US1700031A

US1700031A - Electric switch

Info

Publication number: US1700031A
Application number: US252278A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry A Douglas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-02-06
Filing date: 1928-02-06
Publication date: 1929-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1946-01-22

Description

Jan. 22, 1929.

H. A. DOUGLAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 6. 1928 l l f l l l r l r l,

IIIIIIIIIIII 'I W u L .fi, r p

Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES HARRY A. DOUGLAS7 OF BBONSON, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed February My invention rela-tes to electric switches 0f the class employing stationary contact-s and electrically connected spring' pressed movable contacts for bringing the stationary contacts and the circuit wires leading thereto :into and out of circuit and into and Out of various circuit combinations.

Such switches are used, for example, in controlling the circuits of automobile head lamps, the switches, according to their adjustments, causing the head lamps to glow dimly or brightly or to be extinguished. Such switches of the prior art employed metallic spring barrels which were mechanically and electrically assembled by means` of floating metallic plates, the spring barrels having their end walls formed to constitute switch contacts which, in riding into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts complemental thereto, would cause the loating metallic plates to assume various angles during their bodily movements with the result 'that the spring barrels were apt to bind in the contact actuators with which they were intended to have sliding engagement.

In carrying out my present invention, spring barrels are employed as a part of the moving elcn'lent of the switch but these spring barrels are not formed to serve as contacts which are complemental to the tionarb contacts, there being, however, associated with these spring barrels contacts that are complemcntal to the stationary contacts and which are spring pressed, to function, by means of sprin which are housed by the spring barrels. A carrier is provided for the spring barrels, this carrier being pressed into engagement with an abutment by the aforesaid springs whereby this carrier is preferably held in a lixed plane of rotation and with which the spring pressed contacts can not have binding engagement. Said spring pressed contacts are in electrical con-- nection to enable them to bridge the stationa ry contacts with which they are brought into engi gement. In the preferred embodiment of the invention. the electrical connection of tho spring pressed contacts is effected through the intermediation of the spring barrels which are of metal and with which the spring pressed contacts have sliding engagement, the spring barrels themselves being directly electrically connected preferably by means of a metallic plate having holes fort d therelhrouejh. the portion of the plate niet# 6, 1928. Serial No. 252,278.

gining said holes being tightly received within annular grooves that are formed in the barrels.

ln the preferred embodiment of the invent-ion, a casing is employed which has two opposite end walls, the stationary contacts being carried upon one of these walls, which thus constitutes a contact carrier, and exposes within the casing for engagement and which contacts are constructed for electrical connection therewith of circuit wires led to the casing. A handle is provided upon the exterior of the casing and is mounted to turn at the other casing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith, this: other casing end wall serving as one form of abutment hitherto generally described. A second Contact carrier is provided, this second contact carrier being` disposed within the casing and coupled with the handle to be turned thereby, this second contact carrier being held from outward movement by the casing end wall at which the handle is disposed and which serves as the abutment that limits the out-ward movement of the second Contact carrier. The spring barrels are coupled with the aforesaid second contact carrier and turned therewith, the contacts which are complement-al to the stationary contacts being preferably disposed within the spring barrels, the springs within the barrels pressing these contacts into position to be engageable with the stationary contacts and pressing the aforesaid contact carrier against the end wall at which the handle is disposed and which end wall serves as the abutment. The contacts which are within the spring barrels and are projected therefrom by the springs are brought into electrical connection independently of the stationary contacts by means of such a metallic plate has hitherto been described and which is carried by the movable contact carrier.

The invention will be more fully explained by reference to the accounianying drawing in which Fig. l is a sectional elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, `parts being' shown in full elevation; Fi Q is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a view on a smaller scale showing the relationship of various contacts; Fig. l is a sectional view illustrating a step in the i'ireferred method of assembling the spring barrels and the contact carrier with which they are assembled; Fig. 5 illu-:strates anodification o? that which is illrmriiied by Jl. it:

and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a niodilication employing the structural characteristics of Fig. 5.

