limit stop 47 that constitutes an integral part of the flange 18. This stop is engaged by the operating bail or handle 31 whenthe switch has been moved to its extreme open position.

tegral latch tongue 48 that projects through an opening 49 in the cover 12 when the latter is in the closed position indicated in Fig. 2. The-latch is provided with'a-n integral up-struck lug 51 that snaps over the edge of the lopening 49 when the cover is in closed J-position and serves to releasably retain it in closed position. .A hole 52 is provided inthe latch 48 through which the h'aspl of a lock may be inserted for locking the cover in closed position. i y

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the switch construction is relatively simple and inexpensive, and that the assembly of the switch is facilitated by the unit construction of the carrier and insulating switch base.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying our invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or set forth in the appended claims. A

We claim as our invention:

1. Inclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a housing, a carrier for a current-controlling device having side ianges v fitting between the walls of the housing, and 55 means on the bottom and side walls of the housing for engaging means on the carrier and flanges when relatively moved longitudianally for preventing withdrawal of the carrier from the housing. f

2. Aninclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a sheet-material housing 'having an inward projection in its bottom wall, a threaded attaching screw threaded in the projection and a sheet material carrier for a current controlling device adapted to of the carrier. The end of the flange 18 isrest upon the Abottom of the housing and having a portion offset therefrom to seat upon the projection, the said o'set portion being provided with a keyhole slot for engaging the said screw and permitting detachment of the carrier from the housing without necessitating removal of the screw from the bottom wall.

3. An inclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a sheet-material housing having an inward projection in its bottom wall, a threaded attaching screw threaded in the projection and a sheet-material carrier for a current-controlling device adapted to rest upon the bottom of the housing and having a portion offset therefrom to Seat upon the projection and side flanges for engaging the side walls of the housing, the said offset portion being provided with a keyhole slot for engaging the said screw, the said side walls of the housing being provided with slots of L-shape and the said flanges supporting means for engaging the last said slots for preventing accidental withdrawal of the carrier.

4. An inclosed. current-controlling mechanism comprising a sheet-material housing having side walls provided with slots of L- shape, a sheet-material carrier for a current- -controlling device having flanges engaging tite said side walls of the housing, an operating Jhaft for the said device carried by the v anges and engaging the said slots for preventing accidental withdrawal of the said carrier from the housing.l Y

5. An inclosed current-controlling mechanism" comprising a sheet-material housing having side walls provided with slots of L- shape, a sheet-materialcarrier for a currentcontrolling device having flanges engaging the said side walls of the housing,- an operating shaft for the said device carried by the flanges and engaging the said slots, the said housing having an adjustable attaching'-O means on the bottom wall thereof and the said carrier having a keyhole slot for engaging the said means, the said adjustable means and operating shaft serving to prevent accidental withdrawal of the carrier from the housing. e

6. A11 inclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a sheet-material housing having side walls, a sheet-material carrier for a current-controlling device having flanges adjacent the said walls of the housing, an operating means for the said device, a limit stop for the said means struck from a side wall of the housing at a point covered by a flange of the carrier, the said flange serving to cover the opening resulting from striking out the said stop.

7. An inclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a sheet-material housing having side walls, a sheet-material carrier for a current-controlling Ldevice havinglgo-l not flanges adjacent the side walls of houswith the said carrier for projecting through;

5 the said opening and serving to releasably retain the cover in closed position. p

8. Inclosd switch mechanism comprising a. housing, an insulating base, a carrier there'- for to which lthe base is attached for-assem- 10 `bly as a unit within the housing, the sai'd housing having adjustable attaching means and the said carrier having aV keyhole slot for cooperating with the said means, whereby the carrier is detachably secured withinA the housing.

In testimony whereof, wev have herento subscribed our names this 18 day of June,

OLIVER S. JENNINGS.

' VFRED G. voN HOORN.