US1753624A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1930. F. H. PRESCOTT 1,753,624

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 28, 1928 Esau-m Patented Apr. 8%, 1930 UNITED A sra'rss earsnr oFFicE FRANK I-I. PRESCOTT, F ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-REMY CORPORA- TION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELECTRIC SXVITCH Application filed January 28, 1928. Serial No. 250,126.

This invention relates to electrical switches for automobiles and particularly to switches which are adapted to be mounted adjacent the lower end of the steering column of the automobile and to be operated by a shaft extending through the column and connected with a handle adjacent the hub of the steering wheel. 7

The present invention has been developed with the aim of simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of manufacture of switches of this type.

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

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a steering column assembly to which a switch embodying the present invention is attached.

Fig. 2 is a view of the switch looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the switch taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3. i

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views, respectively, on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, designates the mast of the steering column which is supported by the steering gear housing 21 and which provides a bearing for a steering tube 22 attached to a steering wheel 23. The tube 22 encloses a plurality of concentric tubes, the innermost of which is designated by numeral 24. The tube 24 is connected with a lever 25 located adjacent the hub of the steering wheel 23, and extends through the steering column and is connected at its lower end with a switch 25 which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

The switch 25 comprises a cup-shaped case having a flat end wall 31 and a cylindrical side wall 32 and having a flange 33. The flange is provided with tapped holes 34 for receiving screws 35 by which a non-conducting cover plate 36 is attached to the case 30.

The plate 36 carries stationary swit h conswitch case.

tact-s 37 which are arranged in a circular row and are electrically connected with various terminal brackets 38 respectively.

The stationary contacts 37 are formed by the heads of rivets 39 which secure the terminal brackets 38 to the plate 36. These contacts are adapted to be engaged by certain of a plurality of movable contacts formed by providing a somewhat triangular shaped plate 41 with spherical bosses 40. The plate 41 is supported by and is driven by a nonconducting disc 42 or contact carrier which is provided with a central opening including notches 43 for receiving tangs 44 respectively provided by the contact plate 41. A spring 45 bears at one end against the disc 42 and at the other against a detent plate 46 and thus tends to separate the parts 42 and 46 and urges the contact bosses 40 into engagement with the plate 36 or the stationary contact and urges the spherical bosses 47 provided by the plate 46'toward the end wall 31 of the The end wall 31 is provided with holes 48 arranged in a circular row and each adapted to receive one of the spherical bosses 47 The contact carrying disc 42 is drivingly connected with the detent plate46 by providing the latter with tangs 49 which are received by notches 50 provided by the contact carrier 42.

Both the contact carrier 42 and the detent plate 46 are driven through the tangs 49 by a disc 51 having notches 52 for receiving the tangs 49 and provided with a central opening 53 for receiving the shaft 24 and provided with a key 54 which is received by suitable longitudinal grooves in the tube 24. I

The spring 45 performs the dual function of maintaining the movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts and maintaining the detent bosses 47 in engage ment with the holes 48 of the plate 41 so that the movable contact will be yieldingly retained in various operating positions into which it is moved by the lever 25.

Motion of the movable contact is limited by providing the plate 46 with an arcuate notch 55 which receives a lug 56 integral with the case wall 31. The parts 57 and 58 defining the 11011011 5 serve as stops e gagea le with the lug 56 in order to limit movement of the plate 46 in either direction.

The switch case is fixed to the lower end of the steering gear case 21 by a mounting plate 60 attached to the switch case 30 and having a slot 61 for receiving the threaded end 62 of a stud 63 attached to the steering gear case 21. A nut 64 cooperates with stud end 62 to clamp the plate 60 to the stud 63. The slot 61 permits adjusting the case 30 angularly relative to the shaft 24: so that the switch may be located properly with respect to the switch operating handle 25.

The present invention provides for constructing a switch without requiring a fine degree of accuracy, for example, the switch case wall 31 need not be exactly parallel to eccentric to the cylindrical wall 82- of the switch. case, the switch may be successfully operated since there is. sufiicient clearance between the case wall 32 and; the carrier 42 and the detent plate 46, to permit lateral movement oft-these parts relative to theswitch case.

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

that is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising a rotatable contact carrier, a detent plate rotatable coaxially with. the carrier, driving connections between theplate and carrier and permitting relative axialmovement between the plate and carrier, a driving member connected with the carrierand. plate through said driving connections between them, a case enclosing the carrier, plate and member, stationary contacts carried by a wall of the case, a movable contact attachedto the carrier and engageable with the stationary contacts, means for urging the movable contact against the 1 means provided by the-case and detentplate.

2. An-electric switch accord-in toclaim- 1 in which the driving connectionsiietween the cont-act carrierand detent plate-are provided bytangs extending from; one part' and: res cei-ved bynotches in the other part.

plate and carrier, a case enclosing the carrier and plate, and providing stationary contacts in a wall thereof, a movable contact attached to the carrier and engageable with the stationary contacts, means for urging the movable contact against the stationary contacts and for urging the detent plate toward an- Other wall of the case.

6. An electric switch comprising a rotatable contact carrier, a detent plate rotatable coaxially with the carrier, driving connections between the plate and carrier and permitting relative axial movement between the plate and carrier, a case enclosing the carrier and plate, and providing stationary contacts.

in a wall thereof, a movable contact attached to the carrier and engageable with the stationary contacts, means disposed between the carrier and plate for urging the movable contact against the stationary contacts, and

for urging the detent plate toward another wall of the case.

7. An electric-switch comprising a rotatable contact carrier, a detent plate rotatable coaxially with the carrier, driving connections. between the plate and carrier and per- 1::

mitting relative-axial movement between the plate and carrier, a driving member connected with the carrier and plate through said driving connections. between them, a

case enclosing-the carrier, plate and member,

stationary contacts carried by a wall of the case, means for urging the contact carrier against the stationary contacts and the detent plate toward another wall ofthe case.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

FRANK H. PRESCOTT.

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