The easing` has a `liront end wall 1 and a side wall 2, the wall 1 being essentially flat and the wall 2 being' preferably cylindrical. The mounting cup 3 is suitably assembled with the end walll as by means of the rivets 4l. The end wall 1 serves as an abutment as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The other end wall 5 is preferably in the form ot' a plate or block of insulation and constitutes a closure for the cup shaped casing 1, 2. The end wall 5 is also a. contact carrier, there being contacts that are inclusive ot' inet-allic sieevo portions (i which are provided upon and passed through the wall Said sleeve portions 6 have flanges 7 at their inner ends, these flanges being flush with the inner surface ot' the casing wall or contact carrier 5 so as to be exposed within the casing tor engagement with coinpleii'iental contacts to be described. The cont cts upon the carrier 5 are constructed tor electric connection therewith of circuit wires 8 which are led to the casing. As illustrated, the sleeve contact portions 6 are interiorly threaded an d receive nietallic binding screws 9 which serve 'to clamp the wires 8 against the flanges 1() which are provided at the outer ends of said sleeve contact portions.

A handle 11 has a circular hub 12 which passes through a circular hole 13 formed in the end wall of the mounting cup and coaXially with the cylindrical casing wall Said hub is formed with two inwardly eX- tending projections litand 15 between which the lJ-shaped stirrup 16 is snugly fitted. A screw 17 serves to clamp the base voit the stirrup against the inner 'tace et the hub, there being a washer 18 between the head of tho screw and the stirrup. The end portions oit the stirrup lap the end wall ot' the mounting cup 3 upon the inner side of this wall while the adjacent portion of the handle that is upon the exterior ot the cup also laps the end wall of this cup whereby the handle is confined to a Fired plane ol" rotation which is substantially parallel with the contact carrier 5 and the end wall 1 of the switch casing. The side portions 1G of the stirrup 16 extend along the common axis ot the handle and the casing wall Q, these stirrup side portions being slidiiigly received within notches 19 which are formed upon the inner side of a ring or body et insulation 20 which constitues the Contact carrier that within the casing and which is to be moved to bring the contacts thereon into and out of engagement with the contact parts 7. A plurality ot electrically connected current conducting inetallic spring barrels 21 are iiiredupontheinovable contact carrier 2() and project therefrom toward the opposite casing wall or contact carrier 5. Metallic contacts 22 which are complemental to the contacts upon the wall or carrier 5 are respectively assembled with the spring barrels 21 and are in current conducting and sliding or telescopic engagement therewith. Springs 23 are provided with said spring barrels and press thereupon loir gitudinally thereof and upon the aroresaid coinplemental contacts whereby said conipleniental contacts are placed into position to be engageable with the stationary contacts upon the carrier 5 and the contact carrier 20 is pressed against the casing end wall 1 which serves an abutment to limit the extent to which carrier 2O may be outwardly moved and which abutment contines this carrier to ay substantially fixed plane ot' rotation. The carrier 20 is thus not required to nieve along the axis ot the handle and is, thereiore, not liable to tilt or warp during the operation oi the switch, the contacts 22 being guided in their bodily movements only by the spring barrels respectively individual thereto and whose axes are maintained substantially parallel with the axis of the handle. The spring barrels being metallic, and the contacts having current conducting engagement therewith, said contacts may be brought into electrical connection with each other by means oi a metallic plate 24 which is desirably in the `torni of a ring ythat is held in iii-:ed assenibly with the insulating rino' 2O by the stems 25 of the spring barrels.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the spring barrels are in the form of ings and have annular grooves between the spring receiving body portions oi the barrels and the stems of the barrels, these grooves being formed by means of the annular shoulA ders 25 which are spaced apart irom the body portions ot the barrels. The metallic plate 241 is termed with holes therethrough through which the stems 25 are passed, the portions of said plate which margin the holes through the plate being tightly received iii the grooves between the shoulders 2o and the bodies of the barrels. The carrier 2O is also formed with holes 2T which have

enlargements

28 and 29 whereby annular slioulders 30 are lett. T he outer ends et the sten'is QV, which are hollow, are expanded within the hole enlargements 29, by a riveting op eration which serves to draw the shoulders 26 toward the shoulders 30 and to bring the plate Q1 tightly against the inner tace oil the contact. carrying ring 20. ne various spring pressed contacts 22 are eliectively elecn trically connected by reason `ol their sliding engagement with their spring barrels respectively complemental thereto and the connection of these spring barrels by the metallic plate 24.

