US1734227A

US1734227A - Lighting switch

Info

Publication number: US1734227A
Application number: US198330A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry E Norviel
Original assignee: Delco Remy Corp
Current assignee: Delco Remy Corp
Priority date: 1927-06-13
Filing date: 1927-06-13
Publication date: 1929-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1946-11-05

Description

Nov. 5, 1929. H. E. NORVIEL LIGHTING SWITCH Filed June 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov; 5, 1929. H. E. NORVIEL 1,734,227

LIGHTING SWITCH Y Filed June 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE HARRY E. NORVIEL, OF ANDER-SON, INDIANA, ASSZGNQR T0 DELCO-REMY CORPORA- TION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LIGHTING SWITCH Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to electric switches particularly for automobile electric circuits, and oneof the objectsof the present invention is to reduce the cost of manufacture of switches of this type.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein ,a preferred embodiment ofone form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is' a front elevation of the switch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is side elevation .of the switch handle.

Fig. .6 is an elevation of the main plate of the switch, constituting a switch mounting element and asupport for other parts of the switch. This view is taken in the direction of the arrow ,6 in Fig. .3.

Fig. 7 is a :sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Figs. .8 and 9 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 8-8 and 9-9 of Fig. .3.

The main supporting member of the switch is the bracket 20 shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. The bracket 20 is formed to provide .a recess 21 defined by a wall 22 spaced from the main wall or plate 23 of the bracket and parallel thereto, and by a lateral wall 24 which varies inits relation with the

walls

22 and 23 from a perpendicular relation to an oblique relation as clearly shown in Figs. 57 and 3. The wall 22 is provided with a circular opening 25, the circular edge of which is interrupted by a notch 26 defined by the arcuate edge 26 and the

radial edges

26 and 26. The wall 22 is provided with a circular row of openings 27 which are concentric with respect to the opening 25. The wall 22 is provided with a group of openings '28 which are symmetrical to the vertical center line of the hole 25,. The main plate 23 is provided with an opening .30 on the vertical center line of the 1927. Serial No. 198,330.

opening 25. The upper and lower ends of the main plate 23 terminate in'hooks .31 which are adapted to fit around angle bars .32 as shown in Fig. 3. The bars 32 are located at the rear of an instrument board 33 and are spaced therefrom to receive the main plate 23 The bracket 20 supports a dial plate of elliptical contour having an inwardlyextend ing elliptical flange 41 which bears against the main plate 23 of the bracket 20. The .dial plate 40 is retained in position by a bezel plate 42 having an elliptical head 43 engaging the elliptical flange 41 ofthe dial plate 40. The

elliptical bead 43 surrounds an elliptical opening exposing the front face of the .dial plate 40, and this head is received by an eleliptical hole in the instrument board .33. The bezel plate 42 includes a flat portion .or flange 44 which bears against the' main plate 23 .of the bracket 20, and which is secured thereto by cars 45 bent at right angles to the flange 44 and into notches 46 provided by the plate 23, and then bent over against the rearside of the plate 23 as shown in Fig. 2.

When the bracket20,.dial plate40 and bezel plate 42 are assembled, an aperture .50 provided by the dial plate 40 will belocated in alignment with the aperture 25 of the plate 22 of the bracket 20. The circular edge surrounding the aperture .50 provides a bearing for rotatively supporting the hub 51 of the handle 52. The handle 52,.as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, is provided with inwardly projecting tangs-53 which are received by notches 54 in a non-conducting block 55 having a journal portion 56 which is supported by the circular edge surrounding the opening 25 in {the plate 22. In this way, the block 55 and the handle 52 are rotatably supported in assembled relation by the

plates

22 and 40. Removal of the handle 52 is prevented by

segmental fianges

57, 58 and 5.9 which extend from it between the block 55 and the plate 40.

