US1717057A

US1717057A - Electric switch

Info

Publication number: US1717057A
Application number: US14608A
Authority: US
Inventors: George J Meuer
Original assignee: Cutler Hammer Inc
Current assignee: Cutler Hammer Inc
Priority date: 1925-03-11
Filing date: 1925-03-11
Publication date: 1929-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1946-06-11

Description

June 11, 1929. G. J. MEUER I ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed- March- 11, 1925 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY GEORGE J'.

Patented 1 1.1929. U IT-En STA T0 CUTLER- HAMMEB, INC., A

TIES-PATENT, OFFICE.

MEUER, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORQBY'MESNE assrcmmmus,

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

nnnccrmc swrrdn.

- Appfication filed march ll, 1925. Serial 110414 608.

' This invention relates to improvements in electric switches. a An object of the invention is to provide anelectric switch which is neat'a'nd compact in appearance and eflicient and reliable in operation. 0

.Another object is to provide a switch having an improved .form of movable and sta-.

tionary contact elements.

Another object is to provide an nnproved switch for small current carrying devices such as automobile dash lights, radio apparatus and the like.

Another object is to provide a switch of the'aforementioned character having relatively few parts, which may be quickly and accurately assembled.

Other objects and advantages of'the mvention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention,

side elevational view of certain elements hers 15 and 16. Said shank portions 'are'of reduced width to provide corners or. shoul ders 17 and 18 (Fig. 1) for engagement with the lower face 'of member. 10, wherea; the upper ends of said shank portions pas" through small perforated plates 19 and 20', substantially elliptical in contour, and are riveted thereover as indicated at 21andf22, said plates forming with said riveted ends as hereinafter more fully described.

minal screws 23*.and 24 provide for connec tion of he switch While I have shown but two stationary contacts it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the number thereof may be inthe drawing, the numeral 10' a close 'fit the shank portions 13 and'14 of terminal memr relatively large stationary contact surfaces,

n a suitable ClICllllL' creased without otherwise modifying the switch structure. Themelnber 10 is -preferably provided with three or more equally'spa-ced notches 25 in the periphery'thereof, said notches being adapted for flush reception-of corresponding lugs-or projections 26' on an inverted cup-shaped switch housing member 27, said lugs 26 when bent inwardly over the lower face of member .10, as indicated at 28, being adapted to securely hold the switch parts in assembled relation.

The housing member27 is provided cen- 1 trally of its upper surface with an opening 29 adapted to receive a reduced portion 30 of an externally threaded cylindrical memher-31, said reduced portion being outwardly bent or 'rivetedas indicated at 32 in a manner to secure members27 and 31 against relativerotation. V

The holldw closed end of member 31 is slotted as indicated at 33, to receive and permit oscillation of a cam member 34 having

adjacent cam surfaces

35 and 36. Cam

member 34 is pivoted by means of afloating pivot pin 37, which-isinsertable into a pivot ole 38 when the latter is in alinement with an'opening 39 through one side of the member 31, after which said pin is moved upwardly and held in a groove or bearing 40,

as hereinafter described. Member 34 is formed with an operating lever 41, said lever being preferably provided. at the outer.

end thereof with an enlarged or rounded. portion 42 to facilitate manualoperation ofi the switch.

Enclo'sed within cylindrical member 31 and adapted for engagement by the cam surfaces 35Jand 36 res ectively, is a spherical 'mb er 43,'- ref erab y of steel. Member 43 !S' in'tl1ln a apted. toengage the upper surace .of p

ts'mo'vement by the inner wall of "member 31, said .plunger' being iston or plunger 44, which is provided with a reduced portion or downwar extension 45, whichengages a core s 'i ig g..the s m a The-reduce ,portionzb providesan anr-sho'ulder '47 on member 44agains't which a perforated insulating .disk 48 is adapted to abut, the perforation 49. in said disk providing arelatively close fit around the extension 45. A second insulating disk rm. .s

- 48 having a similar opening 49 is strung.

I upon the extension 45, and interposed 'between said disks is a circular bridging contact member 50, said contact member having a relatively large central opening 51 to separate thesame from said extension. Con

tact 50 is provided with an upwardlyextending depressed portion .52- adaptedto receive the lower disk 48 with a snug fit, whereby said disk will retain said contact in centered relation with respect'to extension 45.

Surrounding the extension 45 and interposed between lower disk 48 and the base 10 is a coiled spring 53 of substantially conical shape, the smaller' endthereof pressing against the lower disk 48 and tending at all times to holdthe contact 50 out of engagetive extreme-positions.

. Asmore clearly shown in Fig. .5, the con- Ttactmember 501s ofcircular contour, and

is divided by a plurality of radial slots 54 to provide a corresponding number of radial spring contact 'fingers 55 to" increase the res I silience of said contact a'ndtherebyto insure more perfect-engagement thereofwith the stationary contact will be apparent, the fingers 55 permit additional downward movement of contact afterinitial engagementthereof '

withstationary contacts

19,21 and20, 22, such addition'al movement effecting a desirable sliding or wiping engagement of the fingers with said stationary contacts, whereas said fingers also'permit the 'neeessaryslight reverse movement of said contact incident to registrationof cam surface 36 with spherical member 43, .without interrupting proper. en-- gagement of the'contacts. .The resilientcontact fingers 55. also assistjthe coi led spring 53 1 in effecting interruption of circuit .with a 'snapaction upon movementof cam lever 41 to off position. The form of contact 50 ob-l viates'the necess ity fo'r any articular rotary arrangement of the same wlth respectto the stationary contacts, and also obviates the necessity for locking said movable contact against possible rotation thereof incident to operation of the switch.

Asaforeindicated-the cylindrical member 31 is externally screw-threadedfsaid member being further provided with cooperating nuts 56 and 57' for securin the device to any suitable or desired pane or board having an opening therethrough to receive the apparent toltho'se skille "ters. Patent iis member 31. The

nuts

56 and 57 are adapted to engage opposite 1 sides of the. panel to clamp the device rigidly in position. Obviously the position of either or both of the

nuts

56 and 57 may e adjusted to 30001111110 date variousthicknesses of panel or other" support.

In assembling-the-aforedescribed device,

the cam 34 is inserted into slot 33 and the pivot pin 37 is dropped into the pivothole 38 through opening 39. The cam is 'then' drawn upwardly until the pin 37 rests in groove 40 which prevents'lateral movement the latter is prevented by the inner wall of member 31. Spherical member 43jis their inserted,= preferably with the deep cam surface 35 in receivingposition.- Plunger-'44 is then inserted; and onto the portion45 thereof are strung the upper disk 48, bridging contact 50, lower disk 48, andcoiled spring 53. 10, withits previously attached contact and projecting "of the pin, whereas endwise movement of The insulating member terminal members, is then moved into 'position with'no'tches 25 in alinement with the unbent lugs orpro e'etlons 26,-jsuoh movement also effecting registration of ex tension .5 with opening 46 in inmber'lO; whereupon the lugs.28' may bebent inwardly as illustrated to firmly hold all of theswitch ele- The nuts 56' ments in operative position. and 57 may, of course, be threaded onto the member-31 before or after the aforementioned assembling operation; whereas to at- ('ach the device to a support in the manner aforedescribed it is only-'necessary'to re movethe nut 56.

- As illustrated in Fig. 2 the switch partsan in circuit breaking position, whereas upon movement of knob 42 to the'right con-. tact 50 will be forced into circuit making position against the action of sprin 53, and r as will be apparent movement oi -knob '42.

in opposite directions to extreme positions is effected with a snap action.

I have thus provided a switelrwhich is neat and compact in appearance and e'xtreinely efiicient; and reliable in operation. WhileI have shown but one form which my inventionmay assume in (practice, it will in the art that various modifications may bemade therein withoutdep'arting from the spirit and scope I of my invention as defined in the appended claims. What I claim and 1. In anelectric switch, the combination desire'to secure by Let- A 4 with. an insulating'base'having a. plurality of stationary contacts terminal members having portions penetrating said base'and contacts and riveted thereto, a bridging conductor having a plurality- 'ofresilient contact .fingers' and adapted :for rectilinear movement intoandeut of engagement with said contacts, "and means for efiecting such directions with a snap action.

2. In an electric switch, the combination avith "an insulating plate, c'ontactsand termi -j nals having portions penetrating said-plate and riveted thereto, 'aninvertedcup-shaped member secured to said plate,-a metallic supporting bushing-secured to said member, a bridging contact movable within said-member into and out of engagementwith said first mentioned contacts, a coiled spring biasing said movable contact out of bridging relation to the other contacts, and means adapted in one position thereof to'qpe-rmit such biased movement of said bridging con tact and in another position thereof to effect movement thereof in' an opposite direction" against'the action of said'spring, said means including a loosely pivoted sheet metal-cam engaging a sphericalnnemberand a plunger for transmitting reciprocating movement of said spherical member, said plunger-being adapted to-move said bridging contact bnt' insulated therefrom.

4E. The con'ibina'tion with an insulatingplatehaving a contact secured thereto, a movable -contact spring-biased out of en gagement with said first mentionedcontact, a pivoted operating member, afioating metallic member fortransmitting motion from said lever to said movable co'ntact against the action of the spring, a projection on said metallicmember engaging a portion of said plate to be guided thereby, and-means forinsulating said metallic member from saidmovable contact, said means comprising a"- plurality of insulating disks each-to be centered by said projection and one of. the same en a in a corres )ondin disk-sha ed depression in said movable contact.

4. The combination wlth an'.1nsulat1ng plate having an opening therethrough and f contacts secured thereto, a bridging member. spring-biased out of engagement with said contacts, a metallic member for transmittingmotion to said bridging member against the action of the spring, acam and a spherical member for transmitting motion to said metallic member, a' projection on said metallic member extending through said opening to' be guided thereby, and means for insulating andcentering said bridging member with re-' spect to said metallic member, said means. comprising an insulating disk to be centered by said projection and engaging-a co-oper 'ating disk-shaped depression in said bridging member 5. The combination with an electric switch, oi operating means therefor compris-. ing a hollowmember having a slotted end,

a cam in' said slot having a .pivothole there i through, said member havi'ng a'n openingin v7n one side I thereof to permit insertion of a pivot pin mtots'ald hole, and said canrand p vot pin being thereafter movable oiut'of" alinement with saidopening to prevent -displacement ofsaid pivot pin. 4 6. The combination with an electric switch, of operating means therefor compirisil-lg a tubular member having a closed end, said end having a slot extendi'n'g there- -t:hrough, a" cam having a pivot opening so therein and said member havingan opening in onezside thereof at rightangles to said slot to permit insertion of a pivotpin into the opcning-in'said cam, said member having an internal groove into which said pin may be moved to prevent relative lateral movement tl1ereof,'said pin in such position being out of register with said opening in the tubular member to thereby prevent end- Wise movement of saidpivot pin. 7 7.111 an electric switch, the combination with a switch housing having an insulating plate at ope endthereof, stationary contacts-supported-by said plate, a hollow bushingsecured to the other end of said housing, acylindrical member slidable within, said bushing, a uide rod attached to said cylindrical member and engaging a correspond ing opening in said. plate, a pair of insulating disks having relatively -small openings to permit centering thereof by said rod, when passed therethrough, a diskshaped bridging contact interposed between said disks, said bridging contact having a plurality of radial contact fingers 'and ade- 10: pressed central portion to accommodate one of said insulating disks to be centered thereby, and a coiled spring interposed between said insulating plate and said last mentioned disk to bias said bridging contact out of engagement with said stationary contacts.

8. In an electric switch, the combination witha switch housing having an insulating plate 'at one end .tl 1ereof, stationary contact and terminal .members, having portions penetrating said plate and riveted thereto, a metallic bushing at the other end of said housing, a cylindricalmember slidable within saidbushing, a, guide rod a "had to said cylindrical member 'andengagmg 'the walls of a corresponding opening in said plate, a. pair of insulating disks having relatively small openings to permit centering thereof by said: rod when passed therethrough, adisk sh'aped bridging contact interposed between said disks, said bridging contact being formed to provide a plurality of radial spring contact fingers and having a. relatively large central opening and a depressed central portion to accommodate one disk to bias said bridging contact out of e11 of said insulating disks for centering thereby, a coiled spring interposed between said insulating plate and said last mentioned .'gagement 'with said stationary contacts, and

means comprising a loosely pivoted camv lever for I'nOYlng Said bridging contact into engagement with said stationary contacts, insulating plate and saidiast-mentionedj againstthe action ,of'said spring.

'5 ilitsaid 'b us}1ing, .a guiderod attached to ,i In, an electric switch the combination W1th1a switcl llons ng having'an insulating plate at oneiendthereof stationary contacts said;cylindrieal menibonand engaging the wallsof'ja corresponding opening in said i PM No. 717,057."

" plate, a; pairpf ins'nlating disks having relat vely small open ngs to perm t centering througln: a ,diskesliaped ln'id gin g" contact in- CERTIFIICATE terposedbetweensaid disks, said bridging:

contact being formed to provide a plurality of radial spring contact fin ers' and having a relatively large: central op ning andfa depressed ,entral. portion .to accommodate one of said inisiila ting disks foi' oentering there-Y by, a coiled-springs: interposed between said disk to bias said bridging contact out of en gagement with, said stationary contacts,' means for moving 'said bridging contact in; to engagement with said stationary contacts: supported hy'said-plate, anegrternallyscrewagainst -.the action of saidspring, said threaded-bushing 1 .at t -h e otherend of said -1neans' comprising -a loosely pivoted cam fliousing,acylindrical member slidable witlu motiontheaefifoni to said cylindrical meming to clamp said; switch to a supporting panel.

seribed'niy name;

"GEORGE JQMEUER.

0F CORRECTION.

Granada 11', 192 9, \to

GEORGE J MEUER.

It is hereby certified that error ap'pears in the printed specification; of the 'above numbered-patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line. 33; foc- Y firstclaim number "4" read "3"; same page and claim, line 37, forithe' word neniber".' read -"lever"; and that the said Letters Patentsliould'be 'read with v these corrections thereinth'at the same inthe Patent Office.

may conform to the record of the case (Seal) M.- J. Mooi e;-- Acting Commissioner of Patents.

lever and -a-sphorical member to transmit In witness whereof,- I have hereunto'suly' I