ln the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the spring barrels are formed into shape instead of being cast, the plate being gripped between the bodies ot the spring barrels and the beads 26 that are 'formed upon the barrel stems 25. The outer ends oic the barrel stems are expanded into the contact carrier 20 and in a manner to bring the beads 2G against the shoulders 30 which result from the formation ot holes 2l through the carrier 20 and the enlargements 28 ot' these holes.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. ln an electric switch, the combination with a casing having two opposite end walls; oi contacts carried by one oiLl said end walls and exposed within the casing tor engagement and constructed :tor the electrical coin nection therewith oit circuit wires led to the casing; a handle upon the exterior ol the casing and mounted to turn at the other casing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; a contact carrier within the casing and coupled with the handle to be turned thereby, this contact carrier being' held from outward movement by the latter casing end wall; a plurality of current conducting spring barrels tixed upon said contact carrier and projecting therefrom toward the casing end wall that carries the at'ore said contacts; said contact carrier being inclusive of a metallic plate having holes formed therethrough and said spring barrels being Aformed with annular grooves in which the. portions of said plate margining said holes are tightly received, whereby said barrels are electrically connected, said Contact carrier also being inclusive ot a body ot insul ation that is interposed between the atoresaid plate and the casing end wall at which the handle is disposed; said spring barrels having continuations that enter said insulating body and are clinched into assembly therewith.; contacts complemental to the atoresaid contacts, said spring barrels each having one oit these coinplemental contacts in current conducting and sliding engage nient therewith; and springs within said spring barrels and pressing thereupon longitudinally thereof and upon said complemental contacts, whereby said complei'nental contacts are placed in position to be engageable with the first aforesaid contacts and said contact. carrier is pressed against the casing cnd wall at which the handle is disposed.

2. ln an electric switch; the combination with a casing having two opposite end walls; ot contacts carried by one oit said end walls and exposed within the casing ttor engageinent and constructed 'tor the electrical connection therewith oit circuit wires led to the casing; a handle upon the exterior o' the casing and mounted to turn at the other casing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; a contact carrier within. the casing and coupled with the handle to be turned thereby; this contact ca rier being held 'troni outward movement by the latter casing end wall; a plurality ot current conducting spring barrels tixed upon said contact carrier` and projecting therefrom toward the casing end wall that carries the aforesaid contacts, said contact carrier being inclusive ot a inetallic plate having holes formed therethrough and said spring barrels being formed with annular grooves in which the portions oit said plate marginine said holes are tightly received, whereby said barrels are electrically connecterl i contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring barrels each having one ot these coinpleniental contacts in current conducting and stding engagement therewith; and springs within said spring bari-ls and pressing thereupon longitudinally thereot and upon said complemental contacts, whereby said comple mental contacts are placed in position to be engageable with the iirst aforesaid contacts and said contact carrier is pressed against the casing end wall at which the handle disposed.

3. In an electric switch, the combination. with a casing having two opposite end walls; ot contacts carried by one ot said end walls and exposed within the casing 'lior engagement and constructed tor the electrical connection therewith ol circuit wires led to the casing; a handle upon the exterior oit the casing and mounted to turn at the other casing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; contact carrier within the cas ing and coupled with the handle to be turned thereby; this contact carrier being hel d from outward movement by the latter casing end wall; a plurality ot spring barrels hzied upon said contact carrier and projecting therefrom toward the casing end wall that carries the atoresaid contacts, d Contact carrier heing inclusive oli a body ot insulation, said spring barrels having continuations that enter said insulating body and are clinched into assi, nbly therewith; electrically connected contaots complemental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring barrels each having one et these complementa] contacts in sliding engagement therewith; and springs within n said spring barrels and pressing thereupon lon; ;i tudinally thereot and upon said complemental contacts; wl'iereby said complemental coutacts are placed in 'position to he 'cable with the First aroresaid contacts and sain contact carrier is pressed against the casing end wall at which the handle is disposed.

4l. In an electric switclu the combination with a casing having two opposite cnil walls; ot contact-s carried by one ol said end walls and exposed within the casing tor engagement and constructed tor the electrical connection therewith ot circuit wires led to the casing; a .handle upon the exterior ot the cas eng ing` and mounted to turn at the other casing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; a contact carrier within the casing` and coupled with the handle to be turned thereby, this contact carrier being` held from outward movement by the latter casing end wall; a plurality of current conducting spring barrels lined upon. said contact carrier and projecting therefrom toward the casing` end wall that carries the aforesaid contacts, said contact carrier being` inclusive of a metallic plate, said spring barrels being form-ed with grooves in which port-ions of said plate are tightly received, whereby said barrels are electricr lly connected, said contact carrier also being' inclusive of a. body of insulation that is interposed. between the aforesaid pla-te and the casing' end wall at which the handle disposed, said spring barrels having` continuations that enter said insulating bod)7 and are clinched into assembly therewith; contacts eomplemental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring barrels each having one of these complemental contacts in current conducting` and slidingY engagement therewith; and springs within said springl barrels and pressing thereupon longitudinally thereof and upon said complemental contacts, whereby said complemental contacts are placed in position to be engageable with the first aforesaid contacts and said contact carrier is pressed against the casing end wall at which the .handle is disposed.

5. ln an electric switch, the combination with a casing having` two opposite end walls; of contacts carried by one of said end walls and exposed within the casing for engagement and constructed for the electrical connection therewith of circuit wires le-d to the casing; a handle upon the exterior of the casing' and mounted to turn at the other casing); en d wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; a contact carrier with in the casing' and coupled with the handle to be turned thereby, this contact carrier being held from outward movement by the latter' casing end wall; a plurality of current conducting` spring' barrels fixed. upon said contact carrier an( projfec o' 'therefrom toward the casingl wall ti y carries the aforesaid contacts, contact carrier being .inclusive of a inelic plate, said. spring; barrels being formed with grooves in which portions of said plate are ti chtly received, whereby said barrels are electricall),7 connected; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring bai'- rels caro having one of these complemental contacts in current conducting and sliding` engagement therewith; and springs within said spring bai ls and pressing thereupon longitudinally thereof and upon said complementa contacts, whereby said complemental contacts are place-d in position. to be engageable with the first aforesaid contacts and said Contact carrier is pressed against the casing end wall at which the handle .is disposed.

6. In an electric switch, the combination with a stationary conta-ct carrier and a movable contact carrier, said carriers having` opposing' faces; of contacts upon the stationary carrier and exposed for engagement at the face thereof which is opposite the movable carrier and constructed for the electrical connection therewith of circuit wires; a plurality of spring barrels lined upon said movable Contact carrier and projecting therefrom toward the other contact carrier; said movable contact carrier beingv inclusive of a body of insulation, said spring' barrels haviJ 'f tinuations that enter said insulating body and are clinched into assembly therewith; electrically connected contacts compleniental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring barrels each having' one of these complemental contacts in sliding' engagement therewith; springs within said springv barrels and pressing thereupon longitudinally thereof and upon said compleniental contacts; and an abutment agaiist which said springs also press the movable contact carrier.

7. ln an electric switch, the combination with a stationary contact carrier and a movable contact carrier, said carriers having opposing' faces; of contacts upon the stationary carrier and exposed for engagement at the face 'thereof which is opposite the movable carrier and constructed for the electrical connection therewith of circuit wires; a plurality of current conduct-ing spring' barrels lined upon said movable contact carrier and projecting` therefrom toward the other contact carrier, said movable contact carrier being' inclusive of a metallic plate having holes formed therethrough and said spring' barrels being formed with annular grooves in which the port-ions of said plate margining said holes are tightly received, whereby said barrels are electrically connected; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring barrels each having one of these coniplemental contacts in current conducti and sliding enga-gement tl'ierewith; springs within said s prin g barrels and `aressin 1 there u pon longitudinally thereof and upon s l complemental contacts; and an abutment ao'ainst which said springs also press the n'iovable contact carrier, said movable Contact c also beine' inclusive of a body of insula n that .i s interposed between the id pla-tc and abutment, said spring bari j continuations that enter said insulati and are clinched into assembly thereiy un.

ln witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY A.. DUGLAS.