Rivets 6O secure to the block 55 the hub .61 of a movable contact from which extend a number of resilient fingers 62 each having a spherical boss 63 each adapted to be received by recess in the inner end of the tubular contact rivet 64. A number of these contact rivets are supported by non-conducting block or switch back which is supported by and which closes a cylindrical switch case 66. The switch case 66 is attached to the plate 22 by a plurality of tangs 67 extending from the case into the apertures 27 respectively and bent over against the inside of the plate 22 as shown in Fig. 3. The case 66 is attached to the back 65 by providing it with a plurality of tangs 68 extending into notches 69 provided by the back 65. Each tang 68 is bent over at 70 against the outside of the back 65. Each contact rivet 64 is provided with a threaded aperture for receiving a terminal screw. Suitable indicia carried by the back 65 indicates the connection of a switch contact with various circuits of the automobile.

As indicated in Fig. 1 the switch handle may be placed in four positions, namely: On, Dim, Oif and Park; and the handle is resiliently maintained in each of these positions by providing the block 55 with four notches 71 each adapted to be engaged by a ball 72 guided by a bracket 7 3 of channelshaped cross section as shown in Fig. 9. The bracket 73 is provided with tangs 74 which are received by holes 28 in the plate 22 shown in Fig. 6. The tangs 74 are inserted through the holes 28 and are bent over against the outside of the plate 22. A. spring 75 located within the bracket 7 3 bears at one end against the lateral wall 24 of the bracket 20 and at the other end against the ball 72 in order to urge t-heball toward the block 55. Rotation of the handle 52 in either direction is limited by a lug provided by the block 55 and received by the notch 26 of the plate 22, engaging the

radial edges

26 or 26.

The dial plate 40 supports a choke red tube which extends through the hole 30 in the plate 23 of the bracket 20.

The present invention provides a construction by which the frame work and casing members of the switch and the switch handle may be formed of sheet metal and thus manufactured very economically. Only two parts of moldable insulating material are required, namely the block 55 and the switch back 65.

In assembling, the cylindrical case 66 is formed of flat sheet metal bent into cylindrical form with the edges abutting with line 81. This part is held in cylindrical. form by attaching it to the plate 22 of the bracket 20 in the manner already described namely by means of the tangs 67 which enter the holes 27 and are bent over against the inside of the plate 22. Then the bracket 73 shown in Fig. 9 is assembled with the bracket 20. Afterwards the spring 75 and the ball 72 are placed within the bracket 73 and the journal part 56 of the block 55 is inserted in the opening 25 of the plate 22. Then the con tact spider including the contact arm 62 is attached by the rivet 60. This operation completes a unitary sub-assembly which comprises the mounting bracket 20, the movable switch contact element, its non-conducting support 55, and the means for yieldingly holding the support in various positions of rotation.

After this sub-assembly has been completed a handle 52 is inserted through the opening 50 in the dial plate 40 so that the

segmental flanges

57, 58 and 59 of the handle bear against the inside of the dial plate. The free endof the choke rod tube 90 is inserted in the hole 30 and the dial plate 40 and handle 52 are moved toward the bracket 20. There is suflicient play between the hole 30 and the choke rod tube 90 to permit inserting of the tangs 53 of the handle into the notches 54 of the block 55. After this has been done the dial 40 is secured to the bracket 20 by the bezel plate 12. This completes an assembly comprising the switch case, movable contact, contact lever and contact indexing ratchet.

The switch back 65 carrying the contacts and terminal members is then secured to the switch case 66 by bending the tangs 68 thereof into the notches 69 and the ends of the tangs against the outside of the switch back as indicated by numeral 70.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a mounting bracket and a dial plate secured together by a bezel plate, said mounting bracket and dial plate having spaced walls, a switch case attached to said wall of the mounting bracket, a cover carrying terminals and stationary contacts attached to the case, movable contacts within the case, a handle located in front of the dial plate, means extending from the handle and across the space between said dial plate and bracket walls and within the switch case to support the movable contacts, and a handle indexing ratchet device associated with said means and. located between said walls of the dial plate and bracket.

2. An electric switch according to claim 1, in which the handle is connected with the movable contacts by a block located between said spaced walls of the dial plate and bracket and rotatably supported thereby, and in which said block has a peripherally notched portion between said walls and a spring urged. member cooperates with said notched portion to provide the handle indexing ratchet device.

3. An electric switch according to claim 1, in which .the handle is connected with the movable contact by a block located between said spaced walls of the dial plate and bracket, the handle being journalled within an opening in the dial plate wall and the block within an opening in the bracket wall, the

handle and block being drivingly connected between said walls, and the block having a portion extending into the switch case to support therein the movable contact.

4. An electric switch comprising a contact case having a tubular part joined to a flat plate, a second plate exterior to the case and joined to the first plate but spaced therefrom, a manually operated contact actuator, rotatably supported by the plates and journallet in aligned apertures in the same and comprising a controller member secured to a non conducting means extending across the space between the plates, a movable contact supported by the actuator within the case, and a cover for the case supporting stationary contacts.

5. A switch according to claim 4 having a contact indexing ratchet device associated with the contact actuator and located between said plates.

6. A switch according to claim 4 in which the contact actuator includes a handle exterior to the second mentioned plate and havc ing a hub journalled in the second mentioned plate and a contact carrier having a hub journalled in the flat plate and connected with the handle between the plates.

7. A switch according to claim 4 in which the contact actuator includes a handle exterior to the second mentioned plate and having a hub onrnalled in the second mentioned plate and a contact carrier having a hub journalled in the fiat plate and connected with the handle between the plates and in which the handle is provided with an outwardly extending flange abutting the inside wall of the second mentioned plate to prevent removal of the handle, and in which the handle is connected with the contact carrier by tangs extending axially from the hub of the handle and engaging notches in the contact carrier.

8. A switch according to claim 4: in which the contact actuator includes a handle exterior to the second mentioned plate and having a hub journalled in the second mentioned plate and a contact carrier having a hub ournalled in the flat plate and connected with the handle between the plates, and in which the handle and carrier are drivingly connected by means requiring axial movement of one relative to the other, and in which the handle and carrier are each provided with means preventing axial displacement of either relative to said plates.

9. An electric switch comprising a contact ease having a tubular part joined to a flat plate, a second plate exterior to the case and joined to the first plate but spaced therefrom, the two plates having aligned apertures, a handle exterior to the second plate and having a hub ournalled in the aperture therein and having a flange abutting the inside of the second plate and having tangs extending axially toward the first plate, a contact carrier located between the plates and having a hub journalled in the aperture of the first plate and extending into the switch case and having notches for receiving said tangs of the handle, a movable contact insulatingly supported by the carrier within the case, a cover for the ease supporting stationary contacts and a handle indexing ratchet device located between the plates and comprising guide attached to one of the plates and inclosing a plunger which is spring urged into notches provided by the contact carrier.

10. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a mounting bracket and a dial plate secured together by a bezel plate, said mounting bracket and dial plate, having spaced walls, a switch case attached to said wall of the mounting bracket, a cover carrying terminals and stationary contacts attached to the case, movable contacts within the case, a handle located in front of the dial plate, means extending from the handle and across the space between said dial plate and bracket walls and within the switch case to support the movable contacts, ratchet and detent provisions for said handle located between said walls of the dial plate and bracket, one of said provisions being drivingly engaged by said means, while the other of said provisions is fixed relative thereto.

11. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a mounting bracket and a dial plate secured together by a bezel plate, said mounting bracket and dial plate having spaced walls, a switch case attached to said wall of the mounting bracket, a cover carrying terminals and stationary contacts attached to the case, movable contacts within the case, a handle located in front of the dial plate, means extending from the handle and across the space between said dial plate and bracket Walls and within the switch case to support the movable contacts, ratchet and detent provisions for said handle located between said walls of the dial plate and bracket, one of said provisions being mounted on said means to rotate therewith, while the other of said provisions is fixed to one of the enclosing walls.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL.